CellarDoor

I had a fantastic time here. The interior was intimate and the musician, whose name was most likely Paul, kept us entertained all night. Drinks were delicious. Things got a bit pricey between the 10% service fee and the 10% late night live entertainment fee and who knows how many drinks we bought for the other table, but it added up to a great night in London.

Maybe Monday nights are not a good time to visit The Cellar Door, but for first impressions it didn’t live up to my expectations. Upon arrival we were struck by two things — there was a very unpleasant odour filling the entire bar, so much so that the barman was burning incense to counteract the smell! And the second, it is just waaaay too small and compact (which intensified the odour), not in a seductive intimate way either. After a lot of persuasion from my friend, we stayed for a drink. I had a Manhattan — I’ve enjoyed better and my friend had a TNT, which was better than my drink. We asked about the popcorn but they were already out of it before 8pm?!? Just surprising that they weren’t properly stocked! Overall, a very disappointing first impression. We left and went over to B@One which was *much* better!

I’m not sure how this place got so many good reviews. I guess it’s my fault, I am just not into cabaret shows, as I saw other people enjoying.
The place is small, however the mirrors make it seem larger than actual. The cocktails are really good, but pricey.
Everyone got free popcorn on their table, which was good actually.
If you are planning to visit the place — make a reservation in advance (and don’t invite me on cabaret nights).

This is where I had the most fun in London. This is the place that truly equalizes people. This is the place where the entertainers are in control, where there’s no weird dynamic of boys chasing up girls, it’s a place equally fitting for a loud crowd and a couple on a date. Equal fitting for a first date or 10-​year-​anniversary date. From my experience. No matter who you are, what you are, where you come from or where you’re going later — this is the place that will make you feel welcome, a place that you will later on remember with a smile on your face.
Cocktails — hit or miss, ask for recommendations from the knowledgable staff, based on your flavor preferences.
Advice — come early-​ish, grab a booth for you and your squad and enjoy the rich cocktails menu until the entertainment begins.

The entrance is easy to miss, you really have to know there is a bar down there.
It is originally an underground toilet but nothing of this can be seen, it’s all modern inside, nothing really fancy though.
It is an interesting small place, with some very nice cocktails and a good selection of liquors, some drinks are a bit on the expensive side I guess. It’s a dark place and feels a bit like a place where you end up late at night after other bars are closed.
The toilets with the transparant doors are a nice touch (although they become non-​transparant when you lock the door).
Would like to see the entertainment/​show/​music, maybe that would give the bar something special and I would be giving it an extra star, for now just 3 because I don’t think it is really special.

They attempted to overcharge me.
I went here on a Sunday and I was having a great time. They had a keyboardist — Paul Saunders — who played in Dexy’s Midnight Runners and he gave an amazing performance. The bar was empty and I felt lucky to be there.
However, at closing time, I got the bill and it seemed off. Really off. I expected a 27ish pound bill and I got a 42 pound bill.
Naturally, I told the bartender. He told me that the 18 pound lagavulin was a double, which is why the bill was so large. Okay, so I went to the bathroom after paying and then I checked the menu — double shots of Lagavulin are 8 pounds, not 18.
I go back and he told me it was because I had a another drink with Scotch in it. I wanted to believe him, so I said okay and left the bar.
I left and realized I already paid for the other drink he quoted and I had the receipt. So I went back and showed him and he immediately gave me a refund for 13 pounds and apologized, claiming it was a misunderstanding. I left upon getting the receipt.
After leaving, I read the original receipt and realized he double charged me for TWO different drinks, so obviously this was bullshit and he refunded me upon getting caught. After all, if he screwed up on doubled charging me an 8 pound drink, he wouldn’t refund me 13. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt but this is too much.
My bank has still not received the refund so I intend to return tomorrow with the police if I don’t have it back tomorrow morning. They tried to take advantage of me because I’m a tourist and that’s not okay.
This is a great bar, but they lack integrity.

We reserved for 630pm on a Thursday, however it wasn’t crowded at the time & so we didn’t even need to check in for our reservation. However it started to get more crowded the longer we were there & it truly is small so you know a reservation never hurts. It definitely had a blink & you’ll miss it entrance. I had intermittent mobile signal after I descended & the friend I was meeting couldn’t spot it, so I did need to head back out to flag her down & guide her.
I had the London Calling gin drink. it was a fine sour drink, but didn’t knock my socks off, so I moved on to beer. I next had the Meantime Chocolate Porter, something you don’t often see & came in a nice sm wine bottle presentation. Not a bad spot at all if you’re in the area & can get in.

