Best Speakeasies & Hidden Bars in London (2026)
London's best hidden bars, from bookcase doors and a café fridge to unmarked basements, with how to get into each one.
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Finding the entrance is satisfying. Finding a bar you'd go back to without the secret door is better. That's the test behind this guide to London's best speakeasies and hidden bars.
You'll walk through a bookcase in a whisky shop, a fridge in a café and a computer repair shop on Hackney Road. Other picks are simply unmarked basements that let the drinks do the work. A few turn the whole night into a performance. Each entry tells you what kind of hidden it is, how to get in and whether to book.
Map of London Speakeasies and Hidden Bars
Every London Speakeasy and Hidden Bar at a Glance
| Bar | Neighbourhood | How you get in | Book or walk in | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disrepute | Soho | Basement entrance in Kingly Court | Book; card hold | Dressed-up dates and late nights |
| SOMA Soho | Soho | Unmarked door on Denman Street, then downstairs | Mostly walk-in; queue later on | Modern cocktails and late hip-hop |
| The Vault | Soho | Bookcase inside Milroy's whisky shop | Book; closed Sun | The classic bookcase reveal |
| Bar Lina Soho | Soho | Downstairs from the Lina Stores deli | Book or walk in; walk-in only Fri–Sat from 8pm | An Italian aperitivo date |
| Experimental Cocktail Club | Chinatown | Door at 13a Gerrard Street, then upstairs | Book or walk in; £5 cover after 11pm | A hidden door and a DJ night |
| Opium | Chinatown | Jade door on Gerrard Street, then upstairs | Book online until 5pm, or walk in | Cocktails with dim sum |
| Cahoots Underground | Soho | Into a 1940s Tube station in Kingly Court | Book; 21+ | A fully themed night out |
| Archive & Myth | Leicester Square | Magic Mike Live entrance, then the door left of the lift | Book; photo ID; closed Sun–Mon | A serious drink in a busy spot |
| Eve Bar | Covent Garden | Below Frog by Adam Handling | Book; closed Sun–Mon | Champagne and caviar |
| Oriole | Covent Garden | Downstairs in St Martin's Courtyard | Book; music cover; closed Sun–Mon | Dinner, cocktails and a band |
| Nipperkin at NIJŪ | Mayfair | Lower floor of NIJŪ on Berkeley Street | Book; Thu–Sat only | A cosy cocktail date |
| Scales | Marylebone | Beneath the Drink With Sasha bottle shop | Mostly walk-in; book for 5+ | The cocktail-curious |
| The Luggage Room | Mayfair | Inside the Marriott on Grosvenor Square; knock | Book or walk in | A quiet hotel-bar date |
| Discount Suit Company | Spitalfields | Downstairs at 29A Wentworth Street | Book Sun–Wed | An all-round hidden-bar date |
| The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town | Spitalfields | Through the fridge at The Breakfast Club | Book; 18+ | The most fun concealed entrance |
| Nightjar Shoreditch | Old Street | Downstairs at 129 City Road | Book; no bookings 9:15–11pm; 21+ | Elaborate cocktails and live jazz |
| Happiness Forgets | Hoxton | Basement on Hoxton Square | Book | Great drinks without the performance |
| Found | Shoreditch | Downstairs at 5 Ravey Street | Email to book; card only; closed Sun–Mon | An easygoing basement hideout |
| Callooh Callay | Shoreditch | Front bar on Rivington Street, wardrobe doors beyond | Book | Playful cocktails |
| Seed Library | Shoreditch | Downstairs in One Hundred Shoreditch | Book or walk in; closed Mon–Tue | A modern basement with vinyl DJs |
| The Natural Philosopher | Bethnal Green | Through The MacSmiths repair shop | Book or walk in; Wed–Sat | An odd entrance and good whisky |
| 69 Colebrooke Row | Islington | The Bar With No Name, at the street address | Book; closed Mon | An understated cocktail date |
| Evans & Peel Detective Agency | Earl's Court | A detective appointment | Book; £10pp deposit; closed Sun–Mon | Making the entrance part of the night |
| Barts | Chelsea | Black door at Chelsea Cloisters; press the bell | Book or walk in; 21+; closed Mon–Tue | A dressed-up, mischievous night |
| Call Me Mr Lucky | London Bridge | Through the kitchen at The Breakfast Club | Book; Wed–Sat | A playful basement night with friends |
| WC Clapham | Clapham | Below ground by Clapham Common station | Book | Wine and a sharing board |
Hidden Bars in Soho and Chinatown
This is London's densest run of hidden bars, and most of them are a few minutes' walk apart. Kingly Court alone gives you two very different nights: Disrepute for a date and Cahoots Underground for a full theme. On Gerrard Street, Experimental Cocktail Club and Opium are almost next door. For a first date, The Vault is the easy call, because the bookcase breaks the ice and you can still hear each other.
