We all like to feel as though we’re in the know. You can’t deny that sweet satisfaction of finding a hidden gem, and these quirky bars are sure to deliver that same sense of pride. From cocktails in teapots and fish finger sarnies through to Insta-worth interiors, take a look at our guide to top-secret bars hidden in retro cafés.
Coin Laundry
Taking inspo from the cafs of the 60s, Coin Laundry lets you recreate plenty of Mad Men moments with its retro interiors. What's more, the food choices are just as old school as the decor with garlicky chicken kiev, pickled eggs, and kippers taking pride of place. Pair these with the ample drinks menu spanning wine, beer, classic cocktails and vermouth, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
A charming blast from the past, Coin Laundry serves retro dishes with an extensive bar menu.
Breakfast Club Soho
Placed smack-bang on Berwick Street, this quirky vintage haunt serves a menu of all-day brekky classics, coffee and more, within its colourful walls. What’s really the best part of The Breakfast Club though? The bar (which has a pretty impressive happy hour of £5 cocktails) specialising in breakfast-themed mixes such as flat white martinis, mimosas and signature bloody marys.
Sink into a leather booth at the Brekky Club and get the bloody marys in ya.
Jim's Cafe Clapton
From the outside, Jim’s Café might look like your bog-standard greasy spoon. However, when you look past the faded, crumbling-paint exterior, you’ll see there’s an entire menu of tasty libations just waiting to be explored. With its quirky tiled floors, retro leather booths and wooden panels lining the walls, it’s a blast from the past and one groovy place to kick back with a cocktail.
Not your average caf, Jim's is hiding behind an unassuming exterior.
Bobby Fitzpatrick
Walking into Bobby’s is like walking into the quintessential 70s home. Made up of soft mustard tones, stylish furnishings, lush indoor foliage and kitsch trinkets supposedly picked up by the man himself, it’s a whimsical escape in West Hampstead. Whether you’re making the most of their bottomless brunch or heading out on a quirky date, the tropical-themed cocktails perfectly elevate the experience.
Bobby's is a haven for retro furnishings, with luscious libations to boot.
Little Nan’s
Charmingly kitsch and just as retro as your gran's living room, Little Nan’s is an eccentric hideaway in the arches of Deptford. Filled with twee furnishings, royal memorabilia and scattered tatt, it’s one of London’s most unique hidden haunts. While the teapots and three-tiers of finger food may fool you, their afternoon tea offerings are as boozy as they come.
Little Nan's a treasure trove with tearoom vibes and teapots full of deadly mixes.
Like these vintage havens? Check out our guide to retro bars here.
