The Alchemist
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Between a 3 and 4, but going with four because the food was above average pub grub and the drinks were good even if they were better looking than tasting. Came here for pre-theater anniversary dinner with my wife. The ambiance was somewhere between that of a trendy club and nice bar. There was a mad scientist vibe with the lights being industrial vibe and some metal decor. The music was thumpy and loud enough to remind you it was there. It made me feel a bit out-of-place as somebody well past my 20s, but also a bit cool or being there. You really come here for the drinks. We got the pipe dream, smokey old fashioned, honeypot picante, and one other I can't remember the name of, but which came in a flower pot. The pipe dream and smokey old fashioned were likely the best. Overall the drinks were more visually appealing than traditionally good and the visually appealing ones tended to have ingredients that weren't as top shelf and/or they were just too sweet. Not bad, but disappointing for what we'd hope. The food was the opposite. I had low expectations and the food wasn't amazing, but was better than average. We got the bao buns, crispy duck pancakes, panko halloumi, katsu curry, and hot honey pork tacos. They arranged for it all to come out in time for us to make our theater show, which was nice. The bao buns and pork tacos were probably the best. Neither blew me away, but both were solid. The katsu curry and halloumi were standard of what you might expect. The crispy duck pancakes was maybe as advertised, but it would have been nice to have some moistness or substance to the dug vs. it basically being crunchy salty bits of something. Overall, this wasn't a bad meal, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for either. We may be back, but we'll probably try other things first.
While in the neighborhood and needing a drink, my daughter recommended The Alchemist for some fun cocktails. As the business title suggests, they take a scientific approach to most of their cocktails and create wonderful flavors and colors using dry ice, smoke, etc. for the effects. These are by far the coolest drinks around. Very theatrical presentations and Insta-worthy! I had the smoky Old Fashioned which has an infusion of wood smoke in the drink and it was suggested to cover the beaker top of the liquor to hold in the smoke as long as I wanted to customize the flavor. It was sublime. My daughter had a mixed drink blueberry and gin that had the dry ice in it that fizzled and bubbled like a slow moving volcano eruption (less violent, of course). She loved it. My wife had a color-changing space shifter drink. She also liked it. A fun place to visit before or after a show or for an evening out.
Very cute cocktail bar in London! Loved the drinks here, service was good. Definitely would recommend if in the area
It was our first time in London with my wife. We were hungry, saw this place, and thought "let's try it." We ordered a couple of dishes and drinks, and everything hit different - the flavors, colors, seasoning, even the music. It felt totally new and amazing. Besides that the people there were very nice. We spent 5 days in London, but The Alchemist was our favorite by far. If you go, you have to check out this place. Totally worth it.
Awesome place for super cool cocktails. Like the name of the place, many of the cocktails look like science experiments - clouds wafting from the funky glasses. Shimmering liquid, beakers to share. And regular drinks of course. Highly recommend.
GOING on a UK TUESDAY...lol (10:00pm) walking up to the building the Gold accents sparkling I couldn't wait to try a "Theatrical Drink" -- we headed to the bar to order with bartenders but was habd a menu; it was missing pages btw. *** it best to ask what drinks are theatrical as they are limited base on your spirt of choice. The drink I ordered was super sweet :( for tequila to me but I did like my classic margarit- Food was decent prawns were small But those tots can't go wrong if you like TRUFFLES The staff was stand off-ish in my opinion we had to wait for a table even though there were tables open but again they were closing mode. The ambiance did not lack; golden decor with a warm modern vibe. SUPER CUTE photobooth by the bathroom!!!!! Found this spot searching yelp...Not gonna lie, the name made me want to get the
