10 London Speakeasies You’d Never Find Without Looking

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London has no shortage of great cocktail bars, but some of the most memorable ones are hidden behind unmarked doors. After tracking down speakeasies across the city, I realized how easy it is to walk right past them if you don’t know where to look. These are the best hidden speakeasies in London I’ve personally visited and recommend.

Best Hidden Speakeasies to Visit in London

1. The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town

📍 Location: Spitalfields

Finding the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town was honestly one of my favorite parts of visiting this London speakeasy.

You start by heading into The Breakfast Club, which is a real breakfast restaurant.

Then you look for the ordinary retro fridge.

The fridge inside The Breakfast Club is the entrance to one of the most well-known secret bars in London.

Once it opens, you step inside and head downstairs, straight into one of London’s most talked-about hidden speakeasies.

There’s something genuinely fun about entering a bar this way; it sets the tone before you even order a drink.

Cocktails at The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town

Now onto the cocktails!

I tried the Mayor’s Tea Party, which was made with Earl Grey–infused Tanqueray 10 gin and homemade lavender syrup.

It was light, floral, and really well balanced, the kind of cocktail that feels thoughtful without being overly sweet.

Cocktails at The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town, one of the most memorable London speakeasy bars I visited.

We also ordered the Midnight Oil, made with mezcal verde, butterfly pea tea, agave, orange, and lime.

This one leaned smoky and citrusy, with a subtle earthiness from the mezcal that made it feel a little moodier and perfect for the space.

Both drinks felt creative and intentional, exactly what I look for when visiting hidden speakeasies in London.

2. The Vault

📍 Location: Soho

Finding The Vault in Soho felt like discovering a true hidden bar.

The entrance is tucked inside Milroy’s of Soho, a historic whisky shop.

You’d never know it was there unless someone pointed you in the right direction.

Once inside the shop, a bookcase opens to reveal the bar hidden behind it, instantly setting the tone for what feels like a classic speakeasy experience.

The hidden bookshelf inside Milroy’s of Soho that opens up to a tucked-away London speakeasy.

I love it when a bar fully commits to the idea of secrecy, and The Vault does exactly that.

Inside, the atmosphere was warm, with a clear focus on whisky and spirits.

Cocktails at The Vault Soho

I ordered the Coconut Butter Old Fashioned, made with Peychaud’s bitters, Angostura bitters, Woodstock fortified wine, and coconut oil–infused Buffalo Trace bourbon.

Cocktails at The Vault Soho, a discreet London speakeasy known for its whisky-forward drinks.

It felt like a thoughtful twist on a classic Old Fashioned, familiar enough to be comforting but unique enough to stand out.

If you enjoy spirit-forward cocktails and appreciate a well-crafted bourbon drink, this one is absolutely worth ordering.

3. Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration

📍 Location: Covent Garden

Visiting Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration felt like stepping into another world.

The entire concept is built around travel and discovery, and it really shows.

The entrance and interior details at Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration in Covent Garden.

All you have to do to find this London speakeasy is to put it into your GPS and look for the small sign.

Once you open the door, you will know you arrived.

Cocktails at Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration

I tried Up In The Clouds, made with Dewar’s 12-year Scotch whisky, Evangelista Ratafia cherry liqueur, vanilla syrup, and fresh lime juice, topped with Franklin & Sons Original Ginger Ale.

A drink in a hot air balloon adds to the immersive feel inside Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration.

It was smooth and warming, with a subtle sweetness balanced by spice, and surprisingly easy to sip.

I loved how much is smoked when they opened the top of the balloon.

The Mechanical Mixologist, the world’s first automated Negroni machine at Mr Foggs

We couldn’t leave without trying a Negroni, especially with the Mechanical Mixologist doing the work.

This machine is the first mechanical mixologist in the entire world, and the cocktails it made were surprisingly good.

A classic Negroni enjoyed inside Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration

Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration felt less like just another bar and more like a destination, even in the heart of busy Covent Garden.

4. Cahoots Postal Office

📍 Location: Near Borough Market

Cahoots Postal Office was one of the most fun speakeasy experiences I had in London.

