Giving this place 4 stars. The food and cocktails were spectacular, the service left a lot to be desired. I'm visiting from the States and this place was an excellent stop. We had a party of 13 so I understand there would be somewhat of a wait and that the whole Dining experience might take a while. We dined on a Tuesday night and the place was quite busy! It took at least 30 minutes from sitting down to get our drinks and another 10 on top of that for them to bring out some bottles of water. It seemed like our server was training someone new. They could have been more efficient, but it took a long time for them both to go around the table and enter in our orders. We were at a work after hours function so we all ordered from the 3 courses for 45 quid option. All of the starters sounded good, but I was slightly disappointed in the drunken dumplings as there were only 2, but the presentation was cool with them pouring the broth into the bowl at the table. I wish I had ordered the cheddar and shrimp toasties as they looked quite good! This place has awesome & fun cocktails, hence the Alchemist name. I didn't realize this at first so ordered a Mai Tai which was not nearly as exciting as some of what my colleagues ordered. Second time around I ordered the red zombie which came out smoking with a test tube vial of absinthe to add in! Definitely cool, but also a bit strong. I had the ribeye steak for my main. It was delicious! The cauliflower and potatoes very good too. Had the next level chocolate brownie for dessert. My only thought is it could have used a bigger scoop of ice cream compared to the size of the brownie but it was delicious! So good, in fact, that I had to finish every last crumb. The ambiance was nice. The bathroom was clean, but a little hard to locate. All in all, I would definitely come back if in the area again. read more

See all

One of the better cocktail menus I've ever experienced anywhere in the world. The presentation was fantastic, but the flavors were also spot on. Very unique, yet approachable. We did not eat, but would absolutely recommend the cocktail experience. read more

I can only vouch for their cocktails because we did not try any of their foods. The Alchemist was on our list to have cocktails, after walking everywhere in London. The place inside had neat interiors and the bar area was amazing. Once we walked in around 2pm, the host sat us near the bar after asking us if we were there to dine in or just drink. The cocktails were creative and interesting. We tried the COLOR CHANGING COCKTAIL, FRENCH KISS, MEZCAL MERINGUE, HIPFLASK MARGARITA, and the ESPRESSO MARTINI. Everything was fantastic. Each cocktail had its own unique touch to make it special. The French Kiss drink had a rubber tongue sticking out with brown sugar at the tip. We were advised to lick the sugar from the tongue (the tongue was inedible), hence the name "French Kiss". The espresso martini had a small spoon made of chocolate and it was delicious. We also got to keep The Alchemist flask from the margarita drink. I wish we could have tried more cocktails, but we still had to do a lot of walking and sight seeing. This was a great stop for sure. I will definitely come back when I visit London again. 'Til next time! read more

See all

Well, since I was a little hesitant to rock up at church on time, I ducked around the corner and visited the pub. Okay, it isn't exactly a pub, rather it is a cocktail bar. Mind you, it wasn't a particularly bad one, but a cocktail bar nonetheless. Still, having a drink at a London cocktail bar is still one of those things that I needed to do at least once. Oh, and it wasn't all that expensive either. read more

See all

Fantastic service, super ambient place I loved everything about it the food was fantastic. Will be taking a stop here again, you will not be disappointed!! read more

I'd rate the Alchemist two and a half stars. Playful cocktail bar. Lots of funny and silly drinks. Had the French kiss which had a rubber tongue sticking out. There were some candies on the tongue that you were supposed to lick off. Pretty funny especially with a group and having had a handful of drinks. Unfortunately, the cocktail was unpleasant to drink. I appreciate the humor but doing it at the expense of a making the beverage unconsumsble isn't a worthy sacrifice in my opinion. Bar atmosphere was nice. Lots of couples there. There was a handicap accessible restroom on the ground floor and gender restrooms in the basement. The men's room (to put kindly) was unpleasant. Hospitality could use significant improvement too. No pleasantries. Took about ten minutes to get menus and another ten or so to place an order despite there being more staff members than customers. Back of the house folks were nice when we briefly interacted with them, but there was some sort of disconnect with the front of the house team. read more

Just speaking for the drinks, saw some odd things for the food reviews below. Drinks are an experience (in a good way!) and service was fantastic. The pricing wasn't unreasonable either, you're honestly paying the extra $ for the theatrics. read more

The Alchemist - Bubblegum mocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Not bad. More of a 3 1/2 for me but overall the experience is better than you would expect for a chain bar. Fun modern prep on the drinks, proper vibe often with tasteful house music, but the cocktails are on the sugary "I don't actually like cocktails" side of boozy. I've been here a few times and always have a better experience than I think I'm going to. I really enjoy how many of the bartenders clearly enjoy their job and appear delighted that customers are enjoy their inventive (visual) creations; these aren't top notch "serious" cocktails of this sort like you might find in Canon in Seattle but they are clearly party pleasers for the clinetel. Because many of the drinks are rather involved in their preperation, do expect to wait a while to order. read more

Great food and service. Incredible drinks and they were respectful of our time constraints as we had to get to the theatre.

