Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in West End, London, United Kingdom

The Running Horse - Nice bar, but too busy by carolirish

carolirish — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:25:14 +0000

Review by carolirish

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7493 1275

Tags: food, vegetarian dishes, pool tables

This place is very pleasant when there aren't many people in there, but when you get a few of the after-workers it becomes a little bit of a nightmare - its very difficult to get a seat, or even stand at that point.

Besides that, however, its a very nice trendy-but-warm feeling bar, a good selection of a beers and a friendly atmosphere. I found the staff here to be fairly friendly, and considering some of the other pubs in the area that is a real bonus!

Good food too! :)This place is very pleasant when there aren't many people in there, but when you get a few of the after-workers it becomes a little bit of a nightmare - its very difficult to get a seat, or even stand at that point.

Besides that, however, its a very nice trendy-but-warm feeling bar, a good selection of a beers and a friendly atmosphere. I found the staff here to be fairly friendly, and considering some of the other pubs in the area that is a real bonus!

Good food too! :)

The Glassblower - by carolirish

carolirish — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:22:06 +0000

Review by carolirish

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 8547

Tags: food, pub lunch, pub

This is a really nice (relatively) traditional English bar, friendly atmosphere and despite the other reviews here I have always found the food to be up to scratch for the price, and for a bar.

Its a great pub to go to at lunchtime in particular, and I prefer the upstairs bar then.

I would recommend it to anyone that just wants to grab a bite to eat and a pint.

This is a really nice (relatively) traditional English bar, friendly atmosphere and despite the other reviews here I have always found the food to be up to scratch for the price, and for a bar.

Its a great pub to go to at lunchtime in particular, and I prefer the upstairs bar then.

I would recommend it to anyone that just wants to grab a bite to eat and a pint.

The Green Man - A great post-work pub! by raz_kidd

raz_kidd — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:32:51 +0000

Review by raz_kidd

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7479 7991

Tags: friendly, young professionals, traditional pub

This place is fantastic. Its relaxed and has a great atmosphere. The food is cheap and pretty tasty too and there are lots of drinks to choose from. Its not far from the tube and is a great place to grab a wind down after work pint (or 2). Its a good place for catching up with friends too as there is no loud music to drown out the conversation. They do have lots of TVs though so you can keep watch on the world outside while enjoying your drink.

I will be going there again tonight.This place is fantastic. Its relaxed and has a great atmosphere. The food is cheap and pretty tasty too and there are lots of drinks to choose from. Its not far from the tube and is a great place to grab a wind down after work pint (or 2). Its a good place for catching up with friends too as there is no loud music to drown out the conversation. They do have lots of TVs though so you can keep watch on the world outside while enjoying your drink.

I will be going there again tonight.

Bar Red - red! by kathlane

kathlane — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:37:59 +0000

Review by kathlane

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7434 3417

Website: http://www.bar-red.com

Tags: cool, trendy, food

This is quite a unique and strange place, the frontage is all red glass and the interior red and black ! its very striking yet manages to be funky rather than garish with its low lightening and trendy music. This place is cocktail heaven and each one is made with great attention to detail. They have a huge rage of cocktails including one thats a lovely mix of rasberry and cranberry, this is nice and sweet and a vibrant red and actually works quite well. As you would expect it isnâ¬"t a cheap place but the bar staff really are well trained in the art of cocktails and were able to reel off all the ingredients of a vast array of them until we made our minds up. Very unusual and bold.This is quite a unique and strange place, the frontage is all red glass and the interior red and black ! its very striking yet manages to be funky rather than garish with its low lightening and trendy music. This place is cocktail heaven and each one is made with great attention to detail. They have a huge rage of cocktails including one thats a lovely mix of rasberry and cranberry, this is nice and sweet and a vibrant red and actually works quite well. As you would expect it isnâ¬"t a cheap place but the bar staff really are well trained in the art of cocktails and were able to reel off all the ingredients of a vast array of them until we made our minds up. Very unusual and bold.

Jewel Bar - Lively, comfortable...not too trendy! by Weeboo

Weeboo — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:30:15 +0000

Review by Weeboo

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7439 4089

Website: http://www.jewel-bar.co.uk

Tags: friendly, trendy, cool

Jewel doesn't look like much from the outside. In fact, considering its location right on the edge of [the not-so-trendy side of] Soho, this particular nightclub looks vaguely seedy. However inside it delights with its mixture of oversized chandeliers and ethnic furniture, an interior that seems to be ageing quite well versus other nightclubs in the immediate area (No 1 Leicester immediately springs to mind). Its also a very convenient venue, being situated immediately opposite one of the exits/entrances to Piccadilly Circus tube station. Ideal for when you need to catch that last train home and you might be a bit unsteady on your feet.

