Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration in City of London, Westminster

Found the best place last night

As a regular at Mr Fogg's, I was disappointed by my recent experience at the Society of Exploration. My party of four arrived without a reservation on a rainy evening and expected to wait for a table. When my girlfriend urgently needed to use the bathroom, the receptionist denied her request, and the manager, Manuel, refused to help as well. This lack of empathy and flexibility for potential paying customers was shocking and not what I expect from a venue that prides itself on hospitality.

This bar is now my favourite place in London. The atmosphere is amazing, the place is breathtaking and the staff is absolutely lovely. The cocktails are delicious and the nibbles are also very nice. I can't wait to go back!

A fabulous bar, wonderful surroundings and great cocktails. Be sure to book in advance as it does get busy. Highly recommended!

Nice place, great drinks! recomendable

Had a great evening here. Our server was Ben and he was amazing! Very attentive and charasmatic. We throughly enjoyed our time at Mr Fogg's.

Absolutely fantastic bar in a beautiful area of ​​London, where you can escape from everyday life and enter a world of your own. Everything is harmonious here and you can't help but be amazed.

A total shame....do not go to this place

Extremely disappointed. I use to loved this place. The first time I had been there was enough to make me want to bring any person who came to visit me in London and unfortunately, this time was a terrible experience, just because of the mood of the security at the door. My friend (a rewarded bartender) came to London for the first time (this weekend), and the first place I thought to bring him to experience the cocktail in London was Mr. Fogg. He wanted to go to Bubala (btw a great restaurant), so I booked Bubala on Saturday; there was just availability from 10 pm until 11:30 pm, so I thought to do a nice walk after dinner toward Mr Fogg, which I had booked for 00:15. At the restaurant, we shared ONE bottle of white wine; trust me, it was not enough to start getting drunk, even because that wasn’t our intention. However, when we got to the bar, there was a group behind us (a little bit louder), and they were not allowed to go in the bar, but we weren’t with them and just stayed there for the reception to confirm our reservation, which they did. Suddenly, the security turned up to us and said we were not allowed to go in. I asked why, and he said he could see that we were drunk. SHOCKED. I was impressed (in a very negative way) with his behaviour (so rude, unpolite and very angry person) who came to us and said that he would not allow us to come in – with no reason, not even one reason. I said that we had just one bottle of wine to share, and I would like him to explain what made him think we could be drunk as we were standing there waiting to go in in a very passive and waiting way. After that, we went to the gin bar (which was the same brand). The guy was very kind, but they were closing, so he suggested we go to Mr Fogg, and I explained the situation, which also surprised him. Anyway, I felt very disappointed, and my friend probably more than I, so I really expect that the management will care more about the people they put at the door, as this will be the image you will be selling of your brand/place. And that guy definitely does not give you a good impression or good experience. Sadly, he was rude and negative just for the sake of being. Sad. I totally agree with the policy about not having drunk people inside (extremely important), but using that as an excuse to say no to sober people is not acceptable. Rude and unnecessary lousy experience. Feel sorry for the responsibility for the bar's success, as they could lose the excellent impression/name because of their untrained/rude staff who do not care for the company and can damage their image very easily. Consider who you are hiring to be in the front of your business, as this could be the image your consumer will build in their minds and perceptions. Now, my family is visiting me, and I do not feel safe to book this place again. SHAME.

Excellent cocktails with extensive choice. Brilliant and quirky atmosphere.

Was looking forward to coming here, but it didn't deliver. The entrance was underwhelming with the lady saying just follow the ball like she was fed up of saying this. There is no explanation and no real greeting. We were seated, and the venue does look good. Some servers were dressed great and took time talking through the menu with people. Our server dressed plainly in black just turned up and said, "Are you ready? Didn't even get water! Our drinks tuned up, and mine was ok, but my wife's tasted of fruit juice and washing up liquid! I did mention it to our server, and she just said oh I have never had that one, so I don't know. After coming from Cahoots postal office this place just didn't not make the mark. Hey, maybe we were unlucky, but we won't come back, and I can't recommend this venue.

Most excellent venue and staff. The theme and cocktails were exquisite.

Go now! All travelers, adventurers and romantics. Themed decor and unique drinks that are pieces of art. Check out my photos. We sat in the vintage train car. Andre, the manager and a Jason Mamoa look-alike, was as excited to help me explore their drink menu to figure out what adventure I wanted to drink. SERIOUSLY, the experience was that cool. I don’t think I can adequately explain the drink that is in my pictures. The giant logo’d ice cube was a tease, it made me take the tiniest sip at the beginning. The chocolate is made in house. I put it in the side of my cheek and as I took a sip of the stiff old fashioned-esque, the chocolate mixed and created an unexpected elixir as I slowly swallowed it. It was that damn sensual. As the ice cube slowly melted and watered down I was in a state of total relaxation. I felt like I could have been scooted along to some pirate ship. We’ll be coming back tomorrow. It’s right across the street from our wonderful accommodations at Resident at Covent Garden. It’s right off The Strand in the heart of city center Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.

