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

Stopped in for after dinner drinks from the nearby chiltearn firehouse and really enjoyed the cozy vintage vibe. We had 6 in our group and were able to get seated in our semi private lounge area with stuffed leather couches and a big center table. Our server was super helpful in helping us navigate the menu as the majority of the group preferred vodka and the cocktail menu was a bit heavier on other liquors vs. vodka. I got one of their specials for the day and then had my next drink had a much heavier Asian influence and must've had 10 ingredients in it! Everyone really enjoyed their drinks and we were able to have nice conversation among our group as it was quite intimate. read more

Purl - Drink special of the day with candied oranges to "sip and bite" - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Fantastic cocktail bar in a really nice neighborhood. I went there with friends the other night, to spend the end of the evening, and we had a wonderful time. Drinks. They were all wonderful. I don't remember how many cocktails we tried, but all were kinda exotic, somehow unusual, and all delicious. Staff. Super friendly, really. Smiling, attentive, coming to our tables regularly to check if everything was fine. And the place... I loved the decoration down there, and the ambiance, the mood... I don't describe it here, go check by yourself, it's worth the try!! read more

What happened to this place? Five years ago it felt like a buzzy speakeasy and had a really tight cocktail list of showstoppers. Going in felt magical, and the drinks were incredible. Sadly it's declined a long way. Now the service is terrible, the cocktail list is bloated and generic, and the atmosphere is flat as a pancake. It's really lost its way - a big shame! read more

I wish I liked Purl more. The website was promising, and it conjours up thoughts of Bourne & Hollingworth, but a bit bigger. And that might be true, but it's just not as good. I came here because we had a voucher for two free cocktails, and I could barely drink mine. I'm not of the belief that the more booze you put in a drink, the better it is. That does not a good cocktail make. There's a balance. And if the only thing I can taste in a cocktail is the spirit, you've done it wrong and you should have given it to me on the rocks instead. Except this was a gin cocktail, no one drinks gin on the rocks, do they? Service was good though. Friendly, and everyone is very pretty. But that doesn't explain why no one was allowed to sit anywhere. I understand that tables are reserved, but we were given one of the reserved tables. And then a random man came to join us at out table (which was fine, we're not weird about personal space or anything), but the rest of the bar was pretty much empty. Just a bit strange. I like the cocktail menus made from books. I like the comfy sofas. I like that it's in Marylebone - I really should explore the area more. But I'm not exactly bowled over by it, and can't imagine making a special trip to come back. If I do wind up here, I might try something other than the gin Turbo as well. Oh, and a note to the girl in the pretty dress. You're not Marylin Monroe. Stop standing next to the fan and flashing everyone 'by accident'. It's pretty obvious. read more

Judging from the other reviews this place seems to provoke extreme reactions one way of the other, but that wasn't my experience. We came for a quick couple of drinks last Tuesday. The barman was very friendly and welcoming, and asked what my favourite spirit was. I said bourbon, so he gave me one of their speciality cocktails featuring bourbon. This particular cocktail comes served in a paper bag, which was quite a cool touch, and made me feel a bit like I was hanging with Snoop Dogg outside the Seven Eleven. Gill had a vodka martini which was chilled in dry ice (nicely theatrical) and came with a variety of flavoured bitters to take the edge of the neat vodka. It needed quite a lot of flavouring but that doesn't take away from the overall experience. I also had a dark and stormy which was quite nice but wasn't served in a paper bag or on dry ice so felt like a bit of a let down. And it was a bit weird that no one was allowed in unless there was a seat available. Something to do with them only having a restaurant licence I think read more

very nice decor and very chill place. pricey place, but the clientele reflects that. the drinks are amazingly executed and garnished. about 12-16GBP for a small cocktail, and they tack on an extra 1GBP to each bill as a "donation" to their cause. Staff was inviting and interactive. Super nice and crafty but I probably wouldn't return, unless as a spot before dinner perhaps. read more

Omg the cocktails here are wild. They light things on fire, set them on dry ice, add balloons.... and they're all delicious

