Discover: London’s Themed Bars and Restaurants
Take a look at London's coolest and quirkiest themed bars and restaurants, guaranteed to brighten your evening.
It’s no secret that London is a city that loves a great night out and while there’s certainly no shortage of places to go, there’s a select few bars and restaurants that are a bit more out there and interesting than the rest. These go beyond just serving drinks and food and instead offer something much more entertaining, from secret speakeasies and public loos to vintage boltholes and theatre-themed hideaways, there's something for everyone. Here’s our guide to some of the best themed bars and restaurants in London for those who prefer to be surrounded by something a little more outlandish.
Cahoots
- 13 Kingly Court, Carnaby, London, W1B 5PW
Cahoots is a vibrant secret network of 1940s-themed cocktail bars and pubs in London, where the notorious Scoundrels serve up high spirits, spiffing cocktails, and live swinging entertainment. Open seven days a week, uncover the original Underground bar and the lively Ticket Hall pub in Soho, and experience the brand-new Cahoots Postal Office now open in Borough Yards.
Bunga 90
Covent Garden: 167 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PG
The interactive 90s bar London never knew it needed. Built to overload the senses, discover a full-blown nostalgia trip back to the 90s in the heart of Covent Garden – from drinks built by a claw machine, to neon-soaked bathroom raves on the hour.
Step through a retro video rental store in Covent Garden and spiral into a full-blown 1990s time warp with nostalgic cocktails, loaded pizzas, hourly bathroom raves and 90s karaoke. A multi-zone nostalgic playground in the heart of Covent Garden – with zero parental controls. Multiple karaoke zones and 100% 90s hits.
Evans and Peel Detective Agency
310 Earls Court Road, London, SW5 9BA
Whether you love or loathe them, Prohibition-themed bars are all the rage at the moment, so we couldn’t possibly get through this post without mentioning two of the coolest. Probably the most committed to sticking to their shtick, you shouldn’t expect to just walk into Evans and Peel Detective Agency without a proper cover story. If you manage to impress The Detective, you’ll be allowed to enter the bar through a secret door hidden in a bookcase. Inside, it’s all off-white tile, American-style cocktails taking their names from real and fictional moonshiners, bootleggers and bandits including Al Capone and John Dillinger. There’s even a Tommy Shelby cocktail, a nod to TV series Peaky Blinders.
A fantastic cool and quirky speakeasy bar.
Mr Fogg’s Residence
15 Bruton Lane, London, W1J 6JD
An entirely different cup of tea is Mr Fogg's Residence, the home of the explorer of Around the World in Eighty Days-fame. A place of wonder and imagination, Phileas J. Fogg welcomes you through the doors to his adventurous abode in the heart of Mayfair. Enter his famous Drawing Room and indulge in the vast and rare collection of artefacts and antiquities. Collected from all corners of the earth, the walls, shelves and even ceiling of his home boast rarities from exotic creatures to statuettes, each with a story tracing its journey from far-flung corners of the world.
The cocktails are as spectacular as the decoration, and that’s not all, Phineas has recently expanded hugely, with a gin parlour, a House of Botanicals, a Dockside Distillery and even a Society of Exploration. Beyond the drinks, the Residence offers immersive experiences like Saturday murder mysteries, with live seasonal music (saxophone, violin, bongos) and theatrical presentation elevating each visit into a spectacular voyage.
Mr Fogg’s Residence is more than just a bar—it’s a theatrical experience: a cocktail-fuelled journey through Victorian curiosity, storytelling, and design. Just magical.
Sarastro
26 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5SU
Sarastro Restaurant named after a character in Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’, first opened its doors in August 1996. Housed in what was once a public house on 19th century gin-soaked Drury Lane and latterly part of Peabody Housing, Sarastro quickly established itself as one of London’s most unique and must-see restaurants.
It continues to offer a heady mix of fun, Mediterranean food with a Turkish twist and music. Referred to by many as ‘The Show After The Show’ Sarastro hosts its own special musical events on different days of the week. Enter Sarastro and enter a world of drama, passion, and excitement where exuberant colour, glittering display, and joyous music meet exotic cuisine to create a truly unforgettable dining experience.
Conveniently located in the heart of Covent Garden, Sarastro is one of London’s most distinctive pre-theatre restaurants, perfectly placed for an early dinner before a West End show.
Blame Gloria
Gloria’s original den of debauchery featuring an iconic TV wall, plush velvet booths, exposed brickwork and prints inspired by Hendrix himself. Drenched in neon lights, it’s the afterparty to trump all afterparties.
Gloria was legendary 1960s chick and the biggest groupie of all time. She was the dame who mixed a whiskey sour that would knock your socks off, the gal who tinkled Elton’s old piano, and some even whisper she shared a dance or two with Hendrix. She’s lived a thousand lives in a thousand hotels, but when the dosh ran dry, Gloria took the party to the basement...
Every Weekend, Blame Gloria throws the wildest themed bottomless brunch events in Covent Garden. There’s the ABBA & Legends Bottomless Brunch, the Rock'n'roll Chick's Bottomless Brunch and Club Classics Brunch. There’s also the formidable Happy Hour where gorgeous cocktails, prosecco an beer are on offer throughout the week, With endless drinks, drag entertainment, singalongs, dance offs and complete mayhem. Daytime drinking has never been so much fun.
So get ready to sip, slay, and hit the dance floor!