The Alchemist - St Martins Lane in City of London, Westminster

I've been to the Alchemist in Berlin several times and I have to say, the store looks impressive in Berlin. In London it looked more like a normal bar or pub. You have the option of coming without a reservation, but then you have to sit in a certain corner. What I found very inconvenient here was that you had to get your own drinks at the bar. This shop actually thrives on visual effects, such as bubbling or smoking drinks. For example, there is a cocktail where the liquid is in a kind of waffle ice cream cone and with the help of a “smoke gun” the ball of smoke is placed on top. Here in Berlin it is done at the table, you can take pictures, admire it and then let the ball burst into smoke. Here the whole thing will not survive the journey to the table. The shop was full, the glasses were very full and you always had to be careful not to spill anything. While in our case one cocktail bubbles for a long time, in London it felt like it was over after a few seconds. On the first visit we had the same cocktail only once with and once without alcohol. I asked three times which was which and in the end I got the wrong one, namely the one with alcohol. You pay directly at the bar, which I think is good, but the music is almost unbearably loud, you really have to scream at yourself. The tables aren't wiped down either, so if you do, it's better to go to the Alchemist in Berlin.

Drinks come in beautiful presentation and taste like cheap soda , terrible taste of the drinks !

Been here many times and it's always fabulous

It was our first get-together of the year, and everything was perfect. We loved this place

A bustling cocktail bar in Covent Garden with innumerable concoctions offered. There is a food menu, too, but essentially a sophisticated bar…Great enjoyment to be had by all. The staff members are helpful and friendly and produce exciting libations. A great watering hole…

Wonderful food and drinks too. The atmosphere matches with the bar's concept, it's like being in a different world. Such a pity for the service, it's like you're not welcome. The staff was ill-tempered, personally I didn't feel comfortable.

Do not go if you or your friends are autistic! They will get overstimulated. Went with some friends for a meal before Christmas. The food was over salted, when we complained about this to our waiter he shrugged and said they got a lot of complaints about that. The music was so unbearably loud that we could not hear the person next to us so had to shout to communicate, so we asked if it was possible for the volume in our section. We were told no and then that it was so loud because everyone was shouting, giving no consideration to the cause of that. Normally with an experience that bad I would have complained and asked for the bill to be reduced due to this but we were so desperate to leave that we just paid it all. Food and atmosphere get 0 stars and service gets 1 for the fact that we were served. None of us had a good time and we will not be returning.

Nice idea and tasty drinks. The glasses the drinks come in are very quirky. Lots of dry ice too for smoke effect. We had a nice time here.

Lovely staff, really fun, highly recommend.

The cocktails we ordered were alright, just too light on alcohol (it happens quite a lot in London though). It was just 7pm and the first drink that I wanted to order was already out of stock, we tried to order the chorizo and cheddar doughballs but those were out of stock as well. We end up getting only french fries. The location is nice but I would not recommend it anyway.

Here’s a draft for your Google review: ⭐⭐⭐ I visited Alchemist recently and opted for the set menu. The food was a bit of a mixed bag. The dessert (panna cotta) was the highlight—really well done and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the main course fell short: the steak was overcooked, and the mashed potatoes were served cold, which was disappointing. Overall, the meal was average, but the dessert saved the experience.

Night St. I had the opportunity to visit its location on Martins Lane. The venue and music are quite good and in moderation. They have creative cocktails that resemble chemistry experiments. Smoky old fashioned favorite. Basil smash is ideal for those who like slightly sour. Ginger-kick for a long and sweet getaway! I will definitely come again and try different signature cocktails!

I booked a table for food for me and a friend as a gift and bought a gift card for her to use. When the bill came we were told she couldn't use the gift card for her things and it had to be taken off the total. The food: The food was incredible, reasonably priced and lots of options. I have a few dietary requirements and tend to find it difficult to find something to eat however half the menu was available to me which is quite rare. My friend thought it was a small menu however considering they specialise in the drinks then this is to be expected. The drinks: The selection is large with pages of the menu dedicated to the kind of drink (strong, light, heavy etc) and there is a picture to show what glass the drink will be served in so if you want to go for the elaborate ones then this is very helpful. They are above average in price which is to be expected given the theatrics. When each drink is delivered the server will let you know how to drink it. There's around 8 mocktail options so if you aren't a drinker (or designated driver) you can still join in the theatrics. The service: unfortunately the service was very poor, maybe because we went on a Saturday night however half the tables in the restaurant were empty. We had a lovely lady take our food and drink order at the start, who recommended we do not get one of the drinks we ordered as it is pricey and disappointing which was very appreciated, however we never saw this server again. There was a table next to us who were being dealt with very efficiently however whenever we wanted something we needed to go and find someone / call them over. We had our dessert menus for 45 minutes before someone walked passed so we could grab them to take the order. We asked for the bill before the table next to us however they were paid, gone, and table reset before we had been brought the bill. This was very disappointing but the cherry on top was the automatic service charge that cost £20. Overall it was a good experience however the service was subpar and we don't feel the need to return.

