Barts is London's self-proclaimed "worst-kept secret" — a speakeasy cocktail bar hidden behind an unmarked black door in Chelsea Cloisters on Sloane Avenue. You'll need a reservation and a password to get in, but once past the sliding window, you're in a 1920s-inspired den with vintage decor, cocktails, and weekend DJs. It's theatrical, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
Knock on an unmarked black door in Chelsea Cloisters and step into a 1920s cocktail den with vintage decor, DJs, and a hidden Negroni garden.
You must book ahead — there's no walk-in access through that black door, and they check reservations at the sliding window before letting you in.
Chelsea's original speakeasy still brings the drama
Barts is the kind of place you bring someone when you want to impress them with a bit of theatre. Finding the unmarked black door in Chelsea Cloisters is half the fun — you knock, a sliding window opens, and if you've got a reservation (which you'll need), you're ushered into a dimly lit 1920s-style cocktail den. The interior is full of vintage bric-a-brac, taxidermy, and chandeliers, and the whole thing has a slightly chaotic, glamorous-uncle's-living-room energy that works far better than it should.
The cocktails are solid and the menu is extensive, though they're not cheap — you're paying for the experience as much as the drink. The Negroni Forest in their hidden garden is a lovely touch in warmer months, and weekend DJs keep the energy up late. Service can be hit or miss when it's busy, and the novelty of the hidden door has worn off a bit for locals who've been around, but for a fun night out with a group or a date, Barts still delivers.
Go with a reservation, embrace the kitsch, and don't expect a quiet evening — this is a place for celebration, not contemplation.