Scarfes Bar in Camden

Very unique bar with great live music and a cozy atmosphere. Cocktails are expertly crafted and all taste very unique. Service is top notch, very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.

Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood Hotel London is a sophisticated gem with a cozy library setting, live jazz, and expertly crafted cocktails. The vibe is a perfect 10/10, offering an intimate yet vibrant atmosphere that’s hard to beat. However, the food was only average—good, but not on par with the high expectations set by the rest of the experience. A fantastic spot for drinks and ambiance, but the dining could use an upgrade.

Luckily this place does not take reservations and so we went early enough that we got right in with only a few minutes wait. Once inside you are escorted to your seat. We got the ends of a bigger table which had another group sitting. Our waiter approached immediately offered menu and water. We got Rosa Paloma and garden smash to start. Both drinks were balanced, sweet, and delicious! Drinks also come with small bowls of olives and nuts. Frankly the olives were really good! Excellent service. Classic elegant and relaxed vibe. Loved it.

I had an appetizer, everything was delicious. Especially the burgers and the prawns with their sauce. I will definitely come back

PRETENTIOUSNESS SHAKEN NOT STIRRED I was pulled into Scarfes Bar by a Boujee friend, you’re immediately struck by its cinematic glow. Here are my personal perspectives. The lighting is moody, the jazz is sultry, and the decor whispers (or rather bellows) old-school elegance. It’s the kind of place where you expect to lock eyes with a mysterious stranger across the room or overhear a scandalous affair being plotted over martinis. But before you settle into this grand fantasy, reality arrives—wearing a three-piece suit that’s one size too small. The crowd here was a curious mix: first dates playing at sophistication, groups of friends clinking glasses too loudly, and men in suits discussing “business,” which seems to involve a lot of boisterous laughter. On closer inspection, the glamour begins to crack. The three-piece suits cling precariously to expanding waistlines, turning sharp pinstripes into wavy optical illusions. I saw a sea of bald heads gleaming under the low lighting, while toupees threatened to slide off with each exaggerated laugh. The decor, though undeniably grand, feels like a shrine to a bygone era of luxury. It’s all polished wood, plush chairs, and an atmosphere so heavy with pretension that you can practically hear it creak. There’s an unshakable sense that Scarfes Bar is trying too hard to evoke “old money,” but instead lands squarely in the territory of “new money trying to cosplay as old.” It’s a bit like being invited to a dinner party where the host insists on calling the living room a drawing room. And then, of course, there’s the price tag. The cocktails were good, but expensive. Abit like Casper the friendly ghost—two sips, and they’re gone. Ah, the Tangerine Incident. My Boujee rebel friend, placed a harmless tangerine from her bag onto the table. Enter a manager? With what felt like the urgency of someone defusing a bomb, to inform us that “foreign objects” weren’t allowed. The pretentiousness isn’t just in the drinks or the decor—it’s in the air. It feels performative and the ambiance too curated. Even the impeccable waitstaff, who glide around wiping up spills and refilling glasses with clockwork precision, can’t quite soften the atmosphere. I start to wonder: is this place a bar, or a very expensive stage set for people who like to pretend they’re in a Bond film? Scarfes Bar tries to be many things: luxurious, sophisticated, exclusive. But instead, i feel it to be stiff, overly rehearsed, and just a little too pleased with itself. It’s hard to relax when the room seems to be constantly checking itself in the mirror. Would I return? No, I’d rather have a pint at the pub next door.

Definitely one of my top three bars in London. The live jazz music is a touch of class that transformed the entire space to another level!

LOVE this spot. So classy and elegant, great and strong cocktails, and yummy snacks.

Good live music, cute touches like branded napkins. It is on the more expensive side but the venue is beautiful and the great music makes it worth it. Great for a special occasion :)

A step into the 1920s. Or what I’d imagine it to feel like. The cocktails are a delight. Not too scientific, fit to the classics so it’s easy to find something that makes your palette sing. The service is delightful. Nathan helped guide our evening and left us with some wonderful recommendations for the rest of our time in London. The jazz was incredible. Plan to be there when it’s happening. Get cozy next to the fire and have some great conversations.