Atmosphere: First off This place is way too loud I feel like I'm at a deadmou5 rave party which was not the goal. The bass is boosting in my ear while I munch down on some lobster, an electric experience . Our waiter was very good though and was patient with our American accents. I felt that the music was too loud in the dining area. Perhaps they could have a lower volume in the dining area versus the bar area. Food: I ordered the lobster mac n cheese with a lemonade. I really enjoyed the mac & cheese. Every single bite savor in my mouth delicious complemented with the lemonade. It was a fantastic dish. The mac & cheese was nice and warm and it filled me up quickly on a nice cold day in London. My sister ordered the lobster mac & cheese cheese as well. She enjoyed. It said there was a decent amount of lobster in the meal and liked the crumbles on top of the mac & cheese. My brother said the normal mac & cheese was a little spicy, but rather than that it tasted all right and the hamburger/cheeseburger tasted fine. Nothing extraordinary quite mediocre. The fries were made well. What really surprised us was the presentation the hamburger was lit on fire. It was an epic show for the family. Also, not to mention the constant drinks that came out with a mist and fog. These drinks look so cool. I don't know how they did it maybe freeze dried ice, but they look like potions and although the portions were little and half of the alcohol was drained by ice there was no other complaints. My mom ordered a steak. She always orders a steak because **there's very limited selections off of a gluten-free menu.** They're really isn't anything that she could order so she ordered the steak. It was OK not the best but it was OK. My father's dish was a curry chicken with jasmine rice. It was prepared really well and he enjoyed it profusely also he ordered onion rings, which was just breaded and fried to perfection with a little ketchup. They were some of the best onion rings he ever tasted in his entire life. My brother had the tofu coconut curry, and he thought it was a good option. He enjoyed it. He also thought that the vegetarian sampler was good for the family however, he found that the mushrooms were a bit too battered fatty and hard to eat they didn't taste so delicious. It would've been nicer if they were Less fattening and more crispy because even with the crisp, they weren't quite crispy they still felt mushy. Concerning the drinks, I thought that the smoke was a lot of fun. However, the poor sizes were not very large and I didn't find any of the drinks particularly delicious.
If you want ultra cool cocktails, this is the place to go. The cocktails can be smoked, bubbled, and come in a variety of glasses. The food was not as good as the cocktails. We had several starters, with the best one being the duck pancakes. For a main I ordered the Curry Fish, which was terrible. The fish had a very "fishy" taste. The sauce was not even tasty enough to lap up with the rice. Pleasant service. Our starters arrived immediately but the mains took a while. Would return for drinks and possibly some munchies, but not a full meal.
Let's start with the food. Mac and cheese? Bland ass hell. Didn't think it was possible to make a Mac and cheese taste like nothing, but it did. Not a single bouillon cube in this place. Their fries were also bland. Sandwich was mid. Fried mushrooms were good. Entirely reliable on the sauce it comes with. Can't complain about the drinks. They were good. This place is solely for the purpose of having drinks look pretty. Looks cool, food sucks. Now. Doorman was nice. The hostess was nice. But our waiter was a jackass. Dry attitude. No customer service training whatsoever. Wouldn't go back. Would totally be okay with the rude waiter if the food was halfway decent, but it wasn't. So. No. Won't be going back.
How is this a dirty martini? I specifically requested dirty, this came, I asked the server, he returned and somewhat rudely said "It's dirty" and quickly walked away. I guess I was a bother
Cool and trendy bar not too far away from Trafalgar Square. We came here after lunch for some afternoon cocktails before continuing our tour of London. It was open seating and order at the bar and each table had cocktail menus available. - Caramelized Jungle Bird (4.5/5): My husband loves tropical rum drinks and this was right up his alley. The bartender melted the sugar to make the caramel right in front of us and finished making the drink by setting it on fire! Overall this drink was great! - Martini-in-a-bottle (4/5): I didn't realize this was literally pre packaged in a glass bottle lol. He just pulled it out of the fridge and took the top off. But either way, the drink was super refreshing and delicious. Light and not too sweet which I love.
The service was very attentive, and if judged separately, 5 out of 5 stars. The cocktails...looked cool, but tasted too sweet with not much alcohol. I thought maybe it was the drinks, so we ordered more, and same outcome. They are for the eyes, not to give you a buzz. The food was not bad, but did not wow us. The fried chicken sandwich and pork cracklings were good and crispy, but the grilled chicken with fajita fixings was underwhelming. No seasoning. What I thought was salsa or hot sauce due to the red color was what tasted like ketchup with water. The Alchemist was worth a stop to watch the dry ice in the drinks cause a smoky show, but I don't recommend it otherwise.
