Buried in an underground bunker off Covent Garden, Foundation is a late night bar with a notorious reputation. Known for turning a few Thursday drinks into a hellish Friday hangover, it’s a mainstay amongst the Central London party scene, so naturally we ventured down to see if we could keep up.
Spacious and extravagantly decorated, you’ll find a glorious mash of prints and styles in this space, with cowhide sofas pressing up against exposed brick, flashes of patterns and the odd string of fairy light. It’s a look as varied as its drinks menu, which takes its cues from the tarot tradition, turning cards into cocktails. For whatever reason, I’m immediately drawn to The Fool (£9.50) which mixes Tanqueray, blackberries, mint and lemon topped with lemonade. Light and refreshing, there’s a freshness from the blackberries and a pleasant pop of fizz from the lemonade. My friend has gone for The Lovers (£9.50) where Havana 3 rum is shaken with Archers, peach puree, raspberries and lime juice to create a sharp and frothy little concoction.
As we take our seats on one of the high-stooled tables by the bar, it’s clear to see you get quite the mixed bag of patrons in here. On one side of us a group of suits are getting a round of beers in, while on the other two girls are cackling their way through their second bottle of house white. On the table across there’s a couple clearly making the most of happy hour for an economically friendly date.
The subterranean bar mashes mis-matched furniture, mood lighting and quirky decor.
A glance at the menu shows it’s good old-fashioned comfort food at Foundation. Offering platters, pizzas, chips and fried chicken it’s exactly what you need after a long day (or a few too many cocktails). We grab a couple of pizzas: The Big Apple (£10.50) sees pancetta and macaroni cheese spread over a base of Bloody Mary tomato sauce, mozzarella and sharp cheddar, while The Mediterranean Gateway (£10.50) features a hefty helping of roasted vegetables, artichokes, olives and large dollops of creamy hummus, ideal for crispy crust dipping. Alongside helping me hit my dairy quota for the year, my pizza provides a necessary stomach liner for my next cocktail, The Magician (£9.50), formed of Olmeca Blanco tequila, Cointreau and strawberries shaken with lime. Bittersweet with a very healthy smack of Cointreau, it goes down all too smoothly.
The menu showcases a wealth of cool and quirky pizzas and other tasty treats.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Fronting a chilled out atmosphere, tasty pizzas and some hefty happy hour deals, it’s no surprise that Foundation has become popular among the after work crowd. With friendly staff, neon lights and party tunes blaring from the speakers, you could head down for one pint, sure, but if you end up out until dawn, don’t say we didn’t warn you.
