Experimental Cocktail Club Reviews

Was so drunk cant remember it! Must have been brilliant

The place is nice, good music but way too loud for a bar which makes it hard to have a conversation, cocktail list also not too varied for a place who serves mainly cocktails. The cocktails were also unfamiliar, i know it's experimental cocktail club, but could include some known ones as well. It's mostly try your luck, as it is quite difficult to navigate the menu, unless you are very familiar with a large variety of alcohol.

Expensive but nice, good to meet with one friend but no more very small on purpose

You'd never imagine that place is hidden there. The view and the atmosphere is the perfect scenario for a date. The staff is so cool and will definetly help you to choose a suitable cocktail for you.

Cool drinks, cool place, 101% suggested! Crowded on Saturdays!

Real effort to get past the door staff. Attempted to make a reservation a few weeks beforehand. No reply after 3 chases.

4th chase, was told no reservations taken on a Saturday. Show up to be told by unpleasant door staff that we must have a reservation. Not for want of trying lol!

Always a treat to drink here. Cocktails are the best.

Nice cocktail bar hidden in between two restaurants on China town. Managed to get a table without a reservation despite was some other reviews suggest.

Stairs smelling very bad and reduced cocktail list to just few cocktails on Sunday.
Cocktails are made very in rush and with not even a garnish. We said 3 times we were there with codeapp and we left a credit card to the bartender to open the table. When we ask for the bill they forgot about both, credit card and codeapp.
Cocktails just overpriced for what they are I don't really recommend.

Average and overhyped probably because of the location. 13 pounds for a cocktail... Interior design was nice though.

Unfriendliest staff I ve ever seen ... except the doormen and barkeeper.

This is a fun place to check out. The cocktails are bizarre, sometimes in a great way, sometimes in a not good way, but for me, that's part of the fun. You wont find drinks like this anywhere else! I would have given 5 stars, but I think the staff could have been friendlier.

We wanted to book for a group of 8 on a Monday night for a Christmas party. We were told that they didn't accept group bookings, but it should be fine if we arrived early. Only one of us was able to get in and the doorman refused entry to the rest, whilst randomly letting other small groups in. I'm not sure what the etiquette is for swearing on these reviews, but this guy was a massive 'see you next Tuesday.' Extremely rude, aggressive and arrogant. I rang my business partner who was inside so he could speak to the management and they explained to him that this hideous person had full discretion as to who could come in and out. At this point there were 11 people in the club. Not the ideal start to our evening. We relocated to The Coach and Horses on Greek st and had a great night with very friendly staff. As an aside the guy who did get in mentioned that the clapper girl was obnoxious and rude and the cocktails were nice, but ludicrously overpriced.

Speak-easy style venue.
A narrow house full of winding stairwells and nook like comfortable seats. Usually crowded and full of dance music and people standing around.
Vibe is probably hip rather that suave.
The music and DJ seem quit loud given the fact it is not a dancing place.
Drinks averaging 10-20 pounds + table service.

Mezcal coffee bean drink was excellent. Nice atmosphere but mixed on staff.

Nice place, service is really bad, such a shame because all other ECC s I ve been to are amazing

Experimental Cocktail Club (or ECC ) is a hidden cocktail bar in Chinatown on Gerrard Street with great cocktails and service.

Really great bar, with nice drinks and atmosphere. however, it may be difficult to come in .

If there was an option for NO stars this place would get it! The rudest "welcome" I have ever experienced from a bar anywhere in the world....

The "doorman" who was aggressive and outrageously rude; oh and with no SIA (security) badge on display.... Was SO incredibly rude that we ended up leaving our drinks untouched and walking out....

A real shame as the barman couldn't have been nicer....

Don't bother. Unless you are reporting these guys to Security Industry Authority for the behaviour of the idiots at the door....

Untraceable place, we thought we could have dinner instead only drinks and music. It was a revelation, one of the best cocktails of the past 10 years. The door at the entrance is tiny, without a sign, there is a bouncer with the list of reservations that can only be made by email.

So no booking necessary which seemed strange for the size of the bar and that s one of the problems it did get very busy when I was in there and lack of seating so we were standing. Was an entry charge which was weird for the type of bar. Medium selection of cocktails which were nice and fairly price. Exclusivity may be needed to make this place better...

great for good cocktail and quiet atmosphere but very few seats

Great drinks, the atmosphere was slightly peculiar but after a few of their delicious cocktails I didn't care. We will return when we're next in the area

Great place to go have a cocktail in an upscale, speak-easy setting

The cocktail is really good. But it's expensive. Leaving clothes is free

Behind an unmarked door you find one of the best cocktail bars in London. Busy on peak days but if you go at a less conventional time you'll find it very relaxing and a fantastic place to enjoy amazing cocktails and chat the afternoon/evening away.

