Inside the mind of Laura N: "grumble grumble... where the heck is this place? I've been walking up and down Sloane Street looking for a black door, I mean I know it's a speakeasy but, good lord! I can't see anything that could even be... oh wait.. Chelsea Cloisters? Wasn't that in the address? Is this? Umm, serviced apartments? Maybe I'll just ask in here... why don't people ever just ask? Bah... I don't want to ask, that's lame. If I call, doesn't that just defeat the purpose? Stupid hidden bars. I'll just go up the stairs on the left, hell, maybe I'll move in! Back on topic Laura. Focus. BLACK DOOR! Locked. Natch. Buzzer? YES! Is this one of those silly door slider bars? Are a tattooed man's eyes going to appear through a... ahhh! Door slide action! ENTRY! SUCCESS! This better be worth it... Wow. This was SO worth it! Glug glug glug... ----- Sure it's hard to find, but isn't that all part of the charm? Once you're inside this little cave coveting all things Americana, you'll be spoiled with samples of house bottled sloe gin, black jack gin, mulled wine and the friendliest bar staff this side of London. It's nice to know that once the viewing door slides closed and you're allowed in, all pretension is left behind. You can simply sit back and enjoy what you came for -- fabulous cocktails from fabulous people. Get there quick, this place won't be hidden for long! read more

Barts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

The theme of this bar is really fun! We booked a table and the invite was great. It really sets the mood! It was a bit hard to find which comes in line a bit with the theme of the bar. We ordered a mad hatter which looked amazing and was yummy. It's a good amount for 6 ppl to share. I also had a yogi bear cocktail which was good. This place is expensive.. So beware. Bart's has a loud music and people do dance. I thought it would be more like a bar. I had fun! The music was in general good but the DJ was not very good as there were moments with long pauses and the transition from one sine to the other was slow. It sounded like they were using Spotify as their DJ actually. The downside is the service. It was really really really slow and not attentive at all. We asked for water there were 6 of us and we had 2 water glasses. The waitress brought us a teapot filled with water.. But no additional glasses. Also, our waitress asked us if we would like shots that has mango juice and prosseco. She presented in such a way that it seemed like it was 'on the house'. But we were actually charged in the end. Cheeky. In general, I think the theme is great. The decor is amazing. It is a good night out but I personally wouldn't go more then once. London has many other great bars with more innovative cocktails and better service. read more

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The cocktails were fantastic, the vibe is very old school, prohibition era, speakeasy feel - exactly what we were looking for - and the service was just what we needed, attentive but not overbearing. The cocktail menu, creatively designed into a comic book, includes wonderfully unique ingredients and concoctions. The story behind the place itself is definitely one worth hearing. A great spot to hit on a journey to London. read more

Barts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

A speak easy type atmosphere in Chelsea on Sloane Ave. There is a door to knock on and slit that opens in the door. Fortunately I didn't have to say a password because I had no idea what it may have been. Inside is smallish and colourful. There is a quite small outside portion which looked nice and a decent bar and inside portion. Drinks were typical London pricing and the crowd was a bit older (35+) for the most part. Great spot for a quick drink or more and suitable for a local hangout. read more

This is a small, fun, kitschy speakeasy with a 20's gangster theme. The decor is a mix of oddities but charming. The menus are done in as a 50's comic book, telling the story oh "Uncle Bart's" escape from Capone's Chicago to Chelsea. A nice touch. The drinks were inventive and fun, some with wildly creative presentations. They are expensive as you might imagine, but no more than you'd expect in a craft cocktail place. The only trouble with the drinks was that many were of little volume. Too much ice or barely half filled glasses. Service was slow but again, it takes time to make these drinks. They'd be well served to have two bartenders on even though we went on a Sunday night. Our server was friendly. This bar lost a few stars from me thanks to a drunken "friend" of the bar manager or owner who accosted our group several times in an effort to get us to buy a round of shots or a last round of drinks. He thought he was being amusing and his act was not a transparent targeting of American tourists to get us to spend more money there, but it was. The more drunk he got the more "handsy" he was and the fouler his language became. It got uncomfortable. He was clearly being indulged by the manager. A shame. We'd have probably returned there on our trip a few nights but will avoid the place now, not wanting to have to deal with Toby again. Owners, if you read this, your pal is doing you no favors. read more

Nice little hidden speakeasy in Chelsea Cloisters. Quick knock on the door and giving the password you enter a very dark ecletic room with a cozy seating area. The menu is housed in a comic book with a vast array of cocktails to choose from. The majority of the drinks are 13 pounds which are a bit pricey but the drinks are worth it. This is the place to go if you do not mind getting a unique crafted cocktail that takes time for the mixologist to make. read more