So, I'm planning a soiree in September for a group that I run and I thought I should find something new. I had heard of this place from a good mate who shares a love of some of the more 'alcoholic' things in life, so I decided to pop in to say hello. I was very impressed - the theme is great, staff are friendly and the things that the drinks come in are really fantastic. Admittedly I only had a mini drink (I had to rush off to something), but it was definitely rocket fuel - just the way I like my martinis! I expect it will nudge up to a five in September, but I thought it was worth popping in a four now! read more

Best cocktails on the planet. They took speakeasy and went hardcore. Mixing the most original and true to the era - read no mixers other than spirits - drinks, with a great selection of 20s/30s music, we could sit and drink all night. My personal favorite? Thumbs Up paired with prosciutto and cocoa powder. Really? Yes, really. Comes together like magic. The low lights, and nooks with accent decor add to the mystery and the appeal. I kept looking around waiting for Nucky Thompson and a sparkly flapper to make an appearance. read more

Well-crafted cocktails, inventive presentation, so-so service, thumping piano & bass jazz, and ultra-swanky ambience & decor. This is where the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (and Ladies) would go for a night cap. Definitely worth checking out, but plan to linger a bit and savor each sip because the staff is definitely in no hurry. read more

Purl - Cerez Joker & Gringo's Grog - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

A bit pretentious unimpressed a can of beer is £7 would not go back to have a beer might go back for a cocktail

A cocktail bar with a very creative concept - Purl aims to stimulate all your senses. Great ambiance, friendly staff, yet drinks here are more of an experience than something to be savoured. While the taste is nothing spectacular, nonetheless we really enjoyed the inventive presentation. Especially Cerez Joker and Mr. Hyde. Remember to make a reservation! read more

Purl - Cerez joker - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Really fun speakeasy bar in Marylebone. If you choose to sit at the bar not only do you see your own creation being made but you also get too see everyone else's too. I got a champagne based drink which was delicious, and came with a meringue that was made in front of my eyes using dry ice. All in all a really fun, intimate little spot. read more

Purl - My champagne based drink - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Don't believe the hype. Ugly bar and pretty shitty drinks. Decor reminds me of an apartment turned low budget haunted house. Drinks are gimmicky but not that tasty. Only redeeming quality, the gimmicks. read more

Oh dear...Purl made my 'don't spend too much money in January' resolution go down the drain, but it was worth it, we all had a great time! The previous reviews mention it all! This place is surprisingly unpretentious considering its location. It seemed like a little pocket of East London weirdness...located in the West! I loved the underground coves...there was plenty of space for our group of ten people. The service was speedy and the drinks were really fun! This place is good for a laugh and for special occasions. Our drinks: - Ball Point Fizz - I loved this one! It was basically vodka with four different pipettes of sours...so I could mix my own drink. It got very sweet near the end, so I drank some of the liquors straight from the pipette. Yum! - Tanqueray & Tab - This was posh G&T, served in a coffee-style paper cup with popcorn. The presentation was cute, and the G&T was yummy. - Frito Bandito - this was pretty good, and came with a moustache! - Boulevardier - This was okay...but mostly tasted of Campari. It wasn't my favourite BUT I loooved that it came with candied bacon! - My Hyde's No 3 - This was exciting due to the dry ice spilling over the table...I have to admit, I didn't love the flavour sooo much. - Milk and cookies - I don't remember this one, apart from the 'absinthe snow' I loved the snow! - Cerez Joker - this was the drink that had to be 'detonated' with a balloon (lemon is sprayed onto the balloon, so you are meant to smell it once the balloon bursts...it was fun...but we couldn't really smell the difference!) - Puffing Devil - I didn't try the drink...but the ice-cream that came with it was hilarious! My friend described it as being like the ice you get from knocking over a beer in the freezer. Bleugh - not my cup of tea!! The 'Oopsies': - I know it's winter and there is snow outside...but I was sooo cold (even after my second drink!) there didn't seem to be any heating in our section. - I liked it, but some of our bloke friends mentioned they were unimpressed by the waitress' attire. She was wearing a comfy-looking woolly jumper, so they thought it looked like she hadn't made an effort (I guess they were comparing her to waitresses in other pricy cocktail bars!?) If I was her, I'd wear a woolly jumper too- it is chilly underground!! - They serve red stripe, in a paper bag for £4...that just sounds silly and pretentious to me! - After nearly £30 of cocktails I wasn't drunk. I am a complete lightweight, and this was before dinner, so this shows their drinks are not particularly strong. read more

