Speakeasy bars in London

The short answer

The best speakeasy bars in London are Nightjar in Shoreditch, Evans & Peel Detective Agency in Earls Court, The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town in Spitalfields and Cahoots in Soho. Each one hides behind something: a bare door, a detective's desk, a fridge or an old Underground entrance. London took to the idea enthusiastically, and these bars now range from serious cocktail destinations to pure theatre.

A speakeasy was originally an illegal bar from America's Prohibition era, of course, and nothing here is secret in the old sense. The bars below are all perfectly legal and easy to look up, but the fun lies in the sense of discovery and the feeling of being let in on something. Addresses and booking rules are on each bar's own site, and because concepts, entry rules and opening hours can change, please check before you set out.

Bars with a story

Evans & Peel Detective Agency in Earls Court is the place that does the performance best. You book as if hiring a detective, explain your case to someone at a desk when you arrive, and then a bookcase swings aside to reveal a 1920s-style basement bar with jazz and crime-themed drinks. It is a little silly and very good fun, which makes it a great choice for a date.

The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town sits underneath The Breakfast Club in Spitalfields. You walk into a café and ask for the Mayor, and the door of a Smeg fridge opens on to a staircase. The basement bar beyond is cosy and a little odd, and it has built up a loyal following by not taking itself too seriously.

Cahoots in Kingly Court, Soho, turns the whole idea into a wartime-themed party, with a setting modelled on an old London Underground station, 1940s swing, period costumes and cocktails served in teapots and tins. It is lively, loud and popular with groups, and it has spawned ticketed events of its own, so look at what is on before you go.

Barts, inside Chelsea Cloisters, is set out like a Prohibition-era apartment, with a password system and theatrical cocktail service. The Candlelight Club goes even further, staging one-off 1920s-themed evenings with dinner and live jazz at a venue revealed only to ticket holders, so dress up and enjoy the costume party atmosphere.

Serious cocktails, low lighting

Nightjar in Shoreditch was named as the best speakeasy in a 2026 London cocktail guide. Behind a plain door on City Road is a basement with vintage decor, live jazz in the evenings and a menu that moves through the history of the cocktail, from before Prohibition onwards. Many of the drinks are garnished with real imagination. It is one of the first bars people mention on this subject, and it is well worth booking.

Happiness Forgets in Hoxton has the look of a bar that does not need to try. Hidden down a staircase, it is known for its simple room and very well-made drinks, and it appeared on the UK's Top 50 Cocktail Bars list in 2026. Disrepute in Soho, also on that list, is a plush, low-lit basement with the discreet feel of a private club, although you do not need to be a member.

Opium, near Chinatown, combines dim sum and cocktails across a series of rooms behind an unassuming door on Gerrard Street, and it too was on the 2026 Top 50. The Natural Philosopher in Bethnal Green sits behind what looks like a repair shop and is known for one of the larger whisky selections in London. If you like your drinks without much ceremony, either is a good pick.

Small, quiet and easy to miss

Discount Suit Company is a tiny room off Petticoat Lane in Spitalfields, set in what was once a tailor's stockroom. It has barely any sign, a short cocktail list and very little space, which is exactly why people like it. Go early or midweek, as a handful of people can fill it quickly, and it is no place for a big group.

The Luggage Room in Mayfair offers prohibition-style elegance with luxe interiors and a jazz soundtrack, while Engel Bar at the Royal Exchange in the City takes its cue from 1920s Berlin, with Art Deco details and a smart cocktail list. CellarDoor in Covent Garden is more of a small, intimate cabaret, an underground room that hosts drag, burlesque and live acts for a crowd of about 60. All three are close to good dinner options, and each has its own personality.

How to enjoy a speakeasy

Book if you can. These bars are small, and popular nights fill up very quickly. Some keep walk-in spots, but a queue is common, and you may not get in at all on a Saturday. Keep your group small too, as most rooms suit twos and fours far better than parties of ten.

Read the house rules. Some ask for quiet voices or a table-service-only approach, and some will not let you stand at the bar. A few have a password or a particular way to enter, and part of the fun is playing along. Bring a card and some patience, since well-made drinks take time, and prices are usually closer to a hotel bar than a pub, so check the menu.

Do not be put off if you cannot find the door. Hidden entrances are part of the appeal, and the directions on the bar's own website are usually better than a map app. Arrive a few minutes early to allow for a little searching around, and if you are on a date, that search can be a nice way to break the ice.

Where to go next

These bars can be a night in themselves, but they also work well as the last stop. Shoreditch and Soho are the best areas for moving from one to another on foot, as several good bars sit within a short walk. See our cocktail bars guide for more cocktail-focused choices, and our guide to Soho for the wider area.

If a hidden bar and a good conversation sound like your idea of an evening, you can browse our ladies, call us with her name and a time, and we check she is free and arrange the rest.