Quite pretty inside and possibly better than Milk and Honey in that regard. Cocktails also tend to be yummy and feel like they've been delicately prepared. However the novelty seems to outweigh the actual overall experience. The door staff can be unfriendly and rude and the cocktails aren't quite worth the hype.

Nice cocktails but pricy, about $12-20 each. Excellent service and friendly staff. Cozy but loud music.

It's ok. Very odd door to get into the place with some guy waiting outside for customers. Very expensive drinks! Other than that it's ok.

Great cocktails and nice decor, but very crowded and noisy. Not the classic speakeasy atmosphere

They know their cocktails, and if you ask for a classic that's not on the menu they will make it. I recommend an old fashioned! It's a bit pricey but well worth it. Look for a bouncer in front of an unmarked brown door next to the four seasons, a hidden gem in Chinatown!

Bouncer sent us up when we explained we had a reservation (only good point), then we had to wait in the cloakroom queue even though neither were checking a coat in, next we were sent to the waitress who sent us back to the cloakroom because that's where they deal with reservations?! Then we were escorted to a table that had three ladies sat at it. They were told to 'move' so we could sit down, super embarrassing! First round of drinks arrived (two Old Fashioneds) but were undrinkable. Complained to the waitress so she replaced them with two poorly made cocktails. We left!

Good cocktails, placed not too crowded even a Friday evening, a bit too noisy and expensive.

Cocktail is just basic, prices are the way more exspensive with what you got! Not really recomended. Visiting at night just aware for extra charge.

This is a legit speak-easy... just an unassuming brown door on the street with a well dressed bouncer in front. I didn't have any trouble getting in, I simply told the bouncer we were looking to get a cocktail.

Once inside, its very dark and somewhat intimate, made up of two long, narrow floors with restrooms on the third floor. The cocktails were great, they have a large variety with different spirits (gin, rum, vodka, etc.). I thought the Old Cuban with rum, lime juice, syrup, mint, bitters and champagne was excellent and surprisingly refreshing.

We had a mixed experience while interacting with several servers during our stay. Some were very nice and welcoming, while others were short and made it feel like because we weren't regulars, we weren't welcome. Its a fun stop and definitely worth a try for a good cocktail in a unique setting. Also, the drinks are very expensive, even for London; still worth one drink though.

They accept walk-ins but after 5 minutes they kick you out because they need the table for a reservation. The cocktails are just okay, nothing of experimental

Great place with a fun atmosphere. A little hidden with no number on the door but that's the point of a speakeasy, right? Small bar area with some low tables against the window and sides. Staff was attentive but not overly in your face every minute which was great. Great cocktail menu with some twists on classic favorites. I had the Hokusai while my friend had the Chichibeo. Both were good and would get again.

Bit tacky. Way too dark inside. Friendly staff. Gets crowded pretty quick. Not many seating available. Reserving in advance a wise thing to do.

Nice looking place and friendly staff, but the menu (refreshed daily mind) was rather simple and a bit disappointing for a specialist cocktail place - not experimental at all!

Really cool hidden bar through an unassuming door off China town.

I have been treated rudely in the past, but I have never been treated so rudely as I was treated last week at the Experimental Cocktail Club. It was my flatmates birthday and she called and tried to reserve for a Monday night, but they said for parties larger than 4 we couldn't make a reservation, it was walk in only on a space available basis. The birthday girl and two friends were allowed in, but when me and my friend got there 20 minutes later we were told we were not allowed in because it's strictly a place for small groups. My flatmate had to change the location to O'Neils at the last minute to be able to celebrate with her friends. London has two many awesome bars for me to waste my time with rude and disrespectful door staff and management.

I was quite unimpressed by this place. The ambiance was good but the doorman was really really rude - not what you expect from a place at this price point.

Great music and cocktails. Great place for an intimate night out

Lovely family run business it s been here ages and the service is always on point and never have I ever been disappointed lamb is so tender and succulent and will leave you wanting more they also have a fish and chips shop which is also amazing and I recommend this place to everyone that s asks for a good Chinese takeaway if only they were a big restaurant I know for a fact that they would always be packed that s how good the food is
5 stars anqxing isn t even jt

After a couple of post-work beers at local haunt The Yard, I headed to the Experimental Cocktail Club in Chinatown. Sandwiched between two restaurants and hidden behind a very nondescript blink-and-you'll-miss-it door, the ECC is a haven away from the busy streets of Soho. The immediate staircase takes you straight up to the first floor where exposed brickwork and deep red walls give the bar a prohibition-era vibe; mirrors on the ceiling and a great half-moon window keeps the place from feeling a little too dark. The inspired cocktails were a welcome change from the standard menu - I had an Old Cuban, rum-based with citrus and ginger, and a Sage Advice, a twist on a mojito, topped with fresh sage. Definitely a place to return to.

