Alphabet Bar

Bar · Islington

Alphabet Bar

Bar · Islington

1

56 Upper St, London N1 0NY, United Kingdom

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Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null
Alphabet Bar by null

Highlights

Vast cocktail menu with Mediterranean snacks and a relaxed vibe  

Featured in The Infatuation
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56 Upper St, London N1 0NY, United Kingdom Get directions

@alphabetlondon

$$ · Menu

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56 Upper St, London N1 0NY, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 20 7226 8674
@alphabetlondon

$$ · Menu

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reservations
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outdoor seating

Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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The Ride-Along Report: First Takes From Last Night’s Dinner - London - The Infatuation

"What It Is? An all-day bar and restaurant on Upper Street, serving cocktails and Mediterranean sharing plates. Perfect For: Drinks And A Light Bite, Casual Weeknight Dinner, Catching Up With Mates, Cheap Eats, Big Groups The first thing we thought when we walked into Alphabet was ‘this is just a bar, we’ve been had’. However, once we made it past all the people getting merry, we discovered a fairly roomy restaurant at the back. Our goat’s cheese and merguez flatbread was perfectly tasty, it just wasn’t as good as our cocktails. This place does an all-day happy hour during the week, so all of their many, many cocktails are £7. We tried The Warning Sign (rhubarb gin, pickled blueberries, lemon sherbet and hibiscus soda). It was pretty good. Verdict: This feels more like a cocktail bar with some very nice Mediterranean snacks. We’ll be back in to get more acquainted with all 33 of their cocktails, and maybe even try a tagine." - Sam Collins, Oliver Feldman, Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver, Eileen Twum

https://www.theinfatuation.com/london/guides/the-ride-along-report-london-new-restaurants
View Postcard for Alphabet Bar

Murat Ilyas

Google
I need to come back. Went out with a discount promo for drinks. Which were really good. Great flavours and presentation. But I could not take my eyes if the food they were cooking nearby. This place is clean, modern and very welcoming. Staff are nice and great to talk to. 100% a must. And I will make the journey back sometime soon :)

hellotanda

Google
Had an amazing time here! Staff are friendly, accommodating and the recommendations they gave us were great! A great restaurant for groups to order loads of food and try different dishes, we got addicted to the Hummus and bread starter. Visited for dinner and keep drinking and eating till closing, the interior is great and the restaurant has a fantastic atmosphere. Big THANK YOU to Charlotte, look forward to coming back!!

Stephanie S

Google
Went to the soft launch of Alphabet and it was excellent! Gorgeous, bright and airy space that is tastefully decorated. Perfect for all occasions from big birthday dinner to date night. Overall the food was great, the vegetarian flatbread was delicious! We had the chicken wings which weren’t so good but given it was their soft launch they were very open to constructive feedback. Staff were very attentive and friendly and the menu was extremely reasonably priced. Great tunes too!

Thomas Chaduteau

Google
The avocado and prawns wrap was amazing, staff is friendly and decoration is nice. I Recommend it!

Vivienne Fuller

Google
Ambiance of good music. Mature clientele. Very friendly and accommodating bar staff. Wouldn't suggest for a quiet meet up as the sweet music would overpower conversation. We just missed happy hour which was a shame as I feel cocktails are slightly over priced. Would definitely go again to this friendly bar in order to have a verdict on their food. Thumbs up!

mathilde carraro

Google
Amazing place! The brunch food was good (try the pancakes!), the bottomless cocktails even better - I really recommend the red snapper! The place is modern, bright and spacious, right at the heart of upper street. And if you want to to party after dinner, the place turns into a bar with live DJs on weekends. Antanas, our waiter, was really friendly and fun!

Juri Sinar

Google
Great place to chilax and enjoy tech house background music. On top of this food is actually good.

Erica Bridgeman

Google
Very slow service. Had to wave at the waitress anytime we wanted to order anything. The food was simply mediocre. All of the items we ordered including the wrap, salad and halloumi fries all had the same red, incredibly salty sauce mixed in. It had zero flavour or spice. For the price you pay, you would expect a little variety.
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Cari S.