Disrepute
4 Kingly Ct, Carnaby, London W1F 9RR, UK
A basement off Kingly Court with 1960s glamour, plush seating and plenty of intimate corners. It stays open until 3am most nights, so a date here can start at dinner time and end whenever you like. Getting in: Find the basement entrance in Kingly Court and book a table on the bar's website; you don't need to be a member, but reservations take a card hold. Dress up a bit.
SOMA Soho
14 Denman St, London W1D 7HJ, UK
SOMA skips the vintage clutter for a stainless-steel counter and cocktails inspired by the Indian subcontinent and beyond. Early-evening jazz gives way to Golden Age hip-hop, so the mood changes as the night goes on. Getting in: Go through the unmarked door on Denman Street and head downstairs. It's mainly a walk-in bar, with a few reservations and then a first-in-line queue later in the evening. No shorts, sweatpants or flip-flops, and make sure you book Soho, not the Canary Wharf branch.
The Vault
3 Greek St, London W1D 4NX, UK
A bookcase inside a whisky shop leads to a basement cocktail bar, and it's one of London's most satisfying hidden entrances. The seasonal cocktails hold up too, which makes it a natural date. Getting in: Walk into Milroy's at 3 Greek Street and look for the bookcase. Book The Vault itself, since the shop, upstairs tastings and cocktail bar are separate. It opens at 5pm Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sunday.
Bar Lina Soho
18 Brewer St, London W1F 0SG, UK
The Lina Stores deli upstairs is a Soho fixture, and the bar underneath feels like a different night altogether. Come for an aperitivo and something small to eat, especially if your ideal first drink is in the Negroni family. Getting in: Head into the deli at 18 Brewer Street and go downstairs. You can book or walk in, but from 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays it's walk-in only.
Experimental Cocktail Club
13a Gerrard St, London W1D 5PS, UK
The chipped paint door and carpeted stairs are a quiet start, but this isn't a hushed little room. DJs and a busy music programme carry the night well past your first cocktail. Getting in: Look for the door at 13a Gerrard Street and go upstairs. Book for a settled start, or walk in and they'll try to find room. There's a £5 cover after 11pm.
Opium
15-16 Gerrard St, London W1D 6JE, UK
Behind the jade door, a Shanghai-inspired space runs across several floors, with cocktails and dim sum giving you a reason to stay. Peony, on the second floor, is the room for a date, so aim for Wednesday to Saturday. Getting in: Find the jade door at 15–16 Gerrard Street and go upstairs. Book online until 5pm or walk in, and note that bookings last two hours. Sunday to Tuesday it's the third floor only, Wednesday and Thursday the second, and Friday and Saturday everything. It's over-18s only.
Cahoots Underground
13 Kingly Ct, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW, UK
Cahoots isn't an obscure local secret, and we won't pretend otherwise. It earns its place because this 1940s-inspired Underground station is such a complete change of scene, with theatrical drinks and live music. Go elsewhere for a quiet chat. Getting in: Book Cahoots Underground at 13 Kingly Court. The Ticket Hall on Kingly Street and the Postal Office in Borough are separate bars. It's strictly 21+, and vintage dress is encouraged but not required.
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Hidden Bars in Covent Garden, Mayfair and Marylebone
These six are more polished than Soho and mostly quieter. Archive & Myth is the central meeting spot, Eve is the splurge, and Oriole is dinner and a band in one booking. Further west, Nipperkin's the strongest date, Scales is for people who read the whole menu, and The Luggage Room is the calm option. Archive & Myth, Eve and Oriole are closed on Sunday and Monday, and Nipperkin only opens Thursday to Saturday.
Archive & Myth
Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourn St, London WC2H 7JH, UK
A hidden bar under the Hippodrome is a pleasingly unlikely answer to where to drink around Leicester Square. Cocktails come in two sizes, Minor and Major, so it's easy to try a few, and there's a separate alcohol-free list too. Getting in: At your reservation time, use the Magic Mike Live entrance on Cranbourn Street, then take the door to the left of the lift and go downstairs. The entry code is posted on the bar's website. It's inside a casino, so it's over-18s and you'll need physical photo ID.
