CellarDoor Bar 🍸 Covent Garden, London

Hidden below Wellington St. in London’s Covent Garden neighborhood is a disused public bathroom turned intimate cocktail bar called CellarDoor.

The CellarDoor Exterior

Public restrooms first began to pop up in London during the mid-19th century, and many operated until after World War 2. For the price of a penny, men (and eventually women) could use the underground lavatories. Legend says that this particular facility was frequented by none other than Oscar Wilde. In fact, the Theatre Royal, which premiered Wilde’s ‘An Ideal Husband,’ is only a 2-minute walk from the site.

An Intimate Interior

The CellarDoor’s website describes the setting as ‘1930’s Berlin meets NYC dive bar,’ but I don’t quite agree. There’s nothing gritty or minimalist about the patrons or the décor; to me it felt stylish and sophisticated, yet unpretentious. The most notable design feature is the restroom, which has a sheer glass door that frosts over when locked.

Nightly Live Performances

I’ve been to the CellarDoor several times, and I’ve always enjoyed the nightly entertainment in the form of cabaret, burlesque, and live music. I can’t confirm whether they’re regular performers or not, but I very much enjoyed the duo of jazz singer Kitty La Roar and pianist Nick Shankland (a.k.a. ‘Nick of Time’). If you have the opportunity to see them, don’t miss it! The burlesque afternoon tea and classic film showings on weekends are also popular.

The Bar at CellarDoor

The CellarDoor exterior at night