Decent cocktail bar with good drinks. Decor is a little too hip; however , the drinks are very good. Service was decent.

Wonderful menu. Nice upscale atmosphere at affordable prices. Crispy shrooms are amazing

Meh... I am in doubt if The Alchemist deserves two or three stars. Positives: - service was quick, friendly and helpful. The person taking our order admitted that a) most cocktails are premixed and b) they don't have any dry cocktails. - the bar area had a nice atmosphere and was nice to look at - the cocktails are very much worth the picture / video Not so positives: - when I asked for a dry cocktail, I was told they have none. I asked for a dirty martini - they couldn't do that... seriously? For a place that should be renowned for their cocktails? I asked if I could get a certain cocktail without sugar syrup, they told me they all were premixed. I ended up with the color changing cocktail (I believe that was also the name), it was very one note apple liquor but pretty. - the food was not bad nothing special. I had the duck pancakes to share as a starter and the chicken curry katsu - both were forgettable. Since the service was good and the atmosphere was nice, I'll give it a three stars. Good for once but won't go out of my way to go again. read more

I would say that I'm speechless, but I have LOTS to say about how incredibly awesome this place is! We couldn't get dinner reservations, but they do open seating in the bar area for drinks and small snacks so we stopped in and crossed our fingers. We were lucky to snag two seats at one of the community tables and I'm SO glad we did! As you'll see in other reviews, the cocktails here are not just unique and inventive, but they are thoughtfully prepared with beautiful presentations, and shockingly delicious. I can't remember all the drinks we had but honestly I don't think you can go wrong. One of them was a whiskey drink served in a glass pipe with dry ice - I'm generally not a whiskey drinker but this thing was phenomenal! We also had a few snacks - if the fried chicken is any indication of the rest of their food menu, you're going to be blown away. I wish we'd have had time for a dinner here but we'll definitely make reservations for our next visit! read more

The Alchemist - Don't remember what it's called - but whiskey drink in a pipe-shaped glass! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

This was our first time dining at The Alchemist, and would classify it as a fun food and drinks experience. The overall decor, menu, and preparation and presentation of cocktails are playfully centered around science with a hint of mystery. Clara was our server and took great care of us, making spot on recommendations to help ensure that we'd have a fantastic first-time experience. It's a definite must, and hope that we're able to go back before returning to the States. read more

See all

Wicked cool cocktail bar, plenty drink choices I wanted to try them all, will be back to try the drink offerings

Unique cocktail lounge with some tasty eats as well. We happened to find this gem after visiting sky garden. The drinks were fun and exciting (color changing, dry ice, Smokey) lots of different concoctions. Uditt was our fantastic server who helped guide us toward the best of their cocktails. Really enjoyed this experience. Check this place out - worth it! read more

See all

We'd just done the touristy thing at the Tower Bridge and just started meandering away from the Thames when we discovered The Alchemist in what appeared to be London's Financial District (Aldgate). As it was approaching 5 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, we figured it was high time for a special cocktail...and The Alchemist has a truly amazing menu of crafted potions with imaginative ingredients, names, and presentations. The 3 we tried were the Smokey Old Fashioned (Woodford Reserve whiskey, with a maple syrup dilution, bitters and smoke presentation), Dead Red Zombie (featuring Bacardi Carta Blanca rum, Wray & Nephew(?), Grand Marnier, lime, pineapple, and cranberry with a flourishing dry ice presentation) and 3.5oz. of Happiness (Tanqueray, Chambord, Vermouth, citrus, served in a hip flask you get to keep). These were all very well crafted and delicious, and fun to drink (and Instagramable). The interior is very sleek, hip, and spacious and the bartenders were extremely cheery and didn't mind at all as I watched them prepare the drinks, asking questions during the process. I cannot weigh in on the food, as this was a drinks only outing. The drinks were a tad pricey, but not more than I've experienced in Manhattan's FiDi or on South Beach. All in all, our drinks earned The Alchemist 5 stars! read more

