Fun bar and great unique drinks! This was a great stop to rest and recoup while getting in some good people watching. It was empty when we arrived but quickly filled up. The bartenders were helpful and friendly. read more

The Escapologist - Jenny From The Plot - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

What a cool spot! They have such a neat vibe I loved it! Sparkly countertops and neon signs! Happy hour before 9 pm! Two for one drinks drew me in! The bartenders were great very good pours and consistent drinks! They have lots of different seating options which are great! I also saw some tables with names on it so it seems they take reservations! read more

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The staff is super sweet but the so called owner/manager was awful. It's one thing to treat customers badly but yelling at your own staff is not professional nor necessary. All because a paying customer asked if there could be any upbeat music on a Friday night (literally no one there was enjoying the depressing country music). He then angrily proceeded to clear our drinks even though we weren't finished and when we notified him he stated "oh no one ever drinks those" - referring to the Prosecco shooters that literally come with the drinks. The place is super cute and has potential but yeah the owner/manager/whatever he was had the worst vibes. read more

The Escapologist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Here's the thing about a place you discover and you love: it takes a while for your first impressions to fade and after over two years of feeling I've found hideaway so special I almost wanted to keep it hidden and to myself I'm super bummed by how lackluster everyone was. In the past the mixologists at the bar were at the top of their league - not just excellent at their craft, but confident, entertaining to watch because they were just as entertained by themselves as they raised the bar every time for just how beautifully they could concoct, handle and serve their sensational wares. The other staff there were friendly, smart, dazzlingly present and enjoyable. And so today it was sad to find a withered, uninspired thing in its place, lacking in character or care. Even though we were the only ones walking in, the first bartender serving us made it clear that being on his own made everything a chore, then made excuses for missing flares normally accompanying the cocktails that he couldn't be bothered to make up for; the withered greenery boringly stuffed in the glass allowing like it was pulled out of a waste bin, the next bartender (not mixologist) slapping things together just as dully - both as uninterested in the process or people around them as a ticket collector in an nhs queue for covid shots. The wafts of weed from below price to be what I unfortunately have come to understand - numbing yourself doesn't make your art better - it just makes you numb, and bored, and I'm sorry to have been number and bored in my favourite place and hope they get it together and breathe life into their art again. Knock it back up a few notches bits! You lost me tonight read more

Bar of my dreams right here. Escapologist is a quirky mixture of the Illuminati met with a gentleman's club and a few dinosaurs thrown in. Weird grouping but hey, you can't say it doesn't have personality. And history as well, since it's the "former location of the secret society of Victorian London" ;) This bar's in the Seven Dials district next to several theatres and the ever-lovable Chick n' Sours (might I suggest pairing these two locations for a night out?). Escapologist sends you into an underground oakey setting with leather alcoves and separate sections for parties and get togethers. Book ahead for larger groups! The primary food is pizza, but the cocktails are what the show's really about here. Try out the toaster popcorn sour for a whiskey-meets-movies taste. Or the bacon's smoking jacket for all of your lumberjack needs. Every cocktail has a unique twist to it that will send you back to try another. read more

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We came for happy hour (5-7pm) and got BOGO cocktails. The decor gives a hideaway nook vibe and the music is quite loud but the playlist is great so we didn't mind. You can definitely still have a conversation over it. The hidden julep was light, refreshing and delicious, exactly as described on the menu. If you like your alcohol to not taste like alcohol, this is the drink for you. The secret sour was an interesting take on a sour with black pepper syrup which added a spicy kick. It's a drink meant to be sipped and savored! read more

