Food & Drink

9 coolest secret London bars

If you’ve spent any time in London, you’re bound to have tried a few of its wonderful pubs and bars. You probably had a pretty good time, too.

However, all the time you walked its streets, you may not have known that just below the surface – just a little out of reach – there were parties happening that would make your night out feel like your grandmother’s birthday.

These are London’s secret bars; clandestine, classy and known to only those select few who move in the right circles. Or, at least, those with Google Maps on their phones.

Fortunately for you, we’re pretty well-connected down here at the Evan Evans offices. We want to get you in on the fun, so here’s our rundown of the nine coolest secret bars in London.

Check out this list and remember… don’t tell anybody!

By Appointment Only

The Nudge calls it ‘probably the most beautiful cocktail bar in London. It’s not hard to see why. This exclusive venue is hidden deep beneath the city – you’re going to have to search for it. And, of course, you’re going to have to book, too.

Evans & Peel Detective Agency

Of all the crazy joints in town, this is the one in which you’re most likely to track down your mark. Made exclusively for streetwise detectives and sharp-tongued femme Fatales, you’re going to have to tell the waiter what kind of case you’re working on before they’ll let you in. Don’t miss its innocuous-looking door in Earl’s Court.

The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town

The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town is, ironically, the King of London’s secret bars. The cocktails are amazing, the name is perfect, and you have to climb through a fridge to get in. What more can you ask?

Looking Glass Cocktail Den

This classy place has more mirrors than any bar you’ll find in the capital. Book in advance though, and you’ll be able to go through the looking glass into a world prepared entirely for you. And I mean that literally – their event room is hidden behind one of their immaculate mirrors.

Discount Suit Company

The true definition of a hidden gem, you’re unlikely to find this place if you don’t know where to look. It’s hidden in what used to be a men’s tailoring outlet and has been turned into a cosy, friendly cocktail bar with fantastic music and atmosphere. Find it if you can!

Call me Mr Lucky

This little secret is the lesser-known cousin of the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town. Find the breakfast club in London Bridge and give them the password to enter its secret door. What’s the password, you ask? You’ll have to find that one out for yourself…

The Vault of Soho

What’s better than a bar hidden in a whiskey shop? Go to the back wall of Milroy’s in Soho and you’ll find that the bookcase swings open to reveal one of the region’s best speakeasies. The vault is renowned for its excellent service, so settle in for the evening and let the good times roll.

If you’d like to discover more fantastic places during your stay in London, check out our London Tours in London, with beer tasting included. You’ll get to try some of the UK’s finest brews.