Located at Zero Aldwych, Cellar Door is likely somewhere you’ve seen but not thought to venture into as it looks more like a bike rack or an entrance to a subway than a bar! Right next to that odd little cycle lane opposite the Lyceum theatre it’s a really strange location but somehow it just works. Inside it’s a tiny little place but it feels a lot bigger than it is thanks to very clever mirrors and decoration. The décor is sumptuous and somehow despite its size it still manages to have live acts almost every evening including frequent cabaret and burlesque nights. The well stocked bar means you can order almost any drink you can think of and they have a wide range of potent cocktails on their menu too including the above cheeky Edith Piaf (vodka, passionfruit, peach and fresh lemon juice topped up with Perrier Jouet Champagne) which was my favourite of the evening. The rest that I sampled were just too strong for my liking but great for those that like theirs to pack a bit of punch. There were about 18 of us at one point and we were already running out of seats so I reckon it can’t hold more than about 50 people total so very intimate. The toilets are worth a look too being totally clear when you enter but then clouding up when you lock the door — very entertaining!

I’ve always wanted to go to Cellar Door as I’ve heard such good things from my friends.
I went as part of my birthday drink a thon — turning 40 means an extra excuse to PARTY. That said I was feeling a little frayed around the edges when I met my friendnd in Covent Garden. As we approached the super funky entrance my mood lifted. Once downstairs I couldnt stop smiling… Prosecco and a vodka tonic helped me to de fray my edges and we were off to an excellent start when the act came on. Jazz pianist and singer who took crowd interaction to a new and very fun level. I’ve never had happy birthday sung to me with such style. It was fabulous — which is after a week of some very fabulous celebrations.
Honeslty though it was the toilets that sinched the deal for me. THey are very special and go opaque in a fun way. That’s all I’m saying — I’ll leave it to you to work it out for yourself. Go there… have fun, sing a long and dance and then tell all your fellow Unilocalers about it. Good times were had and I have another sore head this morning. But — oh how it is worth it!

This quirky underground cocktail bar is in what was previously a public toilets (it’s cosier than it sounds!)
There’s a great selection of delicious cocktails (all around £10 each) and free popcorn to snack on while you wait.
There’s a variety of unusual live entertainment acts to watch while you drink most evenings, from magicians to drag!
It’s tiny inside so worth booking ahead, but is a great venue for a date or you can hire the whole venue for a party with a difference!

Ideal if you want something a little different after dinner in central london!
What I like:
— really expertly made cocktails
— varied FREE live entertainment
— the toilet doors are semi-​transparent and lit with cool lighting, and quirky interiors always get my vote!
— free popcorn!
What I don’t like:
— too crowded
— door staff can be slightly rude

I had such high hopes for this place, but I’m not sure I would want to go again. I went for the experience, and I guess I got it. Yes, definitely the coolest bathrooms in the city! But slow service and they told me and my friends that we had to get inside before 8pm if we wanted to be guaranteed admission to see the cabaret on Friday night. Only the cabaret didn’t start until close to 10. We each got a free glass of bubbly which was nice, but then two of my friends never got the change when they paid for drinks. we had to ask for it after waiting for nearly 10 minutes. The bartender apologized but it was crowded and standing there waiting for their money was not relaxing.
I will say though, the drinks are definitely interesting. I got lucky and loved everything I ordered. But some of the drinks were not tasty. Through no fault of the bartenders, rather it was a combination of a couple of my friends being idiots and ordering drinks with the worst combination of ingredients listed. I mean, why is the London Calling drink even on the menu?!
As for the cabaret, the singer was lovely, she was adorable and I don’t know many people who can pull of green hair and still look sexy. Actually, I know none.
The dancer was great but considering we would hear some music for ten minutes, then wait about 30 minutes, then see some dancing, then wait another 30 minutes… etc, it was more waiting than watching. I was really disappointed in this regard. All in all I am pretty sure we only got about 30 minutes of singing/​dancing total.
If you haven’t gone, go. Just to say you’ve been to an underground toilet turned cocktail/​cabaret bar. But I doubt this will become your go-​to spot. Especially with the price of drinks.