Eve Bar
34 Southampton St, London WC2E 7HF, UK
Eve is the splurge. Just below Frog by Adam Handling, it's built around Champagne, cocktails and caviar, so it suits an anniversary or a dressed-up date far better than a cheap round before moving on. Getting in: Look for Frog on Southampton Street; Eve is directly below it. Book Eve separately, because a table at Frog doesn't include time downstairs.
Oriole
7-9 Slingsby Pl, London WC2E 9AB, UK
Oriole's best when you give it the whole night. The basement restaurant pairs a speakeasy setting with Latin American food, globally minded cocktails and live jazz, blues and Latin music, so book a table and let the band become part of the evening. Getting in: Head to St Martin's Courtyard and book the downstairs restaurant, since the ground-floor Bamboo Bar is a separate, mostly walk-in space. A music cover of £4 to £12 per person, depending on the night, goes on your bill, and the late set on Friday and Saturday costs extra.
Nipperkin at NIJŪ
20 Berkeley St, London W1J 8EE, UK
Pick Nipperkin when you want a small room with personality, not an entrance trick. Snug booths and vintage records give it warmth, and the menu pairs seasonal ingredients with Japanese spirits and sake. It's one of our strongest date picks. Getting in: It's on the lower floor of NIJŪ at 20 Berkeley Street. Book Nipperkin, not the main restaurant. It opens Thursday to Saturday, 5pm to midnight, with no- and low-alcohol options.
Scales
25 Duke St, London W1U 1DJ, UK
Scales sits beneath the Drink With Sasha bottle shop, so the entrance feels connected to the drinks, not like a gimmick. The focus is on carefully built cocktails and precise flavours, so keep the group small and give the menu your attention. Getting in: Go to the bottle shop at 25 Duke Street, near Bond Street station, and ask the staff to take you down. It's mainly a walk-in bar, and groups of five or more should book.
The Luggage Room
Grosvenor Sq, London W1K 6JP, UK
The Luggage Room gives you the hidden-bar idea with the comfort of a good hotel. It takes its story from the Bentley Boys, the racing drivers of the 1920s, and it suits a date where you'd like to concentrate on each other. Getting in: It's inside the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square. Book through The Luggage Room's own page, not general hotel dining, then knock to enter. Smart casual is the safe dress code.
Hidden Bars in Shoreditch and East London
This is the deepest part of the guide, and the bars are easy to pair. Around Spitalfields, Discount Suit Company and The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town are a short walk apart. Around Shoreditch and Hoxton, Happiness Forgets and Found are the low-key picks, Nightjar is the one for a live band, and Seed Library is the modern alternative. The Natural Philosopher is worth the trip up Hackney Road for the repair-shop entrance alone, and 69 Colebrooke Row sits a little further north in Islington.
Discount Suit Company
29A Wentworth St, London E1 7TB, UK
An unlikely address, a basement with character and cocktails that don't need an elaborate story. Northern soul and vintage rock 'n' roll fill the former tailor's storeroom, and it's a top pick if you have no interest in dressing up as a gangster. Getting in: Find the door at 29A Wentworth Street and head downstairs. Table bookings run Sunday to Wednesday from 5pm through the bar's enquiry form, and your table's only held once the confirmation email arrives. Later in the week, come early.
The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town
12-16 Artillery Ln, London E1 7LS, UK
The fridge is the headline, and it's still a good one. Walk into what looks like an ordinary café and a fridge door becomes the way down to a basement cocktail bar. It's more playful than precious, which is exactly why we like it. Getting in: Go into The Breakfast Club at 12–16 Artillery Lane and tell the staff you're "here to see The Mayor." They'll take it from there. It's over-18s, it's open every day, and booking is the safe move for a planned visit.
Nightjar Shoreditch
129 City Rd, London EC1V 1JB, UK
Nightjar is our pick for elaborate cocktails, a subterranean room and a proper band. Live music starts at 9pm every night, so book it for a date or small celebration where everyone's happy to give the room their attention. Getting in: Head downstairs at 129 City Road. Book early, because no bookings are taken from 9:15pm to 11pm, though a few tables are held for walk-ins. There's a £15-per-person hourly minimum spend, plus a music cover of £6 Sunday to Thursday and £10 Friday and Saturday. It's 21+ and smart casual, and football shirts are out.
Happiness Forgets
8-9 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU, UK
Happiness Forgets proves a discreet basement and an excellent bar can be all the concept you need. It's a small, intimate room where the cocktail's the main event, made for people who are enthusiastic about drinks but allergic to fuss. Getting in: Look for the basement at 8–9 Hoxton Square. It opens at 5pm every day. Reserve through the bar's website, and go early if conversation's the priority.
