The Alchemist St Martin's Lane

The Alchemist St Martin's Lane is a bar and restaurant in the theatre district of Covent Garden, sharing its lane with the Duke of York's Theatre and the London Coliseum, home of English National Opera. It is known for theatrical cocktails made with techniques borrowed from molecular mixology, so dry ice, smoke and colour changes turn the drinks into small performances, and for all-day dining that runs from brunch through to late-night serves.

The Alchemist is a national group with venues across the UK, and the St Martin's Lane site is one of its London flagships, with a bar area, a main bar, a dining room and a private dining space arranged around the theatre of drink-making. The interior mixes Victorian detail with copper and modern touches, and the house line, theatrical by name and a vapour's whiff from the Duke of York's, sums up the pitch.

Cocktail bar on St Martin's Lane with a theatre menu

A theatre menu offers two courses for £24 or three for £29, timed for pre-show dining, and a Sunday Feast sharing board is served from 11am. The Bottomless Brunch pairs three cocktails with a brunch dish from £40, with bottomless serves available for a £10 supplement, and Friday Spritz Sessions run from 4pm to 6pm with five spritz serves at £7. The food menu keeps to creative twists on familiar dishes with vegetarian and vegan options throughout.

What to expect on a visit

Opening hours run from midday to midnight Monday to Friday, with earlier 10am starts at the weekend for brunch, closing at 11.30pm on Sunday. The venue has a photo booth, is wheelchair accessible (worth noting on a booking) and can be hired in full for up to 220 guests, or as the bar for 100 or the restaurant for 110, with event packs available for corporate and private bookings. It is the showpiece among the cocktail bars in Covent Garden; a more traditional pint is a few doors down at Mr Fogg's Tavern.