The Alchemist - Very well stocked bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Holy drinks!! We had to nudge our friend to try this place and two sips into her drink she was talking about a second round. Great vibe, great specialty craft cocktails-unlike anything I've experienced! Hats off to George behind the bar; he out-mixed everyone in the place. His skill and style were a sight to behold. We had dinner after; food was well-presented, tasty and satisfying! A must visit in London whether you're a local or traveler. Cheers! read more

8/10, I visited this branch twice last November (2023) , once for a birthday dinner and the other occasion for casual drinks! I would say that the drinks are definitely the star of the show and really added to the experience. The ambience was great and I didn't feel rushed even though we did arrive close to closing time on the second occasion. read more

See all

I had a great time at The Alchemist with some colleagues. We were initially worried about pricing, as the menus posted online did not have prices. We found the food to be fairly priced. The cocktails were a bit high, but worth it!Ask your server which ones come with smoke or other fun things, for the best experience! We shared duck spring rolls and pork steamed buns as starters - both were good but the steamed buns were phenomenal. Highly recommend. Within our group, 2 people had fajitas for dinner, and said they were good. Another had the pork belly entree, and ate every bite. I had the pork belly banh mi baguette, which was fabulous. The pork belly was a tad over cooked/dry, but I'd prefer that to overly fatty. The sauce helped and had a bit of spice. For dessert, we had the churros and the chocolate brownie. The churros were a bit weird with caramel inside them. It was quite hot even when the outside had cooled down, and overpowered the flavor of the dipping chocolate. The chocolate brownie was amazing, with the yummiest salted caramel sauce - I would go back just for that! Always great to have a new place in the rotation for when I'm in London. It's right near the Gherkin, so pretty convenient for business travelers and tourists alike. read more

See all

Food is just okay, had the black fish and chips, is black due to artificial charcoal so just gimmicky without adding substance or flavor to the overall dish. I had to ask for malt vinegar. It was fried well though, very crispy. The accompanying fries were unmemorable. I had the lightbulb moment which was essentially a Pimms cup with dry ice for the smoky effect. It looked really cool but it didn't taste like anything special. I wanted the souvenir flask but they were out of the 3.5oz of happiness. They ended up serving a Pina colada that was also nothing special. Been to Clyde Common and Death & Co -- some really high end bars with amazing cocktail programs. Had really special cocktails there, this wasn't it. Felt more like gimmicky TGI Fridays but in a classier, upscale location. Maybe if you've never had high end cocktails it would be amazing but I just came out with meh. As others mentioned service was very lackluster. No one checked in regularly, and then when they finally took my order 3x. They also asked if I had allergies 3x... Separately. I had to flag the host to get my bill as I was absolutely ignored. But the fish was crispy and fried well. read more

Fun place to drop by for some interesting/fun cocktails. The staff were wonderful and drinks were great, however based on complexity of the cocktails you spend a bunch of time standing in line at the bar. Bar snacks were average but we really went in for the drinks. I would return again, just a little later in the evening and better dressed than I was on this unexpected drop in. read more

Waited about 10 minutes before anyone came over, even though I was seated at the bar and the bartender wasn't busy. Only 2 other people were at the bar area and the surrounding area was fairly empty. Drink came with a rubber tongue (yes the one in your mouth) as decoration -- fairly gross to have that in your drink. Drink itself didn't taste good. Was trying to get the bartender's attention for a spoon so I could remove the meringue on top (which didn't vibe with the drink) and had no luck. Normally a waiter/bartender comes in to check on you-- see if you'd like to order more, etc...no one checked on us the entire visit. Would not return nor recommend. They definitely pull you in with the concept of the "theatre" drinks but not worthwhile to visit. read more

First real restaurant in London and it was beautiful, their cocktail menu is expansive and had so many potions and drinks with fire! A lot of cool things to keep like a flash and custom mug as well if you ordered that. Gluten Free Friendly, and took care of me with my dish. I'd recommend, it's def a popping place so get their early if you can. Excellent food as well. read more

The Alchemist - Gluten Free Dish, excellent. Totally forgot what I ordered. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Good experience, theatrical drinks that were a bit slightly underwhelming, but good prices and selections overall. The food menu also looked good but didn't get to try it. The bar area is very cool to sit in, but the regular dining area has comfortable booths for large groups! read more

Went back for cocktails and was not disappointed. Love the look and vibe of the place. The bar staff made an excellent Bee's Knees and it was a delightful place to spend time catching up with a friend. Check it out if you get the chance. read more