I’ve been coming to the alchemist for years and have watched the st martins lane branch slowly go down hill. The staff used to be life and soul of the place fun, informative and helpful. I visited with friends for a Xmas evening out recently and we were all shocked at the negative atmosphere, how miserable and rude the staff were. One young brunette girl in particular behind the bar had the worst attitude and was beyond rude to many people. The toilets were dirty and without toilet roll it was only 6pm so wasn’t exactly late, the floor was sticky and just overall a really rubbish experience. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone as the alchemist has really lost its unique sparkle

Didn’t eat here as we had to leave due to the music being too loud. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated as one of the workers was taking a booking the whole time we were standing there. It was very busy so unfortunately they must have been understaffed. The managers should anticipate these times and schedule in some extra help for them. We asked to be seated further from the music speakers than the table we were originally given, but the music was still blaring so loudly we couldn’t have a conversation. I really think for the dining experience here to be improved the management should allow the chatter to fill the room rather than drowning it out with loud music. The “chicken in a basket” dish that we saw on another table looked super cool though.

Brilliant venue to enjoy Christmas cocktails Ask for Alexis she is a wizard at making fun cocktails

Went for Christmas do with work colleagues. Service was good but food was too salty. Fish and turkey in basket were too salty.

Such a dreadful place honestly. We went there last year with a group of friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve and we were kicked out 1 hour before midnight just because someone from the staff had missed to “extent” our dinner reservation for drinks, even though, we have had it organised 3 months in advance and had been in touch with their reservation team to confirm the booking.. They almost ruined such a special occasion for us. Luckily, we ended up somewhere better, having real fun rather than being in that tourist trap.. ps: their festive cocktails smelled and tasted like a toilet air freshener

We came on Friday December 13 and I sincerely recommend this establishment where the staff is great, the cocktails are incredible, I have never had one like that and the meal is very good. Very pleasant during our stay in London.

We booked here for a works meal. Amazing range of cocktails, some of which are very interesting indeed! Very busy on a Thursday evening in December, definitely need to book in advance. Staff were great, although there was a wait on the cocktails (they did need a lot of prep time so it's understandable!). Food was good, however the main (Turkey in a basket) was VERY salty! Overall a good visit!

Super loud. Wrong order. Food was so so. Not what I was expecting at all.

Absolutely love this place, the vibe is wonderful and the food is delicious. London prices obviously and can get a bit loud in peak times, but really wonderful venue, with attentive staff.

All is great. Omuwunmi is great. Theatrical all.

Cocktail presentations are great

Biggest scam ever! I ordered the Levitating One cocktail and it was the most worthless 25 pounds I have ever spent. It was served on the bar and the levitating device was used just for one moment, just to take the glass from the bar. You cannot take the device to your table ! Containing blue label was just an expensive joke full of ice....

Feels a bit big and generic for the intimate vibe a good cocktail bar really needs, however it is a chain, and given the location they will need a large volume of customers to survive the rent. The service we had was absolutely flawless. Stick to the traditional cocktails rather than their weird concoctions.

Brilliant, staff were accommodating, friendly and funny. The food was just incredible i will be thinking about the French dip sandwich for a long time and the cocktail was yummy too! We both removed things from the dishes due to preference and they had no issues adapting. they were also allergy conscious too. There is a photo booth downstairs by the loo for £5 you get one print and a QR code to download a digital version so well worth it. Will absolutely be going back. It was a bit loud to be honest the music was too loud to really talk over but you adjust after a bit. it was quick and yummy.

I’m trying to visit all the alchemists and this was number 15. First time sampling the beer and wasnt bad. Bar service was lovely the staff were very helpful and welcoming

Great tunes friday and Saturday and brilliant service

Love this place!!!Best cocktails!!!