Barts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

I fucking love wigs. Rainbow curly wigs. Bleach blond mullet wigs. Grandpa wigs. This bar is very PRO-WIG. There were a lot of costumes happening. And hats dispersed about the bar for costumers to wear. Late 90's pop music playing that people were doing "the noodle" to. If you fancy bizarre hats, wigs and nonsensical costumes, I highly recommend coming to Barts and ordering the Mad Hatter. read more

Very atmospheric speakeasy. Finding the entrance was another task that gave even more secretive feeling about the place. Manuel and Luka were super welcoming and fun to speak to. Would definitely recommend a visit to Barts when seeing London. read more

Barts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Awww, you guys tried so hard! As far as the speakeasy concept goes you have to give Barts some credit. The decor is solid and the feel, when not too crowded, is great. The staff is very kind and their outfits are perfect. The drink menu is just off, it doesn't fit the whole idea of a speakeasy. The point of a hidden bar (this one has a website) is to convey some sort of mischief; indeed, speakeasies were an illegal response to Prohibition in America. There's nothing dangerous about the Barts cocktails. If I go to a secret bar I want my drinks to taste like they were brewed in a bathtub, be shaken like they were smuggled across state lines and be served in glasses that make you think of the Great Depression. Instead you're presented with a huge list of cocktails that, while excellently executed, just don't fit the concept. The Moscow Mule had no bite, the Double Dutch didn't kick me in the face like I hoped and our third round was a sugary concoction that made me want to brush my teeth. Their signature cocktail, the Park Avenue, made me think of Sex in the City...and that's not a good thing when talking about a speakeasy. I ordered the secret 'Cocktail of the Day' expecting something that would adequately reflect the tenor of the bar and the skills of the bar tender. I got an apple martini. In a speakeasy. That's not right. Finally, the clientele was not for me. Obviously the location and cocktail menu bring out the Sloane Rangers and that's not what I want in a bar. And it's not what I want in a speakeasy. I wish them all the success in the world because the concept is good and the staff was brilliant. The execution was lacking though. read more

"Anybody who is anybody will soon walk through that door," chirps the music on Barts' website... and they aren't kidding. Expect royal company. With the recession in full swing, people seem nostalgic for all things Depression-era... and this is *the* speakeasy bar that other similar venues only wish that they could be... The fun starts with the fact that it's hidden away in a completely random apartment building - through a lobby that looks straight out of 1980's Las Vegas. After exchanging a secret handshake with the doorman, you're ushered into an incarnation of 1930's America. From the Mickey Mouse comic wallpaper plastering the entrance door, to the extremely nice barmen in newsboy caps, and the cocktails served in tea cups, not to mention shocking prices - as in, wow! we *must* be in a depression era - they are so low... Barts knows how to put together a proper prohibition bar. Fun and eclectic decor, just dim enough lighting, and just loud enough music for you to carry on a proper conversation, swift and helpful service... overall, it's completely endearing experience, in a "I will definitely be back" sort of way. Only trouble is, you need a secret password/key card to get in.... but then again, if you're anybody who's anybody.... read more

As an American visiting friends in London, I am sort of going with the flow when it comes to nightlife. Sunday night, our group decided to hit up Bart's, and it did not disappoint. After walking through a hotel lobby, any potential Barts-goer must enter through a nondescript door and hold down a button to call the doorman. The doorman will give your group a look over and if he thinks you're up for a night at the bar, he'll let you in. Given that it was a Sunday night, we had no trouble getting in. Once seated and through a game of Connect 4 (they have different board games scattered throughout the place), we decided to get the Purple Prohibition- a vodka based, cranberry infused, other alcohol-including, overall delicious cocktail. The elixir came served in a teapot. Pretty cool. The teapot was generous for our four person group, although it did cost about 45 pounds. On the whole, Bart's is a great hole-in-the-wall turned trendy lounge experience. I expect one in New York shortly. read more

Cool little speakeasy bar inside the Chelsea Cloisters. You think you are going inside a private apartment building at first and we had to ask at the reception for directions, but it is down the hall with a small sign. Once past that door you enter a small entrance with directions on how to get into the bar. A women pulled open a hatch and we were able to get in without a reservation. It was fairly quiet as it was around 6:30pm on a Saturday evening. The first thing I saw on entering the bar was a man with an ice pick hacking away at a giant block of ice, which was a bit creepy, but in a good way! The bar is dimly lit, with red walls decorated in taxidermy and vintage lighting. It is cosy, with a few tables and plenty of standing room and a decent sized outdoor area. You are presented with a book with lots of choice of cocktails and it is table service. It isn't the cheapest drink you'll get but it is a 'speakeasy' and you are in Chelsea. My friend and I tried two cocktails each, I tried the Park Avenue cocktail which was a surprise, you didn't know what the ingredients were. It was quite nice, fruity and had a pineapple flavour. My friends cocktail arrived in a teacup with a brownie on the side. The next cocktail I tried was a gin cocktail but tasted more like old fashioned and I had to swap with my friend as I couldn't drink it! I enjoyed my experience at Barts and would visit again, it's a novelty experience and a cool place to take people who haven't been before. As we were leaving, the place really filled up so I would probably recommend making a reservation. They also serve food/nibbles from the Gaucho restaurant next door, which looked impressive from what I saw come out. read more