The atmosphere in here is always buzzy and fun, there's a good mixture of music (in my opinion) and the service is pretty good even when its packed. The menu contains the standard fare, but who cares...you're there for the alcohol.Jewel doesn't look like much from the outside. In fact, considering its location right on the edge of [the not-so-trendy side of] Soho, this particular nightclub looks vaguely seedy. However inside it delights with its mixture of oversized chandeliers and ethnic furniture, an interior that seems to be ageing quite well versus other nightclubs in the immediate area (No 1 Leicester immediately springs to mind). Its also a very convenient venue, being situated immediately opposite one of the exits/entrances to Piccadilly Circus tube station. Ideal for when you need to catch that last train home and you might be a bit unsteady on your feet.

The atmosphere in here is always buzzy and fun, there's a good mixture of music (in my opinion) and the service is pretty good even when its packed. The menu contains the standard fare, but who cares...you're there for the alcohol.

Alphabet Bar - Don't go here for food by LukeG

LukeG — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:34:46 +0000

Review by LukeG

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7439 2190

Website: http://www.alphabetbar.com

Tags: food, stylish, friendly

I went to Alaphabet with a group from work. Great bar, good atmosphere. My only gripe - I was told they serve food which was one of the reasons I decided to go there, however when we went to the bar to place an order at 9pm or just before, we were told the kitchen was closed.

A little disappointing as we had 20 very hungry people! We got drunk quicker though........
I went to Alaphabet with a group from work. Great bar, good atmosphere. My only gripe - I was told they serve food which was one of the reasons I decided to go there, however when we went to the bar to place an order at 9pm or just before, we were told the kitchen was closed.

A little disappointing as we had 20 very hungry people! We got drunk quicker though........

Mahiki - Drinks are amazing! by DanniLou85

DanniLou85 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:42:05 +0000

Review by DanniLou85

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7493 9529

Website: http://www.mahiki.com

Tags: pop, posh, glamorous

Ok, well I'm a poor first-job graduate living in London with very little money BUT I had a great night out at Mahiki recently!

I thought it would be really pretentious but was surprised that there was no guest list, the manager introduced himself and bought me and my friend drinks and I got chatting to Princess Beatrice! Paid Â£10 entry, Â£9 for a cocktail and after that the night was free as people are so willing to buy drinks. Not stupid enough to think people are that nice, but the clientel were generally drunk and rich!

People such as Paris Hilton, Cheeky Girls, Chelsea footballers, royalty - they all visit and it seems to be one of the 'it' places to go. It's definitely worth an occasional visit for the fantastic cocktails and memorable evening but I won't be a regular...Ok, well I'm a poor first-job graduate living in London with very little money BUT I had a great night out at Mahiki recently!

I thought it would be really pretentious but was surprised that there was no guest list, the manager introduced himself and bought me and my friend drinks and I got chatting to Princess Beatrice! Paid Â£10 entry, Â£9 for a cocktail and after that the night was free as people are so willing to buy drinks. Not stupid enough to think people are that nice, but the clientel were generally drunk and rich!

People such as Paris Hilton, Cheeky Girls, Chelsea footballers, royalty - they all visit and it seems to be one of the 'it' places to go. It's definitely worth an occasional visit for the fantastic cocktails and memorable evening but I won't be a regular...

Claridge's Bar - Best bar in London by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:01:07 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7629 8860

