Less 'speakeasy' and more 'interesting bar.' We visited assuming a secret door entry, dim lighting, and a more laid back atmosphere. While Purl wasn't BAD, it missed our expectations. The drinks were interesting and different. Half of the restaurant was going through renovations, so they were strapped for space. We sat in the front and enjoyed our time. read more

Great cocktail bar in Marylebone. Drinks are decently priced at approximately £13-15 per drink on average. We ordered some interesting ones throughout the night with many theatrical and entertaining effects. The table waiters are also more than happy to make your own cocktails if you tell them what you like. Be sure to make reservation in advance if planning to come to guarantee entry. read more

Purl - Safari cocktail - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Really cool place! Has a speakeasy vibe. Located in the basement. There the aisle is really windy, and they seated us at the very end of it. On two large couch-style chairs :) You could still see some of the other little tables and groups from there. I tried two drinks here, one Summer Kiss and one recommended by our waiter. Both drinks were nice! First one came in a sun-shaped container :) I didn't like that they kicked us out after two hours unless we wanted to order more drinks (I guess reservations are just for 2 hours), so keep that in mind. The temporary working waiter there was really nice though :) read more

Purl - With the Summer Kiss drink - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

A great speak-easy lounge in Marylebone. Well worth a visit. It's a sprawling cavernous underground place. Excellent ambiance with turn of the century decor and prohibition era music. The staff was exceptionally friendly and chatty. Book a table here for an after drink cocktail---you will love it! The drinks are fantastic and creative. My friend ordered the Mr Hyde's special---which was a rum based drink served in a sealed poison bottled in a case of smoking liquid nitrogen. It's a bit hard to explain, but do check out my photo---never had a drink like that. I had the Tommy's which sadly had no smoke or liquid nitrogen but was still a nice take on a margarita. Note you need a reservation to go here. They do not allow you to stand at the bar. No worries, though you can book a table on their web-site. read more

Purl - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Top Cocktails in a very super cool speakeasy feel venue... There are lots of nooks to huddle into and enjoy some high end cocktails with friends. Really enjoyed the drinks here; the cocktails are laid on with the most eccentric theatrics all of which just add to quite an awesome night! Staff were friendly, attentive regularly checking if we were OK and taking drink orders. Only down side, as we came to the end of our reservation we were notified the next party had arrived so to move it along, we still had nearly 15mins left and again, with 5mins left on the table we were pretty much shipped out that we couldn't even settle the bill at the table. A little more courtesy here would be nice read more

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Been here last night and i'm glad i went for it. During the week it's not packed, but don't take your chances and book online, it takes 30 seconds, even on your phone. Very user friendly. The bar is on the lower level, so you won't see it on the street. There is just a sign and stairs to get down. Inside the atmosphere is very good, i was there on a Monday evening and despite they were playing live music (jazz) the volume was not too high and we could have a noce chat and enjoy our drinks. The cocktails are something else, we tried 6 of them and ejoyed them all. Some do not just taste good, they are also presented in a spectacular way (try the fog cutter before they change to the new menu). Already booked another visit. read more

Purl - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Definitely my favourite pick so far from the speakeasy wave that has flooded London. I found it more interesting and intimate than most of the others I've been to, and without falling into the style-over-substance trap. Make a reservation in advance as it's pretty busy, though the nice thing is you don't really notice it when you're in there as there's all sorts of nooks and crannies and little tables in alcoves around every corner, so you can still get some privacy (though admittedly there was a couple sat opposite us that were exposed enough for us to hear some pretty painful first date chat!!). The drinks are imaginative but crucially still tasty - enjoy the novelty value of some dry ice, silly straw specs, and my personal fave, the 'detonated lemon' of the Cerez Joker (I won't ruin it for you ;) They also bring out little munchies which is always a win. And in case you weren't enjoying the secret drinking den feel enough, the live jazz band later on are awesome. Best to book a pre-dinner slot I think so that you don't lose track of time and end up spending a bomb - also I err found it only takes one of their cocktails to feel a little wobbly... :-$ read more