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Our drinks were great but the service is awful. Confusingly described as a 'dive bar,' though it seems far more accurate to describe it as a 'prohibition bar.' The atmosphere is nice, great music, with a bit of a reading-room theme to the decor. There is also a really nice little outdoor space, and he drinks are expertly blended from what we could see and taste. However, the hostesses are inattentive, disorganised and at times almost outright rude. Our order was half forgotten, we were over charged, moved around, and had to wait for them to finish chatting on multiple occasions so that we could order and pay. Nice as a novelty, but we certainly won't be back. read more

Barts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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This place is great, the only problem is that I'll never find it again as it is hidden away in some faceless apartment building. The only clue to its existence in the building is the presence of a bouncer outside a black door, behind which is some odd wallpaper which reveals a speak easy style entrance. The staff inside are dressed like it is the 1920's in keeping with the speak easy style. The bar itself is small and intimate, it was also completely full by the end of the night. Need I say more, need I say more read more

Gimmicky cocktails that beneath it all are poorly made. Spend less time wrapping it in newspaper or filling it with smoke, and more time learning to mix. Wannabe Shoreditch decor, but without requiring the Made in Chelsea crowd to stray too far from the King's Road. If you've ever been to any other cocktail bar, it will probably have been better... read more

You don't expect to find a bar when you walk into a portered block of flats in Chelsea, especially one where the residents seem to be a mix of young professionals and high class hookers. Although when you think about it, it makes for the perfect environment in which to put a bar. Once you have found the entrance, you have to ring a door bell and if the barman likes the look of you then he'll let you in (note to self, if you are in a big group, stick the hot chicks at the front to ensure admission). The bar is full of street signs, stuffed animals, luggage, and a mix of things you might find in a Shoreditch antiques market. BarChick particularly loves the fancy dress box and one evening ended up dressed in the leather lederhosen. We drank shots from teacups, were served absinth served over sugar cubes, and even enjoyed the novelty of being able to smoke in their garden (although this closes at 8) Perfect place for a date, great barsnacks, and if your into Sloaney guys/girls, it's a great place to pull too. read more

So while friends still rave about this place, it just really didn't do it for me... Had no trouble finding it as the directions were clearly laid out before by people I was meeting there...but when I asked for our reservation, it was lost. Ok, just asked for another table, no big deal, but still a bit annoying... I really didn't love the drinks we had, albeit I will forgive them for the dirty martini as I've since been told by bartenders here that the olive juice simply isn't made the same way in the UK as the states (which makes sense), but the other cocktails we sampled really didn't stick out as anything special to me either... Then when they put them all on my card as I held the tab, and I had to get the bill refunded then split, that was a bit annoying...as was being booted from our (new) table pursuant to our lost reservation... The ambiance struck me as a very small closet, so while empty at first, it was packed pretty quickly, but not in a good way, but a if we make the space really tiny, it will seem very packed and popular. Can't say I wouldn't give it another go if others wanted to, but in no rush to return. Also the doormen were really friendly, so I guess I'd give them a 2.5 stars. read more

My girlfriend, who is pretty much the Samantha Jones of London nightlife (she has the club owners' #s on speed dial; no waits in line ever!) showed me a great time here. I mention this because I don't know how easy it is to get in, though there did not seem to be a long line when we went in. For a fun night with friends, the thing to do is have a couple drinks at Barts then head off to Maggie's for dancing. Bart's = Fantastic lounge/bar. Music selection was great and volume not overbearing, so you could actually hear your friends and carry on conversations. This place is so unique... As if the speakeasy vibe were not enough, there is a chest of costumes for even more fun! Purple wig? Hula skirt? Check! read more