Website: http://www.savoy-group.co.uk/claridges/claridges.html

Tags: cool & smart, mature, posh

A short waddle away from Bond Street is Claridges Hotel, where we decided to entertain ourselves with a Â£14 cocktail each before the long journey home. This is a spectacularly impressive place, from the art deco grandeur of the lobby to the intimate plush luxury of the Bar, where every drink is exquisitely prepared and the gorgeous homemade nibbles delivered by faultless service. On this occasion I had something called a Barb Wire (for such a classy place, they have a slightly worrying habit of naming cocktails after Pamela Anderson vehicles. Another item on the menu was Bay Watch). The moral of this story is, you get what you pay for - my drink consisted of fresh rhubarb and Chambord with vodka and lemon juice. It was superb. Overpriced is a state of mind.A short waddle away from Bond Street is Claridges Hotel, where we decided to entertain ourselves with a Â£14 cocktail each before the long journey home. This is a spectacularly impressive place, from the art deco grandeur of the lobby to the intimate plush luxury of the Bar, where every drink is exquisitely prepared and the gorgeous homemade nibbles delivered by faultless service. On this occasion I had something called a Barb Wire (for such a classy place, they have a slightly worrying habit of naming cocktails after Pamela Anderson vehicles. Another item on the menu was Bay Watch). The moral of this story is, you get what you pay for - my drink consisted of fresh rhubarb and Chambord with vodka and lemon juice. It was superb. Overpriced is a state of mind.

Polka - Hot Cocktails by thamshere

thamshere — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:51:47 +0000

Review by thamshere

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7287 7500

Website: http://www.jamiesbars.co.uk/polka

Tags: relaxed, bar, friendly

At first glance Polka has an impressive cocktail list, but I must say that I'm not convinced by their homebrew recipes. The staff were helpful and reasonably attentive, but given that we were the only two people in the bar this isn't surprising (it was a Monday, so this is probably not indicative).

We went for a Cherry Crush and a Coconut & Lemongrass Martini. I found the Crush to be good - strong cherry flavours with the sharp edge of grapefruit underneath, but the flavour was very strong. Still, by the end of the glass I could happily have drunk another.

The martini was overpoweringly sweet and coconutty - it completely masked the gin and the lemongrass also, despite the large stick of it floating atop the drink. I couldn't have drunk half of one of these and am rather glad my companion chose it rather than I.

We stayed upstairs (being as quiet as it was I doubt the second bar was open). The music was set to a very reasonable volume, to the point where I don't even remember if there was any.

Prices are reasonable for Soho. Around 7 pounds for a martini, short or long cocktail and 9 for their specials. I'd love to come back here to sample a few more of their concoctions, but lack of a happy hour inclines me towards other venues.

http://www.polkasoho.co.uk/At first glance Polka has an impressive cocktail list, but I must say that I'm not convinced by their homebrew recipes. The staff were helpful and reasonably attentive, but given that we were the only two people in the bar this isn't surprising (it was a Monday, so this is probably not indicative).

We went for a Cherry Crush and a Coconut & Lemongrass Martini. I found the Crush to be good - strong cherry flavours with the sharp edge of grapefruit underneath, but the flavour was very strong. Still, by the end of the glass I could happily have drunk another.

The martini was overpoweringly sweet and coconutty - it completely masked the gin and the lemongrass also, despite the large stick of it floating atop the drink. I couldn't have drunk half of one of these and am rather glad my companion chose it rather than I.

We stayed upstairs (being as quiet as it was I doubt the second bar was open). The music was set to a very reasonable volume, to the point where I don't even remember if there was any.

Prices are reasonable for Soho. Around 7 pounds for a martini, short or long cocktail and 9 for their specials. I'd love to come back here to sample a few more of their concoctions, but lack of a happy hour inclines me towards other venues.

http://www.polkasoho.co.uk/

22 Below - Quick cocktail stopover by thamshere

thamshere — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:04:18 +0000

Review by thamshere

Rating: 4.00

Website: Oxford Circus

Tags: cool & smart, cool, trendy

Popped in to get a happy-hour cocktail before heading to Ran, just down the road. We both ended up with the same one due to a short list to choose from, but I was impressed enough that I would have happily drunk them both. Not amazing but very tasty indeed.

We had a... um... well, it had raspeberries in it and it was the one at the top of the happy hour menu, on which all the cocktails were 4.50.

The bar is one of Soho's little oddities. Very hip, it combines alchohol with art. We walked in to find ourselves confused by voices coming from the walls, which after a moment we realised to be coming from the video screens at the end of the room - they were showing a selection of short films from the Rushes Short Film Festival. An unexpected but not unwanted experience.

After a while the films were abandoned in favour of music, which seemed rather loud for an empty bar. Of course, it was early Monday evening so I wasn't expecting a crowd. Best thing about going out on a Monday :)Popped in to get a happy-hour cocktail before heading to Ran, just down the road. We both ended up with the same one due to a short list to choose from, but I was impressed enough that I would have happily drunk them both. Not amazing but very tasty indeed.

We had a... um... well, it had raspeberries in it and it was the one at the top of the happy hour menu, on which all the cocktails were 4.50.

