Hidden deep beneath Albannach restaurant in Trafalgar Square is a charming, quirky cocktail bar complete with DJs and delicious food.
Perfect for after-work or pre-dinner cocktails, the A Lounge offers a combination of stylish interior whilst retaining many of the features of the original 19th century bank in its unique Vaults. You can enjoy some of the finest, highest quality, signature cocktails whilst dancing the night away right through to the early morning.
There are several gorgeous Vaults offering the perfect setting for a touch of romance and privacy where you can enjoy the music and atmosphere but get a bit more space to yourselves for a more secluded, intimate and relaxing drink. However, if you’re planning on a night out with a group of mates or a large party of colleagues, you can book a table directly on the dance floor.
On Thursday evenings, there are often live jazz bands playing, while the weekends is when the A Lounge truly comes alive with DJs playing a mix of funky house, new and old school R ’n’ B, electro, commercial, and Latin music. The wide variety of tunes keeps the stylish clientele on the dance floor all night, making the A lounge an excellent and lively alternative to the typical West End clubs.
The decor is urban and stylish with plush soft sofas and yellow leather furnishings. Deer antler chandeliers and male staff members in sharp black kilts give a nod to the Scottish ambiance without going over the top. Arches and exposed brickwork remind you that you’re underground and make you feel as though you’ve discovered a bit of a modern dungeon or a secret den, something that’s always welcome in a busy area like this.
This is predominantly a whisky bar, with a menu of whiskeys from every region of Scotland. Also on offer are delicious (and strong) cocktails including the Venezuelan Moscito with Santa Teresa Gran Reserva rum, mint and orange for £7.50 and the fruity Pear Sour, with Crème de Peche and a nice helping of pear slices lining the glass. If you’re a whiskey fan, you’ll definitely be in your element, and you’ll be amazed at how different each type tastes, but if you’re not, you’ll still fall in love with the drink combinations.
Bar snacks and canapés are also on offer, providing delicious food to keep you going throughout the night. It’s worth keeping an eye out for the mouth-watering sweet peppers stuffed with feta cheese tasty chipolatas and smoked trout pate crostinis, all at £6.50.
The bar can get crowded but thanks to the speedy service from the friendly and helpful staff, you won’t be waiting for your beverage for very long. For a special occasion, you can reserve the private dining room which holds up to twenty people and provides a sophisticated area in which to wine and dine in style.
With all this on offer, we can’t see this popular hangout for an after-work crowd of young professionals being London’s best kept secret for much longer.
| 66 Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DS | Transport Charing Cross tube/rail |
| Telephone: +44 020 7930 0066 | Open Thurs 19:00-1:00 (free entry), Fri & Sat 19:00-3:00 (after 21:00 £5 on the door, free with restaurant booking), Sun-Wed Available for special events only |
| Restrictions Dress code smart casual, no hats. Strictly for the over 21s | Website |
