When unmarked doors lead to intimate cocktail experiences, this London neighbourhood delivers some of the capital’s most exclusive drinking spots.
When you’re looking for secret bars in Mayfair where unmarked doors lead to intimate cocktail experiences, this London neighbourhood delivers some of the capital’s most exclusive drinking spots. These hidden speakeasies combine Prohibition-era mystique with world-class mixology, creating atmospheric escapes where finding the entrance is half the adventure.
Mayfair’s speakeasy scene thrives on exclusivity and discovery. Unlike traditional bars with visible signage, these venues hide behind wine shops, beneath hotels, and beyond restaurant kitchens—spaces where knowing locals and informed visitors enjoy craft cocktails away from the crowds.
The best speakeasy bars in Mayfair share common traits: secret or unmarked entrances, carefully curated drinks lists featuring rare spirits and experimental techniques, intimate atmospheres with vintage or theatrical decor, and reservation systems that reward advance planning.
The Luggage Room operates from a former luggage storage space, creating one of Mayfair’s most authentic speakeasy experiences. This hidden cocktail bar specializes in drinks that tell the complete story of mixology evolution.
The bar’s cocktail menu covers every period of bartending from the 1700s to now, letting guests explore how drinks evolved from medicinal concoctions through Prohibition classics to contemporary creations. Each cocktail represents a specific era, with ingredients and techniques matching historical accuracy whilst maintaining modern drinkability.
Mayfair’s speakeasy scene thrives on exclusivity and discovery. Unlike traditional bars with visible signage, these venues hide behind wine shops, beneath hotels, and beyond restaurant kitchens.
Hidden Inside: London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square
The Luggage Room operates from a former luggage storage space, creating one of Mayfair’s most authentic speakeasy experiences specializing in drinks that tell the complete story of mixology evolution.
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.
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
Hidden Access: Via the restaurant kitchen and down a golden-clad staircase
This dramatic entrance sequence immediately signals you’re entering somewhere extraordinary beneath Amazónico restaurant.
Draws inspiration from South American cenotes with plush clam shell cocktail chairs, porthole windows, shimmering textures, and a striking octopus chandelier.
Showcases unique, rare ingredients served in ornate glassware. Each drink connects to Amazonian adventures and mythical tales with tropical, playful approaches.
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
The Expert: Erik Lorincz, who perfected his craft at the Connaught Hotel and spent nearly eight years as Head Bartender at the world-famous American Bar at The Savoy.
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.
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
The Space: Isabel Mayfair’s basement lounge bar offering what Time Out describes as “hidden but deliberately not secret”—creating intrigue whilst remaining accessible.
Features luxurious silk jacquard wall panels by fashion designer Johanna Ortiz and hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper, establishing refined sophistication.
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
Hidden Behind: The bottle shop “Drink With Sasha” at Hedonism Wines, requiring insider knowledge to discover.
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.
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
The Concept: Recreates the adventurous abode of fictional character Phileas Fogg at 15 Bruton Lane, embracing Victorian exploration rather than typical Prohibition themes.
Walls crammed with taxidermied animals and worldly trinkets from exotic locations. Every surface tells stories of imagined Victorian exploration.
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
The Setting: Located opposite Claridge’s hotel on Brook Street, this Victorian Apothecary offers a glimpse into Phileas’ eccentric world styled as a Victorian pharmacist’s den.
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.
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
| Bar Name | Vibe & Theme | Signature Experience | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Luggage Room | 1920s Prohibition | Historical cocktails & live jazz | History buffs, authentic vibes | £15-£25 |
| OCTO at Amazónico | Theatrical Underwater | Golden staircase & Latin flair | Instagram moments, date nights | £18-£30 |
| Kwānt | Sophisticated & World-Class | Award-winning mixology | Cocktail purists, craftsmanship | £18-£25 |
| The Dragon Room | Asian-Inspired Lounge | Cocktails to late-night DJs | Groups, late-night energy | £16-£22 |
| Scales at Hedonism | Moody & Experimental | Drinks lab techniques & wines | Wine lovers, innovation | £16-£24 |
| Mr Fogg’s Residence | Victorian Explorer | Artefact-packed adventure theme | Themed experiences, adventure | £15-£30 |
| Mr Fogg’s Apothecary | Victorian Pharmacist | Interactive potion-making | Theatrical, interactive fun | £16-£28 |
The Luggage Room delivers the most historically accurate 1920s experience with period-dressed bartenders, Friday night jazz, and chronological cocktail menus.
