Basement Sate

This bar is one of my favorite in London. Its peculiarly is to be located in the middle of soho among chaos and tourists, but the place is actually downstairs and hidden. Very calm and quiet, perfect to bring someone for having an interesting conversation. This bar is divided in many sections having also “more hidden” areas where to have some privacy. Cocktails were really good and well priced

We went in on Valentine's Day for 6pm booking when the bar opens and the booking was for 2 people. We were told our table was in a booth so we could not experience the atmosphere as we were in a booth - horrible experience. When my husband asked if we could move inside the bar only for half hour we were told that they were fully booked when we walked out of the bar 20mins later there were so many tables and seats that were not occupied so for Valentine's Day I feel that the staff member should have emphasised with us an offered us to sit in the open bar area where we could experience the atmosphere. For this reason we give 2 stars. I have uploaded a picture to show that the sofa you can see was not occupied...for example we could have sat there.

The cocktails we ordered were delicious, highly recommended and good value for money considering they were in central London. It's a shame that if anyone has limited mobility, access isn't easy (as far as we can see, there are only stairs).

Sadly, this was one of the most uncomfortable experiences I’ve had at a venue in London. It strongly felt like discriminatory treatment. Customers who looked local were seated in the best areas, while we were placed in a corner and denied a table change without explanation. No one should feel judged or treated differently based on their background or appearance. Very disappointing.

The "Padang Padang" is one of the most amazing drinks that I have had in London. Unforgettable even after many months! Top quality staff with great recommendations! Safe to say a good experience was had at Basement Sate.

They stopped serving desserts which was the whole point and quirk of the place originally. Unfortunately, the cocktail I wanted to order was also out of stock and the recommended substitute did not taste well. only one of our 3 person group liked their drink.

Lovely atmosphere, cozy seatings, and very friendly staffs. Easy to talk on most nights, great for a date, besties catch-up or even group parties. Cocktails from classics to their specialties, all pretty much up to standards! Been going to this place for quite some time/years and always loved their beautifully presented desserts. Just hoping the dessert chefs 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳 will be back soon!

Basement Sate is a hidden gem, nestled underground, offering a cozy and intimate atmosphere for indulging in delightful desserts and handcrafted cocktails. Their dessert menu is a work of art, featuring creatively presented treats with flavors that dance on the palate. The expertly crafted cocktails perfectly complement the desserts, creating a memorable and personalized experience guided by the knowledgeable staff. With its unique underground charm, Basement Sate provides an escape from the city's hustle and bustle. From the beautifully crafted desserts to the expertly mixed cocktails, this hidden gem offers an enchanting and intimate setting for a memorable dessert experience. Let the cozy ambiance and attentive staff guide you through a world of delectable treats and flavorful drinks.

Initial Reaction: I had planned to visit a few cocktail bars while visiting in London, specifically, in SoHo. I determined Basement Sate was a good choice based on what I had read. And I wasn't disappointed. I love the unassuming entrance with no sign. The only hint you have that you are going to the basement speakeasy is a red door with a small plaque that reads something about this not being a brothel. Upon going down the flight of stairs and through the hallway, you find yourself in the darkly-lit lounge comprising the bar, table seating and separate booth seating. The cocktails were wicked good and the ambiance and vibes were chill and collective.

We had the BEST afternoon with Keisha and Chantelle at Basement Sate! We went into celebrate my son's birthday and they made the event extra special. Keisha talked to us all about mixology and the dos and don'ts making and enjoying cocktails. The vibe was so cool. Really could not suggest them more highly! Thank you SO MUCH for making my son's birthday so memorable! Hope to see you again soon!

Great bar experience. True mixologists behind the bar, mixing up interesting combinations of spirits. The staff is friendly and the vibe is fun.

Actually seemed a pretty casual underground dessert and cocktail spot. And the cocktails were really all dessert-focused. Prices were pretty reasonable in my opinion, though the menu wasn't all that large. There were only half a dozen unique cocktails. Though there was an extensive whiskey list and they had all the regular options - mixers, old fashioned, etc. My wife and I both got the After Sate - whiskey, cocoa and mint liqueurs. It was fantastic. Reminiscent of a girls scout cookie. You could tell it was a bit boozy despite the strong mint taste. I will be ordering that drink again if we return. And If we do, it would be for that specific drink. So tasty.

