All the risqué fun of sneaking around “illicit” clubs without any real danger or rule breaking has led to an impressively large amount of speakeasy style bars opening around London. No doubt about it, there’s something irresistible about feeling like you’re sharing a steamy secret with your fellow “in the know” bar patrons. If a night steeped in exclusivity and mysterious intrigue is what you’re after, look no further than 13 of the swankiest speakeasies in town.

 

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The Luggage Room can be accessed by knocking on a seemingly average side door of the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel. Once assessed, you’ll be ushered inside a luxuriously opulent Art Deco style bar à la the Roaring Twenties. Dimly lit and oh so elegant, the Luggage Room is bustling with friendly waiters ready to help you choose from the countless signature cocktails on offer.

Quite literally an underground bar, Purl is housed in a basement space perfectly fit for a speakeasy. Live jazz filters throughout, as expert mixologists get to work on their unique concoctions. The menu is mainly new spins on the classics, so expect impressive presentations of smokes and foams to wow and delight. Purl was one of the first speakeasy bars to open in London, and as such has become quite popular over the years, so you may want to book ahead to get a seat.

Nightjar is a well- known yet easily missed basement bar featuring award-winning cocktails and live jazz band performances every night. The interior is industrial yet sumptuous, and even a bit sultry when the mood is right. There’s also a strict no-standing policy to maintain the relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere the bar is recognized for.

Set inside a historical townhouse in Chinatown, Experimental Cocktail Bar is an Art Nouveau style bar spanning two floors of chic sophistication. If you’re looking to find your way into this oasis of classy cocktails, search for a well-dressed man loitering by a scuffed up black door and whatever you do, act confident.

Situated underneath a former Welsh chapel, Below Stone Nest is a candlelit dive bar meets speakeasy that’s ultra cool without even trying. The unpainted concrete walls give the space an alternative vibe that perfectly fits the specially curated live music performances you won’t want to miss.

Don’t be fooled by the name – Waterloo Lost Property Office isn’t what it sounds like, but instead a speakeasy-style bar hidden behind a secret door inside BrewDog (the UK’s largest pub at a whopping 27,500 square feet). Here, you’ll find prohibition era cocktails with a modern flair among dark leather seats and dim lighting. Don’t miss out on the Martini Roulette, a drink flight taking your tastebuds through the evolution of the cocktail itself.

Behind a hidden door in the Chelsea Cloisters building, Barts has been offering Gatsby-esque vibes in an intimate, apartment-sized space with a covered outdoor terrace since it opened in 2009. Upon entry, you’ll be transported back in time with live performances of prohibition era music and discreet drinkware full of forbidden cocktails. If you really want to embrace the theme, check out the free for all dress-up trunk full of wigs and feather boas fit for a flapper girl. Whether you book an appointment and get the secret password, or simply know the right doorbell to ring, everyone’s welcome at this self-proclaimed “worst kept secret” of London.

Manetta’s Bar was quite the hotspot in the 1930s, frequented by spies, authors, and everyone in between. Located inside the Flemings Mayfair Hotel, the space was refurbished in 2017 but still holds tight to the old-school atmosphere that inspired the setting of an Agatha Christie novel back in the day. The drinks don’t come cheap, but the velvet sofas are plush and the people watching is well worth the price.

The Blind Pig is a well-hidden bar above the Michelin-starred Social Eating House restaurant. Tables are by reservation only and space is quite limited, so make sure to plan accordingly if you want to partake. Finding the entrance is no easy feat (look for the door knocker shaped like a blindfolded pig), but once you’re in, the mirrored ceiling and slouchy leather booths provide a laid-back atmosphere you’re sure to enjoy. The menu boasts cocktails inspired by our favorite childhood characters from Winnie the Pooh to Harry Potter, plus the bar shares a kitchen with the restaurant, so the snacks are delicious to boot.

Evans & Peel Detective Agency is, unsurprisingly, a detective agency themed bar that will have you feeling like the star in your very own 1920s mystery movie. To get in, you have to knock on a nondescript alleyway door labeled Evans & Peel Detective Agency. Be prepared to have a story ready, as the detective on duty will ask what your case is before ushering you inside a bookshelf-lined office space with a hidden doorway leading to the bar. Here, cocktails are served in teacups and your utmost discretion is advised. The detective you met in the front room will periodically stop by to update you on your “case” throughout the night as well. Come to Evans & Peel for a fully immersive speakeasy experience complete with some of the best Old Fashioneds in the city.

Perhaps the most atmospheric speakeasy in the city, Cahoots takes its 1940s London theme very seriously. The bar has three distinct areas to hangout (Underground, Ticket Hall, and Signal Station,) all housed inside an abandoned tube station underneath Soho that was once used as an emergency air raid shelter during World War II. Inspired by the goings-on of post-war life, Cahoots is host to piano sing-alongs and swing dancing parties galore. Keep in mind that reservations are required, and you’ll receive the password needed to enter upon booking.

Blind Spot is a seductive speakeasy style bar hidden behind the tea counter at the St. Martin Lane Hotel – just grab the golden hand-shaped doorknob and you’re in. Modern decor, a resident DJ, and a different theme every night of the week make this swanky spot feel ever-so-exclusive. The tea-inspired cocktails and international snack menu don’t hurt either.

The Candlelight Club is a Roaring Twenties themed pop-up nightclub with live music and lots of dancing. You have to book a ticket to go, and the location is only revealed a few days beforehand, in various opulent venues around London. The parties are hosted intermittently throughout the year, each with a unique dress code and drinks menu but always candlelit, immersive, and an all-out jolly good time.