Kwānt offers internationally recognized mixology from one of the world’s most accomplished bartenders with World’s 50 Best Bars credentials.
OCTO provides unmatched spectacle with its underwater cenote design, golden octopus sculpture, and Latin American influences.
The Dragon Room transitions from sophisticated cocktail venue to vibrant late-night destination with DJ sets Thursday through Saturday.
Scales blends speakeasy intimacy with exceptional wine knowledge and drinks lab innovation using scientific techniques.
Mr Fogg’s locations transport guests to Victorian exploration eras with artifact-packed rooms and interactive potion-making.
Reservations: Essential for most venues, especially weekends
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
Smart casual minimum across all Mayfair speakeasies
Men: Button-down shirts, chinos/tailored trousers, dark jeans, leather shoes
Women: Cocktail dresses, smart separates, elegant jumpsuits, heels
Athletic trainers, sportswear, overly casual t-shirts, shorts, beachwear
Hotel-based venues lean more formal. Mr Fogg’s embraces Victorian eccentricity.
Standard drinks: £15-£20
Signature/premium: £20-£30
Vintage collections: £65-£100+
Small plates: £10-£18
Sharing platters: £25-£40
• 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
Enter London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square main entrance. Look for unmarked black door in hotel interior.
Enter Amazónico restaurant at 10 Berkeley Square. Walk through main dining area toward kitchen, find golden staircase.
Stratton Street entrance clearly marked but tucked below street level, 2 minutes from Green Park tube.
Enter Isabel Mayfair restaurant at street level. Ask staff to direct you to basement lounge.
Walk through Hedonism Wines shop on Duke Street. Speakeasy entrance is inside retail space.
15 Bruton Lane looks like service road (intentional). Look for Victorian signage on back entrance.
34 Brook Street opposite Claridge’s. Victorian shop front more visible than other speakeasies.
Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly, Victoria lines):
Bond Street (Central, Elizabeth lines):
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.
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.
No—modern Mayfair speakeasies don’t require passwords. They use reservation systems, unmarked entrances, and discrete locations instead of historical password systems.
Kwānt receives international acclaim, but “best” depends on preferences: The Luggage Room for historical classics, OCTO for tropical innovation, Scales for experimental techniques.
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.
Expect £15-£20 for standard cocktails, £20-£30 for signature drinks, and £65-£150+ for vintage collections or tasting menus.
Smart casual minimum. Men: button-down shirts with chinos/dark jeans. Women: cocktail dresses or smart separates. Avoid trainers, sportswear, shorts.
Warmer months transform menus with lighter, citrus-forward profiles. OCTO’s tropical theme particularly shines. Book further ahead—tourist season peaks.
Colder seasons feature darker spirits, warming spices, and rich flavours. The Luggage Room’s intimate atmosphere becomes particularly appealing during winter evenings.
Christmas and New Year see special menus, themed decorations, and extended hours. Requires substantially advanced booking—often months ahead.
Shoulder seasons (March-May, September-October) offer best balance of atmosphere and availability with seasonal ingredients inspiring menu changes.
Whether you’re knocking on unmarked doors, descending golden staircases, or stepping into Victorian worlds, Mayfair’s hidden cocktail bars deliver unforgettable experiences that extend far beyond drinks themselves.
Book your reservations now—these hidden gems reward preparation, and London’s best-kept cocktail secrets wait behind unmarked doors throughout Mayfair’s prestigious streets.
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