My 4 Favourite Hidden Bars and Restaurants in London

As the world springs back to life and I start hanking after a day trip to London from the seaside, it got me thinking about my favourite bars and restaurants in London I turn to for respite when the sightseeing and shopping crowds and endless stream of chain haunts get too much.

My selection of hidden bars and restaurants in London includes something for every taste, occasion and budget, whether it’s a date with a friend, yourself, a loved one, a catch-up with family or a celebration. It goes without saying I’ll add to the list if I come across any other worthy entries.

1 the Tiroler Hut, a tiny Austrian-themed restaurant in a west london basement

This one-of-a-kind Austrian-themed restaurant lurks in a basement down a narrow set of stairs just off Westbourne Grove in West London. I’ve been twice, once for a hen doo and New Year’s Eve and can’t get enough of it for its decor, think: Alpine chalet meets Twin Peaks set – dark lighting, low ceilings, wood-panelled walls, chintzy curtains and tablecloths. It’s been in the same spot for 52 years, and according to all the photos on the walls, has welcomed various local celebrities from Hugh Grant to Kate Moss, and countless other revellers including me .

The best part about dinner at Tiroler Hut? The entertainment! Halfway through your bowl of goulash, the owner, Josef Friedman – in his 80s now – emerges from behind the scenes and starts playing songs on various instruments including a vast collection of cowbells and an accordion.

While researching this post, I read that he lost his beloved collection of instruments in a fire which ravaged the little restaurant in 2019. Apparently, a Crowdfunder has since been launched to raise money to help the west London gem restaurant back on its feet.

Find Tiroler Hut at 27 Westbourne Grove, London W2 4UA

2 The Churchill Arms, a beautifully decorated West London Pub hiding a secret thai restaurant

If you’re looking for a traditional English pub with a twist for dinner on your next trip to London, here’s a place in West London’s chic Notting Hill neghbourhood I want to share with you. The Churchill Arms is probably one of the best-dressed pubs in the country. They go above and beyond to make it look like a giant bouquet of flowers all year round and always put in extra effort decorating for special holidays and big football matches.

It’s a similar situation inside, thousands of little British novelty objects and kitschy keepsakes are grabbing for your attention. It’s full of cosy nooks to curl up with a good book or have a catch-up with a friend, but if it’s dinner you’re after, you’ll find a Thai restaurant hidden out the back. They serve authentic family recipes from the Thai chefs that moved into the pub more than 25 years ago.

Find The Churchill Arms at 119 Kensington Church Street, London W8 7LN

3 WC Clapham, An underground wine and cheese bar in a former Victorian lavatory

Don’t let the fact this little wine bar is set inside a former toilet put you off enjoying an evening at this architecturally beautiful venue in southwest London. You’ll find it hidden beneath Clapham Common Tube Station, where it’s been for over 100 years. Public toilets first appeared around London c. 1848 like this one which lay derelict for more than 30 years before it was restored by the company that owns it now.

While you sip your fine wine and cheese, you can marvel at all the original features around you – the majority of which have been preserved. These include the mosaic floors and tiled walls in the dining room, as well as the original wooden stalls and Royal Doulton porcelain toilets in the gents’ loo, and the attendant’s office which now forms the framework of ht bar. Don’t miss the framed pieces in the ‘actual’ WC found during our refurbishment process, which make for some interesting reading.

Find WC Clapham at Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 7AA

4 Sessions Arts Club, Upbeat and stylish fine dining in a renovated 18^th-century courthouse

Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell © Beth Evans

Sessions Arts Club in Clerkenwell is a buzzy restaurant set upstairs in a reimagined 18th-century courthouse where artwork and crumbling, dramatic décor are the backdrop to dishes prepared by chef Florence Knight – who used to work at a lovely little place in Berwick Street called Polpetto. It somehow managed to open and even thrive during the pandemic and is great for a splurge.

Dishes range from £10-£25 and mix British and European vibes: think sea bream with parsley and eel with creme fraiche. Not surprisingly, you have to compete to get a table. Bookings open 30 days in advance at 7am so set your alarms! It’s slightly easier to get a table for lunch.

Find Sessions Arts Club at Old Sessions House, 24 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0NA

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