Purl - Cocktail o'clock never gets boring ;) - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Cute, romantic, hidden little cocktail hideaway. You seek refuge from the rain at this secret of a place, on a quiet, rainy night. As you head downstairs, you aren't prepared for the cocktail world you're about to enter. You open the door, and it hits you. Dimly-lit corner tables, live jazz, leather sofas and chandeliers tucked away in different corners of the bar. The menu is inventive, unique, and offers a large variety of cocktails, hard liquor, and beer. If anything, I wish they offered more vodka cocktails. The service was a bit slow, as there was only one waiter. read more

Purl - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Walked past this on many occasions and checked out what it was about on Yelp so was excited about coming here. Booked easily on line. Don't get confused by this, you are not booking dinner but just a table in this wonderful establishment. We came here on a Wednesday evening so it was relatively quiet although a fair number of people were coming as we left. We only came for a quick drink but after being showed to our table and left with the menus to look at, it took a while for them to return to take our order. We were near the point of going to the bar to get our drinks. Eventually they came and took our orders. The cocktails were wonderfully presented which makes you feel like you are out for a special treat. You don't get your common cocktails here which is part of the fun to taste these great creations. The cocktails are not cheap so, maybe not the place to stay all night but great place to start or end a night with their quaint seating areas which give you privacy and easy to talk with just background music adding the the atmosphere. Will definitely be back read more

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This place is a hidden gem. We sat by the bar as we had no reservations and showed up to grab drinks before dinner elsewhere. The bartenders were both very knowledgeable and helpful in recommending drinks. They answered all our questions and made some of the most innovative drinks I've seen. I mean a whisky based drink that looks like creme brûlée and is served with cheesecake?! What!! So delicious. Apparently the menu is changing for the winter now, so may not be able to get these drinks again. Definitely a quiet and cozy place to great cocktails with friends read more

Purl - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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"Save money on a theater ticket and come to Purl instead." Here is what we had. 1. Mr. Hyde. Drink comes out in a bottle with a bit of smoke floating around. First half poured onto an ice cube, second half sitting inside of a stone cauldron on ice, still inside the bottle with smoke. We are in the Dr. Jekyll phase. Another "bucket" of smoke poured out over the stone cauldron - it's a coffee aroma which floats around as you drink the first half. You sip. You talk. You wait until the smoke inside the bottle has infused into the drink. You pour it out. Now you're on to Mr. Hyde. 2. Cerez Joker. Whiskey sour (except with Vodka as the base). Drink comes out with a balloon tied to it and some sort of an aroma at the top of the balloon. Blow torch. Burn the string, balloon floats up. Balloon pops releasing some more of the smell with a big bang. Heads turn. The audience watched you drink a whiskey sour. 3. I don't remember the name of this one. But drink. One half of the lip of the glass has white chocolate. The other half, nothing. Drink from one half you get sweet. The other half, nothing. The base of the glass has chocolate sprinkled over it. 4. Meringue floating on top of the drink. Blow torch to the top - almost like a toasted marshmallow. Drink the cold drink, smell and eat the warm meringue. Highly recommend checking out this little place. read more

Let me start by saying that while entertaining, the Mr.Hyde is a rather underwhelming drink. So, unless you're just into the presentation and are not prepared for something on the strong side, avoid this. Both my friend and I had a hard time finishing just one together. That being said, I really REALLY liked this bar. It's a bit cramped if you come with just one other person. Don't expect a lush sofa or privacy for just the two of you if you're on some sort of date. I fortunately was not and did not have an issue with this. In this bar, I think I had two of the best drinks I will have in my life. We'll see if I have to come back and change this statement. Those two drinks would be the Moch Distiller (which I liked so much I had twice) and the Puffing Devil (which was actually what my friend was having, but of course I had a taste and it was a very worthy combination). If only I lived in London and could get my hands on another Moch Distiller, that would be heaven. Unfortunately this bar takes reservations and closes at midnight and we didn't get the memo, so we only had a bit of time to try things out later in the evening when fewer people were filling the seats, but I'd say based on what we had some drinks are just hit or miss. But as far as service and honest recommendations based on your preferences, you can't lose. Tell them what you like and what you don't like, and they won't lead you wrong. You might even get something specially made for you if there is nothing on the menu that suits your tastes. read more

Purl - The Moch Distiller (after the entertaining heating and pouring) and the Puffing Devil (ice cream malt in hand, not photo) - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