Such a cool spot tucked away in London. Immediately we were greeted with a smile and the staff were incredibly friendly. Highly recommend trying their vast variety of cocktails, it’s a really cool place. Gets a bit warm inside, especially in the standing train car bit - would go back!!

The ambience is very unique, the cocktail selection is vast so you'll definitely find something you'll like. The staff recommendations are great. The cocktails are slightly pricing but the bartenders don't skimp out on alcohol.

Fun and interesting place to go. Busy and enjoyable.

This is an interesting place, but not always in a good way. It’s a little bit like a cosplay bar mashup. The drinks were fine, probably about the right price for London. The costumes of the staff were either way too much or ok. The decor was very nice but the music took you right out of the scene they were setting. The cocktail menu is overwhelming and not arranged by liquor type so you have to hunt a bit for a whiskey drink or other type. A lot of these bars have a lot of vodka on the menu almost as a crutch. The food was another story, we got the salami and the speck. The speck was inedible, too tough to chew. I canceled a follow up at another Mr. Foggs the following night based on my experience here. This place would fit well in an amusement park but is not a fine saloon or cocktail lounge.

One word: exceptional! The decor, the cocktails 🍸 everything. The price is just as high, especially for the quantity which still deserves an extra dose, too bad. But it’s a real experience!

Had a fantastic time here when I visited few weeks ago while in London. And so fortunate to have been able to get in with out having booked. From the moment of entering everything just felt amazing. Lovely lady greeted me and then my waitress Jessica f was so warm and friendly. Giving me the information when I asked about their most popular cocktails. The mechanical negroni being one of them, which obviously I had to try when told "that's what we are most known for." I loved the fact I was asked if I'd like to go up to the bar to watch it being prepared. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Food on offer is just light nibbles tho a good size portion and easily shared between two people. There are several Mr foggs/ philleas foggs in London each with there own theme and choice of drinks. But make sure you check this one out.

This bar was in my list for a long time. Highly recommend. The service was excellent and Mark was very friendly, extremely helpful and very welcoming. We will be back.

Great fun place, expectantly expensive

Very quirky bar with a victorian traveller theme. Was very quiet when I visited but worth a look for the decor and feeling alone.

Unique (and many) cocktails in a very atmospheric filmnoire environment. Experience it for yourself, recommending it!

A very cool and quirky bar that you will not forget. The cocktails are great, too.

This place really is an experience in itself, from the entrance all the way to the last sip. Attention to detail is incredbile and each cocktail on the menu seems unique, interesting and innovative.

Really bad service experience of mah life. Dont bother for anything even if you request for something. Not coming back.

Great selection of cocktails and fantastic knowledge by one of the waiters (Polish guy with long hair) who helped take us through the menu then told us about the other Mr Foggs branches around London! We will be back

This review should have been written earlier, when we were there end July. We were an international corporate group of 30, and we booked for our group to enjoy a late night drink surprise. We paid a significant amount of money to secure a private area - like a ridiculous amount! During our group’s visit, the manager and bar staff treated the CEO and a few others of our group with disrespect and arrogance (witnessed by all the staff). We were not even there for 15 minutes and the CEO requested the entire group to leave! We managed to get our group a place down the road and they were welcomed with open arms. I have read the reviews from others about the same issue. Knowing that there was a problem on the night and knowing how much deposit we paid - nobody attempted to rectify the situation on the night nor did anyone contact us afterwards. It’s obviously too late now but all we can do is warn others! Nicer, more respectful and more fun places exist in London.

Great cocktails, lovely loos and great service and atmosphere

Truly fantastic spot for a date or a classy hang out. The theming is superb and the staff (especially Ben) are amazingly attentive and bring it to life. The cocktails I’ve tried are very fun, well balanced and not bad value considering the location and ambience

Only got nibbles for food, but atmosphere, drinks and service is great! Get your fillings elsewhere first and then come to Foggs for drinks and conversation. Really a nice place. Will come back.

Amazing teeming both with the decor and the cocktails. And great service from our server, Gil. Would highly recommend for a fun, different night out

Amazing experience! Seriously the best bar in London. Mark was our server and recommended drinks tailored for each person in our party. Each drink was superb! I will come back again when I visit for sure!