Unexpected trendy bar, right at the heart of Chinatown. Look for an inconspicuous door that's under guard by 1-2 bouncers. The bar is split over two floors, can get very busy and drinks don't come cheap, but hey it's a hidden bar on top of Chinatown - so it's worth it.

There are no signs at the entrance! Be careful you don't miss it!

Staff are rude and insulating. Someone gave their name as errold as opposed to their actual french name which was rude and unwarranted. would not visit again

I've been there five times and the cocktails never fail to impress. some of the best in town! the bartenders know the job and happy to make cocktails that are not on the menu (some of the best French 75 I've had!)
A couple of negative things: the seating looks nice but not very comfortable, which is why I always stop there for a quick drink rather than stay for the evening as I do in other places. I also think that for the price of the cocktails (similar for example to those in the Savoy, Duke's and the Waldorf) it is a little stingy not to serve little snacks with the drinks....

Love this little hidden away bar. Very small and cosy with unique cocktails

Nice drinks, getting in can sometimes be a bit of a mystery but I am yet to have been turned away - perhaps simply down to good timing. Nice cocktails but quite pricey and very busy and cramped seating.

I like the bar, they do very good drinks in a cool atmosphere. It is hard to get in; there's rarely space for walk-ins (so book ahead if possible) and the door is not obvious (but that just adds to the charm). Overall I like it, just been turned away a few times too many!...maybe I should book...but spontaneity is more fun!

Great cocktail bar with a really cool Opium den vibe interior. The service was great and the cocktails where made with real care and attention to detail. I will 100% be coming back again.

Nice and creative cocktail, although seating arrangement can be more comfortable

Great hidden speak easy on 2 floors with a recognized cocktail "savoir faire". Easy music to keep the speak easy vibe on

Love the theme they went for, as if gatsby meets grand budapest hotel. SOmething charming about the place. Goo cocktails but a little cramped. Think the whole 'secret' thing is overdone with a scary man at the door. I would expect more exclusivity when you enter.

Would go back though!

A hidden gem of a bar. Old school prohibition era, the drinks are incredible and well worth a visit

The staff were pretty rude and the music was so loud I had to communicate with my friends by whatsapp

No! It's not a brothel through that door, it's a great cocktail bar. Different menu every time you visit. Good value too. Not too busy.

Used to be more quiet than it is now, good hidden place to go to impress if you're on a date

Fantastic cocktail club hidden on the streets of china town, it is not easy to realize the entrance of this place but once inside they find a pleasant and probably inspected atmosphere. Friendly staff and very professional bartenders who prepare fantastic cocktails. Negroni is very good in all its originality. Recommend! Closes late at night on weekends, a reservation is advisable that can only be made via e-mail. Average high price.

Extremely rude and arrogant door staff, ruined our experience. Will most certainly never go here again.

Extremely rude door staff. Would not myself and a friend into the bar, with no valid explanation , my friend was black. I have entered the bar previously, but will not return to bar with what I can only assume are racist door staff. Avoid.

Expensive but really good cocktails. Very crowded on Friday night but friendly staff and good vibe.

TOTAL DISASTER.

that was the worst experience I ever had in my whole life.

Step 1 - Entering

To have the privilege to enter into this small, hot and foggy bar you need to pay 5 extra euro. These 5 extra euro do not include any kind of benefits. so for example if you want to leave your jacket, you have to pay some extra fees etc.. so, simply put, they are WESTED money.

Step 2 - Ordering

mmm.. do they call it a vast choice of drinks?? their OFFER is way too LIMITED. there is only 1 vodka drink (with improbable ingredients) and few others gin or rum drinks! wow, not too many!

The funny part about Step 2 is that, in front of boxes of strawberries and huge grapefruits, as I asked for a drink with "simply sugar, vodka and fresh fruits", they told me: "we don't have fresh fruits"

The other funny part about step 2 is the fact that some drinks are made 3 days in advance. not only you have little choice, but if you are allergic to something, they can't even take it out coz the drinks are pre prepared.

Step 3 - Paying



Comment on Waitresses

SLOW
ARROGANT
ILL MANNERED
DISRESPECTFUL
UNQUALIFIED
OFFENSIVE
RUDE

Comment on venue

squalid

Despite it was a saturday night, the place was way under its maximum capacity!

If you can just AVOID IT!

Great bar with amaizing artisan cocktails!
Nice atmosphere with very good service !
Good is music and relaxing.
This is a good choice if you are looking for high quality drinks and cocktails in the heart of Chinatown.

Great bar great drinks, just be nice to the door man

Super tasty cocktails, pretty expensive, but maybe worth it.

Great cocktails, great atmosphere.. I feel the staff became not so nice lately though.

Definitely gone down in quality. Which is a shame. But lots of good new bars in Soho.

Racist stuff, average cocktails, despite making reservations were not allowed in. Bouncer was arrogant and rude.

Always good service here. This speakeasy is hidden behind a door in Chinatown, located in the basement. This is your classic speakeasy.