For those who love the experimental cocktails in a quirky setting, Purl is the one, Tucked under the basement, this little hide-away in Marylebone definitely has a "Wow" factor. Their cocktails also come with all sort of "Wow" factors (& balloons sometimes), making this place a perfect venue for special occasion to treat your friends & loved ones. Make sure booking first though, they rarely answers calls & has a security at the door, occasionally declines entry. read more

Purl - Quirky glass (metal?) ware keeping my cocktail cool. - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Jewish Champagne: When a cocktail involves fire, celery tonic and champagne...my interest is piqued. With good reason, this particular cocktail was quite lovely...in a much more subtle than it reads type of way. Delicious. For 9: Bombay Sapphire, pineapple and purl's flaming celery tonic. With a big old celery stalk/flower garnish. Perfection. Although, I'd certainly be getting the Cerez Joker on my next visit: sloe gin (heaven), fresh lemon, ginger bitters, DETONATED lemon twist. Yes, it could be my favorite. Not sure I've ever seen the word "detonated" on a list anywhere before. Good form. We also all enjoyed the olives (divine) and cheese & meat plates. All quite perfect to accompany the drinks and provide just a wee bit of base. From the Purl website: The word purl refers to an old English drink consisting of warm ale, gin, wormwood and spices.Today, we continue to imagine drinks that satisfy on a multi-sensory level, using aroma, fogs, airs, foams, food, bespoke serviceware and liquid nitrogen to bring the drink to life and transport the guest to another place or time. Transport me, Purl. Transport me. Anytime. *Also, a note on reservations: "We like people to book tables with us to avoid dissapointment on the door. We have a number of booths in under-the-road arches that are perfect for parties of eight or more." I can attest, we snagged the arched booth...super swanky/comfy/private/wonderful. So, in closing. You should go here for drinks. Have a date? Impress them with this without being lame and/or over the top. Cozy up without it being super weird. Make a reservation, order some cocktails and be entertained. read more

When I want a swanky, dimly lit, speak easy style environment with great background music and a drink menu that looks a bit like a mad scientists recipe book, I'll be coming here from now on. Yes, a lot of those aforementioned cocktails are £10 a pop, but you know what, I'm coming here when I want ambiance, something special and intimate. I want an experience, not just a drink. and Purl definitely provides. They might not be the stiffest drinks around, but they are lovely. Book ahead, be excited by your little nook of space with cushy seating and friendly, attentive waitstaff. Order something that fizzes or foams, or the daily punch special, which is a bit lighter on the pocketbook. I'll admit, I love the whole 1920's speak easy vibe, I love the music and fashion from the era. I love the art. and Purl ticks a few of those boxes for me. I'll be back for my next special occasion for sure. read more

One of my favorite bars in London, and also one of the more unique bars I've seen period. Purl is a reservations only cocktail bar with a series of cave like hideaways that sprawl under ground level. Many of their booths are built under stone arch supports for the ground above. Darkly lit (no really), it's a very quiet and mysterious sort of drinking den that marries the modern with gothic details hundreds of years older. And all that is a back drop to the real show: The cocktails. Well before Booker and Dax opened in New York, Purl, along with 69 Colebrooke Row have been doing some very science fueled tweaks to classic cocktails. Both bars have also recreated how a cocktail can be presented. In Colebrooke's case, these changes are very subtle. With Purl, these changes are drastic and meant for outward entertainment value. Consider: The various iterations of their Hyde Cocktail include a drink that has been mixed in an old fashioned poison beaker, smoked and sealed with wax, then served in a bin of dry ice tableside. To say it looks like a literal science experiment is entirely accurate. The thing is though, their cocktails are outstanding. Both because of, and in spite of the flair. Flair is nothing without the product to back it up, and quality on all fronts is where Purl really shines. read more

Ok, after thinking this one over for a few days i will go ahead and give it a five! I had the Colonel Sanders Boiler Maker and 1) it took "old fashioned" down from it's number 1 position as best drink 2) it had the most creative presentation (a glass bottle packed in a papper bag with hay). My friend had the "peach bellini" (ok, kind of lame choice) and was very happy with that one too. The venue was relaxed and somewhat exclusive, even though it didn't feel pretentious. The one fact that made this 5-star a week one was the clueless waiter staff which seemed more good looking than service oriented. You can't get in without a reservation. But to look at it from the bright side it is fairly easy to get a reservation and that way you won't have to hassle for a table the day of. read more