Yelp
I have been to the Alphabet Bar a couple of times. It is definitely a better choice in the evening than in the day time. This is the kind of place that relies on vibe and atmosphere, and that vibe only seems to appear when this place gets busy. I noticed that this venue is owned by the same people who own Cantaloupe in Shoreditch, amongst other bars. Although these places have all the ingredients to make a great venue for a night out, I feel like a little 'fairy dust' is needed to make these bars a better bet then any other places in Shoreditch or Soho. One thing that Alphabet has going for it is the cocktail list. It is huge. Almost too big - how many cocktails can you actually drink in a night? There are plenty with a Latin and Brazilian theme. The frozen Brazilian smoothies are very tasty and go down a treat - but be warned, they are very alcoholic! They are also good value. Most of the cocktails are £6.50 - even for long drinks. That is one of the cheapest prices for cocktails that I have found in Soho outside of happy hour.
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Leon C.

Yelp
Alphabet is a very popular bar with the local media types. Having been in there a few times I struggle to see why. The décor reminds me of a Brazilian shanty town. The downstairs bar is dark with car seats strewn around the perimeter, whilst upstairs is a little more structured, for those who want to eat. The cocktails are ok but nothing to get excited about and there selection of spirits are nothing out of the ordinary. Credit where credit is due though, Alphabet bar has been a Soho stalwart for a long time and has a loyal following. Geoff the owner probably has something to do with this due to him being a genuine and popular guy. When the bar fills with the aforementioned media types the place can get a good bouncy atmosphere. Give Geoff a call if you want to book a private party in the downstairs area.
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Qype User (london…)

Yelp
I went here for the first time last night - it's a cool, chilled-out place with a good vibe and plenty of comfortable seats to sit down in. Music is funky, without being overbearing. I went in at about 6pm when it was busy with the after-work crowd, and was considerably busier when I left at about 8. Drinks weren't as expensive as you'd think for the middle of Soho. They also accept credit cards. As other reviewers have said, I think this is a really good place for an after work drink and I'd certainly go back!
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Laura N.

Yelp
A: Affordable B: Beautiful Bartenders C: Cocktail list that would make Craig himself envious At the sake of mindless monotony (although I do enjoy an awkward Yelp review from time to time,) I'll leave you with the Jackson 5's version of the alphabet. But trust that although shortened, I don't mean to take away from the glory of Alphabet's alphabet. A low key vibe with crowd pleasing cocktails, Alphabet Bar seemed to pull in an mixed bag of clientele who were all for general mingling and merry making. Fine by me! With the angled skylights and minimalist art, I felt like I was walking into a friend's New York loft rather than a trendy London bar, and I will certainly be back any given Wednesday for all night happy hour! I did identify one problem that is found quite often in high-ceiling open spaces such as this -- it was either eerily quiet, or too loud to hear your drinking buddy. There was no equal medium and we found ourselves first whispering and a blink later losing our voices. I tend to avoid ordering food at establishments that don't openly advertise it, so I can't say that I had a nibble. But I stick by my decision as nothing I saw caught my fancy. Overall? A great place to pop in for a drink after work. 1/2 price wine until 8pm every night and Wednesday night happy hours both bode well for many a return visit. Pee. S: One star off for nasty-nast bathrooms. My partner in yelping crime mentioned that it was one of the few times in life that she wished she had opted for the Men's room. Eek!
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Jenni D.

Yelp
Despite having trekked up and down Carnaby Street many a time, I've never stumbled across the Alphabet bar. Quiet and unassuming, this is a great after work/shopping session bar. Reasons for 3 stars and not 4/5... £4 for a Peroni? Distinct lack of sundried tomatoes in sundried tomato salad Very unsmiley bar staff. Not even a hint that there could be a smile. EVER. Nice, friendly, mixed crowd. Good range of drinks. No queue at the bar. Solidly, good.
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Tom H.