Intimate atmosphere great for cocktails. Service was exceptional particularly from our waitress Jess who took very good care of us and knew the menu by heart. Provided very specific recommendations eventhough we were a big group. Highly rate her professionalism and vibe.

Jess our server was amazing! Knowledgable & charismatic. Made our daughter’s MA graduation celebration special. Highly recommend. Thx Jess!

Did I spend $60 CAD on two drinks? Yes. Was it worth it? Also yes.

Perfect place to have a drink or two. Their cocktails are amazing and atmosphere is cozy and relaxing.

Perfect cocktails with perfect service! The manager especially gets a good start from me! She knew her cocktails and gave the best recommendations!

Place has interesting theme behind this it has a story to follow from entry to making cocktails… must visit this place but drinks are not that great I had this drink the mechanical it honestly tastes like cough syrup that sweet & thick liquid with ice init… other drink MONGOL was still okay but pls check this place outttttt

We were looked after very well by knowledgeable and friendly staff including a birthday treat for my sister. Loved the atmosphere and the decor. Great to try different cocktails. Really enjoyed our visit.

Excellent service in the Mr Fogg's that completes our round the world travels with the man himself. Friendly staff in a mid sized location with cocktails split across the continents and locations visited by the illustrious Mr Fogg. Not so many theatrical cocktails as some of the others but up to the standard in quality as prepared by their talented mixologists. Few nibbles had including a generous portion of salami that was tasty but lacked any real depth of flavour and some rather lack lustre mushrooms. Little disappointed with the nibbles compared to the other locations but the setting, atmosphere, excellent staff and tasty drinks made up for it. Will be back very soon as we embark on a second tour.

Yeah! Blew a ton on great cocktails. Drinks, service, atmosphere really good. Tip - book a drinks table in advance. Great start to the evening and will return for more....

The atmosphere is great, and the drinks are delicious.

One of the coolest themed bars in the world. The decoration is on point with plenty of exploration-themed gadgets and postcards. The cocktails are inspired by different places of "Mr Fogg's" travels.

Amazing drinks and excellent theming. A bit pricey but absolutely worth it!

An amazing place to eat and drink a real discovery

Whenever I visit London, I always try a new Mr. Foggs location and decided to give Society of Exploration a try this time. This spot really blew me away. I loved the vibe, decor, and aesthetic of everything at the Society of Exploration. There were so many small little details to look at and take in. It truly has one of the best aesthetics out of all the Mr. Foggs locations that I've been to so far. My favorite section of their menu has to definitely be Across the Channel. In particular, Of Paper & Milk and Up In The Clouds were my two favorite cocktails. Can't wait to come back and try more drinks off of the menu.

Incredible cocktail and magical place, we enter another universe. The service is very good and the cocktails are original.

Lovely cocktails and fantastic service - will definitely come back ❤️

Great atmosphere, wonderful cocktails, knowledgeable staff that stay in character for the place. Not cheap but definitely worth the visit!

Friendly staff but not particularly attentive, lovely atmosphere with the live music. Amazing decor. Definitely worth a visit

Absolutely stunning place! You would not believe this was on a busy street in covent Garden. It was like stepping into a different world. The decoration, atmosphere and setting was gorgeous and so relaxing! The staff were lovely. We had mushrooms and stuffed peppers for nibbles (hadn't realised they would be cold but they were still lovely) and the cocktails......well they were gorgeous with lots of variety. I definitely will be returning!!

The atmosphere of the bar is amazing. There is a lot of attention to detail in terms of the decor and the menu itself. The staff are attentive and friendly. We made a reservation for 2 for 9:30 on a Saturday night but don't think that we necessarily needed one to get a table. There are many unique cocktail options but the cocktails themselves are fairly small and do not contain that much alcohol for the price. Most cocktails average about 16 pounds.

Pretentious with backwards business logic. Booked a table for 5 and ended up being a party of 6. We were denied entry on the basis there was no space, whilst at least half the tables were empty. We were forced to leave and relocate. Trying to hard to be something more than it is.

We knew to expect something unique, but Society of Exploration was more fun than we anticipated. The greeters and wait staff really played their roles enthusiastically, the atmosphere was engaging, the drinks were appealing, and we were even served complimentary vegan pies. We were surprised the place wasn't completely full on a Friday night. Would totally go back!

Incredible pub set in a secret society in old industrial London, with Steampunk touches and a wide variety of drinks. We ordered almost the entire menu of non-alcoholic drinks and they were delicious. If you come to London and have a place to have a drink, don't hesitate.

A huge selection of unique and well thought out drinks, exquisitely crafted. The speakeasy decor whisks you away to the 1800s. Drinks are expensive but worth it

Lovely place for a drink and a snack. Do a reservation if you are more then two people.

We were drawn in by the blue plaque outside and decided to stop for cocktails, which were delicious. However, what really won us over were the interiors. It's perfect for fans of the steampunk genre, filled with paraphernalia and interesting objects. The attention to detail is evident in the competent and entertaining waiting and bartending staff. Once I can afford it, I'll definitely come back! 🥲

Amazing Amazing Amazing. Whoever loves fantasy worlds will love this one. From the entry to the toilet, everything is themed and will blow your mind. We happened to have LiveMusic the day we went which was amazing aswell. Drinks were fabulous aswell and prices amazing for what you get!

It was an amazing experience that can only be appreciated by visiting the place and enjoying yourself. Give it a try. You'll be glad you did.

Came here for a drink before getting the train home. Would recommend booking - I'm pleased we did. Drinks and service were amazing - such a nice treat - and atmosphere is so lovely. Will be coming back!!

Great themed cocktail bar, with great attention to detail. The eccentric greet at the top of the stairs down to the mixologists and the top hat host to welcome you at your seat. Huge selection to choose and something for everyone. It's the drinks and decor that make this place so great. We dropped in early evening without a booking so got lucky. It's a very popular spot. Very recommended. Thank you

Just so good. The atmosphere, the music, the service. It’s all 5 star. And the drinks are amazing. They ought to create their own martini though.

We had an amazing time here. We did not have a reservation and were not yet 21 coming on a busy Friday night. They were incredibly sweet and accommodating. The ambience is beautiful and the service was absolutely splendid. The drinks are themed to the bar and it was a genuinely enjoyable experience and a must do for the area!

What an amazing find, wandering around Covent Garden after a show and stumbled across this establishment. All I can say is that it is an experience that you must try.

Very unique and sophisticated place! Excellent drinks. The welcome snack was also greatly appreciated.

We had booked to have a nice afternoon of cocktails here and we were met with the rudest doorman I’ve genuinely experience. we arrived 2 minutes before our booking (which is usually encouraged) and the door was open so we made our way down the stairs for him to rudely tell us that they’re not open for another 2 minutes and we need to go straight back upstairs which was quite pathetic, he then proceeded to carry on moaning and speaking to us in an extremely demeaning and stern manner in which he made us feel very uncomfortable. We’d felt as if we were being told off by the headmaster! We were so upset with the way he spoke to and treated us that we left straight away. Shame when what is meant to be a nice experience is ruined by a staff member who clearly hates their job and people in general.

Fantastic atmosphere and amazing staff! While visiting London we popped in here for a couple of cocktails. The staff were amazing at helping us make a decision. The space itself was brilliant with a train carriage seating area as well as cabaret style tables with lamps and even a fragrance as you enter transported you back in time. A lovely pre theatre treat!

We had a great time here it was my friends birthday and the staff made her feel so special they brought us a round of shots and gave her a birthday card which she really loved We asked the staff for drink suggestions as well and we loved every drink we were served We also were given free sausage rolls which were delicious after a long night Thank you so much! Definitely will be back

There always closing before the time here on google maps my reservation was at 12:30 and the last order was 12:35 even though it says that the closing time is 2am!

Looking for a different set of drinks? This is the place to go with excellent customer service and a wonderful set of cocktails!

Me and my girlfriend had a spectacular evening, with fabulous cocktails. Mark and Cas (Casserole) were lovely and delivered amazing service. Will be back x

Lovely drinks and lovely atmosphere. They have chess pieces so you can play and have a drink.

Really cool cocktail bar with a retro style. Good selection of creative cocktails. Limited selection of snacks and nibbles (all overpriced in my honest opinion).

Theatrical and fun. Cocktails are unusual and quite tasty. Worth a visit.

Beatifully decorated . Inspired, i believe from Julius Vern stories of Fineas Fogg stories. You definitely need a reservation to get in, so be prepared. Coctails were indeed exceptional, although a bit pricey. I think this is Londons' problem in general. What i did not like is that although the reservations are for 2 hour's they try to get you up as soon as possible. Even if you already paid, then for 4-5 coctails. Policies can change guys

Mark deserves a raise! You need more golden camels too :) Really lovely place I will definitely be coming back!

It was okay. But, for two drinks and some olives costing £30, I expected it better than okay. They only had one bar staff making drinks, which was insufficient for the number of orders. The wait, sadly, made the experience one that we will not repeat.

Great bar. I didn't eat here so cannot comment on food. The drinks are nice and it's a quirky place with lots going on in it

Wonderful cocktails, great staff and charming location. I will be back.

Simply amazing with a theatrical touch. Highly recommend visit to enjoy some of their delicious cocktails

Very good drink selection, the atmosphere is amazing and unique. Good service and top quality alcohol.

Friendly staff and nice place to go for drinks

Great service, extremely friendly staff. The drinks were out of this world. Andre is a wealth of information and a great host.

Very interesting place and menu. Visit when you're feeling curious;)

Really lovely staff, the drinks were fantastic, very well thought out cocktail menu complimented by a huge variety of spirits. The balsamic onions were also really great!

Amazing cocktails, unique ambiance and great service

Great cocktails and atmosphere! They keep knocking the cocktails out of the park.

Fabulous place. Great atmosphere and service. Marvellous beverages. Give it a go!

The staff at Mr Fogg's were fantastic – friendly, attentive, and fully committed to the theme. It was a lovely touch to receive a birthday note from "Mr Fogg" himself – a detail that made our celebration extra special. The venue itself is incredible. The decor is perfectly on point, creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere. It truly felt like we'd stepped into another world. We can't thank the staff enough for making us feel so welcome. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back for another adventure!

We booked ahead of time, which I really recommend doing. When we arrived at about 10pm on a Saturday night, they were having to turn people away if they didn't have reservations. There was a kind of Rube Goldberg machine set up so that the front door staff were able to set a ball rolling along some rails, all the way above us as we walked down the stairs, finally arriving and sounding a bell for attention when we got to the bar level! The staff were wonderful and attentive, giving great recommendations. The cocktails were anazing, and I loved that the menu split them into categories depending on what kind of flavours or alcohol content you wanted. Part way through, the staff gave out free sausage rolls as I'm guessing they needed to be eaten! It was a very delicious surprise 😄 We're definitely going to visit again!

Great night, lovely place Would recommend. It's a hidden gem 💎

Let me tell you as a gin fan I expected a lot visiting London, and wasn’t disappointed. Got to try some special gins and others in the party had cocktails made to experience gin without being a big fan of the spirit. Definitely worth a visit upstairs.

Stopped here for a drink after the theatre with my daughter. The entire place has been carefully and thoughtfully decorated (the cute train travelling around a ledge at the top of a wall is a lovely addition). Very in keeping with the theme at all times. The atmosphere is calm and enjoyable. It feels somewhere between an old fashioned living room and a bar and hits perfectly. The staff were attentive, professional, friendly, and they also in theme. We spoke with at least four members of staff during our visit - all were wonderful. A must visit.

Premium cocktail bar with premium prices but you get what you pay for.

Stopped by for cocktails with a friend - what a magical place, with delicious cocktails!

I came here with my wife for a couple of pre-theatre drinks and was very happy with the experience. Our welcome was warm and friendly, and we were promptly taken to our seats and handed two menus. The server returned shortly afterwards and asked if we were ready to order. I asked for an Ivano's Mountain Hut but was told that unfortunately they were out of stock, now the plus side on this is that the sever was able to offer me an alternative of the truffle martini, but the negative is that I was told that this comes "with a bit of a price jump". I said yes, please go ahead with that order, but then asked her how much we were talking of a price jump - it was nearly £10. Just felt that should have been advised rather than a vague bit of a price jump statement. The gents toilets were clean, smelled fresh and plenty of paper and soap. One of the taps were stuck in the on position and I was unable to turn it off, not a problem and I told the team who thanked me, apologised and said that they would look into it. After our drinks were empty, I asked another server if we could place an order when our waiter was ready, she said that she would happily take our order. I asked for a Fleur De Frejus only to be told that it was out of stock. Gutting! Two drinks both out of stock, but not a big deal. I instead ordered a Sunset On The Veranda and when the server left, our waiter came over and asked if we wanted anything more to drink, so good that she returned to take an order, just ever so slightly too slow. Staff were all very friendly, professional and polite. I heard her offering suggestions to other patrons that didn't know what they wanted, and was asking what spirits they prefer and what type of cocktail "sweet/fruity/strong etc". A very reasonable 10% service charge applied to the bill which I felt was acceptable. I would return here again, drink were delicious, the staff were great and the atmosphere was awesome.

Pushy staff, very unwelcoming vibe felt like poor management to force people to drink or get out. Shame as the vibe is cool but so not worth the price.

We had an absolutely fabulous time at this location and the decor and drinks were perfect! Every aspect was warm and enjoyable.