Definitely a top-shelf cocktail bar, lots of style, very much demonstrating the knowledge of the folk making and serving the drinks. Most authentic Pisco Sour I've had outside of Peru, definitely the kind of place you can feel comfortable going 'off piste'. The speciality drinks all have a theme and a touch of the theatre: my favourite being the Hyde which came with its own flavoured dry ice in a silver bowl. Unnecessary? Maybe, but a lot of fun. Drinks felt a little 'light' though - i expect cocktails to be a minimum of a double-measure, and tbh after 1x speciality (Joker) and 3x Pisco Sours, I'd expect to be well on my way to wobbletown. I was not. Others in our crowd thought the same on discussion the next day. If this was happy hour in a lounge bar, i'd expect a lighter mix - but not when paying £10-£14 a drink in a place as professional as this. read more

Going to Purl is slightly like going to a magic show -- you don't know what to expect, it's entertaining, and there's usually smoke involved. I first heard about Purl whilst at a cocktail party with someone who had just gotten into molecular cocktails. What's that, you ask? Well, think Heston Blumenthal-type concoctions -- Lapsang fog, Fruit-based caviar, dry ice -- and put them into an alcoholic beverage. That's Purl. Their menu changes by season, but always includes drinks that make cocktail lovers thirsty and science geeks curious. The ambiance of the place is based loosely on the prohibition era, and tall men beware -- I have watched many tall man bump their heads on various ornamentation. The number increasing, of course, as more Mr. Hyde's are consumed. Prices aren't the cheapest, but for the quality, wow-factor, and speakeasy-vibe, definitely worth it. Make sure you book a spot online or you won't be let into the bar! read more

Purl is a busy and stylish subterranean cocktail bar with a nice atmosphere in quiet and beautiful Marylebone. Its knowledgeable bartenders offer great drinks recommendations and make sure you will get to know new drinks that match your taste. When I was looking for a suitable bar for a first date, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to finally check out Purl in Marylebone. I was lucky, I walked in in the early evening to book two places for later - and surprisingly they still had two spots by the bar. But you should really book a few days in advance, as it seems to be busy most of the time. And I guess, since Chiltern Firehouse became quite popular recently, Purl might be even busier than it already was before. As it goes, I spent a good half an hour waiting, which was fine, because sitting at the bar, you can chat to the bartenders and also just watch them do their thing - always fascinating. After starting off with a white wine, I soon moved over to cocktails. I looked through the menu, and then asked the bartender for recommendendations - after specifying a few basics (gin!), he came up with some suggestions. The first cocktail was not too complicated, but very fresh and delicious. The second or third then was a more advanced drink. It came in two parts that I had to mix together myself. A brilliant idea, but my tipsy, clumsy self managed to break the glass in the mixing process, so that one did not go down too well. However, the embarrassment was manageable and overall, we really had a nice evening with excellent cocktails at Purl. If you enjoy tasty cocktails in a relaxed, dimly lit environment mixed by experts, Purl is definitely a place for you. read more

Speakeasy style, foaming and fizzing drinks, limited menu and the best bar tenders around. This place is a gem. Great place for a group of 6-10 in the back, small grotto-like tables. I bit pricey, but worth it. Great for a small birthday celebration or special date, especially if you're in the area. read more

This place has awesome reviews, and I'm sure I'd loved to have tried their supposedly awesome drinks. Unfortunately, absolutely abysmal customer service stopped me from having that opportunity. Two of my friends booked here for a large group to celebrate a special event weeks in advance. We arrived at the designated time, only to be told that the reservation was "only for 2 people." The reservation definitively said it would need to be for 12, not 2. The waitstaff claimed to have called to confirm, but hadn't left a voicemail and, when my friend had tried to call back, didn't answer the phone. Now, I understand that mistakes happen. If they'd apologized, done their best to accommodate us, and maybe thrown in a drink or two, the mistake could easily have been overcome, and I could have been writing a rave review instead of this one. Instead, they refused to discuss the situation with us any longer or to re-check the system, and inelegantly told all of us to, essentially, get lost. It was pouring outside, so while we were willing (and at this point, preferring) to find another venue, we hoped to meet everyone at the party inside Purl before moving on. The management refused to let us even wait at the (empty) bar, and when we headed back into the rain, we found one of our friends had been refused entry. Frankly, even if the whole mix-up had been 100% our mistake (while in fact it was 100% theirs), I would have expected much more courteous treatment. Being a popular, trendy locale is no excuse for being downright mean. read more

