In our column, A Seat At The Bar we showcase the world’s best bars – from plush cocktail spots to dive bars, and everything in between. This month, we’re spotlighting The Bloomsbury Club Bar.
Tucked away in London’s creative Bloomsbury, The Bloomsbury Club Bar draws its artistic inspiration from The Bloomsbury Group who wrote, painted, and partied during the turn of the last century, and who are largely dubbed the vanguards of modern creativity. And just like The Bloomsbury Group’s fascination with Ancient Egyptian archaeological discoveries, The Bloomsbury Club bar has unveiled the new Ancient Egypt-inspired menu celebrating the divination of this period.
Drenched in the nostalgia and decadence of two bygone eras – the Roaring Twenties and Ancient Egypt – you’ve arrived at The Bloomsbury Club Bar.
In partnership with The Bloomsbury Club.
The Lowdown
The Bloomsbury Club Bar is a hidden gem – and we don’t use that term lightly – in of itself, where the ardour of the 1920s golden age of discovery that can be felt inside the bar is much like the excitement of uncovering this coveted spot itself.
There are not many places in London where you can drink amongst both the lasting legacy of this advanced ancient civilisation as well as the lavish mid-century glamour of the bar’s interiors. Here, artistic alchemy makes its way across every facet of the bar from interior aesthetics as colourful art peacocks on the walls to the style of modernist fauvism to cocktail innovation.
The Bloomsbury Club Bar is an intimate fare, where even the bartenders are involved in the evening, mixing cocktails to the tune of the live bands. You’ll feel the jubilance of a private event – much like the private parties of The Bloomsbury Group where these creatives debated Egyptian art accompanied by a sharply poured, strong cocktail serve. The debaucherous energy of The Bloomsbury Group’s meetings is evident here, from the seductive detail of the red panelled bar to the warm glow and subtle touch of vanity with the bar mirrors. Sat in a quiet corner, we can almost hear the animated hum of the Modernist writers and painters and their fervour for creative discovery.
What To Order
When To Go
With its speakeasy vibe, you feel lost in time here. Tucked away underground and romantically lit by lamps, even a drink at the bar during the early evening upholds the buzz of the after hours. The Bloomsbury Club Bar is open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 1am, and is worth a visit both before or after dinner. Though, the atmosphere really picks up after 9pm in the evening, so swing by later in the evening and prepare to end your night here to the backdrop of the live band singing your favourite swinging jazz tunes.
Who To Bring
Bring a date or a close friend. There is a coy air of subtle mystique that hangs in The Bloomsbury Club Bar. It’s a spot where even in our hyper-connected age you feel like you can scurry away for an evening. Find a lamp-lit corner spot and sink into the emerald leather seating to grasp onto this charm, before spending hours lost in conversation.
Or, opt for a spot under the low-strung festoon lights and clambering ivy in the bar’s adjacent terrace for a cosy evening in the fresh winter air, while sharing a blanket with a close friend for warmth.
The Dress Code
Unveil your inner modernist by dressing to the looser and shorter dress style of the riotous 1920s and 1930s. A little sequin, plumage, or fringing won’t go amiss here. The Bloomsbury Group were known for dressing in tune to their own individuality – clothes are another artistic expression after all – so adopt the same attitude. So, while there is no set dress code here, the ornate sophistication of The Bloomsbury Club Bar does give way to parading your favourite evening wear. Or, nod to antiquity and the Ancient Egyptian belief that jewellery protected the living from danger and promoted eternity by parading your finest gemstones like a glistening tourmaline ring (historically believed to inspire creativity). Don’t be shy!
All image credit: The Bloomsbury Club Bar
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?