Basement Sate is an underground dessert and cocktail spot that maintains a cool, slightly masculine vibe despite the girls-night-out concept. Maybe it's the leather seating and no-nonsense decor, or the long whiskey list, but in any case this will work perfect for a date or with mixed company. We each had a cocktail (around 11 pounds each), arranged from light to full. Provence was an easy, somewhat neutral charmer with vodka, cucumber, and lavender; Made in Ecuador delivered a solid banana note. Electric Ballroom failed to tingle from the promised Sichuan pepper, but was still a satisfying glass of rye. Since we were full from a Dishoom feast, we decided to split two desserts among four. The smoked chocolate cigar (9 pounds) is rich and perfect for chocolate lovers, as well as perfect for photos. But the real winner was the coconut (8 pounds), a light and refreshing dessert with a good variety of textures. I would book ahead if you can; we did so less than a week out and had our pick of times. Though there were bar seats when we arrived, we were able to get a cozy corner for our group of 4 thanks to the reservation. The pace is relaxed but we were overall fine with the service.

Descending into Basement Sate, my wife and I knew within seconds that we were in the right place. The interior is both modern and cozy, clean lines with inviting vibes. We were very well taken care of by our server and she lended her expertise, helping us choose from their adventurous and innovative cocktail menu. We ordered different drinks each time and were continuously excited with every sip. Couldn't hope for better but we ordered the Choco Pronto off the Dessert menu and we're blown away but it's dynamic and complex flavor profiles. Hell, it made me make a Yelp review! Highly recommend

Cocktails were delightful and dessert was delicious. The staff were amazing, from the doorman Idris (polite and professional) to the manager Billy (friendly and helpful). Didn't have a booking, but we were accommodated and served promptly. Quiet quaint little place, definitely worth a visit, but make sure you book to avoid having to wait.

I'm in love. Dessert AND cocktails? How can anyone not fall in love with this place. I love that there are no signs to this place. Just a random red door in the middle of busy soho. I love that even though I knew that this was the place I still had doubts I was in the right place. I love how perfectly made and delicious the cocktails are. Even my teetotal friend said her cranberry juice was high end. Whatever that means ha I loved the one dessert we tried. There were loads of different components to it including a chocolate shell, mouse, cake, biscuits and spoiler alert - popping candy Mostly I love that you can just walk right in without a reservation (although it was a Monday night).

The waiters were friendly (apart from one woman with an attitude) and the dark cosy atmosphere, candle lit, made it look just like a speakeasy. Unfortunately, the kitchen was closed at the last minute and I was informed via email a day before my reservation. This is of course incredibly frustrating as it was a birthday get together; hence the dessert bar. Drinks were slightly sweeter than they needed to be but okay tasting overall.

On the hunt for dessert, we stumbled on this place after getting the 'hour and a half wait' treatment from the stuffy bouncer at Yauatcha. The entrance is very well hidden but once inside we were pleasantly surprised. The wooden decour is very cosy but classy, and we were able to get a seat at the bar straight away. I chose the 'break and egg' dessert while the others all had 'kinder surprise', both were excellently presented and very tasty. A little pricey but you get what you pay for.

Great place for dessert, highly recommend their "coconut" - it is a little hard to find so be sure to look out for a red door and stairs leading down, you won't be disappointed!