The Escapologist - Hidden julep - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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I was surprised that this gorgeous bar was so central yet I'd never visited before. From the intriguing decor to the stunning cocktail menu, the bar is a true hidden gem. And the most hidden part of it... the super special secret room! Visiting with a group of amazing London bloggers and having the entire room to ourselves, we all admitted it was gorgeous and also that we should probably think of some initiation ritual to fit the atmosphere. The beautiful pastel blue ceiling with the gold stars, the gorgeous leather couches, the globes scattered about the the room and the soft lighting work brilliantly together to create a unique space, ideal for special occasions. The staff were also amazing, very friendly, always ready to help. Our waiter, even with it being his first day, was brilliant and exactly how I wish every waiter would be. Coming to the food and drinks, as I said, brilliant selection of cocktails, and if you like pizza, it's your lucky day! Big pizzas, delicious and fresh, with the cherry on top being that there's also pizza for dessert, covered in chocolate and generally being to die for. Would I go back? Absolutely! Do I recommend you check it out? For sure!! And remember to check behind the painting as you get in on the left. ;) read more

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Summary: A good cocktail menu, decor and friendly waiters but such slow service. Booking: They asked for a £25 deposit to reserve a table on a Tuesday evening. We had already bought a voucher for only £16 on Timeout for 4 cocktails so the deposit was more than we were planning on spending. How ridiculous! I was majorly hacked off before we even arrived however the friendly staff and nice atmosphere meant I quickly forgave them! On the evening: The bar is quite big with lots of hidden corners, funky portraits, a psychedelic ceiling and huge wooden bar. There was already a lot of people sat down ordering drinks so it took a little while for us to be seated. Once seated the waitress came over to explain the menu and take our order (no wait required). However the first few cocktails took 30 minutes to arrive! I saw a whole load of cocktails at the bar made and waiting to be served, assuming it was for a large group of people. Ten minutes later ours were picked up from that spot and brought over! I also had to go to the bar to get tap water while we waited as I was so parched! There was also no recognition that it had taken an age - oblivious. Drinks: The first 2 cocktails were both good (Britspritz: Kamm & Sons, elder ower cordial, Prosecco, soda and Flaming Zombie: Bacardi Oro, dark rum, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, mango, passion fruit, pineapple juice, over-proof rum) and mine came in a skull mug and was on fire - fun! We decided to order our 2nd drinks before we had finished our first. Again we waited 15 minutes AFTER finishing our first drinks for them to arrive. The next two drinks were my fav and I highly recommend (Hidden Julep: Hendrick's Gin, Pimm's No.1, fresh cucumber, fresh mint, fresh lemon juice, apple juice & Lemongrass Collins: Lemongrass-infused Eristo Vodka, fresh lemon juice, Liquor 43, ginger beer, vanilla - with chilli available upon request)! Food: They serve pizzas which look OK but nothing special - we were dying to enjoy the sunshine so didn't order anything to eat - plus who knows how long we would have waited for food! Overall: a nice evening catching up with my friend but I won't be back in a hurry! read more

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Fabulous bar right in Covent Garden. It was quite busy when we got there, but the hostess was super friendly and opened up a second area so we could have a table. The cocktails are all delicious and potent and the pizza is just what you need to balance it out. Go for their two for one cocktails from 5-7 and you're guaranteed a good time. read more

Tried Porn Star Martini, Aperol Spritz and Lemongrass Collins! All delicious! Bartenders are good! Great atmosphere and music. read more

The Escapologist - Porn Star Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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Lovely bar that is full of charm and a feeling of excitement. The cocktails are delicious and the bar tenders really take pride in their work. Can't wait to come back and try some more!! read more

