experimental cocktail club reviews

The Experimental Cocktail Club

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Review Highlights

“ Nestled behind a nondescript door in Chinatown, you'll enter into a dimly lit , three-level cocktail haven. ” in 3 reviews

“ Prohibition has come to town and the city's newest, secret drinking den is The Experimental Cocktail Club in Chinatown. ” in 2 reviews

“ This hidden gem appears to be nothing more than a black door from the outside, but on the inside it is 4 stories of vibes! ” in 4 reviews

Location & Hours

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13a Gerrard Street

London W1D 5PS

United Kingdom

Amenities and More

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2 star rating Could’ve been better
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Overall rating

This place is another favorite bar of mine to visit whenever I'm in town. The drinks are always very good and the bartenders are friendly. I like to come here on my first night just myself and I sit at the bar and just chat with whoever is around me. Everyone is so friendly here and it's got a really great vibe.

See all photos from Nicole M. for The Experimental Cocktail Club

A local bartender suggested this place and I will say I'm not disappointed. Locating the door took me a couple of minutes because it looked like a run down entrance door to a basement. The 2 floors are very dark and it can get very cramped so if you're claustrophobic, then I would not recommend this to you. Robin was making our drinks and he's an awesome guy, small world that he used to work in my hometown, he's very knowledgeable on his drinks and his recommendations on places to visits after, he's French so you can't miss him!

We are all about speakeasy's and after reading the reviews we just had to find this spot! We only had 30 mins till close but we were determined to find it in Chinatown. After almost giving up, we ran into a guy who showed us the way. The entrance is literally a black door with a red scratch on it lol. As soon as you go upstairs, you walk into a dimly lit room with awesome music, a small seating area and the bar. My friends and I tried different drinks and they were all delicious. I would love to go back whenever I'm in town again, the ambiance is so chill it was perfect to winding down our night. There is also seating area upstairs by the restroom in case the first floor gets too crowded. I loved it here, this place really is a gem!

I had such a great time and this speak-easy style cocktail club in Chinatown! This hidden gem appears to be nothing more than a black door from the outside, but on the inside it is 4 stories of vibes! The windows open and overlook the bustling streets of China town and give you a great view of the lanterns. The walls and ceilings are mirrored (because who doesn't like to look at themselves?) The staff were all cuties too, and very friendly. I definitely recommend this spot, especially for a date. The atmosphere is intimate yet laid back. The drinks are unusual and unique. Not horribly expensive either. About 12/13 pounds per drink. I loved it. Will definitely be back!

See all photos from Claudia W. for The Experimental Cocktail Club

Taken here by a local that wanted to impress and he did just that. While definitely cramped and boisterous, with nowhere to sit unless you're lucky and score a seat, the energy is infectious and it's hard not to engage with those around you since you'll inevitably be encroaching on their space and vice versa. The DJ is on the second floor (no dancing; just background sounds), but I recommend staying on the first floor as it's less crowded (because everyone heads upstairs thinking there's more up there, I presume). The drinks take some time since all are crafted with precision, but they are well worth it. I loved the music, the vibe, and the people. If you're from NY or LA, it's similar to Apotheke.

Very good "hidden" Cocktail bar. Drinks are good, service is nice, and the ambient is also really cool with live DJ on the second floor. I tried their Paloma de Provence and the The Crown and they were both well made drinks.

This bar is great!! It can get quite packed so be prepared to be smooshed, but the crowd fluctuates throughout the night. The DJ plays an upbeat mix of various types of music and the bartenders are cocktail gurus! Sours are made with freshly cracked egg whites and shaken to a heavenly froth. Whiskey sour are excellent, but the Daymi Blues is my favorite... Mezcal with blueberry and tamarind -- mind blown! Most places don't stay open past 11 pm even on weekends so ECC is a diamond in the rough. $5 cover charge after 10 pm I think, but definitely worth it. The cocktails are expensive but everything in London is expensive lol. Try to snag a seat at the bar where you'll get a front row seat to their mixology magic. Also, it's not easy to find because there is no address or signage. But look for where it should be and you'll see a doorman standing in front of a random door. Jackpot.

Daymi Blues

We love speakeasies in nyc and so we figured to try one in london. This had a very hidden entrance but we found it when we saw the bouncer outside. The server wasnt great. She was pushy and made us order and pay before we even got our drinks. I noticed they were not making all the cocktails by hand but taking it out of some bottle and serving them. Maybe they make them in advance i am not sure. Place is pretty cool but cocktails are nothing special. She also squeezed us into a table and no one had any room to move. I probably would not recommend.

One of the coolest speakeasy's that I have ever been to. Location was so cool, every member of the staff was welcoming, the cocktails were perfect, and the music was superb. The only bad part about this place is that it's about an 8 hour flight and 1 hour train ride away from where I live. This was hands-down one of the best highlights of our trip to London. Worth the brief hunt to find the door;)

Aww what a nice time!! Luckily we got seats by a cute little table, though it was a Saturday night and quite busy/lively when we arrived. We stayed there for a while - hours in fact! Tried three different cocktails, and Chris super sweetly offered to let me try his and choose his so that I would know better what I want to drink for mine :) We tried a sweet coconut one, one with cognac and chocolate, and the Ragnarok one as well as a gin and lime juice with egg whites one :) Some interesting characters there, like one guy who seemingly came there with a girl on a date. They started dancing super early on, inviting Chris and I to join (we politely declined) and seemed very drunk already! Then a third guy joined their table and started getting flirty and handsy with the girl, while the first guy told us that he was actually setting up a threesome! Again tried inviting us but we politely declined..crazy stuff! ^^ was a really fun time at this bar though and we stayed there talking, trying out cool new cocktails, and meeting these interesting people for hours :)

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