You can't judge a place solely by when it's quiet. You have to see how they perform when they are stretched and at their max. Alas, Basement Sate is a victim of its own success. Everyone reads about it, they come, and in the desire to accommodate more customers, they let those new customers down with bad service. I have almost 1500 Yelp reviews to my name at the time of this review. 1300 of them are 4 star and above. Part of that is because I use Yelp very actively to figure out where I want to go and I avoid places that have bad reviews. I take no joy in writing bad reviews, but you know one is coming when I've taken the time to write down the name of the terrible server down on the back of my receipt. So, let's start with the good news - cool location - unmarked and you'll walk right past it. Look for a small placard indicating "this is not a brothel." When you get down there - cool vibe and good music, and a simply beautiful bar arranged by liquor type. Bartender - super cool - speaks Spanish and Italian. Handmixed our drinks with love. Bad news - my server - I'm told her name is Emilia (I could be wrong) was a too-cool waitress who simply couldn't be bothered. I waited with my date for 10 minutes and kept looking at Emilia after she gave us those drink menus. After deciding that a friendly smile wasn't going to get me service I went up to the bar. Emilia stood on the end and was waiting for drinks to be delivered to her. "Can I place a dessert order with you?" "You can do that with the bartender." She turned away, not wanting to engage me any further. Now, I get procedures in restaurants and I don't want to mess with things but she was right by a screen - how long would it have taken to log into the screen, tap in my single dessert request, and then leave it? Not long at all. But certainly too much work for the staff at Basement Sate. I wish I could chalk that up to a single accident/failure of service, but that wasn't it. The bartender took 20 minutes to make both cocktails - and again, I get that it's handmade and it takes longer, but maybe staff up or set up a queue outside? The dessert order I placed with him turned out to be pointless, as 20 minutes later (this is not client time, this is actual time, watch time) he said, "I'm sorry, we are out of that dessert." I had just grabbed my drinks from him and come back to inquire as to the status. "Well why didn't you tell me 20 minutes ago?" He looked embarrassed and simply apologized. So, my date had waited 20 minutes for her drink, we had been there for 30, and the point of going there, and a hook that many take to come to Basement Sate, the dessert, was nowhere to be found. I had had enough - I finished my (delicious) drink, and resolved not to go there again, and to share the experience with all my friends and you all. Cheers. It's all well and good to have success. The tough part is maintaining that, and my short experience was one that indicated a total loss of the plot. In case there is anyone at Basement Sate who cares, I have the exact time and date of my visit if you want to pinpoint a failure and try to fix it. You can shoot me a message on here.

The concept is cool. The venue is a hidden speak easy type cocktail bar but the service was lacking and drinks are over priced. I came on a Wednesday night for an apertif. As soon as I stepped inside the waitress/hostess asked if I had reservations. I didn't so I asked to seat at the bar. No one greeted me or handed me a menu. I had to ask for it. The bar is an awkward DJ booth which made me unsure if I was sitting at the right place. The drinks are overpriced for the amount you get. I had the after sate it was yummy but for £10 I wished there was more of it. There were only two people working the floor. I wish my server was more attentive though. I don't think I'll be back but it was a nice little late night spot.

Honestly, this place only gets two stars because the ambiance and environment of the place is genuine and nice. But when it comes to the pricey cocktails and desserts, spending more than an average 20 pounds for this stuff is not worth it. For two desserts and two cocktails, it turned out to be about 40 pounds ! That's a decent steak meal. Sure the place is in a hidden basement with dim lights, nice music and a romantic atmosphere, open your eyes to overpriced items there with fancy names. Literally paid 10 pounds for like 4 mediocre macarons. After this place, we ended up getting dessert again elsewhere that was delicious and only 8 pounds for two of us well!

This brand new dessert and cocktail bar is a great concept, and one that seems to be very popular in London at the moment. Upon descending into basement, you can still smell the novelty of the paint. Large space, which appeared even larger because it was so empty on Thursday night. Not much personality to the venue, stark walls, brown leather couches and poufs. There are private partitioned tables at the back as well. We were presented with an amuse-bouche: tuna and olive tapenade rolled with some kind of soft dough - there's no other way to describe it except fishy cookie dough. It was not pleasant. The cocktails were fresh and simply presented but all 3 were very unique: Beet Me Up (vodka, beetroot, ginger, moscato) was excellent, very zingy and fresh. Eagle in the Tub (gin, white port, fernet branca, ginger ale) a twist on a classic 'old man's drink' was easy drinking. Arboriculturalist (calvados, cinnamon & pear syrup, sherry) was deliciously like a dessert. I wish I could get as excited about the desserts as the drinks. The Mille Feuille was more savoury than dessert and the truffled cheese with rosemary was almost sickly against the honeyed nuts. The Mini Vacherin was a perfect lime meringue with fresh raspberries on top but the basil cream was just a touch too strong with the fruity filling. The Raviole - cocoa ravioli, raspberry ginger cream in fresh pasta-like flutes, cassis chocolate truffle with gin and citrus gel - were very interesting but the limp texture made it all a bit mushy. The highlight, and probably more mainstream dessert, was the chocolate and biscuit stack with layers of a chocolate mousse/ganache in between. Beautiful presentation. Great service, the waitress was lovely and patient with us going through the menu. Overall a great concept, but not a place I'd make a special detour for dessert.