Great atmosphere, excellent cocktails and great service, the price is a little too high even compared to more famous 50best, however the experience was really excellent, the staff were fantastic

Knock on wood and "Ramos and Eve" were fantastic.

We love Scarfes Bar. You can never go wrong with the atmosphere & drinks. With live music on Thursday nights, you’re surely in for a treat. This place has every component to make for a good night out.

Beautiful bar with one of the best cocktails , live entertainment and the staff is very well trained

The friendly, jolly and helpful staff will make sure that you're never wanting for anything.

Fantastic hotel bar! Cocktails and service was amazing, such a great atmosphere

The cocktail list is very playful, with more than 20 options to choose from. You should not miss their Sazerac prepared 50/50 rye and cognac. The snacks are very tasty and the service is friendly and knowledgeable. You might find cocktails as good as this at a lower price point in other places like Swift or Discount Suit Company, but definitely worth visiting Scarfes for the cozy atmosphere and music.

Busy buzzy bar with great, knowledgeable, charming mixologists who create cocktail art. Fun spot to barfly. The door policy is friendly but fierce to regulate numbers. Don't just expect to walk in on a busy night.

Fine quality liquor, unique ambience with great music and very good service

The cocktails 🍸 are excellent! The atmosphere is chic and the service is top notch.

Great bar with some good cocktails. Service is 6*

Excellent unique cocktails in a bar that looks like is from the movies. Ultra cool atmosphere and attentive service

Met up with friends on a Sunday late afternoon. Nice selection of champagne, friendly and attentive service to begin with, but as it got crowded, one or two of the staff were rather abrupt. I guess it is human. Tried different snacks from the menu. All nice. Atmosphere was amazing, cozy country home feel, and yet, buzzing. Live music was an added bonus, well chosen and perfectly pitched.

It’s a very beautiful and sophisticated bar, the atmosphere is similar to a gentleman’s club. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The menu had great cocktails options and I did try some,cocktails were excellent and to make everything more cozier they had live music performance in the bar.

NO, just NO, sorry, very unskilled people, they dont treat you well, just want your money

we are visiting from the US, heard great stuff about this place, but we had the worst experience ever

Awesome cocktail lounge. On the nicer side. Library and leather vibes.

Love the vibes of this bar! Fancy but cozy. Cocktails were tasty👌

Beautiful bespoke drinks and caring service. Without considering the stunning venue! Every time I come here, I am amazed.

Shockingly rude service! Our waiter was constantly "checking in" for us to order more, to the extent where it was annoying. He also got obviously annoyed and didn't even try to hide it when we asked to pay different amounts and not split the bill evenly across our group (which we even had calculated amounts). I was honestly shocked at how rude our waiter was. We also saw a mouse, which I get is common in London but this is a fancy place. I'd give 5 stars for the live band, they were incredible but everything else needs improvement

Long wait when it is empty inside

Gorgeous cocktail lounge in Rosewood Hotel. Bartenders make incredible drinks and do so with great flare. The atmosphere is classic England with all the trimmings including live piano. Drinks come with nibbles and the service is as good as it gets. This is a classic cocktail lounge with style and class but not stuffy or twee. Marco was my bartender and he's a true artist. It's a must stop if you're visiting London.

The cocktails were great, and it was located in a fancy hotel in Holborn. However, I was asked for ID for the first time ever at a bar in London, and many of the staff made me feel they were a bit aloof.

This bar is amazing. Lorenzo was one of the best waiters I’ve ever met. He made the experience a hit. The drinks and music were excellent.

Lorenzo our waiter was amazing! He made the experience wonderful, and recommended great cocktails.

One of the best Negronis I have tried. Bar tenders are very professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommend this bar.

They refused us to have a drink around 1030pm saying it’s going to close soon. I didn’t understand why they decided not to let us in. We were two men, ready to have a nice night cap. This kind of discrimination is terrible. I will never come back.

Moody lit bar with amusing caricature drawings, yummy cocktails and bar snacks. Lovely staff and great service with live music!

Very exciting bar in beautiful and impressive surroundings. Very friendly and accommodating service. Drinks are on the expensive end but also really good. We stayed a little longer as there was live jazz music. A really good experience. Can definitely be recommended if you are into cocktails.