I heard about Purl a few weeks after it opened and, since I'm always on the lookout for good cocktail places in London, decided to check it out for a girls' night. It's down a set of basement stairs into a speakeasy type bar with fantastic cocktails. The cocktail menu is on a faux aged parchment bookmark and while some sounded better than they actually were, all the drinks are certainly inventive. We did have to wait a bit to order a drink but never got the feeling of being ignored -- it's just that the drinks tend to be elaborate and take a while to make. The only thing I didn't like about Purl was that it closes quite early (technically 11:30 although we were there until midnight on a Saturday night and no one attempted to kick us out). With all the hidden nooks and crannies, this really would be a perfect palce to sit and nurse a drink until the wee hours of the morning. The music isn't too loud (no dancing the night we were there) so one can really sit, talk, and savor the cocktails. Last thing to mention: the women were fairly well-dressed, although I saw a lot of men wearing very casual clothes. My friend and I technically weren't on the guest list but were let in without a fuss. Honestly, though, I think we'd probably have been turned away if we didn't have reservations and were also dressed informally. So book ahead if you can! read more

Went to Purl last night, having read great things about the quality of the mixology and the re-invention of the speakeasy/Victorian concoctions etc. Venue The venue is fantastic, lots of alcoves and very atmospheric - the bar looks like a chemist's workshop, and there are pianos scattered throughout the place. The music is a blend of electronic jazz swing, played at the right level, you can hold a decent conversation without having to shout or say 'what?' Service OK, first up - when I enquired I was assured that the venue was 'table service' meaning that they come and serve you at the table. Our group of four, having been seated waited for around 20 minutes without a single sign of any waitress, and the place wasn't exactly very busy! I eventually went to the bar to request service, a pattern that I had to repeat for the rest of the evening.. Drinks Very expensive for what you get. I am very keen on mixing myself & I was not particularly impressed with the creations.. Mr Hyde's No.2 £10 - Nice smoke canister but very little alcohol, just half a small wine glass once you have emptied the wax-sealed test tube, and quite bitter - & that wasn't just my palate, others agreed. What's your poison? £12 - This had the most ingenious presentation on a medicinal tray with a pill bottle of grape sherbert capsules, 'Blue death' tincture that just tasted of coloured water and a 'Poison' bottle that tasted of nothing whatsoever- and this was supposed to be Absinthe!! 10/10 for presentation but 0/10 for alcohol content What a rip off.. Blue Blazer £10 - This tasted really nice, with a good balance of flavours - Bourbon, Raspberry liqueur & Chartreuse. However it did not arrive on fire as the name would suggest. Ketel N2 £10 - Basically just a double shot of Vodka with liquid nitrogen in it. There was supposed to be a choice of bitters which the waitress forgot, and by the time she served it to us the drink had stopped smoking, so quite disappointing. Dark & Stormy £8.50 - The best of the ones I tasted, nice blend of Gosling's Rum with Ginger beer & bitters, a well-balanced long drink. Conclusion When leaving the waitress suddenly became very attentive for the first time that evening, & as she was handing me the card machine, enquiring about how we were getting hone etc. I realised the machine was asking me to give a 'service gratuity' !! - I pressed 'decline' What a cheek! The total bill came to almost £130, and to be honest I won't be going back, nor recommending this 'joint' to anyone. The drinks are overpriced and in some cases almost alcohol-free & the staff service is non-existent. If you are looking for fancy gimmicks, old-world atmosphere, don't mind chasing waitresses to get served and have a pile of money to burn then this is the place for you! MT read more