This is one of those times I wish Yelp would allow zero stars because this place would deserve that rating. Let's start with booking a reservation. I started trying to book at 9:00 pm on Monday night through their website because it led me to believe that the place was so hip that there was no way to get in without reservations. Note to the dude bros yearning to appear tragically hip - you need a functional website. I got an email saying they acknowledged my existence, but they didn't try to get back to me until the next morning...and then they tried to call me from a blocked phone number. Maybe it's different in the UK, but in the US, most of us with any brains don't answer phone calls from numbers that are blocked. Then I got a snippy email saying they preferred to speak to me in person. Um, why? I just want to book a reservation. I persevered with email during the course of which I learned that I would need to make a £25 deposit to complete the reservation. Wow, this place must be hot! Three hours later, they sent me the link to make the payment. So, if you have to make a deposit to get a reservation, why isn't that all on the website? So, it took 5 emails, 18 hours and £25 to get a reservation at what alleged to be a trendy Victorian pub. When we showed up, we were standing at the top of an abandoned stairwell, no indication of host/ess so we walked down. No one at the bottom either. We wandered into the bar, looking lost. The bartenders ignored us. We went to the bar to enquire about my reservation. They couldn't find it. I had to make multiple guesses at how it might be listed without any assistance from said bartender. Now, remember the lengths I had to go to to get this reservation...the place was half empty. They seated us at a table in the corner directly under the speaker blasting out bad electronica so loudly that we couldn't talk to each other or order, not that we were going to be allowed to order at the table. No table service, you can only order at the bar. We tried to ask for another table, but they mostly ignored us until the one decent table was gone, so we moved next to the door. My brave husband went to the bar to order because I was to aggravated to deal with the staff. They have almost no wine to speak of and the only red available by the glass is Merlot. Seriously, did you guys not see "Sideways?" The bartender couldn't understand my husband ordering a gin and tonic. Um, hello, didn't you people invent this cocktail? The bartender couldn't understand my husband ordering the Reine pizza. He had to explain to the bartender (who was clearly annoyed at having to take an order) twice where we were sitting. My husband forgot to remind them about the £25 deposit I'd made. I happened to show up at the bar just as he was paying the bill (because I couldn't figure out what was taking so long), so we got it straightened out. But the bartender was surprised by this too. I see in the other reviews that everyone else paid the deposit, so how could the bartender be surprised? In his frustration, my husband forgot to order the pizza gluten free. The only thing this place did right was to replace the pizza when I thought to ask if it was GF when it arrived (because I've learned that places that screw up, really screw up and it's the only way to avoid being poisoned). So, the pizza was dry, flavorless, and skimpy on ingredients. And pizza's the ONLY food they serve. I settled for cider, also a little off, also inexcusable in a country full of awesome ciders. The pizza came on an aluminum cafeteria tray. The glasses looked like they came from a thrift store. And remember how the place was supposed to be "Victorian?" It was the whole reason we went. Nope, just a dumpy basement bar with a bunch of old Victorian photos cheaply photoshopped with lame bits of weird stuff on them. Don't believe the breathless media reviews that this place is hip. It's more like a couple of dude bros had a few too many beers one night and decided that a few ridiculously bad photo mashups would make for an exciting experience. read more

Great place, quirky deco and lot's of space!

Disappointed is my overall opinion of this place and whilst it's not an across the board disappointment, it is strong enough that I doubt I will ever go back. The Escapologist has only just opened as far as I can tell; I had seen an article about it on Time Out and it looked beautiful. A cross between modern and weird Victoriana which has always been a recipe for success in my eyes. It just so happened that it was our anniversary and we'd planned a night out in town. I thought this place would be perfect; an intimate venue in town with dark corners, beautiful artwork and a decent cocktail list. I booked through the website; you can only book a request, which I thought was a bit weird and I had to wait for a call back. They've done this though so that they can take a £25 deposit from you to secure your table. The prices of the cocktails kinda means you're never out of pocket because that's pretty much the price of two drinks. We arrived, was shown to our little table and the proceeded to shout at each other for the next 45 mins. Not because we'd had some sort of badly timed anniversary tiff but because the music was SO LOUD IT MADE MY EARS BLEED. What's worse is that the music is awful; vapid chart tripe with no heart or soul. Now.. don't get me wrong, I appreciate that most places I go won't play my first choice of music, but looking around at the bar that we were in it felt so wrong. I felt that if I closed my eyes I would in fact have been in a Vodka Revolutions. It was at such cross purposes with the design that it was almost laughable. I'd been expecting the opposite, maybe some moody jazz or some 70's psychedelia to inspire some hearty conversations in intimate dark corners. To top it all off as well; it was so loud we had to ask our very lovely server if there was any chance they could turn it down. Mortified. I can't really say much about anything else, because despite our two hour reservation we drank up and left within 45mins. It's such a shame; they've have some really friendly staff, beautiful, beautiful design - everything from the lockers to the menus are on point - but it was just a hell hole. I don't care how well a place is designed, I don't want to pay over £10 per drink to come out after 45 mins with no voice left. I was expecting a delicious cross between Milk and Honey and The Powder Keg Diplomacy but left feeling Katy Perry had vomited all over Queen Victoria. read more