Scarfe’s Bar in London is an absolute gem! The atmosphere is cozy and sophisticated, with a touch of artistic flair that makes it unique. The cocktails are expertly crafted and bursting with creativity. The live music adds a fantastic vibe, making it a perfect spot for an evening out. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring we had a wonderful experience. If you’re in London and looking for a stylish and memorable bar, Scarfe’s is a must-visit!

A good thing is the atmosphere - the music was worth the visit. The layout and the decor felt classy as well. However, the bartender that served us (at the bar) was very pushy and forceful for us to order more cocktails. It was pretty empty so they were not much engaged with other customers so that may have been the reason. Though, we were disturbed many times and asked if we want more drinks without letting us finish the already ordered one, and it felt very cheap service for a prestigious hotel/bar like Scarface. The cocktails were basic, the white russian was below average.

Had a lovely Birthday evening here, with some delicious cocktails, (we did not eat here) really good music by a solo guitarist. Fantastic service. Great place will be visiting again soon.

Lovely cocktail bar, London prices

Love this place. Live jazz every day. Delicious cocktails for every taste. You can't pre-book a table there as it is first come first serve basis. Fridays and Saturdays are usually pretty busy. There are less people on Sunday night and the jazz starts at 7pm instead of 8pm.

Fantastic environment with a cosy ambiance, innovative cocktails, and great live music. A special shoutout to Nissan, whose attentiveness and care made our night very special. The band was also fantastic and went above and beyond by playing most of our song requests.

A perfect cocktail bar with elevated but quirky ambiance, friendly but upscale service and high quality concoctions. Jazzy live music was also wonderful. There is a lot of space at the bar and tables but you need to make a reservation. We were lucky, walked in around 10.40pm on a Friday night (3 ppl) and waited 40 min for a table. The favorite cocktails of the night were Rosa Paloma and Tropicaldi (very fruity and refreshing), the . The Knock on Wood and Golden Touch were a bit too sweet for my taste. The complimentary nuts and olives were a nice touch.

Perfect bar, perfect cocktails and food, great staff.

One of the best cocktail bars I’ve ever been to. Each drink tasted better than the last and beautifully crafted. Both the service and the atmosphere were amazing. Gorgeous inside. And the staff were very knowledgeable about their drinks.

Great cocktail with special component. The best bar for sure.

Great bar, great atmosphere and amazing services and cocktails. No wonder why is in the top 50 best bars :)

It was ok. Nothing super special. Service was good. Asked for a drink and not sweet. It came very sweet. Sent it back and they si.ply added lemon juice. No need to return to the place.

Fabulous Cocktail Bar, classic Art Deco styling, huge range of premium spirits @ bespoke cocktails.

Beautiful bar with high ceilings. Friendly service. Live music. What's not to like! Scarfes is highly rated for reasons that are all true. We had a great time. And recommend this to others in London.

Fabulous service, truly the best cocktails and great jazz

Really nice, our bartender was great, I loved de olives and the peanuts and the music was super!!!!

Spectacular place for cocktails around 4 pm, when you might get a fabulous seat. Best to book. Swish upmarket ‘decadence’ with great original art. Well. It’s a bit decadent to start cocktails at 4. Nowhere near sun down. The cartoons adorn the whole place. The surprise is where it is. In the centre of work day legal land in a seriously discreetly hidden treasure of a London hotel.

Great looking bar and nice atmosphere. Cocktails are on the pricey side and were not as good as other places that have a similar concept and prices.

Absolutely fantastic experience in drinking

This is my favorite bar in the world and love to visit every time I am in London. Very warm atmosphere and the staff is very friendly. Their cocktails are amazing and the menu changes often. They have a great by the glass program if you prefer wine. The snacks are always yummy too.

Amazing bar where I met my friend yesterday! You are fascinated the moment you enter the door. I drank Garden Smash and Rosa Palamo. They were both beautiful, but my mind remained on the first one. In addition to cocktails, snacks and olives are also delicious and constantly refreshed. While we were sitting, live music started, which is incredible. It is true that it is expensive, but it is worth it. Look at the beauty of this napkin ☺️

Beautiful and elegant cocktail bar inside the Rosewood hotel. Staff were so lovely and attentive. We enjoyed our afternoon "vermouth" for sure.