The Purl is a really clever secret bar. I would have given them 4 stars but they couldn't make me the dry ice drink that I ordered. Then while I enjoyed my runner up choice- the bartenders were practicing doing things with the dry ice...? Anyways we so happened to stop by on Valentine's Day without a reservation, and they were kind enough to let us sit at the bar until that reservation showed up (we were finished before they did). They have really interesting concoctions, bar set up, and the interior is something to talk about. read more

went here the other night with a few friends for drinks. a few things to say first - 1.) they are super strict on reservations. you can book online but changing it last minute to add more people or showing up late are very frowned upon. 2.) you only get your table for 2 hours unless you make an additional reservation beyond that time to stay later. 3.) the drinks are AMAZING but expensive. 4.) they WILL NOT hold your reservation for more then 15 minutes so be on time. overall i am giving this place a good review despite it being somewhat pretentious. but i kind of liked that. we had reservations for 2 at 8:00pm on a friday and called that morning to make the reservation for 3. they gave us some trouble but eventually agreed. we got their right on time (learned the hard way on a previous attempt they will not wait) and were seated promptly. grabbed some bites (meat plate and olives) and ordered the first round. all good. my two favorites (of the 6 different drinks we had) were the colonel sanders and the moscow mule. both amazing and would drink them all night long, except i would probably end up broke. read more

How do you like your drink? Do you like a tall fruity one with colours and scents to transport you to a tropical paradise? Or do you prefer that it vibrate with potency and hide lurking in a nitrogen fog just daring you to reach in and try it? Well if you are the former, I'd recommend buying a ticket to the Caribbean and staying in one of the lovely beachside resorts. But for those of you more adventurous (or perhaps just closer to your dark side), Purl will definitely be a place to try. First however, you have to make you way in. It's below ground so keep a sharp eye out for the sign (the bouncer checking your name off a list helps identify with stairwell you are aiming for). Once inside, give your eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dim lighting. If you try to push through the daze you will most likely find yourself sitting in the lap of some lovely lad or lady in the first booth after tripping down a couple of steps. While that's not the worst thing, it can make for some awkward moments. So you made it to your seat without (or perhaps with) incident and you've got a powerful thirst. Good job...you are in a bar...go for it! Get that smoky temptress (I'm talking about a drink here...though the barmaids tend to fit that description too). To be fair, they do have a good range of lighter fruit flavoured drinks but I found the specialities to be as unanimous in their pursuit of complex yet pure tastes and without a doubt packed a punch. I'd love to tell you what I had, but the name escapes me, or rather my bartender friend ordered it for me. I want to say it was a Mr. Hyde No 2 though. First impressions are everything, and this didn't disappoint. It arrived in a silver vessel, something akin to a wine cooler but was billowing clouds of white smoke from the liquid nitrogen that was just poured in. The waitress hands you a glass, gives you a cheeky smile, and vanishes into the gloom. Confused, you realise that you can make out a shadowy shape in the depths of the bucket. Sucking in a breath, you tentatively reach in and touch a bottle covered in frost. Pop the cork and you get to one of my favourite bits about this drink, a burst of smoky flavour reminiscent of Kansas City BBQ pits and fine cigars. Once you've poured your drink and had that first taste, you'll realise the smoke has saturated the drink giving it an unparalled smoothness and depth. The drink is almost solid whiskey with some bitters, so yes it has got some alcohol content to it but I couldn't detect more than the slightest of burns going down. And that was just my first drink. Get yourself to Purl with some good mates, it won't be a decision you regret. Well unless you get a tad carried away sampling the menu then the morning after could be a bit trickier. But there's nothing wrong with that. read more

Larger than it looks from the outside, lots of different rooms and ambiences. Unusual cocktails, I had a black olive negroni, memorable.

Really cool atmosphere. You have to make a reservation and they kick you out after the 2 hours. The drinks are pricey but they are so creative and cool. They come in teacups, mugs, testtubes, etc. Great place to relax and have some drinks with friends. read more

Cool bar with great cocktails. Nice atmosphere particularly in the many little rooms. Good service.

Not bad. Cool ambience. Good drinks but not amazing! One of the few places open late in Marylebone. Get on the list early.

Very cute, intimate bar with an old school vibe. Cocktails are very quirky, but strong . Would recommend this place for a date .