We visited London and were looking for breakfast places that were within walking distance from our hotel and we found this place! My BF had the traditional English Breakfast and I had the Avocado Toast with Haloumi Cheese. Before coming to London I didn't really know what haloumi cheese was but I am definitely a fan! My BF enjoyed his English Breakfast, it was filling and just what he needed to start the day. The avocado toast was yummy but I wish they had toasted my muffin a little longer because it was kind of hard:/ Overall, it was a great breakfast spot while we were in London! Gave us a chance to try an official English Breakfast! read more

The Alchemist - Avocado toast and English breakfast - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

The Alchemist can turn anything to gold. At this bar they transform normal cocktails into a science experiment. Except to see unique glass ware, bubbling drinks and even drinks that have a charge. We stopped in to grab a drink. I thought checking out a unique cocktail bar in London would be a fun experience. I will say that walking in and seeing all the concoctions on the bar top was very cool. It was a little busy but we were able to grab a seat at the bar. The bartender gave us the drink menu which has a lot going on. Read the description of your drink and ask questions. The way they build cocktails here is very unique. There are a lot of drinks so I don't remember the name but I know my first drink was rum based and bubbling. I believe they used food grade dry ice for the bubbling and a beaker as your drinking glass. The cocktail itself was okay but the presentation was very cool. The second drink I had was one with a "charge". They use some type of gun to create a "charged" foam. This foam went on top of the drink and had a bite to it. If you ever touched a 9V battery to your tongue, it's a weaker version of that. I didn't get any food except the churros which were really good. They come with a caramel sauce and it was a nice finish to the night. I think the cocktails here are really cool to watch them being built and presented but only taste okay. I thought they relied on the presentation more than the complexity and quality of the cocktails. The bartender was very nice and we got great service. For me the prices are on tab with normal cocktail prices meaning your tab will be a little higher drinking here. I would still recommend the experience of The Alchemist though because they do put a spin on making cocktails. read more

The drinks are just phenomenal. Food was delicious and the service was great. We found this spot by accident and everything was great!! read more

See all

Nov 2017- This place reminds me of Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu where they make specialty cocktails. The space itself is large. We went in for pre-dinner drinks on Tuesday around 7pm. It was crowded but we were able to grab a booth seat towards the back and get a nice view of the whole place. It's an experience to watch them make the drinks. We ordered a Smokey Old fashioned. There was a little problem with the smoke machine tube thing in the beginning. The taste was great! My friend ordered the fizzy bubblegum drink and had to quickly take couple of sips since it started spilling over the cup. My sister ordered a kale & apple smoothie with a huge kale stalk inserted, interesting. The flavors of the drinks were all good. I can't comment much on customer service since we pretty much sat ourselves, had to walk over to the bar to order, wait a while, pay then bring our drinks back to the table. So minimum interaction with the staff. Prices are comparable to what I've paid back in the U.S. I'd go back. read more

See all

This spot perfectly explains why I leave room on our itinerary to wing it whenever we travel to a new city. I am a huge believer that the best way to experience a town is by foot, as you never know what you will discover. We were in the Leicester Square area of London when we stumbled upon this hidden gem tucked away on a quiet side street. We were welcomed in by friendly staff members, and taken past the lively bar to a secluded back room where food is served. There are so many cool things to see in here! The scientific looking cocktails, the beautiful servers, and the modern and eclectic décor that is both funky and inviting. We started with a round of cocktails while we looked over the dinner menu. I got their Peaches & Cream which has Briottet Peach and Pink Grapefruit, lemon, Prosecco, and fizz. I typically am not a grapefruit fan as I lean more sweet than tart, but this drink was perfectly balanced and refreshing. I can't remember which drink my friend ordered, but it came in a teacup which thrilled her and was more heavy on the tart grapefruit flavor (I want to say it was the Bubblebath). That was more her speed as she doesn't like the overly sweet concoctions. You can even order large drinks here that serve 2-4 people which I think is very cool. For dinner we decided to share a bunch of smaller bites so that we could taste a little bit of everything. We ordered green olives, fried seitan served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, and their vegetarian sampler platter. It came with veggies and hummus, nachos, edamame, pan seared peppers, fried Mac and cheese cubes, and gyoza. It's served on an attractive platter that makes it a fun table centerpiece. The bites were good, but nothing overly wowed us. Some things were definitely lacking seasoning, but were at least fresh and nicely cooked. While I probably wouldn't go back solely for dinner, I would highly recommend for a nightcap or a trendy new place to check out with friends if you haven't yet been. The service will be excellent, and don't be shy to ask for their recommendations! You'll have a great time here. read more