Yelp
I've been here 3 times now. The first time it was in the evening and it was packed out. We struggled to get to the bar and were disappointed to hear that they weren't serving food. The atmosphere was okay though and I'm in agreement with some of the other Yelpers here about stupid haircuts and the hey-I'm-a-cool-young-hip-bar-because-I've-got-grafitti-on-the-wall thing they got going on. However, yesterday I came here for a lunch time steak sandwich and it was so good I came back today for another one. This time I went for the Peri-peri chicken sandwich. They're served on ciabatta with nice sauches and awesome AWESOME shoestring fries. I'm also writing this review on my laptop using their free Wi-Fi which is great to get you out of the office for an hour when you can't bear to part company with your laptop.
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Hannah G.

Yelp
I spent many of my student days in this bar and now I'd like to say I spend many of my working lunches in this bar. Turns out I just spend many days in this bar wishing I was still a student. It's everything you would expect a Soho bar to be, slightly pretentious, a bit arty, over priced and full of terribly important people doing terribly important things yet still having time to drink a terribly important glass of wine. I may of just described what sounds like hell but is actually quite pleasurable, if you go in there and ignore all the ridiculous people and just have a good time it's an awesome hang out. I would always advise sitting in the basement, it's alot more hidden and cosy, with furniture made out of old car seats and scrap from reclamation yards, this alone is a talking point. The bar is modern and unusual and unlike anywhere else in Soho. The drink menu is extensive and the cocktails are damn good but the price does reflect this. If your on a budget this is only a quick stop before moving on somewhere cheaper, otherwise you will be feeling a hefty dent in the bank balance the next day. The house gin is Bombay Sapphire, so a good G&T turns blue in the UV lighting, everyone loves a gimmick. The bar does serve food, which is of good quality but the menu isn't that large and the dishes are expensive. I would suggest this bar for a quick stop after work or before dinner.
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Saskia P.

Yelp
A good little bar just off Carnaby Street in Soho. This place runs at quite a down and dirty pace and the atmosphere is chilled and all about the conversation and the drink. It's not got much décor or theme to speak of but it does deliver as a good venue to meet up with friends at lunch or after work. The crowd is really mixed which is nice and if you head downstairs you'll be cut off from the action upstairs in a good way and you can easily find yourself whiling away quite a hefty amount of time. Not sure about the food but the drink delivers just how it says it will on those government ads.
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Joseph T.

Yelp
Alphabet is a cafe/bar in Soho; between Carnaby Street and Old Compton Street. It is set across one fashionable, wood-panelled room with work from emerging graphic artists on the wall. I went for a working lunch with a friend as we needed somewhere with free wifi. They sell a range of alcoholic, soft and hot drinks. To eat they have sandwiches, soups, burgers, snacks and platters. I had the marinated chicken sandwhich and a cup of tea. The tea was tea and the sandwich was tasty. The sandwich was served with chips and salad and so made for a satisfying lunch. My friend had a cold and so started with a Hot Toddy as an 'apperitif'; he felt a lot better for it. To eat he had the steak sandwich which, despite his cold, he enjoyed. The lady who served us was really kind and sweet. The atmosphere was relaxed with an eclectic mix of popular music playing at an unobtrusive volume. A nice place with decent food, charming staff and a good drinks selection. Additionally, they are currently looking for graphic art submissions (see window for details).
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Angela B.

Yelp
If you can get past the in inevitable 'my haircut is too cool for you' media crowd and of course the inevitable busy evening and weekends, I'd say the alphabet bar in Soho is worth a look-in. The whole place is a constantly changing art gallery with works by quite prominent and upcoming graphic and street artists and downstairs serves more as a DJ lounge with quirky customised car seats and softer lighting. I like to go for a cocktail to start off the proceedings, my personal favourite being La Femme Pinky (Pinky vodka, creme de peche, peach puree & lychee). There's also bar food; I'm quite partial to the Bratwurst sausage sandwich myself, with fried onions & coleslaw, £4.80.