We have visited a few times now and the bar always seems to be busy. The staff are really friendly and helpful. The decor is really quirky and it's a fun place to visit. In our honest opinion the drinks are a little pricey. Had the Prosecco been a reasonable price we would probably buy a couple of bottles each visit but I refuse to pay more than £20-£25 for a bottle anywhere. Certainly worth a visit! read more

Awesome venue with outstanding decor. The attention to detail is outstanding with Victorian-esque pen & ink drawings of facebook cat pictures, hot air balloon delivery services and other silly things which gives the place a truely quirky vibe without taking itself too seriously. Alot of people are put off by bars located in basements but this place is really worth a visit, even on a sunny day. Staff are very friendly and there's a good range of well-made tasty grown-up cocktails with no silly gimmicks such as dry ice or other such nonsense which shows the focus is on making drinks that taste good (you are drinking them after all, it's not an art gallery). I've heard the pizzas are good but I wasn't hungry but will definitely try next time, seats are comfy, music isn't too loud and it can be a little tricky finding the door handle to get out of the bathrooms after a few drinks (that's a GOOD thing!) Would thoroughly recommend you visit! read more

Booked a table on the day, but they responded very quickly and paid a deposit of £25 that we could put towards our bill. Sadly we weren't placed on a table but the ledge, but with the 2 of us that was OK. The place is very cosy and their cocktails were really good. Service was better than average bars and we felt looked after. The pizzas could only be served from 6pm due to them opening at 5pm, which makes sense and worked out well for us. Pizza and garlic (pizza) bread were very tasty as well. Would definitely go back here. read more

We didn't book a table, and we had a voucher from groupon (6 cocktails for £24!!!) but the staff were very accommodating - even letting us keep seats warm for a table before the main party arrived, and then swapping over to a different table to do the same. This bar had a huge selection of unusual cocktails - different to your run of the bill stuff. I had a Kamm & Sons cocktail which was a bit like an English version of an aperol spritz (delicious!) The bar's decor is dark and vintage - giving it a real secret bar feel. I would definitely visit again even without a voucher. read more

Great deal if you get the groupon voucher. £14/3 cocktails--can't beat it. However, in the two times I've been there they have added things to our bill that weren't meant to be there. The first time they forgot to take away the £25 booking fee from our tab, and the second time they added a drink we definitely didn't get in the hopes that you get too drunk to notice/care. So beware!!! read more

Stopped in here for some pre-dinner drinks with a friend. The cocktails were very good, also a plus that their happy hour special was 2-for-1 cocktails. The place had a great vibe, liked the decor, plan to come back. Would recommend this place for a date night or hang out with friends read more

Went here for after dinner cocktails for a friends birthday. She had booked a table, the deposit paid for her drinks so no issues there. However, as got there at 8, and were told to wait at the bar till our table was ready. We waited for ages, and were not told we could use the deposit off our table. Once we were seated, we saw the menu. We had eaten dinner, but wanted dessert. On a Saturday night by 8:30 they had run out of pizza dough. They don't offer any other snacks, which we found a bit irresponsible for a cocktail bar that serves strong drinks. A bowl of chips or something would have been nice. Despite the food issue, we had a great night, the table was in a quiet place away from the bar, we could talk and dance a little. The music mix was random, but we enjoyed it. We tried quite a few of the different cocktails, and stayed till closing. But left hungry, and not much is open at midnight. read more