A quirky, tiny, bijou, nicely decorated, kitch bar, that was originally a men’s underground toilet, unless someone points it out to you, you wouldn’t know it was there, clever use of mirrors, makes the tiny space seem more spacious, you need to be there early or be lucky to get a seat.
I wouldn’t advise it as a venue if there are more than 2 – 3 of you in a group, as it’s unlikely you could find a spot to all easily stand/​sit together. The cocktails are very tasty, but not cheap, so unless your flush cash wise, spending the night there will set you back quite a bit, but great for a cocktail or two, to get the night started before moving on.
Somehow they also manage to fit entertainment in their limited space, which I have yet to experience this but I am curious to one day!

It’s always fun to tell a friend to meet you inside the public mens toilets on the strand.
Descend down the stairs to the loo and you’ll find a trendy and quirky cocktail and cabaret lounge.
CellarDoor a tiny space fitting only 20 – 25 urban hipsters, but the drinks are top notch and the entertainment is always quirky and friendly. Best to book a table in advance as this place is small at best.

This place is fantastic — if you get there early enough to get a table it’s slightly better! I went on a Tuesday and experienced Champagne Charlie’s open mic night. It was absolutely brilliant, and ridiculously hilarious. Everyone in there is nice and approachable, and although yes, it is small, this works in it’s favour for these themed evenings.
It has a decadent air to it, and takes you out of your normal life for an evening — who doesn’t want that?

It’s not every day you casually stroll down the stairs of a men’s public toilet looking for fun, (unless you’re George Michael.) but if you want good cocktails, drag queens and some good old fashioned snuff then it just has to be done. Cellar Door is a hidden gem beneath the Aldwych, it has live acts every night, and boasts the sexiest toilets in London. You’ve gotta see it to believe it, just make sure you remember to lock the door!
The venue is, as an estate agent would say, «cosy and intimate», but that’s what makes this place what it is. Make sure you get here early as it fills up fast, you don’t want to be one of the people without a seat. Also, being as intimate as a shop changing room you’re likely to be targeted by one of their many cabaret/​drag acts for some humorous/​quite harsh adlib. You have been warned, just give back what you get!
They have a wide range of cocktails as well as beer and wine, but with prices being a little high I wouldn’t be the first to offer to buy a round! There are also various flavours of snuff available, more sociable than smoking and infinitely cooler than coke; everyone’s a winner.

Cellar Door is a teeny tiny Cabaret club located in Aldwych (right near the London School of Economics at the end of The Strand) in an underground bar that used to be a men’s public toilet! Indeed, the space is so small, you’re lucky to elbow your way up to the bar for some fancy delicious cocktails and snuff. I went to Cellar Door to see a Burlesque performer à la Dita von Teese and she was fabulous. The bar also used to offer weekly teas/​brunch with a different theme according to the placement of the weekend during the month! I’m not sure if they still do, but it’s worth checking out!

After a business dinner, my local hosts insisted we visit Cellar Door… what a gem! This place is a throw back to another time; drinks like Mint Julip and Sidecar fill the menu while local cabaret singers entertain you with witty banter and respectable talent.
For those from LA, Cellar Door is like an updated Dresden with a touch of additional class and fun. If you’re looking for a small, cozy, warm and sophisticated bar to relax, have a drink and be entertained, this is a must see when in London.

Came here during a cabaret night during the week, hosted by their very own Champagne Charlie… *champagne*!
It’s a really cool spot to go to in the evening/​after work, and to just hang out for the rest of the night. Not a place for groups. just bring a friend or two along and try to find some space because you’ll probably struggle.
You get a very mixed crowd of peple kind of crammed into this tiny underground space, but the vibe is really positive and fun, and the open mic leads to some pretty interesting/​varied performances. Didn’t order cocktails, but wine was about £20+/bottle.
Ditto on the cool toilets.
Service is good, bartender really friendly.

A tiny little number squeezed into Covent Garden’s already crowded social scene, Cellar Door has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere despite its relatively high-​end feel. Generally you will find the place full of city types who come here after work to take advantage of the late license and great mix of music.
Other features include an SMS jukebox which allows you to text your favourite song and then here it played without ever having to get up. Drinks-​wise this place has a great selection of cocktails though, being the West-​End, prices are a little steep.
A decent though not spectacular evening.