Cocktails That Journey Through Drinking History

The menu covers every period of bartending from the 1700s to now, with each cocktail representing a specific era using historically accurate ingredients and techniques.

Live Jazz and 1920s Atmosphere

Bartenders dress in 1920s attire with live jazz music on Friday nights, transforming the space into a genuine time capsule with period-appropriate service and vintage glassware.

How to Find: Look for the unmarked black door inside the Marriott Hotel

Best For: History enthusiasts and authentic 1920s surroundings

Price Range: £15-£25 for cocktails

🌊 Underwater Cenote Design

Draws inspiration from South American cenotes with plush clam shell cocktail chairs, porthole windows, shimmering textures, and a striking octopus chandelier.

🍹 Exotic Ingredients & Hand-Crafted Glassware

Showcases unique, rare ingredients served in ornate glassware. Each drink connects to Amazonian adventures and mythical tales with tropical, playful approaches.

🎵 Resident DJs & Elec-Tropical Soundscapes

From 8pm nightly, resident DJs spin elec-tropical beats progressing from low-tempo house to energetic deep tech house and nu-disco.

📍 How to Find: Enter Amazónico restaurant, walk through dining area toward kitchen

⭐ Best For: Instagram-worthy experiences, date nights, theatrical innovation

👥 Capacity: Up to 95 guests for private hire

💷 Price Range: £18-£30 for cocktails, £12-£25 for food

🏆 World’s 50 Best Bars Recognition

Voted amongst the top ten bars in the world by the 50 Best Bars academy—more than just another hidden bar, it’s a destination for serious cocktail connoisseurs.

🌍 African Accents Meet Gentleman’s Club

Features African accents blended with pops of color and wooden paneling reminiscent of a gentleman’s club, located just two minutes’ walk from Green Park tube.

📍 How to Find: Clear entrance on Stratton Street, tucked below street level

⭐ Best For: Cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate precision and internationally-recognized expertise

🍽️ Special Offer: Seven-course tasting menu available

💷 Price Range: £18-£25 for cocktails, £100-£150 for tasting menu

🎨 Luxury Design Elements

Features luxurious silk jacquard wall panels by fashion designer Johanna Ortiz and hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper, establishing refined sophistication.

🌙 Evolving Evening Experience

Transforms from intimate cocktails to electric DJ nights Thursday to Saturday, perfect for guests who want evenings that evolve organically.

📍 How to Find: Enter Isabel Mayfair restaurant, staff will direct you to basement

⭐ Best For: Late-night energy, groups wanting sophisticated drinks with dance-worthy vibes

⏰ When to Visit: Sunday-Wednesday from 6pm for cocktails; Thursday-Saturday for club atmosphere

💷 Price Range: £16-£22 for Asian-inspired cocktails

🔬 Experimental Drinks Lab

Bartenders use centrifuges and tools more at home in a science lab to isolate flavours and perfect blends. This experimental edge doesn’t compromise hospitality.

🌑 Moody Intimate Setting

Gorgeously low-lit space with fluted ebony walls and polished black bar, with heavy curtains that draw back to reveal extra bar areas as capacity increases.

📍 How to Find: Walk through Hedonism Wines shop on Duke Street

⭐ Best For: Wine enthusiasts who appreciate cocktails, experimental mixology techniques

💷 Price Range: £16-£24 for seasonal signature cocktails

🗺️ Eccentric Explorer’s Home

Walls crammed with taxidermied animals and worldly trinkets from exotic locations. Every surface tells stories of imagined Victorian exploration.

🍹 Adventure-Inspired Cocktails

Introduces rare spirits mixed with ingredients inspired by Phileas Fogg’s travels. Drinks feature smoke, flames, sprays, and novelty glassware.

📍 How to Find: 15 Bruton Place – looks like a service road (intentional misdirection)

⭐ Best For: Victorian escapism, themed experiences, adventurous drinkers

🍸 Signature Drink: Royal Albert Hall cocktail with Bombay Sapphire & Champagne (£18)

💷 Price Range: £15-£30 for cocktails, £65+ for vintage collections

🚪 Hidden Elixir Room

The majestic staircase leads to The Apothecary Room, while the adjacent Elixir Room provides secluded space accessed through a hidden door in the wall of apothecary cabinets.

⚗️ Cocktails as Medicinal Prescriptions

Serves cocktails that resemble latter-day potions with names like “Quacks compound” and “Opium for the Masses” using unique ingredient combinations.

📍 How to Find: 34 Brook Street opposite Claridge’s – Victorian shop front more visible than others

⭐ Best For: Eccentric theatrical experiences, interactive cocktail creation

🎵 Entertainment: Live music and candlelit nooks

🚇 Nearest Tube: Bond Street

🏛️ For Authentic Prohibition-Era

The Luggage Room delivers the most historically accurate 1920s experience with period-dressed bartenders, Friday night jazz, and chronological cocktail menus.

🥇 For World-Class Craftsmanship

Kwānt offers internationally recognized mixology from one of the world’s most accomplished bartenders with World’s 50 Best Bars credentials.

📸 For Theatrical Visual Impact

OCTO provides unmatched spectacle with its underwater cenote design, golden octopus sculpture, and Latin American influences.