Anne S.

Yelp
After one very exhausting shopping tour in central with my friend we decided to try out the lunch at Aphabet Bar in Soho. The place looks cool and relaxed, like a simple and uncomplicated bar I would normally go for my mojito's. ..and in the future I am gonna stick with the drinks in this place. We both had salads and it was just very plain. Small dishes. Nothing to do with imagination or gourmet. Even over priced. Blaah.
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Nathan W.

Yelp
Love this place, go here after i have my hair cut next door and meet the boys after work on a friday, They do great cocktails not only that they have a great sambuca there that actually goes down very nicely
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Angela C.

Yelp
Came here with some Yelp crew for Eliza D's going away do. It was a Saturday night, fairly early (8ish?) and there was a free table for us. Bartenders were nice (and humoured some irritating patrons) and the cocktail drinkers enjoyed their cocktails. Our reasonably priced bottle of white came in a bucket with ice, which was a nice touch. Nothing notable happened, really! It was a nice night with not a single complaint about the decor, music, bathroom, or beverages. I hope to go back!
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Jenny W.

Yelp
I've always loved this spot for some reason. You just feel comfortable in here. People-watching is great. Cocktail menu is impressive. Good choice of wines, too. And music is perfect. Not too pricey but not cheap either... standard London bar prices.
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Craig M.

Yelp
Decent bolt-hole in Soho. Music is always playing but at the right volume so you can have a chat - creates a relaxed atmosphere. Ideal for pre or post dinner or the start of a night out. They knock up simple but tasty cocktails.
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Qype User (Ech…)

Yelp
This is a very cosy place to go, downstairs is packed full of seating, but often there's more chairs than room to move about. I think it's a great place to book out if you've a birthday or something to celebrate. The staff are friendly, but you do need a bit of pocket money you don't mind spending as the drinks are very expensive, even for Soho. It's nice to relax there in the daytime but gets busy in the evenings like most places around this area.
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Qype User (cleois…)

Yelp
It does seem to be a mecca where leaving do's are concerned but all the same it was a perfectly pleasant bar. I met some people there and the bar had a nice size and decent space for people to comfortably mingle around each other. The drink prices were pretty reasonable too. If I'm in the area I would definitely pop back for a drink.
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Qype User (sophis…)

Yelp
I'll have to up the ante a little here, and say that, actually, I really like Alphabet. The crowd's a nice mix of local after-workers, cool kids and the occasional tourist. I'm a fan of a good mojitos and these ones more than met the standard and accompanied by nachos and sweet potato chips they slipped down even better. Admittedly, we would have ordered burgers if there had been a chef but the barmaid was so nice about it - and it was Tuesday - that I'll let that one slide. The music's fun with the occasional gem and a nice eclectic mix overall, while the decor's just my cup of tea - laid back mussed up chic that feels relaxing. The tab came up a trifle pricier than expected but it was nothing to write home about. Highlight: the fun paintings on the walls (gastro establishment art being a pet hate of mine), which made me chuckle. Look out for the Pete Doherty piece.
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Qype User (Hersal…)

Yelp
Alphabet Bar is quite a popular and trendy little venue, I held a birthday party here, with a group of about 20 people and most seemed to like the venue. I had reserved part of the basement area for my party, and while I was surprised that they didn't ask for a deposit, they did ask for my card details and would charge me £60 in case I didn't fill my quota of people I had reserved for. Which I guess is justified, since this was a Saturday and their busiest night. The music was good, a DJ arrived later on in the night, while he played music that wasn't really my thing, it wasn't grating. The decor and lighting quite suited my tastes and the service was ok, we weren't really eating, just ordering drinks from the bar. I did order a few platters of food for my friends and these were pretty good, containing spring rolls, chicken skewers, bratwurst sausage, olives, tortilla chips, salsa & guacamole. Bar staff were quite efficient, drinks were however a bit expensive, if I recall correctly it was almost £5 for a bottled beer. Maybe at those prices it's better to stick to the cocktails. I would recommend this place, but watch out for those prices and Friday and Saturday when it gets really busy. Pros - nice atmosphere - decent food - good music - good location Cons - gets busy, maybe get there early if you want a seat - expensive drinks
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Qype User (katies…)

