The guide
The best speakeasy bars in London
Unmarked doors, back-of-the-fridge entrances and basements you'd walk past a hundred times. These are London's speakeasies worth the hunt — every one curated, rated and pinned to the map.
Best for first-timers
Soho & Covent Garden
Best for cocktail nerds
Shoreditch & Hackney
Best for dates
Mayfair & Fitzrovia
Hardest to find
The City & Bermondsey
What counts as a speakeasy in London?
The label gets used loosely, but the real ones share a few things: a door you have to know about, a room that stays deliberately small, and a drinks list built by people who care more about the liquid than the lighting. Prohibition-era theming is optional — secrecy isn't.
London's scene runs from tourist-friendly hidden bars with a queue outside to genuinely obscure rooms that take a phone call and a password. We've mapped both, so you can pick your level of effort.
Our pick of London's speakeasies
We're updating this list — check back soon.
Frequently asked
How do you get into a London speakeasy?
Most take bookings online like any other bar — the secrecy is in the entrance, not the door policy. A handful are walk-in only and a few still run a password or a phone booking. Check the bar's page before you go.
Are speakeasy bars in London expensive?
Expect £14–£20 a cocktail in central London, a little less east and south. You're paying for small rooms, high-spec spirits and bartenders who make everything to order.
Do speakeasies have a dress code?
Smart casual covers almost all of them. A few of the Mayfair rooms turn away sportswear and trainers — worth a quick check on a Friday or Saturday.
Plan a speakeasy crawl
Save the ones you like, drop them on a map, and send the whole route to Google Maps.