If you’re looking for a night out with a difference, head to one of these quirky bars for eccentric surroundings and memorable experiences.
From hidden basement bars and themed boozers to old-school games bars and secret drinking holes, you'll find plenty of unique places for a drink in London.
1. Barts
Can you keep a secret? Travel back in time as Barts brings 1920s Chicago to 21st-century London. Ring the bell, offer the secret password and step inside to sample a riot of cocktails and quirky cartoon decor. Choose from an extensive list of illicit cocktails enjoyed by the lawbreakers of London and keep your eyes peeled for secret cocktail menus hidden within works of literature.
Where: Chelsea (Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DW)
2. The Absinthe Parlour
Leave the everyday world behind and step into The Absinthe Parlour, a heady blend of mixology and the macabre. This award-winning venue is steeped in Victorian gothic and guarantees a night out like no other. The menu includes cocktails from the four corners of the world and an exceptional collection of absinthe, the favoured tipple of radicals and free spirits.
Still hungry for new experiences? Venture downstairs to The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Unnatural History and explore a collection of strange and exotic artefacts you won’t see anywhere else. Or choose an unforgettable event from an ever-changing programme of guided tours, lectures, workshops and tastings.
Where: Cambridge Heath (The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, E8 4RP)
3. Cahoots
Raise a glass in style as you step back in time at Cahoots. These charming 1940s-themed cocktail bars and pubs span three venues in Soho and Borough Market. Each unique space has been lovingly transformed into a totally immersive venue, promising ‘high spirits, scoundrels and swing’.
In Soho, there’s a recreated Underground station and a Ticket Hall. In Borough, there’s a Postal Office with stacks of character and even a pneumatic cocktail delivery system. Check out the events programme at all venues too and take your pick of live music, DJs and vintage high jinks.
Where: Soho (13 Kingly Court, W1B 5PW and 5 Kingly Street, W1B 5PF) and Borough (Unit 205, 18 Stoney Street, SE1 9AD)
4. Flight Club
Looking for some friendly competition for your next evening out? Look no further than Flight Club. These Victorian-styled pubs offer fun, fast-paced rounds of darts for all abilities, with cocktails and sharing menus on hand. And every weekend, you can enjoy a bottomless brunch of unlimited prosecco and pizza.
Where: Shoreditch (2a Worship Street, EC2A 2AH), Bloomsbury (55 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1BS), Islington (56 Upper Street, N1 0NY) and Victoria (6 Sir Simon Milton Square, SW1E 5DJ)
5. The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town
Ask to see The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town at this ordinary-looking cafe in the City of London and an entrance down to the bar will provide a very unique experience (we won’t ruin the surprise). Find a darkened room with luscious cocktails, beers and bar snacks. When you’re done, don’t forget to leave through the secret exit. Be in the know and impress your friends with tales from this secret bar.
Where: Liverpool Street (12-16 Artillery Lane, E1 7LS)
6. Moonshine Saloon
Get a true taste of the Wild West at the Moonshine Saloon. Grab your Stetson, bring your own boot-legged booze and mingle with colourful locals at the bar. This is a truly immersive night out, where you take part in a live story, played out by actors who are fully in character. All while sipping on top-notch cocktails.
Where: City of London (28-30 Houndsditch, EC3A 7DB)
7. Four Quarters
Gather your friends for a Mario Kart tournament or binge on your favourite arcade game, from Pac Man to Street Fighter, at Four Quarters, an old-school video games-dedicated bar in Peckham, with branches in Hackney Wick, London Bridge and Elephant & Castle. Exchange your British change for American quarters and enjoy craft beers, creative cocktails and hearty American dishes between pinball rounds.
Where: Peckham (187 Rye Lane, SE15 4TP), Hackney Wick (Unit 8 Canalside, E20 3BS), London Bridge (Arch 33, 68 Union Street, SE1 1TD) and Elephant & Castle (20 Ash Avenue, SE17 1GQ)
8. Little Nan's Bar
Always thought your grandmother's front room would make a great bar? Perhaps not, but luckily for us, Tristan Scutt did. Inspired by his gran, Little Nan's Bar is like walking back in time to the 1980s, when sickly sweet cocktails adorned with mini umbrellas were still novel, Princess Diana was the rising star in our hearts, and fancy teapots were all the rage (except here, they're filled with something a little stronger than tea).
Where: Deptford (Deptford Market Yard, Arches 14-15, SE8 4BX)
9. The Attendant
Sit back, relax and watch exciting food and drinks being created in the unique underground surroundings of the former Victorian gents lavatory, The Attendant. Inspired by its past, the bar’s original porcelain urinals are now used as coffee benches, complete with green seating to match the Victorian tiling.
Where: Fitzrovia (27a Foley Street, W1W 6DY)
10. The Piano Works
For a fun-filled night out with live music and a buzzing atmosphere, The Piano Works is hard to beat. Gather your friends, grab a drink at the bar and put a request in for your favourite tune. The house band is on hand to play your favourite music from across the decades. There’s a lively events programme too, from Bottomless Brunches and Throwback Thursdays to late nights and live DJ sets.
Where: Farringdon (113-117 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3BX) and Covent Garden (Gillian Lynne Theatre, Parker Street, WC2B 5PW)
11. WC - Wine & Charcuterie
Sample fine wine and cheese in the underground Victorian setting of WC - Wine & Charcuterie. These unique venues are in former Victorian lavatories with original wall tiles and floor mosaics from the past, and the cubicle doors have been laid flat and turned into tables. Choose from an extensive wine list and accompany your drink with a delectable selection of cheese and meat from around the UK and Europe.
Where: Clapham (Clapham Common South Side, SW4 7AA) and Bloomsbury (Guildford Place, WC1N 1EH)
12. Draughts
Fancy an old-school games night? Draughts has got you covered. Head over to this friendly bar and you’ll find an eclectic menu of food and drink, plus an impressive library of more than 1,000 games to choose from. If you’re new to gaming, the staff is always on hand to help you out.
Where: Hackney (41 Kingsland High Street, E8 2JS) and Waterloo (Arch 16, Leake Street, SE1 7NN)
Keen to discover even more quirky hangouts? Check out our guide to quirky London: find odd exhibits at unusual museums, seek out secret spots or enjoy a meal with a difference at London's quirky restaurants.
