Experimental Cocktail Club

Covent Garden / Soho, London – Greeted at the battered, paint-speckled door by a man in a waistcoat, first-time visitors to Experimental Cocktail Club can hardly be blamed if they find themselves a bit skeptical, unless of course they’re already familiar with the cutting-edge Paris original.

Located on one of Soho’s busiest and most tourist-laden thoroughfares and tucked inside a multi-story Georgian townhouse, the venue offers an unlikely and well-hidden oasis for cocktail connoisseurs and thirsty travelers.

Lively couples and smartly-dressed groups of friends climb a wooden staircase that leads them to an art nouveau paradise of fine upholstery, mirrored tile ceilings, oriental wall hangings, and antique objets d'art.

While the smaller bar on the second floor creates a mellow speakeasy feel with its exposed brickwork and large frosted windows, the third floor bar and lounge is the busiest and most bustling area of this French-themed drinkery.

Populated by pretty people in designer dresses and dapper duds, the venue is full of glamorous guests chatting at the bar or huddled around vintage glass tables to quaff specialty drinks like the Saint Germain Des Prés, an especially potent blend of gin, elderflower, egg white, and cucumber juice.

Although the bar boasts house DJs who play everything from alt hits to Hall & Oates favorites, there’s also live bands on Tuesdays and a classical music experience on Sundays that even combines free massage services from 7–11pm.

A safe haven from the chaos of Soho, Experimental Cocktail Club is a place for well-heeled guests to take their chances on wildly innovative cocktails in a wonderfully relaxed setting.    ← read less