Just WOW, every year the ladies from our family meet in London to look at the Christmas shops. We chose The Alchemist as its nice and central for Selfridges, Fortnum and Mason etc. Can I just say a massive thank you to Jordan who really looked after us throughout our stay with you. Nothing was too much trouble and the food and cocktails were delicious. Such a lovely place, we will definitely be returning next year or next time we are in London. Thanks guys.

Lovely interior, food was lovely and great music. However, it took ages for order to be taken, with the neighbouring table who arrived after us, eating before anyone came to take our order. Food took ages to come out and we had empty glasses waiting to order a refill. We had gone there for the cocktails but no creamy ones on the menu and the pina colada was so strong, I couldn't drink it. Even the waitress admitted they were really strong which could have been mentioned. I asked if the bar could weaken it but it made no difference and wasn't taken off the bill which was disappointing.

THE most amazing cocktail bar ever!

Went for a date night with my beloved wife and tried the Christmas Menu, a must have! Nina gave us the most amazing service she deserves a pay rise!

Sulky bar girl. Lovely cocktails. Great location and great decor. Classy and expensive. Just spoilt by attitude of waitress who couldn’t be bothered to smile or serve but stoked for a big tip.

All good, choice of drinks. Lots of cocktails are available. £23 quis for a cocktail and a lager.

Amazing service from Curtis made this evening unforgettable. Thank you :)

I always trust the alchemist bars to deliver delicious and dramatic cocktails! This one didn't disappoint- it's also good to follow the flavor cues in the menus to try new ones, but their classics are just as good. I noticed the prices in London are £2-£3 more expensive than those in edinburgh, though.

Fantastic food and great staff (Berenice was an absolute star).

Beware Saturday they charged me 25 and 27 pounds for 2 drinks. Tuesday they charged 86. That’s Robbery and I will never step foot I there again Make sure uou are not over paying at this establishment. The bartender clearly took advantage of me on Tuesday

I’ve never been met with such bad service. Bar staff were rude and unprofessional. Stared and intimidated myself and my friend until we finished our drink and left. Will never go back.

Can't fault any aspect of service,the food was fantastic. Korean superfood salad was excellent. Only shame was The Egg cocktail did not live upto it's description or value. It was meant to have Faberge opulence-as stated in the menu-unfortunately it looked like a Kraken was wrapped around it.

TOP experience! Excellent food and super attentive and welcoming staff

We come for the cocktails over the food. The food is very good, but it's too loud (musically, not chatter) and this makes it hard to chat to friends. This happened all three times. I would recommend lunches over dinner because of this. Portions are small for price, but theatrical cocktails are its draw not the food

Great vibe but sat for over a half hour with no service. Switched to the bar and still didn’t get waited on, and a group that came in after us did. Only one bartender for complicated drinks..

The cocktail menu is very extensive. The location is good and it is very spacious inside. We waited for 20 minutes to order and another 20 minutes to get what we ordered at the bar. It was clearly understaffed. One bartender said he was training the others and didn't help at all despite the long queue of customers and people waiting impatiently. Of course they'll train their staff but maybe not in the rush hour?? A bartender removed a stone stuck under his shoe with his hand and continued making cocktails without washing his hands. Watching him squeeze lemon/citrus over the cocktail he prepared with those hands was not very pleasant.

A nice venue and impressive cocktails but... I'm not impressed by an establishment that includes an optional 12.5% service charge and then when you pay by card, also requests a tip. I ended up paying over 20% extra which I realised only a few days after.

Decent price at least for London but the weird and wonderful cocktails are the highlight. Saw my retired doctor stepdad drink out of a bong. Worth any price that.

Food was pretty good and an interesting cocktail menu, but overall a bit overpriced. The music was stupid loud and the restaurant was empty at 8pm on a Sunday

Always a great experience. Friendly staff, lovely cocktails and we went on Halloween and they even had a big selection bowl of Halloween sweets and brilliant Halloween decorations. Highly recommend

Cocktail bar where there is quite an emphasis on the visual. Ok cocktails and friendly service.

Pre theatre dinner and it was an excellent find! Our server was amazing and the food was delicious. We will definitely be visiting again when we’re in town.

Seems like a fun place with fun drinks. Would come back. The drinks were a french kiss and get iced.