💃 For Late-Night Energy

The Dragon Room transitions from sophisticated cocktail venue to vibrant late-night destination with DJ sets Thursday through Saturday.

🍷 For Wine & Experimentation

Scales blends speakeasy intimacy with exceptional wine knowledge and drinks lab innovation using scientific techniques.

🎭 For Victorian Adventure

Mr Fogg’s locations transport guests to Victorian exploration eras with artifact-packed rooms and interactive potion-making.

📅 Booking & Timing

Reservations: Essential for most venues, especially weekends

• • OCTO: Book up to 60 days ahead for weekends
• • Kwānt: 2-3 weeks for prime evening slots
• • The Dragon Room: Essential Thursday-Saturday
• • Pro tip: Call same-day for cancellations

Best Times to Visit:

Early Evening (6-8pm): Quieter, better bartender interaction, easier walk-ins

Prime Time (8-10pm): Full atmosphere, reservations essential

Late Night (10pm+): DJ sets, electric energy, hardest for walk-ins

👔 Dress Code

Smart casual minimum across all Mayfair speakeasies

What to Wear:

Men: Button-down shirts, chinos/tailored trousers, dark jeans, leather shoes

Women: Cocktail dresses, smart separates, elegant jumpsuits, heels

Avoid:

Athletic trainers, sportswear, overly casual t-shirts, shorts, beachwear

Hotel-based venues lean more formal. Mr Fogg’s embraces Victorian eccentricity.

💰 Budget Expectations

Cocktails:

Standard drinks: £15-£20

Signature/premium: £20-£30

Vintage collections: £65-£100+

Food:

Small plates: £10-£18

Sharing platters: £25-£40

Money-Saving Tips:

• Visit during early evening for potential happy hours

• Share small plates rather than individual dishes

• Ask about pre-theatre specials

• Book weeknight visits for occasionally reduced pricing

The Luggage Room

Enter London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square main entrance. Look for unmarked black door in hotel interior.

OCTO

Enter Amazónico restaurant at 10 Berkeley Square. Walk through main dining area toward kitchen, find golden staircase.

Kwānt

Stratton Street entrance clearly marked but tucked below street level, 2 minutes from Green Park tube.

The Dragon Room

Enter Isabel Mayfair restaurant at street level. Ask staff to direct you to basement lounge.

Scales

Walk through Hedonism Wines shop on Duke Street. Speakeasy entrance is inside retail space.

Mr Fogg’s Residence

15 Bruton Lane looks like service road (intentional). Look for Victorian signage on back entrance.

Mr Fogg’s Apothecary

34 Brook Street opposite Claridge’s. Victorian shop front more visible than other speakeasies.

Nearest Tube Stations

Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly, Victoria lines):

• • Closest to Kwānt (2-minute walk)
• • Easy access to OCTO and The Dragon Room

Bond Street (Central, Elizabeth lines):

• • Perfect for Mr Fogg’s Apothecary
• • Quick access to most Mayfair speakeasies

Alternative Transport

Taxis and Uber: Most convenient for door-to-door service, especially when dressed smartly.

Bus Routes: Routes 9, 14, 19, 22, and 38 serve Mayfair with stops on major streets.

Walking: Most central London hotels within 15-20 minutes’ walk. Neighborhood’s compact size makes venue-hopping feasible.

What makes a bar a speakeasy?

A speakeasy is a hidden or secret bar inspired by Prohibition-era establishments that operated illegally in the 1920s. Modern versions feature concealed entrances, vintage decor, craft cocktails, and intimate atmospheres.

Do you need a password to enter?

No—modern Mayfair speakeasies don’t require passwords. They use reservation systems, unmarked entrances, and discrete locations instead of historical password systems.

Which has the best cocktails?

Kwānt receives international acclaim, but “best” depends on preferences: The Luggage Room for historical classics, OCTO for tropical innovation, Scales for experimental techniques.

Can you walk in without booking?

Walk-ins are possible during quieter periods (Sunday-Wednesday, 6-8pm), but reservations are strongly recommended. OCTO, Kwānt, and The Dragon Room typically require advance booking.

How expensive are drinks?

Expect £15-£20 for standard cocktails, £20-£30 for signature drinks, and £65-£150+ for vintage collections or tasting menus.

What’s the dress code?

Smart casual minimum. Men: button-down shirts with chinos/dark jeans. Women: cocktail dresses or smart separates. Avoid trainers, sportswear, shorts.

☀️ Summer (June-August)

Warmer months transform menus with lighter, citrus-forward profiles. OCTO’s tropical theme particularly shines. Book further ahead—tourist season peaks.

❄️ Winter (November-February)

Colder seasons feature darker spirits, warming spices, and rich flavours. The Luggage Room’s intimate atmosphere becomes particularly appealing during winter evenings.

🎄 Holiday Periods

Christmas and New Year see special menus, themed decorations, and extended hours. Requires substantially advanced booking—often months ahead.

🌷 Spring & Autumn Sweet Spots

Shoulder seasons (March-May, September-October) offer best balance of atmosphere and availability with seasonal ingredients inspiring menu changes.