When you arrive, you’re asked if you’re picking up mail, which immediately sets the tone.

Before anything opens, you receive a phone call, and moments later, a hidden door reveals itself, pulling you straight into a fully immersive underground world.

Finding the hidden entrance inside Cahoots Postal Office, one of London’s most immersive speakeasy bars.

Once inside, everything is designed to feel like a working post office from the 1940s.

Cocktails at Cahoots Postal Office

We ordered from the Air Mail menu, which uses the old mail sorting system as a world-first pneumatic cocktail delivery service.

Instead of letters, drinks are sent through air-powered tubes overhead, adding a fun theatrical element to every order.

Cocktails traveling through the system at Cahoots Postal Office, inspired by old mail sorting rooms.

One of the cocktails we tried was Signed, Sealed, Delivered, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, Aperol aperitif, peach, guava, and Tassoni Cedrata.

An Air Mail cocktail delivered in a parcel box at Cahoots Postal Office, part of the bar’s playful 1940s theme.

We also ordered This Way Up, featuring Patrón Silver tequila, Leblon cachaça, blue curaçao liqueur, pineapple, and lavender and aloe vera soda.

This spot was so much fun, and if you’re looking for a truly unique London speakeasy, Cahoots Postal Office is it.

5. Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour

📍 Location: Covent Garden

We started the evening downstairs at Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern, where we stopped in for a classic Sunday roast.

Then it was time to go upstairs to Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, which is a speakeasy located behind a hidden bookshelf.

The Gin Parlour itself feelsVictorian, with plush seating, antique details, and a cozy atmosphere that invites you to settle in.

Sweet treats served alongside cocktails during the Tipples & Treats experience at Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour.

We decided to book the Tipples & Treats experience here, and I am so glad we did.

It was the perfect way to sample a few different cocktails while enjoying homemade cake.

Cocktails at Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour

As part of Tipples & Treats, we were each served two cocktails.

One of the drinks I tried was the Bombay, made with coconut-washed Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru gin.

Part of the Tipples & Treats experience at Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, a unique stop among cocktail bars in London.

It was tropical and lightly sweet, with a creamy texture that made it feel indulgent without being heavy.

We also tried the Calcutta, which leaned much more savory.

This cocktail was made with Parmesan cheese-infused Renais gin, 42 Below vodka, and fresh tomato cordial water.

Cocktails served in the elegant setting of Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, tucked away above the Hat Tavern.

Between the inventive gin-focused cocktails and the intimate setting, it was an amazing speakeasy in Covent Garden.

6. The Little Scarlet Door

📍 Location: Soho

Finding The Little Scarlet Door is easy; just look for the scarlet door and the small sign next to it.

Once you find it, head inside and enjoy the space that is designed to feel like a house party, complete with different rooms.

The unmistakable scarlet entrance that leads into one of Soho’s most fun hidden bars.

From the moment I walked in, it felt social and welcoming, like I’ve been invited into someone’s London flat for the night.

Each room has its own personality, and the overall design makes it easy to wander, mingle, and settle in wherever feels right.

Cocktails at The Little Scarlet Door

We tried the Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which was designed for two and served in a decanter.

It leaned more citrus-forward and bittersweet, with enough complexity to make it feel like a shared experience rather than just a novelty drink.

Cocktails enjoyed inside The Little Scarlet Door, a lively and social spot tucked away in Soho.

The Little Scarlet Door felt like one of those places where the night naturally stretches longer than planned.

Between the house-party atmosphere and creative cocktails, it’s an easy spot to settle into and one of the most social hidden bars in Soho.

7. Cahoots Underground

📍 Location: Soho

Cahoots Underground was one of my favorite speakeasies in London.

It’s hidden beneath the streets of Soho inside a former underground station.

The speakeasy is designed to resemble a forgotten London Underground platform.

The vintage newspaper-style menu at Cahoots Underground, paired with one of their classic cocktails.

One detail I loved was the menu itself, which is presented as a newspaper.

It fits the 1940s theme perfectly!

Cocktails at Cahoots Underground

One of the cocktails I tried was I Say Tomato, made with wholegrain mustard-infused 42 Below vodka.