Quick glance: + hidden gem, quite literally + chill out on a weeknight + pumping atmosphere on weekends + great cocktails + large selection of whiskey + desserts! Full review: On a clear Thursday evening, a colleague pointed a group of us towards the stairs leading to Basement Sate as he walked off to the neraest Tube station. There is no sign to indicate the bar's existence, and on the orange door is a small, plastic sign that reads "This is not a brothel. There are no prostitutes at this address." We were deliberating whether or not this is a genuine bar when thankfully one of the bar staff must have seen us looking dazed and confused (presumably from CCTV monitoring the ground level entrance, or he had telepathic power) and invited us down. On this particular Thursday evening it was quiet, with only a couple of other parties relaxing cozily in leather armchairs and sofas. It was the perfect place for the group of us to chat and banter after dinner, over a great selection of cocktails, whiskey and beers and soft music in the background. I came back a couple of weeks later with a friend on a Friday night and it was completely transformed. The bouncer at the door warned us is was packed, and as we entered the room, revellers were everywhere enjoying their drinks and conversations alongside booming beats. What a contrast but absolutely fantastic if you know what you're after on which night of the week. I have been told by my friend that Basement Sate also offers desserts if you feel peckish for something sweet and substantial. And even if you don't have a sweet tooth, there's plenty of choice when it comes to whiskey and other drinks.

Wow. Trying to think of where to start here. This was the most bizarre/aggressive experience I have ever had dining out. (And that includes the time a man jumped on top of a table and passed out). Five of us (four males and one female) grabbed late night drinks at Basement. When the waiter delivered them, one of them slid off the table and completely shattered. We had no idea how it happened, as none of us had touched the glass. We did not accuse the waiter of dropping it, but we stated "how did that just happen" and we were all confused. The waiter was immediately frustrated and cursed under his breath about the situation, angrily stating "IT WASN'T ME WHO DROPPED IT." Having worked in the service industry, we are aware of how annoying these instances are, but that is part of the industry, and these things happen. After cleaning up the glass, he angrily brought back a replacement drink, but of 1 shot instead of the 2 that had originally been ordered. When he put down the drink he said "well that's all we have left." We discussed as a group about the situation, having never experienced a waiter be so vocal and angry about a dropped glass. Two in the group went up to the bar to request a full drink. There was a heated exchange whereby the waiter accused us of lying about the spilled drink. Eventually, they agreed to replace the drank. We had ordered desserts prior to the incident, and the manager of the establishment delivered them, and stated "it was not my waiters fault he didn't drop the drink." #Petty We insisted that we don't know how the drink was spilled, but that regardless, their reactions were inappropriate and lacked proper customer service. The manager then got agitated and aggressively stated that he could review the CCTV footage to see who was lying. (I thought he was joking because this was so insane). We told him sure, have at it! A few moments later he comes back smirking and fired up. He points to me (the only female) and goes "I have the footage and you are going to be embarrassed!!!! You don't want me to show you! You were lying this whole time. You knew you did it. After you ordered you pushed your menu and it pushed the glass off. And you know what you did because you looked shocked and covered your mouth!!!!" For the record, I had no idea I had been the cause of the drink spillage, but the fact that he aggressively confronted me and accused me of lying the entire time was utterly insane. One of the calm males in the group explained to him how an $18 drink was not worth all of this drama, and that he should have approached this entire situation differently. He refused to shift his position, and he said he had to defend his staff member against our lies (I guess he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?). Clearly this place has tight margins if they are unwilling to waiver over one drink, not to mention berate a female for unknowingly and accidentally causing a drink spillage. For the record, we never accused the waiter of spilling the drink. We said we didn't know HOW it spilled. After I told him I would be writing a Yelp and Trip Advisor review, he wouldn't let us pay for the bill, despite our insistence. If you want an angry and aggressive wait staff, and a bar that will review CCTV footage to confirm who should pay for an $18 drink, this is your spot! If I could insert a #PettyAF meme here, I would, as this was the most petty, and bizarre, aggressive, and insane dining experience. Thank u, next.