Found
5 Ravey St, London EC2A 4QW, UK
Found is a welcome answer to the idea that every hidden bar needs a complicated concept. Four small rooms give it a cosy, tucked-in feel, and the easy drinks list includes a mezcal Desert Negroni. Getting in: Head downstairs at 5 Ravey Street and email the bar to book. It's card only, closed on Sunday and Monday, and there's no entry or re-entry after 12:30am.
Callooh Callay
65 Rivington St, London EC2A 3QQ, UK
Callooh Callay proves a bar can be well known and still keep something up its sleeve. The fun is in what sits behind the front bar, including the wardrobe doors that have become part of its identity, and the playful menus suit an animated night out. Getting in: Book a table at 65 Rivington Street. JubJub and the Back Lounge, behind the wardrobe, are also hired out for private events, so ask what's open on your night. It opens at 6pm every day.
Seed Library
100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ, UK
Seed Library makes the case for leaving faux-Prohibition décor behind. This basement bar from Mr Lyan is warm, modern and relaxed, with plenty for cocktail fans to explore. DJs spin vinyl on Fridays and Saturdays, so come earlier if you want to talk. Getting in: Head downstairs inside One Hundred Shoreditch and book Seed Library itself, or walk in when there's space. It's closed on Monday and Tuesday, and a 13.5% discretionary service charge goes on the bill.
The Natural Philosopher
inside The Macsmiths, 489 Hackney Rd, London E2 9ED, UK
A computer repair shop isn't where most people expect a cocktail date to start, which is why this entrance is so satisfying. Inside, it's cocktails and an ever-changing whisky selection, run since October 2025 by the team behind The Absinthe Parlour. Getting in: Walk through The MacSmiths repair shop at 489 Hackney Road. Reservations are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. It opens Wednesday to Saturday.
69 Colebrooke Row
69 Colebrooke Row, London N1 8AA, UK
Also known as The Bar With No Name, 69 Colebrooke Row takes a quieter approach to the hidden-bar idea. It's a compact cocktail room for people who care more about what's in the glass than whether the entrance makes a good video. Getting in: Use the exact street address and book ahead. It's closed on Monday, and it's worth checking the schedule if live music would improve your plans or spoil them.
Hidden Bars in West and South London
These four are spread out, so treat whichever you pick as the whole night. Evans & Peel and Barts are for people who like a bit of performance, Call Me Mr Lucky is the party, and WC Clapham is the relaxed one with a sharing board.
Evans & Peel Detective Agency
Evans & Peel Detective Agency, 310c Earls Ct Rd, London SW5 9BA, UK
Evans & Peel commits to its premise: you arrive for a detective appointment with a case to discuss, before the evening reveals itself as a cocktail outing. If role-play makes you uncomfortable, you'll have a better time in a straightforward basement. Getting in: Book an appointment and submit a simple fictional case on the website; it doesn't need to be a screenplay. Appointments last two hours, there's a £10-per-person deposit, and cancelling in November or December takes 14 days' notice. It's closed on Sunday and Monday.
Barts
Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Ave, London SW3 3DW, UK
Hidden inside Chelsea Cloisters, Barts leans into a playful 1920s identity. It suits a night when you want things to feel a little conspiratorial and increasingly lively, especially with friends who enjoy dressing for the occasion. Getting in: Find the unmarked black door at Chelsea Cloisters on Sloane Avenue and press the bell. Walk-ins are welcome when there's room, but members get priority, so book for a weekend or anything in December. It's 21+ and smart casual, with no sportswear, hoodies or caps, and it's closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Call Me Mr Lucky
11 Southwark St, London SE1 1RQ, UK
Call Me Mr Lucky is the pick when "hidden bar" should mean an entertaining night, not a hushed room. The route in takes you through The Breakfast Club's kitchen, and the basement suits a lively catch-up or celebratory drinks. Getting in: Go to The Breakfast Club at 11 Southwark Street and tell the team you're there for Call Me Mr Lucky. They'll take you through, so don't wander into the kitchen on your own. Book to be safe. It opens Wednesday to Saturday.
WC Clapham
Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 7AA, UK
This former Victorian public toilet keeps its mosaic floors, tiled walls and wooden stalls, now turned into intimate seating. Wine and charcuterie come first, with cocktails available too, so come for the room and something to share. Getting in: Look for the below-ground entrance by Clapham Common station and book WC Clapham, not the Bloomsbury branch.
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