Our group reservation made several weeks in advance mysteriously disappeared when the party arrived on the day of. We were told by the staff in an arrogant tone that it was our fault and we had made the reservation wrong. We were not even allowed to stay inside while we were trying to fix the situation and find another place (it was pouring outside). Absolutely no compassion or mea culpa from the staff. Despite the popularity of this place and the originality of the cocktails, I will never come back. No customer should be treated this way. In a nutshell: do not go read more

This is an AMAZING place for a date or a party. You can book booths so it's dark and intimate. There's table service so you'll never have to queue at the bar and can focus on conversation. The drinks here are the conversation starters. Our first drink was a whisky based drink with fluffy egg whites, which came with a balloon smothered in Chambord. The idea was raspberry air would infuse the drink when the balloon was popped. Our second drink was a fruity, modern version of a pina colada that was served out of a sun tan lotion bottle. This one was way too easy to drink. Its not cheap and you have to book so it takes the spontaniety out of visiting, but if you have a special occasion coming up then book a booth and you will have an entertaining night. Tip: Look for the man with the clipboard outside the door as Purl is downstairs and easy to meet if you're walking down the street. This keeps the riff raff out :) read more

Purl - The air in this balloon is a vital ingredient! - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Ow, my head. Who gets into a deep conversation with the bartender over how to make the perfect Vesper, and what is the best substitute for Kina Lillet since its discontinuation? Us, apparently, that's who. Or more specifically my mate Matt; and only in Purl. I guess seeing as the bar is named after the old English drink, Wormwood Ale ('Purl'), including in it that ingredient so famous for its psychoactive properties in absinthe, I shouldn't be so surprised if my head wasn't worse for wear after a trip (our 4th) here. Pros: + The cocktails are great, with one exception (see later). The pageantry is great, things explode, you set things on fire and feel like a crack-head with the resulting concoction, they bubble, they smoke.. honestly it is fun. + The bartenders are top of their game, and really really know their stuff. You ask for an Old-Fashioned, they'll ask what whiskey. A martini? What gin? A Vesper? What vodka. Not sure what to chose, let it up to them, but be warned the best cocktails come at the nose-bleeding price altitude. + Great spots and couches located near the bar, with a somewhat secret back area that is more modern and can seat large private groups of guests in a few beige-leather 'U' couch area. + Waiting staff are top-notch + You sometimes get give samples of cocktails from the bar, just because they are getting rid of a batch (i.e. anything frozen/iced) or just cause they may want to try something out. It is great, and to be honest, more places should just let the staff do a bit of easy customer service. Cons: - The Dr. Jeykll & Mr. Hyde was like drinking an ashtray. It just wasn't pleasant. - Prices are a bit higher than the 'going-rate' across London (seems to be averaging out at £8-£10 pounds these days), but I guess the worth is there. Getting in: The door guys are always a bit funny, and always go to ask if there is space/if we can be allowed in. Frankly I think its just a thing to make it appear exclusive. We've never, ever, found it to be too busy, despite (or maybe because of) Chiltern Firehouse being across the road. Admittedly we go on Wednesdays, and seems like you should reserve Thursday-Saturday! Ambitious, slightly pretentious, mischievous, masterful, boozy, secretive, pricey, romantic with the hope of salaciousness; all words you could sum up about Purl. Go there and see what you make of it! read more

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Had high hopes for this place but the reality is it was just "ok". We had booked, so no trouble getting in. It was 9pm on a Saturday night but the place was not particularly busy and the atmosphere was really lacking. Waiters were friendly but 2 of my party wanted a Mojito (not on the menu) and were told they couldn't. The cocktail menu is very limited and I felt it was slightly pretentious to refuse a basic cocktail request. A Mojito is fairly low-key, quick and simple to prep; wasn't like it was going to ruin the beardy-hipster, (non) vibe. Also, the place smelt really damp. Yes I know it's underground and an old building but still, not pleasant. The cocktails were just alright. Trying way too hard on the way they're presented rather than how they taste. Place was worth a try but we won't be back. read more