So good! I can’t remember our servers name but she was lovely, very attentive but not overly imposing and always came exactly at the right time. Drinks were amazing, best pornstar martinis I’ve ever had. Made my sisters birthday one to remember 🫶🏻

Really creative drink menu and the bartenders give a show. The food was good and the DJ was amazing. Service at the bar was a bit slow but it was pretty crowded and considering all the bells and whistles they put into making cocktails it was somewhat understandable.

Nowadays, whenever I visit London, I always drop by the Alchemist. I love how they really turn a cocktail into a chemical masterpiece. From discoloring drinks to smoking drinks. Everything nicely served in, for example, an Erlenmeyer flask. The bartenders really make a bit of a show of it. Syringes are also used to measure the amount of a drink. There is also plenty of choice of cocktails, so if you don't like alcohol, you can also go here! Legend: 1) Terrible! I don't recommend it, I will never come back! 2) Too bad, below my expectations, I won't come again. 3) Ok, nothing wrong with that, but nothing special, nice for once. 4) Fine, worth coming back. 5) Excellent! I recommend, I will definitely come back!

Had a late lunch with cocktails with family over from abroad! They thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Great food and even better drinks!

I was hoping for something special for our anniversary and it didn't disappoint! The drinks were SO good, and the food matched it. They were super helpful and understand with allergies too, and the staff were amazing and friendly. 100% recommended!

Excellent cocktails. Half-tone kitchen. Friendly service. Prices perhaps slightly excessive on drinks.

Absolutely loved our experience at Alchemist Covent! Our bartender, Nicolas, truly made the night special. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and crafted some of the best cocktails. His recommendations were spot on! Highly recommend

Nicky is the most amazing bartender!!! The most lovely server. The GOAT!

Always love The Alchemist. First time at this location. 4 of the 5 of us had never been before and are looking forward to going back. Food was really good, especially the sharing boards for starters. Cocktails were amazing, French Kiss was strange but delicious!

Creativity and innovation in cocktail presentation

The Alchemist is a stylish spot with absolutely brilliant management (the manager is an asset to the business), and we were provided with fantastic service. The drinks were tasty, original, and promptly served by our server, who was really knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. The music was cool, quite loud, and it enhanced the vibrant atmosphere. It's worth booking a table in advance as it gets really busy on a Saturday night. This venue is definitely a vibe, with a cool crowd, and I'd recommend going. I certainly would return for more drinks or a bite to eat when back in the area.

A lively find, great atmosphere and music 🎶, friendly helpful bar staff, who's skills in mixing up the cocktails. Is a show on its own. ..sharing tables with other customers was fun in a good way. Highly recommended and drinks were not cheap but were amazing. Long live alchemy.....

When the menu says “level up your fries for a pound” and that means just adding salt and pepper? Should’ve seen the signs. Terrible club music playing the whole time, bad lighting, overall food was below average. Truffle tater tots were good, but everything was extremely overpriced for what we got. Seasoning was abysmal in all dishes. I’m mad that we spent the time eating here when microwaved chicken nuggets would be been better.

Waited 20 minutes for our reserved table. Then proceed to wait 45 minutes for one drink. Bearing in mind that our reservation was only from 10-11:45. Nothing short of disappointing. I would never recommend this place. Nothing but a let down.

Service was great. Food was good. Drinks were a bit expensive.

Joe was crease and gave excellent, overall good night. Good drinks and good food.

Loved every drink we got here! Was a great price for presentation! Would definitely come back here!! Loved being at the bar was so much fun! We also had a table but had very slow service once we sat down.

Had a few great cocktails French Kiss was interesting!!! Food was simple but great! Atmosphere was buzzing. Only downside, was the music (while good) was just a bit too loud for relaxed conversation. If it was a nightclub, it would have been great!

Super top pub! Mandatory stop in London.

Great fun evening, I ordered a platter to share. The chicken was moist and crispy full of flavour. Staff were very attentive and friendly. The non alcoholic cocktails were fun.

themed bar with theater performance，atmosphere was on spot with the lighting and drinks, also had the burger and chips, which was decent, the popsicle drink was quite a show as well, recommended for those who seek a unique experience!

Best service. Nicky was very good. Recommended.

Absolutely stellar service from Nicky at the bar. Will be back.

Zac was lovely and absolutely sweet, give that man a raise!! £30 an hour 🥰 he always kept up a conversation even when it's busy, he's a sweetheart, propose to ur gf! Any woman would be lucky, my bestie agreed 👍👍

Saturday night vibes on point! The DJ was brilliant, really owned it and got people in the mood and smiling. Bar staff were also very friendly & savvy!