Great date spot in the Maryleborne area. Intimate ambiance and good cocktail selection. Make a reservation ahead of time on their website as the place is quite popular. Not a cheap spot as you'd expect from a speakeasy, but you know that coming in. read more

After reading all the good reviews on the internet, my fiancé and I decided to give it a go and have our pre dinner engagement drink there. We called them on Monday to book a table for the following Saturday. Initially we were told that no table was available. However after explaining that we only needed the table till 8pm, they told us that we could have a table for six ppl from 6.30pm, as long as we make sure to leave by 8pm. Upon arrival, we sensed something was wrong when the security guard said we were not on the list, but he let us in anyway to double check with the owner. We were then being told that the bar was fully booked for 2 big parties that night and there was no record of our booking. You would have thought that a sincere apology would be nice, but no!! The guy (one of the owners) was extremely arrogant and unapologetic. He kept saying the bar was fully booked from months ago and it was IMPOSSIBLE that someone took our booking. He also repeatedly questioned us the name of the person who took the booking. OK. He didn't call us liars directly but the way he argued really made us felt like we were! It was supposed to be a perfect nite to celebrate our engagement, instead, thanks to Purl, we were humiliated in front of our friends and we had to change our plan last minute in a rush. We will never return to Purl. And to be honest, I don't think we are missing out much anyway the bar's in basement and felt like a dungeon. There're plenty of nice bars around that area with better attitude! read more

This is a true cocktail bar. Classy, friendly staff, phenomenal cocktails - each with a unique twist. Almost every cocktail I have had here comes with something edible - from a cheese straw to a marshmallow to grapes! Fun and quirky, there was also a live piano and cello player while I was there which was a nice touch. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent place. Especially good for a special occasion. Very civilised and a thoroughly enjoyable experience...expensive though, but worth it. Fab REAL cocktails :o) read more

I made a reservation one month in advance for a party of 12 for my birthday, and when I got to the bar on the day (yesterday) I was told that I had made a reservation "only for two people", and that they had no table for us. I had specifically included a message when using the reservation system to explain that there would be 12 people, yet I was told by the staff repeatedly and aggressively that the reservation was only for two people, that they don't check the messages that are included in online reservations, and that they tried to call me and my sister but we never got back to them. My sister then showed a call she had made in response to their voice mail and asked if this was the number, to which one of the staff stuttered and replied that he didn't know the number of the establishment (really?) and therefore could not answer. We then decided that it would be best to try to find a solution, but the staff refused to let us stay near the bar counter and wait for the remainder of our party. One member went as far as to tell my sister to step away from the computer where one of his colleagues was showing my sister our reservation, as though she were trying to harass him. When I explain to him that it was his colleague who had asked my sister to go past the counter, he stuck out his hand at me in a gesture to be quiet. No apologies were made throughout the evening, no efforts at all to try to accommodate our party. I was in tears and yet no one offered a single apology or considerate glance my way. The highlight of the evening by far was when my friend called to tell me that she was waiting in the rain outside because the bouncer had received instructions not to let anyone of my party into the bar. When we finally left to look for another venue, we were treated like air and again, did not receive an apology. A few suggestions for the staff who clearly do not know how to behave professionally, and who are some of the most passive aggressive people I have ever had the misfortune of encountering: 1. don't lie and insist that you don't know the telephone number of your own establishment to reinforce a false claim. 2. no matter how much you feel that a customer is to blame for a mix up, please apologize for not being able to accommodate him/her, be considerate and understanding (especially to someone who had made a reservation one month in advance, and who was celebrating her birthday), and do NOT refuse to let the customer's guests be admitted into the establishment to wait, leaving them out in the cold and rain. The bar was not overly crowded when we arrived, and there was more than enough room for two or three more people to come in and wait until we decided what to do now that my birthday plans were ruined. I would also like to add that it was not my first time at Purl, and that I had until yesterday evening only the best experiences at the bar, which is why I chose to celebrate a special occasion at this establishment. I live in the neighborhood, as do most of my friends who were present yesterday evening, and it is only to the loss of Purl that none of us (nor our friends and family) will ever be setting foot there again. I want to leave no doubt whatsoever that this level of mistreatment is unparalleled in my experience in the service industry, and that I was truly left speechless when I walked out of the bar. read more

Interesting and unusual drinks, pleasant enough environment that is relaxed not too crowded and with a decent atmosphere. The food is well below average, highly disappointing given the area and pretensions of sophistication. The service was slow and unremarkable by staff who were not empowered to make decisions themselves. All in all it was a bit of a let down. read more

Very cool hidden bar. Each cocktail has a special feature like liquid nitrate, paintbrushes that you use to "paint" the inside of the cocktail glass, or an exploding balloon floating above your glass. The waiters are friendly :) read more