The bar is one of Soho's little oddities. Very hip, it combines alchohol with art. We walked in to find ourselves confused by voices coming from the walls, which after a moment we realised to be coming from the video screens at the end of the room - they were showing a selection of short films from the Rushes Short Film Festival. An unexpected but not unwanted experience.

After a while the films were abandoned in favour of music, which seemed rather loud for an empty bar. Of course, it was early Monday evening so I wasn't expecting a crowd. Best thing about going out on a Monday :)

Strawberry Moons - Pole Dancing Paradise! by Philippe

Philippe — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:30:21 +0000

Review by Philippe

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7437 7300

Website: http://www.strawberrymoons.co.uk/

Tags: friendly, cocktails, club

Went to Strawberry Moons a few weeks ago with some friends - dance floor was absolutely packed...so ended up on stage...under the spotlight...on the pole...again!
Second visit this year - until 2008 haven't been there for about 5 years or more. Even more lively than I recall, everyone out for a good time, very friendly.
I even got chatted up by one of the Shot Girls - yow!Went to Strawberry Moons a few weeks ago with some friends - dance floor was absolutely packed...so ended up on stage...under the spotlight...on the pole...again!
Second visit this year - until 2008 haven't been there for about 5 years or more. Even more lively than I recall, everyone out for a good time, very friendly.
I even got chatted up by one of the Shot Girls - yow!

Absolut Icebar - A Great Start To A Night Out! by ablair9999

ablair9999 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:30:49 +0000

Review by ablair9999

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 9192

Website: http://www.belowzerolondon.com

Tags: sexy, cool & smart, relaxed

The Absolut Icebar is a fantastic place to take people if you want to show them something different and provide a bit of a talking point! I've been a couple of times and am off again tomorrow - I'm taking my dad for his 60th Birthday before we go out for dinner!

Sure it's a gimick, sure it's different, and it sure is cold! It is also fun, unusual and a great place to try some fab vodka cocktails.

It's kept at 5 degrees below as the bar, tables, walls, sculptures and glases are all made from crystal clear ice from the Torne River. They do however provide the aforementioned thermal gloves and hi-tec silver thermal ponchos - just as well too!

The entry fee does include the clothing and your first drink. Refills are around Â£7 each, but as you are limited to 40 minutes (due to the temperature) you would be hard pressed to run up a massive bar bill unless you really go for it!

It is small, and they do limit numbers of visitors, so book in advance to be sure you get in. As I said at the begining, it's a great place to start the evening. Enjoy!

Added 03-04-08

We went again last night. Still fantastic and still a great start to the evening. It was very busy, so definately prebook. Entry price (including 1st drink) was Â£12 with refills at Â£6 each. They had changed the interior (they redesign every 6 months)but still great - spot the John Travolta ice statue! Yes - it's a disco theme! The Absolut Icebar is a fantastic place to take people if you want to show them something different and provide a bit of a talking point! I've been a couple of times and am off again tomorrow - I'm taking my dad for his 60th Birthday before we go out for dinner!

Sure it's a gimick, sure it's different, and it sure is cold! It is also fun, unusual and a great place to try some fab vodka cocktails.

It's kept at 5 degrees below as the bar, tables, walls, sculptures and glases are all made from crystal clear ice from the Torne River. They do however provide the aforementioned thermal gloves and hi-tec silver thermal ponchos - just as well too!

The entry fee does include the clothing and your first drink. Refills are around Â£7 each, but as you are limited to 40 minutes (due to the temperature) you would be hard pressed to run up a massive bar bill unless you really go for it!

It is small, and they do limit numbers of visitors, so book in advance to be sure you get in. As I said at the begining, it's a great place to start the evening. Enjoy!

Added 03-04-08

We went again last night. Still fantastic and still a great start to the evening. It was very busy, so definately prebook. Entry price (including 1st drink) was Â£12 with refills at Â£6 each. They had changed the interior (they redesign every 6 months)but still great - spot the John Travolta ice statue! Yes - it's a disco theme!

John Snow - Superb watering hole by andymyers

andymyers — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:02:04 +0000

Review by andymyers

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 1344

Tags: independent pub, food, pub

The John Snow is an brilliant Sam Smith's pub, centrally located and very cheap. If you like your beer and a pub with some character, then this is a great option. The food is reasonable but beware the Alpine lager; though cheap, it will give you a serious hangover.The John Snow is an brilliant Sam Smith's pub, centrally located and very cheap. If you like your beer and a pub with some character, then this is a great option. The food is reasonable but beware the Alpine lager; though cheap, it will give you a serious hangover.

