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Friendly Society

Proper cocktails in a Soho basement where the bartenders actually know what they're doing and the drinks taste like they cost less than they should.

cosylivelyintimaterelaxedcocktail bar
You head down into 79 Wardour Street expecting the usual Soho theatre of it all, but Friendly Society feels genuinely low-key—no velvet ropes or doormen giving you the once-over. The basement setup is cosy without trying too hard, all exposed brick and dim lighting that makes everything feel a bit more intimate than it probably should be at 10pm on a Thursday. What gets you coming back is the drink quality: bartenders who've clearly spent time thinking about balance and flavour rather than just making something Instagram-friendly. Cocktails hover around the £12-15 mark, which feels generous for Soho's current rates.

Known for

  • No-fuss cocktails that actually taste considered
  • Proper bartending without the attitude
  • Soho basement setting that doesn't feel pretentious
  • Reasonable prices for the neighbourhood
  • Late-night drinks spot that works on any night
4.4(452 reviews)
79 Wardour St, London W1D 6QA, UK