Yelp
With lots of seating and nice little nooks and crannies, Alphabet Bar is a good place for a pre-dancing drink, or to hire out for an event. The downstairs is pretty dark but you can pretty much take it over if there are enough of you. The mojitos aren't bad and it's not toooo crazily expensive considering it's slap bang in the middle of Soho.
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Qype User (jpulfr…)

Yelp
The Alphabet bar has a fairly pleasent atmosphere, but you're going to need to take out a mortgage for a drink. Ok, so it's not THAT bad considering where in rip-off capital you are, but the quality and the service really doesn't justify such prices. It's not one's usual cup of tea and I was only here due to a work do so a place like this is usually going to cop it from me. To avoid such dispersions I'd at the very least expect good service, we had this until later in the night. As the shift grew longer the service became a whole lot worse. Later on during the weekend the place can pack full of tools, but during the day it's a nice gentle and relaxing bar if you like that sort of thing. I'm not really one for listening to 'Chillax' and supping some sub-standard wine. The white russian and mojito was a let down, it tasted like it came out of a packet. With such a wide-variety of establishments in the area I'd not look in here again.

Qype User (paulfi…)

Yelp
Recent refit has seen a Soho classic get even better. More comfortable and cosy still has all its original charm but now just that little bit smarter! Well worth a visit and perfect for a party!
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Qype User (thirst…)

Yelp
Good bar to go with a group of friends, plays funky music, you can have a bit of a boogey upstairs or downstairs. Has good if pricey cocktails. Some of the patrons look like they're trying a bit hard but on the whole is a good-natured crowd. Does good nibbles and mezze plates to share.
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Jim T.

Yelp
I used to really like this place with its informal air, mismatching furniture, comfy sofas and slightly gloomy homeliness. I also liked the album cover display along one wall. So when I walked in today I was disappointed to find it's had a makeover that's removed pretty much all its character and made it look like a lot of other bland bars. No album covers, smart matching chairs and tables arrayed evenly, no comfy sofas. We glimpsed something sofa-shaped downstairs but were told that area was closed. We had an overpriced quite nice cocktail and left. Perhaps they felt the need for a change, and maybe they decided this new look would attract more custom. I do understand they have a business to run and have to make decisions to help that. There may well be many people who prefer it as it is now. I think the homogenised makeover is a real pity though, and shan't return.
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Geri S.

Yelp
A headquarter for leaving dos!! I have been to this place 3 times now and had a great evening each time. The atmosphere is rather chilled & nice in there, it's a great location to be in as you are in the heart of Soho so plenty of other options to keep going, and there is a very good mixed of people coming to this bar!! Food is good although I only had a go at a few snacks & nibbles to share. They have some more sitting downstairs as well and allow you to book for an area if there's many of you turning up! Only thing is I would not be able to comment on the price. I was lucky enough to go with my team those 3 times and therefore never had to pay anything...and I have to admit, I did not really care to look at the prices...
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Eliza D.

Yelp
A fun place to drink just around the corner from my very favorite restaurant in London, Mildreds. Alphabet Bar offers lots of seating, which is a nice change from a lot of other trendy drinking holes in London. The downstairs is also available for private parties, as it was when we visited.

R J.

