Cellar Door

A somewhat cramped but wonderfully stylised bar in Covent Garden and just off of the Stand, Cellar door (rumour has it) used to be an old underground public toilet. Today it sells itself off as a jazz and cabaret bar, dark and alluring at the bottom of a set of stairs but opening out into a deep purple and bright room with mirrors on most walls to accentuate the space. The bar is small but very well stocked. Cocktails here are speciality with a happy hour style offer on cheaper drinks before 8pm. The menu is laminated and difficult to read in its scripted font but it has a great many mystery drinks which are prepared by the careful hand of the bar people and presented to a growing crowd of 30 something business folks and ladies being taken to the theatre opposite. At the back, small booth-like seating is normally reserved and being careful no to knock elbow we sip from tall glasses and enjoy the view. The toilet with its automatic frosting mechanism has to be seen to be believed.

Overall a great little gem hidden from the watchful eyes of scatty drinkers but well planted underground in one of the busier setting of central London. Larger the place would not have to give away its location but could totally benefit from more seating - decadent none-the-lessA somewhat cramped but wonderfully stylised bar in Covent Garden and just off of the Stand, Cellar door (rumour has it) used to be an old underground public toilet. Today it sells itself off as a jazz and cabaret bar, dark and alluring at the bottom of a set of stairs but opening out into a deep purple and bright room with mirrors on most walls to accentuate the space. The bar is small but very well stocked. Cocktails here are speciality with a happy hour style offer on cheaper drinks before 8pm. The menu is laminated and difficult to read in its scripted font but it has a great many mystery drinks which are prepared by the careful hand of the bar people and presented to a growing crowd of 30 something business folks and ladies being taken to the theatre opposite. At the back, small booth-like seating is normally reserved and being careful no to knock elbow we sip from tall glasses and enjoy the view. The toilet with its automatic frosting mechanism has to be seen to be believed.

Overall a great little gem hidden from the watchful eyes of scatty drinkers but well planted underground in one of the busier setting of central London. Larger the place would not have to give away its location but could totally benefit from more seating - decadent none-the-less

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'Shanghai Tea' - Saturday 21 March 2009 (2-5pm)

A sunny afternoon spent in a dark disused toilet and I enjoyed it. I got an invite that completely intrigued me, 'fancy an afternoon of afternoon tea and Chinese burlesque?' Anyone that knows me will know that I love afternoon tea and a dancing woman thrown into the bargain is a total plus.

The Cellar Bar is small, super small, it was only my second time here and the visual effect of the large mirror that doubles the size of the bar played it's trick on me again, I thought who is that flabby guy entering the second entrance. Yes I was looking at myself.

Intimate, cosy, bijou you throw in the word, that is what this place is. The uniqueness of the venue was matched by the peculiarity of the event. Marianne Cheesecake took her time to meet and greet all of her patrons. The afternoon is obviously a very personal odyssey for her. A Canadian of Chinese extraction, with a love of the Jazz scene of 1930's Shanghai; the afternoon, even down to the cakes, is a project of personal love.

On entry a pianist twinkled the ivories and we were handed a glass of champagne as we settled down to an afternoon of Sino burlesque. Bubbles over we were handed a cocktail list to peruse. After 30 minutes Ms Cheesecake took to the floor and danced a beautifully subtle dance, very delicate in its execution. Incense was wafted and gloves were removed. I would not claim to be an expert of traditional Chinese dance but I am an expert on sarnies and for me this was the only weak point of the afternoon. In fairness “weak” is too strong a word, but the selection seemed a little lack lustre. Tea came but I took a pass, though my partner in crime enjoyed her jasmine brew.

Another pause in the entertainment and the pianist took centre stage again. A selection of oriental cakes came and were eaten with gusto. The pastries were brightly coloured not too sweet, a perfect culinary end to the proceedings.

Another performance from our host brought this unique show to an end and we left blinking into the bright London daylight, fed watered and artistically enlightened.

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Cool underground bar - very small but what it lacks in size it makes up for in imagination with free text jukebox, translucent loos doors that mist over when you lock them, amazing cabaret and burlesque acts every night from 9pm and table service from fallen angels (complete with wings). But above everything else the bar staff are friendly with none of the snotty attitude you get in lots of Central London bars. The cocktails are great and, although they're not the cheapest in the West End they're very reasonable - especially as there is no entrance fee even for the live acts.