London
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.
Closed4.4(452)££79 Wardour St, London W1D 6QA, UK
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
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