Sexy, expensive, cave-like. Super swanky. Quite a gem of a joint. So, expensive? Yes. Honestly, I'm not a huge cocktail fan. They are fine but in the end, I'm pretty cool with a £4 - $6 beer vs a £12 cocktail. That I will also sip in 1/10 the time to drink the beer. But I recognize a good cocktail place. And Purl is on that list. I really like this joint for an intimate date or for a group. The individual 'booths / caves / areas' are perfect! And surprisingly, the gentleman who works the door and list on Saturday nights is extremely polite and willing to help. I honestly expected pretentious attitude. read more

This is one of those "secret" places that's tucked away in the heart of the city. Definitely have to make reservations well in advance. The atmosphere is amazing, the music is chilled out, this is the perfect place to go if you want to be able to hold a conversation with someone. The service is great, the people here truly are mixologist, they embody the meaning in every way. The drinks are unique and extremely good. This is the perfect place, whether you're on a date, or with a group of friends. Would recommend this establishment to anyone looking to add something special to their night. read more

Oh, I can see how this place could be fantastic. How it might be fun to sneak down stairs to a nondescript bar and disappear into one of the cave-like booths escaping to the days of prohibition and speakeasys. We went on a Monday around 10pm (without a reservation) and it was decidedly dead, with the exception of some great live jazz. (But that's to be forgiven, it's a Monday after all). The bartender was friendly, and the drinks were delightful! Delicious, original, and a nice mix of camp and skilled mixology. Prices are about what you'd expect for a place like this. Worth the price, in my opinion. Would definitely try again! read more

Our search for a true speakeasy brought my husband and I to Purl on a Wednesday evening. This bar was suggested by a friend after hearing of our love of cocktails and our location. As we found out when we were stopped at the door, usually you need a reservation. However, since it was just the two of us, they managed to squeeze us in. To enter Purl, you must walk down a narrow set of stairs (I'm beginning to see a pattern here...). The ceilings are low and there are many different nooks and crannies of varying sizes for people to sit. There is one room that looks ideal for a large party with soft, cushy couches forming the shape of a U around a low coffee table. We sat on two tall stools that were a tad uncomfortable, but their vintage look fit right in with the old fashioned decor. The music in the background (a mix of twenties and jazz) was just the right level for talking with your date. The only detail holding them back from a truly quaint and intimate atmosphere was the level of lighting. This place would be perfect if the lights was dimmed and more candles were strewn about the rooms. The true highlight of Purl is the innovative and delicious cocktails. Each one was clearly concocted with great thought and detail. Many of them are served with an inventive garnish and presented in a creative manner. For instance, my husband's "Our" Tai was served in a small bottle laid in a mother-of-pearl shell with a garnish of dehydrated pineapple mixed with brown sugar and some other ingredient I can't remember. My Venetian Kiss was delivered with a dehydrated slice of grapefruit and a layer of delicious foam on top. It took me a few sips before I actually reached the prosecco. We each only had one drink, so there are many more items on the menu that I'm looking forward to trying. There is also a blackboard where special drinks are written in chalk in case none of their regular drinks catch your eye. We will definitely be back soon! read more

It was a late Saturday night and I'd heard of Purl but always found them booked up. So I just rocked up with my date at 11pm - we were initially told it was full as it was a Saturday - d'oh dummies - but then later let it to find it half empty.. Having said that, I can forgive their poor customer service when I started looking through the cocktail list.. Think Heston Blumenthal does drinks. Super smooth, quality ingredients, visually appealing, and our mixologist took the time to explain what they were, how to drink them and told us a bit about the story behind the different ingredients and concoctions. Also, the place is so cute. Filled with little nooks and lovely leather sofas, great jazzy music and nice lightning. Apart from when it got to midnight, when the music abruptly stopped and the lights were turned on. We were however allowed to stay until our drinks finished which was nice I guess. All in all, excellent cocktail list and really nice venue, they just need to fine tune their people skills. read more