After giving the bill, was waiting for a person to get the machine,can’t understand,why can’t be more attentive!

Opulent, maybe, classic, somewhat, expensive, of course, but well worth a visit. I haven’t been here for years as I have been living overseas but the service and staff were as good as ever.

Really baffled as to how this place is so well rated. I've been to a lot of cocktail bars in London at this price point and Scarfes Bar would be dead last by some way. We just had simple classic cocktails and even made sure to order our second round of drinks from a different person, but they were all really bad. The bar is very big and the staff are way too rushed to take any real care in making the drinks and seemed to take shortcuts where possible, such as the use of artificial foamers rather than real egg whites for a whiskey sour. The bill averaged out to about £25 per drink, so I couldn't help feeling a bit cheated. There are so many other amazing hotel bars in London, some rated among the best in the world, that are cheaper than this place! I would never return here.

Possibly the worst classic cocktails I’ve ever had in a so-called top cocktail bar. Had a whisky sour and a margarita and both were so disappointing. Such a shame as was looking forward to this bar.

Worth visiting and worth waiting in the line kind of place! Excellent cocktails, perfectly balanced and good menu for tastes of all kind. Cocktail ‘Golden touch’ and ‘Tropicaldi’ - great options for aperitif.

Loud, crowded, large bouncer guarding the door asking to see my hotel card before letting me in felt a bit pretentious. Cocktails were nice

The cocktails are amazing. Great food as well. Staff is lovely. The prices are outrageous, even for London standards. Overall, a great experience.

A very nice bar. The bartenders are excellent. There is a good selection of drinks. Good live music. A beautiful place

Beautiful bar, nice crowd, great live music.

In Camden is Rosewood London and its sexy and sophisticated Scarfes Bar. First opened in 2014, the high-octane Scarfes Bar features live jazz music every night. Inspired by the atmosphere of a drawing room, the bar was named after the British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe. Gerald’s own collection of conversation-provoking paintings adorn the marble walls, transforming Scarfes Bar into a living canvas, described by Scarfe as “my personal art gallery, where you can see my life on these walls”. Director of Bars Martin Siska leads the bar’s cocktail program. The sizable and gifted mixology team, again mostly Italian, create their own home-made syrups, ferments and distillates within an in-house laboratory, a rare luxury for a hotel bar. Impressively, the bartenders make about 800 cocktails on busy nights, making Scarfes Bar one of the few high volume hotel bars in London. The new menu launched in April 2024 goes back the basics with drinks that are close relatives to their classic counterparts. For example Scarfes’ Paper Glider, a mix of Highland Park 12, Aperol, peach and maple Verjus, takes inspiration from Sam Ross’ modern classic the Paper Plane, which he invented in 2008 for The Violet Hour in Chicago

Very lively place, great ambiance, lovely service

A little pricey but there's also entertainment, great service and well crafted cocktails. I was slightly disappointed there wasn't more options for a meal. But I keep forgetting food is harder to come by late nights in London. I ordered the steak frites w/ fries from the bat menu. Temp was just right on steak. I ordered a drink not on menu. The bartender nailed it! I went once with a friend and came back solo while in town. I will return.

One of the best cocktails I've ever had in my life!

Excellent all around. Great atmosphere. Exquisitely prepared drinks. One of the best live music venues in London. Highly recommend

Great bar. Good atmosphere. Hard to get served if not directly at the bar. Knowledgeable bar staff who gave good recommendations for cocktails.

Scarfes is a top bar! Amazing environment, excellent service and great variety of drinks!