See all

Found this place enroute to Sky garden for dinner on a Friday night. Trendy, hip and busy. We stayed at the bar, and didn't look around but, the place looked huge. The barkeepers looked like mad scientists as they worked on their creations. The main draw is the extensive and adventurous cocktail list, ranging from the classic stalwarts to more experimental molecular types There was smoke, magic and incredible energy from these drink experts. One of the patrons had a "lightbulb" and I had to have it! The barkeep took the time to explain the drink to me even though he was up to his elbows in customers and drinks. As the mixologist mixed it, you could not help but be intrigued. He offered 2 beakers and a glass to put together my concoction. As I poured his potion over the dry ice, I was encased in a mystical smoke that looking through it made this place look even more theatrical. The drink was delicious as well as the drinks my bar mates had. I would put this on the list of things to do when you hit London for a great night out. read more

See all

Fun drinks good service. But no guiness no tap. Seems odd for a London pub. Asian fusion seems to be the theme. Fish and chip was tempura battered and they had asahi on tap instead. read more

Looking for a spot to celebrate something, get together with your mates and you want a place where you could eat, drink and sit but also stand and have a little bit of a more casual environment? Look no more. Reservation is smooth, I called and they sent me a confirmation email (since I don't have a UK phone number). Cocktail journey started with a Passion fruit meringue, because who wouldn't like merengue on top of their cocktail? Specially if it comes with a spoon for you to dig in and be happy! Next for me was the Garden Martini, with gin and flowers, unforgettable. To eat, my friend and I had a Sharing Platter and a side of fried baby calamari. The platter was really tasty, the dumplings blow my mind. I was also impressed that the nachos were made from real maiz tortilla, good job. I ordered a fudge cake so we could sing happy birthday but that ended up being a gift from The Alchemist (#adorbs, thank you). Got jealous of my friends who ordered the Tea Party - if you like tea, or simply if you want to impress someone, order that. You will be surprised. Service was impeccable, our waitress was also so nice, talkative and suggested great options. I would certainly come back here more often if I lived in London. read more

See all

The vibes were awesome. The drink presentation was cool. Service was okay as was the food. Got edamame and chorizo balls as apps and then fish and chips. read more

The drinks are super cute and creative, playing off of the alchemy theme. Ambience was great! Played upbeat house music, a little loud but we're into that. Food was decent portions and tasty. It got busy and which caused the service slowed a bit but that's expected. Overall, we had a great experience and came back for a few "pre game" cocktails later the same night! read more

The alchemist was AMAZING. I ordered the duck gyoza to start - it was perfectly seasoned and prepared. For my main, I got the chicken katsu. The chicken katsu was topped crispy kale. For dessert I orders the lemon and poppyseed fondant. It takes ~15mins to cook, but 100% worth the wait. Now for the drinks: I got the colour change and the rhubarb & custard sour. The first was a tasty apple drink. The rhubarb and custard sour was my favorite. It had a creamy texture with a touch of sweetness. I stumbled upon this cute place on my walk back from the Tower of London. I highly recommend it! read more

The Alchemist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

The Alchemist is something special, even in an area that has a lot of great restaurants. Our first trip was for Breakfast. Our Waitress, Paige, was a sweetheart. She was friendly, professional, and on top of things. We actually went back again for dinner one night, and had her again! It was great! The atmosphere here is super chill. Good music, great decor, I loved it. The projections on the wall were a great touch. For breakfast, the standout? All of it. There wasn't a thing I would change. The bacon was outstanding, the black pudding, delicious. The waffles with good syrup... Perfect perfect perfect. For our dinner night, we had some amazing drinks, and very good food as well. The steak was great. The Yorkshire Pudding was a life changer. Paige took a minute to chat with us, and found out we were heading to York, so she made some good suggestions for food there (Including the sister of the Alchemist, the Botanist.) Her suggestions were spot on... The Alchemist is a rare find. 5 Bright Stars! read more

See all

They are advertising as being open till 2:00am but refuse entry before 12:00pm. Do not come here as an after hours location or even late night meal. Their are falsify advertisement for customers. read more

Salt and Pepper Fries - these are not French fries but soggy potatoes drenched in oil with some onions and peppers thrown in. I asked the server for a new order and he never returned. How hard is it to get an order of French fries right? read more

The Alchemist - Salt and Pepper Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL