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

When you go here you go for the experience and the staff and both are fantastic. We went in the late afternoon and it was not too busy. It is a bit expensive but you get what you pay for

Very good atmosphere, delicious food. I definitely love Bang bang salad with chicken!

One of the most beautifully presented squid dishes I have encountered alongside great service from the entire team

Gimmicky & cocktails were not great. No-one cleared our table before we sat down, & even when we got our drinks, they still hadn't so we asked someone. Assume it's bar service because no-one took our order. Cocktails were not good, mine just tasted of cheap whisky, & my friend's in a pipe was basically a tiny drink. It felt like a dressed up Wetherspoons, I'm sorry to say. Would not go again.

We just had a drink here. Very nice atmosphere.

All the team were brilliant The atmosphere is excellent Bobbi is an amazing server - really knowledgeable and helpful

I had a great time at The Alchemist today, I was served by a young man named Kamari he was very friendly and he recommended me some really good rum based cocktails. Had a fun time and wonderful service. Definitely Recommend!

Camahri was amazing, will be back !

Primera visita a este restaurante antes de ver comedia en el Teatro Soho. Los dos comimos el sándwich de carne con patatas fritas y una botella de Sauvignon. La comida superó las expectativas, era sabroso y lleno y muy bien presentado. El ambiente y el servicio era bueno, así que sin duda volvería a visitar cuando en la zona.

Exorbitantly poor and unmotivated service. We wanted to try another Alchemist after an excellent evening at the Alchemist in the Monument the night before. We were ignored as soon as we entered the bar. The member of staff cleaning the table next to us neither greeted us nor pointed out that only self-service was available at the bar. His colleague did so unkindly when asked.

After we were at The Alchemist Monument, we wanted to visit here again after going to the theater. Unfortunately we were ignored for 15 minutes. We were obviously seen, but simply didn't react. After we clearly drew attention to ourselves, someone took pity. Unfortunately only to be told in a really rude manner that drinks are only available at the bar. This wouldn't be a problem in itself if it had been pointed out to us in a friendly manner and earlier. So we left without a drink.

Always a cool place selling amazing science-like cocktails

Amazing cocktails. A lot of effort and thought is put into each drink. Simply mesmerising to watch the trained and friendly staff work their magic on your drinks.

I love the alchemist, I personally prefer the one in Canary wharf, this one in covent garden is too hectic and noisy. The food and drinks are amazing

A very elegantly furnished bar, super friendly staff and mega creative cocktails and some including a little mini show!

Great place for unusual drinks & food is nice Could be darker in colour for experience earlier in the day

Don’t bother booking for bottomless brunch if you expect more than 3 drinks… Booked for a table of 10 for a joint 30th birthday. First off was told we could put up our tiny balloon and had to keep it under the table. We booked to start our bottomless brunch at 1pm. Was not even acknowledged by a waiter until 1:30. When we finally got the attention of a staff member who really didn’t look happy to be there. We waited 20 minutes for our first round of drinks. To then have to wait another 20 minutes to have our second order taken, to then wait a further half an hour to receive our second round of drinks… not really giving bottomless. We asked for water at the start and never received. We were sat round the back of the restaurant with many other full tables and once in a blue moon would see a staff member pop their head round and then quickly disappear. At least twice we had to get up from our table to find a waiter to take our order. the main waitress we had who was quite young would continuously stand with her back up against the wall near the entrance to the bathroom stairs avoiding all eye contact with any of the tables in her area. We asked to have our 90 minutes bottomless brunch extended as we were not happy with only receiving to cocktails by the time it was up. We then received 1 cocktail within the extra half an hour after complaining multiple times. After we had our food our dirty plates were left infront of us for 30-45 minutes when we tried to stack them ourselves to give us more room, the same waitress came over and basically told us off for doing so. Anytime we had a new drink brought over the empty glasses weren’t cleared so we had a lot of little pouring glasses that pared with some of the cocktails scattered over our table. So we thought it would be okay to just Neatly place them on a large plate standing upright so they wouldn’t be damaged. The waitress was not happy with this and showed this in her attitude, only then did she get her back off the wall and eyes off her phone to come clear our table. The waitress liked to remind me that it was a Saturday, even though it was early afternoon and really not that busy. I told her if you cannot keep up with the demand of a bottomless brunch then do not advertise or offer it. We ended up saying we will not be paying for bottomless brunch and will instead pay for the brunch and 3 cocktail deal as that is what we received. The waitress with a very emotionless face went to get her manager. The manager was friendly but that obviously doesn’t know how to manager her staff. We had back and forth with the receipt 3 times because they for one didn’t take the bottomless brunch charge off after agreeing with doing so. The second the didn’t take off the £110 deposit we had already paid. And the 3rd to remove the service charge as we badly received any service…. Paid and couldn’t wait to leave. The only upside was the food was decent. Huge shame about the lack of service and poor management. Worst bottomless brunch Iv been to.

Great drinks, on the pricey side but you are paying for the drink theatrics and service. Didn't try the food but had a good offering.

I popped in for a meal recently, and it was absolutely top-notch! Duval, our host, was fantastic—his food and cocktail recommendations were spot on, and the service was impeccable throughout. The food was superb, from the crispy onion rings to the delicious Katsu curry; everything was served quickly and tasted amazing. With a great atmosphere and well-crafted cocktails, I can’t wait to come back for more! Highly recommend this place for a lovely night out!

Sly buggers added £7 SERVICE charge to our drinks bill had to get manager to remove it...bit naughty

Excellent service and cocktails The menu also offers mocktails and differentiate vegan and non vegan things I’ve tried the food as well and was ok

This is a fun spot, very busy had a table booked and table was ready on time. Drinks came to the table, food was a good flavour. Cute and quirky serving plates and cocktails. Great friendly service for Thursday drinks.

Came here for my best friend’s 21st birthday and Curtis B brought the vibes such a lovely guy Thank you ;)

Tempura rebozado pescado y patatas fritas. Muy mal. Masa fibrosa de gluten. Personal agradable, no muy atento. Nunca volvería a ir.

Food was delicious but portions a bit small. The drinks were fun but some were very small. Staff was very friendly. Problem: only 1 server for all tables in the back. We had to wait long to order food and drinks, especially after ordering food. The service charge (30 pounds) was way too much for the lack of service.

I had my birthday dinner here with a lot of people and The Alchemist were just amazing. Staff were lovely and very helpful in what was a stressful situation with 14 people drinking, eating and celebrating but they all did it with a smile on their face. The Alchemist never fails to impress anyone I take to their restaurants. Thank you for giving me a great birthday!

Service was great, drinks and most food was lovely. Really shocked and disappointed at the steak. My partner got the steak which was smaller than the palm of my hand and cost £30. Do not get the steak!

Karim was so lovely and friendly throughout our whole first experience at the alchemist. He made it an amazing experience. Drinks and food were unreal, service was perfect would defo recommend!!

Lovely friendly staff, service was good as lots of staff around doing various things. Food was great definitely loved it we had a selection of sides and starters to share 😋....music was loud so felt like we were shouting to speak to each other. Other than that great day.

Fabulous experience. Staff are awesome. Fairly priced. Good quality cocktails.

The alchemist is always a vibe. In this particular location, the service can be iffy sometimes in my experience.

A fabulous evening with great drinks and wonderful service from Berenice. Some brilliant recommendations for drinks and a lovely meal.

Previously had gone to alchemist in another location and found it very enjoyable. However I found that the service here was very poor. It wasn’t busy and we had been ignored for close to 30 minutes. Once we got our orders taken it arrived fairly quickly and was nice. However when we ordered our second drink it never arrived after another 35 minutes. Which is when we then decided to leave and get our bill. With the server completely ignoring that we had previously ordered and not received our drinks.

Absolutely brilliant! You definitely get more for your money than other bars doing 2 for 1 on basic cocktails. They taste amazing, are fairly strong, and the theatrics are top notch. The lad serving us was like a machine and never faltered! He was certainly in the zone and such a lovely guy (moustache, slipknot top - sadly I didn't get his name). It was such a great experience and I hope to be able to visit again.

The best cocktails, even better service. we go to the alchemist a lot and Joseph went above and beyond to make this experience one of the best. Letting him choose our drinks, he killed it every time. Joseph now knows my drink preference better than my best friend! Run don't walk here....

Fun cocktail bar! Unexpected drinks and entertaining bartenders

Was really looking forward to coming here after getting a voucher for Christmas. Arrived at 1pm. 1 person serving the entire back area of the resturant where we were sitting. Ordered food and drinks. Food eventually arrived after 30mins. The first drinks arrived 5 mins after that. We ordered another round at that point, which arrived 20mins later. Food was average, at best. Little things, like water bottle not filled up and dirty plates left for ages. Then there is a service charge put on the bill! What service?

Terrible service. 1 member of staff serving the whole restaurant. Waited almost 40 mins for our first drink order to be delivered. No apologies. Had to continually ask to order a drink and they took ages. Food was like warm. Very disappointing. Not worth the service charge!

Food is ok, cocktails served very nice and impressive but its not an upmarket restaurant if you seek for such.

2 bar staff working at the bar on a Friday night… not worth it unless you wanna wait 30 mins for a drink

Magical experience. The servers were lovely and the cocktails were spectacular

Really stellar experience here The drinks are very tasty and the vibe was great Simone in particular made our evening one to remember. She Helped us find what we would enjoy on the drinks menu and delivered top service with a smile. Would recommend and will defo be back to try the food!

Great place and brilliant service. Well worth checking out, and our waiter was really lovely

Perfect service from a very nice guy from Caribbean with excellent speaking skills in Italian, English, Spanish and Portuguese. Food was amazing and cocktails are their plus🔥

Came for a few drinks, loved all the drinks, delicious and artistic, the food looked good but we had dinner plans , so didn't eat anything.

Went out for my birthday and had fun with my wife and friend. Great atmosphere so much fun and great drinks.

Really upscale, classy decor inside. Bartenders were very friendly and drinks taste as good as they look. Would definitely go back. Didnt have any food so cant comment.

Really cool drinks experience, where they have some truly unique cocktails and mocktails and definitely make a great effort in the presentation. The food was also decent, enjoyed the Truffle Tater Tots and Prawn Lollipops, and they were good portions for sharing a few dishes between people. Super friendly staff, we were very well taken care of.

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.

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.

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’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

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

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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..

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.

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.

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.

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