One of the best places to drink good in London, Italian management, means warm and friendly service. As soon as you enter you are catapulted in another time, it's a true speakeasy with live music and masterclasses availability. The bar is at the highest standards in terms of spirits availability and skills and expertise of the mixologists. The prices are contained and competitive when considering both the quality, service ambiance and compared to the market in London. read more

Purl tries to be an upscale cocktail bar with a speakeasy feel to it. Difficult to find but the doorman and big sign gives it away. The cocktails are more on the creative side with perhaps a bit too much focus on how it looks and being spectacular rather tasting that great. There were cocktails with fire, loud sounds, balloons and smoke - most of them tasted nice but not at all able to compete with the top ones in London. So more focus on flavor than how it looks would be nice. Do also appreciate the fact that it is possible to make reservations (they claim it is essential but have been here Friday and Saturday nights with groups of 4-6 people and had no problems to get seats). Purl would still have been a good place if the service was not so bad. I like the atmosphere in general, the interior is nice but the service is not up to par. Service is also often very poor, some of the waiters are disinterested and sloppy and last visit here they screwed up and refused to take responsibility for it when they promised to stop by for last orders and when they came they said they only do last orders for beer (while we had tried to order cocktails and they said they would be back for that when last order is called). Waitress refused to discuss it and just said that is the way it is and she cannot be expected to remember what she tells everyone. After being met with that type of attitude I doubt that I will be going back. read more

Visiting London for a day, so I thought I'd check out Purl. Awesome speakeasy type cocktail bar. Ambiance was fantastic. The guys there were super welcoming, and the cocktails were head-tiltingly flamboyant. Had a lovely time, would highly recommend with friends or solo. read more

Purl - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Ah !! Purl is another interesting cocktail bar that i have visited recently. Note the fact that i said "interesting" and not "good" or "great". Based on the six drinks that i tried there, its not that good yet ... certainly Callooh Callay is better at the moment ... but Purl has the potential to get there. Tucked away in a residential part of the city, almost at the centroid of the triangle formed by the Baker Street, Marble Arch and Bond Street stations, Purl can be difficult to find. But its worth the effort trying to locate this underground speakeasy. I would strongly recommend that you should reserve a table beforehand ... if you can't get in, there aren't too many alternatives in the area. Purl is located in the basement of a building ... and seems like a haphazard collection of rooms ... with chairs and sofas strewn all over. The music is lively but not too loud. I could hear my friends speaking ... which was a big plus :) The drinks are indeed novel. I started with Ketel N2. I don't particularly like martinis but i was attracted to it because it was cooled by liquid Nitrogen. You had to wait for it to boil off before drinking. I asked for lemon with the martini, but they got onion. Soon our table began to resemble a chemistry lab. Mr Hyde No:2 was brought in a flask that was being cooled in a tumbler full of dry ice. It had a very smoky taste ... it wasn't my favourite but my friend liked it. The Phoebe snow (cognac and absinthe) was enjoyable. The other drinks were quite ordinary. It was a good place to get together with friends because of the nice ambience ... and so i would like to return. The drinks available were very different from those i see elsewhere ... so although i didn't enjoy this set too much, i will surely want to try the new ones if their menu is revamped anytime soon. Purl is somewhat pricey ... with drinks averaging ~£12 after service. It did seem too much that night that i went ... but who knows, a better set of drinks might just be worth the price. read more

Purl - Martini with liquid Nitrogen - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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went back to Purl cause they were having a special "1 year birthday" event and it was really chill the last time I went. Made the necessary reservations and got our 2 hour time slot. free cocktail on arrival and there was entertainment as well!! the mr. hyde drink was impressive as always with the dry ice, though be warned, it's a very very strong drink. we had a giant cave booth to ourselves and the performers were rotating from table to table so we were basically getting them all to ourselves at one point. the magician was amazingggg!! awesome UP-CLOSE interactive magic that seriously left us awestruck. he asked me to think of a card then shuffled through a deck and flipped it over, whaaat?? awesome way to start a friday evening! read more