Yelp
This is my go-to bar in Soho. It's literally around the corner from my office so for post-work drinks, it's always top of the list. Arrive on a weeknight before 7pm and you'll get a good seat. They have a decent array of high stools, low sofas (downstairs) and tables which you can patronise either for a bevvy or a bite. The menu looks good but I must admit I've never succumbed . . . in fact I rarely see anyone eating there. But then it's not a joint you'd naturally head for if you've got food in mind. It's all about the drinks. Obviously there are a lot of cocktail joints in and around the Soho area but for some reason I'm always drawn back to Alphabet, maybe because of the likelihood in getting a seat, possibly due to its proximity, but most likely thanks to the Banana Boomer which - FYI - is bloody lovely. It's not write-home-about-it special, but it manages to shy away from the horrendous "generic" label too. I'm sure they used to have a happy hour but I was there yesterday and couldn't see mention of one, so they've just lost themselves a star. 6:45pm on a Tuesday? I expect at least 50% off!
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Danielle S.

Yelp
came here for a quick drink on a saturday night around 6pm. it wasn't busy when we arrived, but had a nice chilled out atmosphere from the people that were there. it soon got busy, and by the time we left just before 7pm it was packed out. the cocktail menu is large enough to keep you interested, and fairly reasonably priced at around £7.50 a cocktail. i choose the pink mojito which was delicious! the problems with cocktails are that they are just TOO easy to drink. i like how the kitchen is part of the bar and open for all to see. the chef looked bored as hell whilst we were there cos no one was ordering food, but it is all little tapas-style plates which i think would be perfect for a night of drinking cocktails. definitely one to think about if you are in the area.
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Sarah K.

Yelp
Having wandered past here earlier in the day (and noticed the "tapas and cocktails" advertisement in the window) I suggested to my husband and his coworkers that we try this place out for a late dinner/drinks session later that evening. Overall it was decent. I ordered the chicken caesar salad, which overall was tasty, but was deceiving in size (large plate filled with oversized leaves of lettuce- not actually as giant a salad as it appeared). Others ordered burgers and tapas, and booze. The only issue was the volume- after awhile we had to duck outside to stop our ears from ringing.. the music was just too loud. Other than that we'll definitely pop in again!
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Jonathan K.

Yelp
My wife already posted her review. It's a loud bar with good food and a picture of boobs on the door for the ladies' room and a cock on the door for the mens'. If I was 10 years younger I'd be here every night trying to pull a girl.
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Qype User (sar23…)

Yelp
Quite a nice atmosphere here, and in a very good location. Loved the music, very chilled out sounds of Nina Simone playing. However, drinks were very overpriced and I was quite disapointed to find that their house wine was barely drinkable. If you're in the area, definitely one of the nicest places to hang out, if you want to fork out for mixers or beer, i really dont recommend the wine!

Qype User (Amit33…)

Yelp
Based in 'media land' Alphabet is a trendy bar thats got a great location on Beak Street. The place as a bit of character too as the basement furniture is made up of old car seating while there is a map of central London painted on the floor. It's probably had it's day as the hotspot of activity, and the drinks are quite expensive. The food is of a good standard however (there is a tapas bar right next to it if you feel the need), and the place does have a chilled vibe so it good for a relaxing drink. Fri/Sats are quite busy though.
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Qype User (jooki…)

Yelp
The alphabet bar is smack bang in the centre of Soho with one entrance on Beak Street and the other on the pedestrian square just behind Carnaby Street. It is packed Friday and Saturday so not the right place to relax but great for meeting people and feeling popular. It gets very hot and sweaty and when I was last there there was a funky smell of something rather unpleasant. It has a ground floor and basement with leather sofas but you'd be very lucky to grab a seat. There are a number of very quirky painting on the wall that may go unnoticed but take a minute or two to have a look at each one and you'll be glad you did.

Emma J.

Yelp
I don't usually write reviews but felt compelled to share my thoughts on this cute little bar. I've been in a few times now and always left as a happy customer. The staff have always been really laid back and happy to help. They recommended some cocktails to us after we stood at the bar and starred at the list for ages and even altered the cocktail for my friend when they heard it wasn't sweet enough for her. Generally its just a really nice place to chill and have a couple of drinks and the free wifi is a definite bonus.