Taking a visiting friend out in London I needed somewhere around the South Ken area for a pre-dinner drink, so having checked Yelp (of course!), this place seemed ideal. Being a Friday evening, I wasn't sure whether I would need to book for an early slot but thought I had better try just to be on the safe side. Given its speakeasy style, it could have been one of those places that, you know, if your name's not down... The whole process of booking a table couldn't have gone more smoothly. I initially phoned, but getting no answer decided to try dropping them an email, fully expecting that it might be somewhere that was too cool/ too busy to reply without a few chasers. But I couldn't have been more wrong and was very pleasantly surprised to get a prompt, helpful and accommodating response from the delightful Ariana. In no time I had the comfort of a 7.00pm reservation for two, and while there's normally a minimum spend on tables at the weekend, was assured this wouldn't apply as I was just looking for an hour early doors. It was fun following the directions and discovering the black door in Chelsea Cloisters, and then waiting for the sliding window to be opened and our reservation checked. I must have walked past this place many times without even realising. As the British summer had finally crept above freezing we were able to venture outside into the cloistered outdoor space, an ideal secret drinking den, and enjoy the fresh air. Great service, and super cocktails! I particularly loved the passionfruit Jazz Singer, which was beautifully presented and tasted delicious, and the Charleston Crumble followed a close second :) My friend, curious about the tobacco infused liqueur, was given a complementary taster to try alongside his Whiskey Sour. While still fairly quiet when we arrived, it had begun to fill up a bit by the time we were obliged to leave for our dinner reservation, but the time had flown and I can imagine we would have quite happily lost another couple of hours there! read more

After wandering aimlessly through the apartment complex, we finally found Bart's and were rewarded with stellar handcrafted cocktails and the utmost beautiful drink presentation. Our favorite drinks were the Park Avenue and Osbourne Sour. The drinks have such high quality ingredients and unique recipes you can't go wrong with any choice. We had so much with the adventure of finding the bar and the night continued to exceed our expectations from there. read more

Barts - The Back Forest and The Park Avenue. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Fun hidden speakeasy in Chelsea. We happened to stay at an AirBnB in the Chelsea cloisters which is how we discovered this. The atmosphere is very fun and Laid back but with a drink selection that is very top class. On the higher end of prices, But not enough to break the bank. Worth a visit for sure. read more

Even a star is too much for a place we did not get into. I had booked a month in advance (with 40£ deposit in case you don't show up), organised a night out with friends, to be told when we arrived that the bar was full up because of a birthday party. Very disapointed. read more

Absolutely love Barts as you can tell from my recent blog post. In fact you can bag yourself a free cocktail on certain nights between now and end of March if you tell them 'Miss Immy sent you'. Check my site for more details. www.missimmyslondon.com Barts rocks, so see you down there! read more

As others have pointed out, a visit to Barts is a "royal experience". Though the décor is kitschier then the tastefully discreet entrance would suggest, it nonetheless attracts a well-pedigreed crowd. Don't go for the drinks, don't go for the ambiance, go to see and be seen. And go soon for that matter, because if a lowly American tourist can find this place, it's surely already on its way out! read more

Bart's is an interesting speakeasy that requires a password to get into. There is a unique comic book theme with interesting drinks. I went on a Saturday night and didn't have a seat. It's definitely a place to visit if you like interesting drinks. read more

One of my absolute favorite spots! Amazing bartenders and awesome cocktails! The atmosphere is always fun. You can't beat that fancy dress box. Definitely a spot I visit every time I'm in town. read more

It is really difficult to provide feedback as there were great aspects and not so great aspects. I was enthralled by this place from the start - before I even went. It can be difficult to find (though I found it quite easily) and I think that adds to the charm. I also loved the invitation/confirmation that you receive when booking a table - absolutely fantastic! The atmosphere of the bar itself it quite interesting and I really liked the whole prohibition era theme they had going on. The not so great parts - this is more of a minor thing: while the service was attentive, rather than natural it came off as somewhat pushy (a fine line I suppose). I would not mention this at all to be fair, but it connects with the main negative (obviously from my point of view). You know going in that this place won't be 'cheap' and it felt that there was the staff were on commission (which was odd). Just another point on the service - we requested water and were brought a tea pot with water but no glasses (there were only 2 at the table...). The lady looking after us came up at some point randomly and asked if we wanted shots - her body language indicating that it would the bar's treat as she said the bar has these fabulous shots, etc. They were not good, in fact 4 out of 5 people at our table really disliked it and when we advised the lady (shot glasses still full of the alcohol) there was no suggestion made to offer something else - and to make matters worse the shots were actually charged (at £8.50 each). I would have much rather paid an additional £3 and gotten a cocktail of MY choosing than what happened. It left a bit of a sour note at the end of a lovely evening. I did want to make a point of it there and then, but it only would have dampered the mood further and I did not wish to do that. read more

The decor itself is fun so that certainly stands out. All of the drinks were rather tasty but lacking on the amount of alcohol, just really weak which is the reason i prob wont go back - effectively paying for fruit juices. read more

I strayed from the chelsea cloisters hotel into this place. I love the tea-pot idea. Drinks were strong and I got a good head. Overall my friends and I had a blast a bit pricy though, for me a tourist with limited funds. My US$ did not hold up but I don't mind splurging a bit. You know but I really miss Good America pizza....Will do London again in 2012 if we make it. read more