The Warwick - Karaoke Night, Great chill out after shopping by princessjasmine

princessjasmine — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:07:59 +0000

Review by princessjasmine

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7734 4409

Website: http://www.thewarwick.co.uk

Tags: live music, friendly, food

The Warwick is a nice venue to chill out after work, or take the edge off after a gruelling shopping trip. The atmosphere is nice especially as it is located on the outskirts of Soho. Thursday night is Karaoke night and a lot of fun with plenty of encouragement from fellow drinkers!
The Warwick is a nice venue to chill out after work, or take the edge off after a gruelling shopping trip. The atmosphere is nice especially as it is located on the outskirts of Soho. Thursday night is Karaoke night and a lot of fun with plenty of encouragement from fellow drinkers!

Milk And Honey - Milk and honey by gilka

gilka — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:21:55 +0000

Review by gilka

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7565 1620

Website: http://www.mlkhny.com/london

Tags: dark, cocktails, jazz

Great place! It helped that we knew someone from inside.
It is a member bar so not sure how difficult it is to get in.
We had A-M-A-Z-I-N-G cocktails with extermely professional stories being told
on each drink! The place is a bit dark but it has good energy.
They have some house rules so ask before doing something silly...
the theme is prohibition time and this is why the place has no clear signs outside of it.
Great place! It helped that we knew someone from inside.
It is a member bar so not sure how difficult it is to get in.
We had A-M-A-Z-I-N-G cocktails with extermely professional stories being told
on each drink! The place is a bit dark but it has good energy.
They have some house rules so ask before doing something silly...
the theme is prohibition time and this is why the place has no clear signs outside of it.

Burlington Arms - My best work local by NickR

NickR — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:13:43 +0000

Review by NickR

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7479 7620

Website: http://www.burlingtonarms.com

Tags: food, real ale

The Burlington has a no nonsense small downstairs that soon gets busy and packed with atmosphere. Tables outside (heaters in the winter) are often taken advantage of. If it gets a bit too crowded then you can usually get some seats in the quieter upstairs that also has its own bar.
The staff are really professional, have great attitude and help the pub have a better than normal atmosphere.
I have only eaten there once and the burger I got was very good. I can recommend this good example of what a british pub should be.The Burlington has a no nonsense small downstairs that soon gets busy and packed with atmosphere. Tables outside (heaters in the winter) are often taken advantage of. If it gets a bit too crowded then you can usually get some seats in the quieter upstairs that also has its own bar.
The staff are really professional, have great attitude and help the pub have a better than normal atmosphere.
I have only eaten there once and the burger I got was very good. I can recommend this good example of what a british pub should be.

Shampers - another vote by ceedoubleu

ceedoubleu — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:50:18 +0000

Review by ceedoubleu

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7439 9910

Website: http://www.shampers.net/

Tags: french, good value, british

another vote for Shampers. Had lunch there today and there were at least four early Christmas parties taking place. Service and food were just fine, no pressure at all. One of my favourites. another vote for Shampers. Had lunch there today and there were at least four early Christmas parties taking place. Service and food were just fine, no pressure at all. One of my favourites.

Volstead - Volstead - 1920's Private Members Bar by MissBex

MissBex — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:02:50 +0000

Review by MissBex

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7287 1919

Website: http://www.volstead.com/

This place is swanky - tucked away on Swallow St just down the rd from The Cuckoo Club the bar/club is decorated in a 1920's theme - velvet curtains, mirrored walls. I have been here a number of times and had a great time!
It's relatively small, and fills up by 12am - by 2am everyone inside is pretty messy, probably because they all have Mummy and Daddy's credit cards. The people are generally good fun though, not your snobby crowd while under the influence.

Once you have a table inside the Grey Goose flows all night, and the hot waitors who serve your table are always good to look at. The place is not cheap though! The membership I think is around Â£700 a year, and you will only get in if you are a hot lady of the night, or have your name on the door list.

Good luck...This place is swanky - tucked away on Swallow St just down the rd from The Cuckoo Club the bar/club is decorated in a 1920's theme - velvet curtains, mirrored walls. I have been here a number of times and had a great time!
It's relatively small, and fills up by 12am - by 2am everyone inside is pretty messy, probably because they all have Mummy and Daddy's credit cards. The people are generally good fun though, not your snobby crowd while under the influence.