3 years ago
If you are coming to London and are an adventurous eater, you must have dinner here. The drinks were over the top and so fun and the food did not disappoint. I would recommend asking your server for which drinks are the most fun, as thats what makes it special, but also everything we ate and drank was delicious! Great atmosphere and good service. read more
2 years ago
The churros were some of the tastiest I've ever had. I think the melted caramel in the middle was the reason. I also want to say that our server Jordan made our time at the restaurant more enjoyable. He was very accommodating and fun to talk to. Not to mention easy on the eyes! read more
4 years ago
Drinks were very cute and out of the ordinary. Food: Id give it a meh Ambience: like a quadruple STAR, even stratospheric Service: Now this was a hit and miss. The table servers were good but the hostess/er was, I'd say, diabolic. Made us feel unwelcomed. We had a party of 3 but the third member didn't know if she was going to make it. So we sat at a 2-top. But when she did make it, we were made to feel unwanted and even scolded. For the amount of money we spent, the least this place could do was accommdate. This place gets an overall 3 stars. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Great location, amazing vibe, and the bartenders were on point. I would definitely make sure I visit this spot, especially if traveling with a lady friend. They have some great signature drinks and custom ingredients. Happy Hour can be a little busy and hard to get a seat, but we'll worth the wait. Very diverse spot and great vibes if your looking for somewhere cool to have some great drinks. read more
2 years ago
The Alchemist is located in the heart of Covent Garden area. One of my local friend recommend this place to me as I really enjoy the different speciality cocktails and this place did not disappoint. Such a cool cocktail bar with a huge selection of cocktails on their menu! My personal favorite was their smokey old fashioned. They even sell some cocktails which come in a hip flask! The flask is yours to keep, however if you return it they give you a discount on your next cocktail. For the first timers, I recommend sitting at the bar instead of sitting at the small tables. It's fun to watch all the handcrafted drinks being made. Very creative drinks with unique presentations. The bar is very unique and visually stunning. Bartenders were friendly. Of course the drinks are not cheap. You get what you pay for. The range of drinks and crazy names always entertains me and the 'chemistry' is always a show. I would always recommend a visit to anyone who is in the city. We went there on a Saturday night, and it was really busy, so probably best of making a reservation!! read more
3 years ago
The food was pretty good, but the drinks were incredible! Quick service in a cool little area of London. Will be returning here! read more
Fun place to grab drinks in Covent Garden! Bf was skeptical as I drag him to a lot of places that may or may not deliver, but The Alchemist won him over. We were both able to find drinks that matched our preferences. The menu is designed based on the periodic table and is aesthetically pleasing. There are all kinds of drinks--great variety. Employees were helpful and accommodating and letting me know which ones make the most 'magic'. We sat at the bar and were able to see all the drinks being made. Prices were reasonable for what it is and frankly could be worse. I tried the Color Changing One and Dead Red Zombie. Both were really good without being too sweet. The Color Changing One came in two small beakers which I was able to mix together and the Dead Red Zombie came with dry ice. Overall, would recommend! I'd definitely come back when I'm in London again and/or check out their other location. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
What a show! All the drinks have its own special flare/sparkle. Our bartender was super cool and even re-lit the ignition line for me to get a video of the action! Fun atmosphere and decent finger food options. Some drinks were boozier than others. The menu had a wide range of "chemistry" drinks to try. I like how they broke up their drink menu so it was easier to chose from. It was fun having alcoholic drinks from a beaker. I would come back if I was ever back in London again! read more
3 years ago
Incredible bar!! The most inventive and fun drinks in London by far. The staff was so lovely and funny, they played such danceable music, we will definitely be coming back!! read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
Visited the Alchemist during our recent honeymoon trip and had a great experience. We dropped by for drinks thanks to a recommendation by our waiter at dinner. Our bartender, Alfie, was wonderful. He made some recommendations and mixed great drinks for us. Watching him mix the drinks was like watching a show. We loved how much creativity goes into the cocktails. We can't wait to visit again next time we are in London. read more