Didn’t eat here, did a cocktail class which was so much fun! Some of the group were pregnant and they had fun making mocktails too, our guy was great and couldn’t do enough for us, highly recommend, only thing the cocktails are very very sweet!

Excellent time and took advantage of the 99p screwball delious.

Went for dinner on Friday, music was a bit too loud so everyone was shouting and I couldn't hear the waitress or my other half when they were talking. The drinks / cocktail experience was pretty awesome. The food tasted great, but the price of steak for what you got was a big downer for me, no side like mushrooms or salad or fries included in the price. Just a small piece of steak on a plate (with sauce if you wanted it) The pork scratchings and pepper things were nice too. Overall, a nice experience, but the food was a bit little for a bit too much.

I would give it zero stars if i could. I just received a very racist service that the company should be ashamed of. We we IDed on entry and nothing was said about the IDs used. We were seated for 30 mins before our waiter said we would need to be IDed again. As the only English one in the group I was IDed fine, everyone else was then refused service for using their French IDs. This is appalling when their company T&Cs state they accept "any ID with a hologram" which the French ID card has. Absolutely discriminatory behaviour and I will not be visiting again. Appalling. As 7 people all willing to pay a lot of money the company has lost out.

Great staff and great service definitely go again

Top cocktails! Delicious and fun. I recommend

I rate the restaurant, but its service and food are very bad. I do not advise anyone to go there and I did not treat them.

Good, very good. Especially the cocktails.

A cocktail bar with bad cocktails. Ordered a piña colada, and it was really bad. The worse cocktail I’ve had! They definitely don’t know how to make a good cocktail. Too many appearance and low quality. Food was average. Atmosphere too noisy. Music was too loud that we couldn’t hear each other’s voices. The staff was nice and kind though. I do not recommend.

Absolutely fabulous place!! One would think it's just an ordinary bar!!! It's so much more!!! They offer cocktails which look like from Harry Potter movie: some catch fire, some have smoke filled bubbles, some have cards which burn and disappear forever. Plus they offer nice nibbles too. I really recommend the mushrooms btw. Me and my partner absolutely loved this place. Our main server was young man with blonde hair and he was so friendly and with a great sense of humour!!! He ganged up with my partner against me, to make fun of me (it was all a joke and I loved it). Thank you for a nice experience. I must say all the staff are lovely and the place has a magical feeling.

This is an awful place to visit, the music was overpowering it was impossible to hear each other talk, the “greeter” was offhand, we were literally driven out by the excessively loud music.

Came hoping for some food after a theatre show, our waiter Curtis was so helpful and go is sorted! What a great atmosphere and so friendly!

Went for dinner on a Monday evening, it wasn’t too busy. The service was good and the food came very quickly. I would recommend.

While the food and the cocktails are superb, the music is WAY too loud and you cannot have any kind of conversation.

Great cocktails and lovely food, staff friendly and helpful

The Alchemist sharer was very good and the music was very loud.

Amazing place. Food and drinks were awesome. Service was exceptional.

Absolutely loved the bar, very difficult to get a seat. Always love coming here, Sunday evening there were seats!

I had an utterly delicious meal here today, at lunchtime. However, what made it exceptional was the brilliant service from the lovely Curtis, who was so good at ensuring I could eat everything (I have food intolerances due to disability). He was fabulous! The only reason I put 4 ⭐for atmosphere was because the toilets were too dark. But definitely 4.9 stars out of 5 from me! Thank you so much!

We recently traveled all the way from the USA to experience The Alchemist on St Martin's Lane, and wow—what an unforgettable visit! This place is a must-visit if you're in London. The atmosphere is electric, and the staff? Absolutely phenomenal. They made us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. Yes, the cocktails are a bit pricey, but let me tell you, they are worth every penny. Each drink is a work of art, bursting with creativity and flavor. The showmanship involved in making these cocktails adds an extra layer of magic to the experience. If you’re looking to splurge on a memorable night out, this is the place to do it. Highly recommend The Alchemist for anyone looking to indulge in some high-quality, inventive cocktails. We're thrilled with our visit and can’t wait to come back! Cheers!

Great vibe and experiences. However the music was loud making it difficult to talk even sitting right next to each other. Been to the same brand and other branches seem to manage the volume better.