Once you have a table inside the Grey Goose flows all night, and the hot waitors who serve your table are always good to look at. The place is not cheap though! The membership I think is around Â£700 a year, and you will only get in if you are a hot lady of the night, or have your name on the door list.

Good luck...

Glasshouse Stores - One of Sam Smith's best by flashboy

flashboy — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:35:50 +0000

Review by flashboy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 5278

Tags: cheap, traditional pub, food

One of no fewer than three Sam Smiths pubs along Brewer Street (along with The White Horse and The Duke of Argyll), and probably the pick of the bunch. Seen from the front, with small windows and a tight entrance, it looks like it's tiny, which might put off passing visitors - but it opens up, Tardis-like, once you get past the bottlenecked bar. Several more rooms, nooks and crannies, a downstairs that's nearly as big again (which serves food, at least most of the time) and a courtyard out at the back mean that you stand a good chance of a seat on even the busiest Friday night.

The rest will be familiar to lovers of the Sam Smiths formula. Lovely cheap drinks, cheerful bar staff, proper old pub decor in a pleasing range of brown tones, and a warm atmosphere. If you're one of those strange people who don't like Sam Smiths, then there's nothing here to change your mind. But then, if you don't like Sam Smiths, your mind is a baffling and quite possibly broken organ which utterly defies rational explanation.

Oh, and there's a wonky bar billiards table. Hurrah.One of no fewer than three Sam Smiths pubs along Brewer Street (along with The White Horse and The Duke of Argyll), and probably the pick of the bunch. Seen from the front, with small windows and a tight entrance, it looks like it's tiny, which might put off passing visitors - but it opens up, Tardis-like, once you get past the bottlenecked bar. Several more rooms, nooks and crannies, a downstairs that's nearly as big again (which serves food, at least most of the time) and a courtyard out at the back mean that you stand a good chance of a seat on even the busiest Friday night.

The rest will be familiar to lovers of the Sam Smiths formula. Lovely cheap drinks, cheerful bar staff, proper old pub decor in a pleasing range of brown tones, and a warm atmosphere. If you're one of those strange people who don't like Sam Smiths, then there's nothing here to change your mind. But then, if you don't like Sam Smiths, your mind is a baffling and quite possibly broken organ which utterly defies rational explanation.

Oh, and there's a wonky bar billiards table. Hurrah.

Two Floors - Two floors - but no sign! by Sarah_W

Sarah_W — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:37:03 +0000

Review by Sarah_W

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7439 1007

Tags: lively, cocktails, food

If you fancy visiting this bar after reading my description you'll have to go looking for it by its address or my photo - you won't find it with a helpful sign above the door telling you its name, or even that it's a bar. People who come here do so because they've heard about it from friends or from reviews like this. But if that makes it sound a bit snobbish or snooty, it's far from it. We recently enjoyed relaxing here in the early evening limbo between shopping and eating. The welcome was low key and friendly, the background music good but not obtrusive, the decor funky in a deceptive "been here for years, bit faded now" fashion. Chris had a Red Stripe and I chose a very good Rioja, although I was very tempted by the good cocktail list and will be back to try some I'm sure!

The location near Carnaby Street and Oxford Circus makes this particularly good for that post-shopping slump, but later in the evening it would make a great alternative to the traditional pubs or scarily trendy bars that are the usual options in this area.

Rather bizarrely, the basement has a tropical island themed bar - I preferred the warm colours and eclectic furnishings upstairs and am not quite sure why they felt they had to do anything different down here!If you fancy visiting this bar after reading my description you'll have to go looking for it by its address or my photo - you won't find it with a helpful sign above the door telling you its name, or even that it's a bar. People who come here do so because they've heard about it from friends or from reviews like this. But if that makes it sound a bit snobbish or snooty, it's far from it. We recently enjoyed relaxing here in the early evening limbo between shopping and eating. The welcome was low key and friendly, the background music good but not obtrusive, the decor funky in a deceptive "been here for years, bit faded now" fashion. Chris had a Red Stripe and I chose a very good Rioja, although I was very tempted by the good cocktail list and will be back to try some I'm sure!

The location near Carnaby Street and Oxford Circus makes this particularly good for that post-shopping slump, but later in the evening it would make a great alternative to the traditional pubs or scarily trendy bars that are the usual options in this area.

Rather bizarrely, the basement has a tropical island themed bar - I preferred the warm colours and eclectic furnishings upstairs and am not quite sure why they felt they had to do anything different down here!