Cocktail bar with restaurant at the back. Cool music that makes you want to stay. Very elaborate cocktails with smoke, liquid freezing ice and fire into the air and instructions on how and when to drink it upon serving. A bit intimidating for someone like me. There are many options in the drinks menu and there's a shape drawing of each glass, which I realised too late. The orange chocolate cocktail is served in what looks like one of those little low top glass used to examine bacteria cultures in a microscope. Looks like a lab specimen. Served with a clear, hard sugar lid that you are supposed to crack into the cocktail and that's where the chocolate and orange flavour comes from. Quite strong and almost pure alcohol. Ordered also the bubblegum cocktail served in a lab glass and didn't realise this was a pink drink which was not a good look on me. The mango shake is quite refreshing although the half of passion fruit doesn't add much to it. They also have a bubble bath drink which is super foamy and possibly made with dishwashing liquid! It gets busy early in the evening so the wait time at the bar can get quite long. No table service for drinks. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
preamble: This review is lunch for two at 1pm on a Tuesday. The Alchemist appears to be a serious craft cocktail bar, so expect a completely different vibe between our lunch and any dinner or happy hour you may experience. bar: Unlike many craft cocktail places that sometimes minimize beer offerings, The Alchemist has a good selection. I drank the Curious Brew IPA and thought it excellent. service: We considered sitting at the bar for lunch, but that seems discouraged? Fine by us, table service was excellent. Hosts, waitress and food runners were all very engaging and polite. food: I know I'm quibbling, but the seitan popcorn are not popcorn-ish. Think large chunks instead. Everyone knows the point of popcorning anything, especially seitan, is to create lots of crunchies! Still, the seitan was pretty danged good and an interesting menu offering. The falafel was excellent and beautifully plated. My wife and I split the Moving Mountains plant burger. We are of divided opinions on this one. The burger is great, but could have had a meatier texture? Still, it's a tasty menu item. We swapped-out fries for a side salad and the side salad is amazing. details: Check out the menu! Talk about wide-ranging. From katsu curry through jerk chicken to fajitas. There is no continent left untouched by The Alchemist! Everyone can find something to order. The Alchemist has what appears to be a very serious commitment to supporting charities. The menu mentions they allow their staff to volunteer. Oh, and our bill had £1 added for charity? No doubt the waitress told us and I just missed it. read more
4 years ago
Incredibly cool cocktails and mixology in this place. Hip crowd and lots of young people. I was under dressed for a Saturday night. Lol. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
I definitely recommend going here and sitting at the bar. The theatrics when they make their drinks are fascinating!! I had the caramelized rum punch (they set it on fire) and it was amazing! I had another drink and got a flask to take home. Bartenders were fast, busy, but attentive. read more
3 years ago
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I ordered a milk and honey which is a chai flavored cocktail that actually takes 6 hour to make according to the bartender. I really enjoyed it a lot, but the portion was quite small. I honestly won't be going back because it's too expensive to go regularly, but it's definitely someplace you need to try out for one cool drink when in London. Some drinks can change color. Other have dry ice and smoke up. My friend's drink was served in a BONG. read more
Interesting concept for a cocktail bar: imagine an apothecary where the concoctions are all science experiments for adults. Many of the drinks "bubble and smoke" in various chemistry apparatuses given generous use of dry ice. Others involve combining different ingredients from small beakers to produce drinks that change colors or even flavors. The front of the establishment is a youthful scene with music pumping. Best seats in the house are right at the bar. Presentation is a big part of the appeal here so if you're at the bar, you can watch not only your beverage being brewed but also all other patrons' -- and pick your next drink appropriately. (Heads up -- most are quite sugary.) Biggest downside is the lack of table service in the front -- you have to muscle your way to the bar to order beverages. Food service in the front was also a bit disorganized. I would have expected more from a service standpoint given the prices. We tried to sit in the back restaurant but were given a bit of the third degree about what our intentions were to order. With plans to order heavy apps but no entrees, we most certainly felt like we were in no man's land. Overall, a fun place either before or after a show in Covent Garden. read more
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4 years ago
Atmosphere is amazing. Much of a younger crowd since place is a little loud. Food was incredible!! read more
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The Alchemist - restaurants - Updated August 2026
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