Hidden beneath the heart of Bloomsbury, The Bloomsbury Club bar is a real gem designed for nights that deserve to feel a little more special. With its candlelit glow, live music and an irresistible cocktail menu, this low-lit den sets the scene for first dates, pre-dinner drinks, late-night rendezvous and celebrations worth remembering. And let’s face it, with winter arriving seemingly overnight, a cosy escape is something we could all do with.
I head down to The Bloomsbury Club bar on a Wednesday night, the crisp sort of evening where you can smell autumn in the air. There’s a slight chill and people are rushing, heads down, to get to their destinations. The leisurely amble of summer nights is well and truly gone and instead, getting inside is the aim of the game. The Bloomsbury Club bar is tucked down a side street off of Great Russell St and as soon as you walk down the steps to the lower ground level, you’re immediately whisked from the chaos of the streets above to somewhere relaxing, stylish and comfortable. I take a look around the inside which is a sexy and sophisticated space, with dark accents and low level lighting – ideal for a date night, before deciding to sit outside. There there are different levels of high and low seating, with plenty of squishy cushions and blankets when the weather gets cold – although patio heaters do a great job of keeping things warm!
On the drinks menu, the BCB House Classics include a refined twist on a Martini, a smooth barrel-aged Old Fashioned and a luxuriously complex Aged Manhattan. For those seeking a more playful experience, the Ancient Egyptian cocktail list offers a fate-driven drinking experience. Here, a swinging pendulum and mysterious hieroglyphics guide you toward the cocktail destined to be yours – from K, which is warm, appley, and comforting, to the light and floral Se Shen, and the Wadje, which has a spicy kick. Each cocktail here is crafted with precision and you can tell with every sip how much thought has gone into perfecting the flavours and the glassware for the optimum experience.
Food wise, there is a varied menu of small plates, sides and burgers. I recommend getting a few side plates to share to get the most from your visit as it’s all divine! We ordered charred padron peppers, crunchy chicken & waffles with a hot honey glaze, pan con tomate – a toasted sourdough with marinated tomato salsa and maria anchovies and a side of truffle fries. Everything was cooked perfectly, hot, fresh and packed with flavour.
Sip along to a live soundtrack from some of London’s best musicians and bands with live jazz and soul sessions from Wednesday to Saturday. The new roster includes Dolly Doops and Bryan Edery, alongside resident artists Lydia & Raf and Guido Spannocchi, who will play from 9-11 pm.
Along with a new lineup of musicians, The Bloomsbury Club has also recently appointed a new Bar Manager, Antonio Papariello. Antonio has been ranked among the Top 30 Italian Bartenders Abroad in 2023 and 2024, as well as being a World Class GB Top 100 finalist and has previously worked at some of London’s most well-known bars, including Bunga Bunga Bar, Downstairs Bar at The Dilly and The Prince Akatoki.
Bloomsbury Club Bar is the ultimate spot whether you’re going on a date, for an after-work catch-up with friends, or somewhere buzzing to start your weekend. We can’t recommend The Bloomsbury Club enough and it’s somewhere we will be returning to time and time again.
The Bloomsbury Club
16-22 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3NN