Now I've tried a few hidden cocktail bars in this great city of London, so I have an idea of what to hope for for the price you pay. So, when my friend Jo had a birthday she told me to book in somehwere "fabulous" for drinks. Now it was London cocktail week and I'd heard good things from this place, so a quick reservation for 3 on Friday evening (we hadno problems getting a table for later in the evening) and off we went. Firstly, I have to say that the staff were really friendly and helpful, I phoned up a couple of hours before and warned them we were running late at dinner. They had no problem with moving our table back half an hour and accommdating an extra person at short notice. Hidden away in Marylebone, you descend into the murky depths down a wrought iron staircase into this throwback to the prohibition era. Low lighting (and I mean LOW), chandeliers and appropriately dressed waiters made for a great first impression. We were shown through the maze of corridors to our table, tucked away nicely in a corner with 2 lovely black Chesterfield chairs for half our group to relax on. Looking around, there were tables under arches and a table that was actually a piano (super jealous we didn't score that, but I imagine it's more of a 2 person kind of thing). My flatmate and super critical friend (hi Danni!) couldn't get over the white plastic dimmer switches and got annoyed that they had overlooked that little touch to the otherwise well decorated throwback 1920s throwback space. The cocktails all sounded amazing so we were excited. I ordered the cocktail week special, ginger foam adorning a beautifully fragranced and sweet gin based drink. Amongst other cocktails were an alternative to Pimms cup and a prosecco (complete with 'dehydrated orange wheel', read burnt but still delicious). We all got excited at the mention of dry ice in a cocktail with grapefruit granita, a great palette cleansing idea. Unfortunately, that drink fell flat with no ice mist whatsoever. Another bartender recommendation involved a version of a caiparinha (my test for how good a cocktail bar is) and these were GOOD drinks. About £10 but worth the price on the taste. What was not worth the price however was a 25 minute wait for 4 drinks, which only then came because I went to complain. The waiter did bring us a free taster of a passion fruit cocktail he was working on as an apology but the bitter taste was left (and not from the cocktail). Such a shame. Now I really wanted this place to be 5 stars so it could be special for Jo's birthday. And it was lovely. But some slight details were overlooked, the dim lighting was too annoying and the cocktails were too late. Such a shame, so close too. Fingers crossed my review changes on a revisit in the future. read more

Purl - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

In my continuing accidental tour of London cocktail bars, this one is pretty interesting. The drinks all have a special addition to them of some sort, in terms of accompaniment or presentation. Novelty. Interior is pretty nice as well, best was the two people sitting at the piano, using it as a table. Neat trick, that. read more

I came with my friends here after raving about it all semester long because I read about it in the airline magazine. It sounded amazing, so we pre-booked a table. The night of, we wandered around until we found the place. It's a bit difficult and you'd think the place would provide a map or clearer directions on how to get there, but the interior decor and kind of "exclusive" feel of the place was really high class. Unfortunately drinks were mediorce. They were expensive and not very strong. They didn't go down well, reminding me very strongly of medicine. We drank the familiar/famous drinks too - Dr. Hyde's Fixer Upper, Green Fairy, a champange drink with ice that you broke... The problem was that it tasted like it wanted to remind us it was alcoholic. Not very good :( However, the atmosphere is lovely and worth a try. read more

A couple of first for me with this place, 1. you have to book online to get a table but you are only drinking! 2. The drinks are some outrageous cocktail concoctions. and did I mention no food, well apart form the cucumber sandwich which greeted us before our first drinks. I suspect dependant on which day of the week you come here you might get in without a booking as there were two people without one who they let in just as we were leaving. But I have the sneaking suspicion this would not be the case over the weekend. The staff were all relaxed, perhaps a little too relaxed as once we were seated, into a nice novelty corner, and we were left with the drinks menu. We seemed to wait an age for them to come back and take our order which was the downside. Not to mention I choose not once but twice cocktails which underwelmed me :-( The cocktails are served in a variety of drink wear. We had ones which came in an old world flask, there were people near to us who's drinks came with a ballon which is then popped before the drinking can start and I am sure there are many more which we did not see. We were originally only stopping for one drink as there were places to go, but through the nature of the place and the quality of the cocktail menu we stayed a bit longer, partly due to the length of time it took to get another drink ordered!! Aside from the speed if service I will visit here again when I can spend more time to sample some of the other cocktails they have to offer. Remember book online first ;-) read more