Lovely time, beautiful surroundings nd atmosphere. Lethal cocktails! 🥰

Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London hotel was undoubtedly the highlight of my trip to London. In fact, it quickly became my favorite bar in the entire city. What truly impressed me was the seamless experience from start to finish. Unlike many popular spots in London, we didn’t have to wait in any line and didn’t need reservations. The bouncer at the door was incredibly cool, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. In fact, we even exchanged tips on must-visit spots in New York City for when he makes it over here. Once inside, the sophisticated ambiance and attention to detail immediately caught my eye. Inspired by the whimsical artwork of Gerald Scarfe, the decor added a touch of artistic flair to the elegant surroundings. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff ensuring that every need was met promptly and courteously. From recommending signature cocktails to providing insights into the history of the bar, the staff at Scarfes Bar went above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. Speaking of cocktails, the drink menu was a masterpiece in itself. Each cocktail was expertly crafted with precision and creativity, offering a delightful blend of flavors that tantalized the taste buds. Adding to the ambiance was the live jazz music, which provided the perfect soundtrack to the evening. The combination of smooth melodies and cozy lighting created an atmosphere that was both lively and intimate. Overall, Scarfes Bar exceeded my expectations in every way possible. From the exquisite decor to the impeccable service, from the expertly crafted cocktails to the enchanting live music, every aspect of my experience was nothing short of perfection. Without a doubt, Scarfes Bar earns a perfect 10 out of 10 in my book. It may be pricey, but the experience is worth every penny. My first visit may have been my introduction to London, but it certainly won’t be my last visit to Scarfes Bar.

Absolute cracker. This is one of London's coolest destination cocktail bars in my view. It's partly the must-see, brilliant Gerald Scarfe fresco-style cartoons - watch out for the Beatles and the Royal family amongst many - humourous I think, is the word. But its the sense of occasion too that makes this place special. The elegance, the great cocktails, the very special ambience of this place and to top it all, every evening its the live music that kicks off at eight pm, that makes this bar one of the most wonderful in London. And everyone is dressed for the occasion, even if its a wet Tuesday in the middle of winter. I've found myself here once or twice too often to be comfortable for my wallet - cheap it is not, but it is good for my mental health to go. i love sitting at the fabulous counter, I bring clients and friends here, you can see how well it is supervised and managed, but in a low-key way and once the live music starts, the place really kicks into gear. i am grateful to the door staff, to the bars folk, to the management and to the singers and musicians all of whom work to make a visit here a very special occasion. Oh and thank you Gerald too, for your wonderful renditions of some of the UKs most famous characters. .

I really like this place, only one thing I don’t like there is always queue :) they have excellent whiskey menu. Prices are little bit higher than market but still good prices for the quality. If I have a business meeting or get relaxed somewhere else with a nice drink I love to go there. By the way Service is great here. Thanks for your time and hospitality guys. See you soon

A friend took me here for a drink and I fell in love with this place. The ambiance is next level, the venue is full of creativity and drinks delicious. I would highly recommend.

The best bar I've been in ages. Jazz music, amazing environment, excellent service, and the best of all, Kitty LaRoar. If you haven't been there, go. You'll love it. A living legend in London. It might actually be my first female crush 😍. That's how great she was.

If you're planning to visit Scarfes Bar, particularly without a reservation, be prepared for potentially lengthy waits and consider exploring other options if prompt seating is a priority. Otherwise, you may find yourself watching others leave without being offered a seat at all. Despite their stated walk-in policy, my friends and I experienced significant delays and frustration during our recent visit. Despite there being no one in front of us upon arrival, we waited for nearly an hour without being seated. It was only later disclosed that all available seats were reserved exclusively for hotel guests. This lack of transparency and consideration for walk-in customers is concerning.

The cocktails are out of this world! The staff are properly trained and the attention to detail is great. They will careful explain all the ingredients and how to drink the cocktail. As crazy as that sound they will decorate the classes on one side and if you want it to be sweeter you drink from the side with flavour sprinkled on. The atmosphere is chilled and low level lighting adds to the ambience. The band came on at 8pm and created a lovely chilled out vibe playing jazz music.

We didn't feel very welcome. We expected more from the fact that it is one of the best bars in London, at least one question about whether the cocktail is ok would be nice considering the price of the cocktail. If I had to go back, I probably won't

The interior of the bar is a beautiful concept as well. Unfortunately, I regret that such a beautiful bar and menu were not presented to us. Such a highly rated bar should provide better service.

