Every traveller loves a good hidden bar, something that is a little bit less known and makes them feel like they’ve stumbled onto something special. Nothing makes you feel less like a tourist than finding a place that even the locals don’t know about.
The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town is just that: secret, hidden, complete with fun entrance and entry password – only found by those in the know!
The entrance is inside The Breakfast Club cafe off Liverpool Street (a very popular haunt in its own right and known for its amazing brunch’s and very long queue to enter). The key that hangs from the outside sign is the only clue that something more lies inside.
When you enter the cafe, to gain access to the out-of-sight bar you must ask for ‘The Mayor’. While you wait in The Breakfast Club for your table in the secret space beyond, unsuspecting cafe goers are enjoying their ‘sex, drugs and bacon rolls’ decor while you excitedly smirk that for once you’re in the know (or maybe that’s just me).
Finally you will be taken through the Smeg Fridge and led downstairs to an adorable and eclectic hidden basement bar (quickly becoming my two favourite requirements when finding a cocktail bar!).
The kitchy decor continues down in the bar where even the toilet walls are as intriguing as the rest of the space. You will be ushered to your table and you can be sure that there are no table loiterers or bar queues allowed (making you feel ever more exclusive for ‘stumbling’ on to a secret bar).
If the intrigue isn’t enough to satisfy you- the cocktails are pretty damn good too. With fun names like ‘Mezscallywag’, ‘Peat-nut Buttercup’ and ‘Honey I Shrunk The Drink’ (my personal choice – of course, the better the name the better the cocktail!) the cocktails ticked my box. At the very least, you can know that you’ve found a spot that won’t be filled with tourists, and you can be guaranteed you won’t be in for another run-of-the-mill night at your local All Bar One!
The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town
12-16 Artillery Lane, E1 7LS
Closest Tube – Liverpool Street
Don’t forget to ask for ‘The Mayor’