The I Say Tomato cocktail, one of the most creative and savory drinks I tried at Cahoots Underground.

It was savory, complex, and surprisingly well-balanced, with layers of umami and subtle heat that made every sip interesting.

They even have a cocktail that is served in a big red telephone booth! It had gin and cucumber and felt like a true London cocktail.

A playful cocktail presentation inside Cahoots Underground, served in a bright red telephone booth.

This Soho speakeasy felt like a fully realized concept from start to finish.

Interested in Afternoon Teas? Here are the best afternoon teas in London to book.

8. Disrepute

📍 Location: Soho

Disrepute is located right next to Cahoots Underground, but it feels like stepping into an entirely different world.

To find it, you head down a dark staircase that instantly sets the mood.

The staircase that leads down into Disrepute, one of the most atmospheric underground bars in London.

The space is inspired by The Enlightenment, an 18th-century movement focused on reason, progress, and new ways of thinking.

Cocktails at Disrepute

I ordered the Clear Mind, a cocktail built around yerba mate, lavender, chamomile, and vetiver.

The Clear Mind cocktail at Disrepute, inspired by The Enlightenment and built around delicate herbal flavors.

The cocktail was delicious and balanced, with herbal and floral notes that were subtle rather than overpowering.

9. Discount Suit Company

📍 Location: Spitalfields

Discount Suit Company is hidden beneath Spitalfields in what was once a suit tailor’s store room, and finding it is so much fun.

All you have to do is look for the sign out front, and before you know i,t you will be making your way inside.

The unassuming entrance to the Discount Suit Company speakeasy in Spitalfields

The space itself is small, which makes it feel more like a neighborhood secret than a destination bar.

Which I personally love.

Cocktails at Discount Suit Company

I ordered the Bengal Tiger, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, Cocchi Dry Vermouth, cucumber, tamarind, and mint raita, and chaat masala.

It was bright and refreshing with a subtle savory edge, layered without feeling heavy.

Cocktails at Discount Suit Company, a hidden bar beneath Spitalfields with a low-key, neighborhood feel.

We also tried the Avant Gardener, which featured El Gobernador pisco, almond, red pepper, tomato liqueur, olive, basil, and white balsamic.

This drink leaned more vegetal and savory, with a balance that made it feel thoughtful rather than experimental for the sake of it.

Discount Suit Company felt like a reminder that a speakeasy doesn’t need theatrics to be memorable.

10. The Luggage Room

📍 Location: Mayfair

The Luggage Room is hidden just off Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, hidden inside the London Marriott Grosvenor Square hotel.

You approach what looks like a luggage entrance, give a knock, and moments later, the door opens.

Setting the tone for a classic speakeasy experience before you even step inside.

The Luggage Room menu, setting the tone for a refined, 1920s-inspired cocktail experience in Mayfair.

Once inside, the space feels refined and intimate, with a clear nod to 1920s cocktail culture.

Cocktails at The Luggage Room

I ordered the Corn ‘N’ Oil, made with El Dorado 12-year rum, Plantation O.F.T.D., Velvet Falernum, and bitters.

The drink was smooth and well-balanced, with just enough sweetness and bitterness to keep it interesting.

A classic cocktail at The Luggage Room, a speakeasy in Mayfair with an old-school speakeasy feel.

Between the hidden entrance and timeless cocktails, it’s an easy stop for anyone looking for a refined speakeasy experience in Mayfair.

Tips for Visiting London Speakeasies

Book ahead for the most popular spots – Places like Cahoots, Disrepute, and Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration fill up quickly.
Arrive early when searching for hidden entrances
Read reservation emails carefully! Some speakeasies include specific entry instructions, whether it’s a knock, a phone call, or knowing which door to open.
Group bars by neighborhood as I did. Areas like Soho and Covent Garden are packed with hidden bars.
Slow down and enjoy the experience. Speakeasies aren’t meant to be rushed.

More London Travel Guides

These are my favorite speakeasies in London! But if you are visiting NYC, read 8 Secret NYC Speakeasies You’ll Actually Want to Visit.

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