My wife and I were staying over the weekend having been here before, and booked a table for an hour for drinks with our family before a dinner. The cocktails ordered were amazing (although I prefer beer/wines). Of note, was our waiter (I can’t remember his name but he has a notably well groomed moustache) who, without prompting, came over and asked if one of the beers I ordered wasn’t OK. It was quickly changed. This sort of discreet service is probably why this has to be one of the top spots for drinks, worldwide. The ambience is very cool and nothing was too much trouble…even an extension on our table - the famille are big fans of cocktails! The hotel for a stay is again, first class from our check-in, front desk staff, concierge service, room luxury, comfort and breakfast. Absolutely will be back - many thanks from us for all the hard work. It’s appreciated

A very good place. Excellent to meet and even be romantic at. At 11.30 the throw you out if you are not a hotel guest.

There is a reason why it is always so busy here. I truly had a delightful time - the drinks, service (shout out to Andrea), and most importantly, the atmosphere are just perfect. A really pleasant social place, the way a bar should be. Loved it and really appreciated not being made to queue.

Such a great spot for a cocktail or a fabulous wine and a chat. The staff were really engaging and it was a great experience beyond the drinking. Pop in for 1 or 2 or 3!!

Best bar I’ve ever been to!!! It’s 22-25 GBP for a cocktail but it’s worth it given the atmosphere, the live music and the amazing service! It also comes with complimentary snacks. This place is Special, 10/10 recommend!!

Excellent service. Lovely cocktails. We came for the jazz (Kitty LaRoar). My aunt has follow her from Hong Kong to here. A very good atmosphere. A great place to chill out on a Saturday. The only thing I was a bit alarmed when I was told there is a minimum charge of £100 per person when we tried to book a table on the phone for 6!! We walked in and got a table instead.

Pricey but classy. Food and drinks are much better than they need to be, and they are both excellent. Each drink was balanced, interesting, and had the right level of exoticism. Worthy of its place on the list.

Best bar in the world. Drink menu is very creative, service is outstanding and the decorations and the environment are perfect. A must go for anyone visiting London.

Absolutely love it in here. Ok a cocktail is £20 a go but it’s worth it for the service, ambiance and not to mention the delicious nuts they kept refilling!!

Hands down, one of the most sophisticated and amazing bars I have been to. Upon arriving, we were greeted by Chris (doorman) who has engaged in a pleasant conversation and shared brief history and overview of the bar, even suggested a couple of the signature drinks to try. Entering the premises, it is hard not to notice the atmosphere - dimmed lights, beautiful design, massive selection of whiskeys, professional waiters & staff, as well as live Jazz music (what a treat!). Cocktails are impressive, bartenders are experienced and can make a customised drink depending on your needs. Zoe (waiter) has been incredible in listening to our needs, and even procured us a lovely and comfortable seating location, once it became available. I thought she did an excellent job. Will definitely be coming back, and even looking forward to it! Highly recommend 10/10.

I popped in while on my way from the city to somewhere nearby I needed to be. The space is beautiful and classy. I was expecting it to be larger though. It is on the smallish side. I had a japanese sparkling sake, and it was really nice. Bar staff seems to be the stronghold of this spot, they are super professional and competent. I will come back to try some of their creative cocktails, looked special. After earing they work with just a small music agency since 10 years, and offering basically the same musical performance through the year, every week, weekend, every month, I won't definitely come for the music here and indeed they should avoid to label themesleves as a jazz bar. They are definitely more focused on drinks, which are fine to be frank

It is fantastic and highly recommended. A proper English style classy bar with fireplace and quality decor and drinks etc

Some of the hardest bottles to find in the world, are here for you to try in Scarfes Bar in the Rosewood London. I had an amazing glass of McAllen. The atmosphere is amazing and very comfortable. I highly recommend coming here for a drink and relaxing for an hour or two to live music.

Title says it all, Love this bar, been coming for years, and hasn't changed (in a good way) over that time. Elegant, effortless, stylish whether you're sitting at the bar or at on one of tables. And if live music is on, then makes a it a very easy place to spend an evening. It's not cheap, that's for sure, but in line with similar places. Sorry to hear that other reviewers have had negative experiences of being let in. We've never had that (although we would, ahem, tick the boxes for being screened out based on what people are saying!) and the door staff have always been charming, even if we've looked a little less than perfectly manicured. Worth saying that it can get pretty busy on occasion, and there can be queues, so be prepared for that.