As a whisky lover their selection is amazing. It was pretty much the first thing you see as you enter the venue. Then we sat on some very comfy sofas. The desserts were something else. You can tell a lot of thought and care were all part of the ingredients. I had a smoked chocolate cigar. A thing you have to see for yourself. No spoilers here. Paired with a lovely whisky together it was fantastic. My partner had the carrot cake and a clarified cocktail wich personally I think my combination was better. She however, would probably disagree. All and all a very nice evening, good value for money and lovely staff. Would highly recommend.

Very hipster spot for fun drinks and desserts. I ordered a dessert and cocktail pairing - The Egg with a Hint of Coconut. The detail to the dessert is amazing! Definitely worth a visit.

If I lived In London, I would be a regular. Great atmosphere, wonderful lounge. The Beet Me Up cocktail is delicious & tastes like fresh fruit juice. I want another and another. We couldn't resist the Eagle in the Tub because that is an amazing name. It was great too. The complimentary dessert was flavourful & interesting. though I don't prefer the taste, the thought was lovely. Aesop products i the restrooms & dyson hand dryers.

You need to know where to look for the entrance otherwise you will easily miss it. Of course you also need to at least pretend to the bouncer that you know the place and swiftly make your way past him downstairs. And then you are inside and all is good The cocktails are just so good! The staff can be friendly although sometimes you have to wait a bit for the artist to finish someone else's drink. Good atmosphere and did I mention already that I really liked their cocktails, especially the one with a tiny bit of red pepper extract? They also serve desserts but I have not yet been able to try these, I would love to come back and try a cocktail and dessert combo.

This place is really hidden away. On a street in between two retail shops is a red door, no signs, no bouncer, no nuffink! But boy do you miss out if you walk by! It's all about dessert and cocktails - fancy, tasty dessert and cocktails and they pull it off very well. Down the stairs into a fairly dark bar with bar stools, comfy sofas with low tables and some private booths you are greeted by staff who seat you. I've never been on a weekend so it has always been fairly quiet and we have never had a problem with picking our own seats. The menu is a combination of about 10 cocktails and 10 desserts (beer, wine and fizzy also available) which change every few months. I went about a year ago and had the most amazing puddings and drinks but when I went last week everything on the menu was completely different. They also said they were prepping for another change of a few puds and cocktails in the weeks to come so I'll probably have to go again! Both my bf and I had had a pretty big meal so were in no rush for dessert so I took the time to decide (I was toying between 3). I had decided on my cocktail and bf was going to go for wine as doesn't like cocktails however waiter made a few recommendations of cocktails that went better with the puddings I was thinking about getting which was nice, also taking the time to explain why (sweetness, bitterness, sour combos). So in the end I just went with the waiters recommendations and my bf, who is a choco fiend, went for the only choco option. Cocktails range from £8-£12 and all desserts are £6-£8 so it isn't cheap but only a little more expensive than a chain restaurants desserts. The service, presentation and quality make it well worth it! To give you a taster my bf had The Kinder Surprise; brownie, milk chocolate & tonka whipped cream, caramelised hazelnuts, praline foam, caramelia pearls, which was amazing. We had to wait 20 minutes as the chocolate shells that are made in house were still setting but again this was fine. I had Break an Egg; lime & passion fruit curd, coconut mousse & crumble, passion fruit jelly, coconut shave, which was so fresh and went well with my cocktail 'still workinonit; vodka, moscato s'asti syrup, cucumber, yellow chartreuse' which was also very refreshing. Highly recommend going especially for a special occasion or with someone who loves desserts and cocktails!

Went to a pre-arranged group drinks at this place tonight. A friend booked it based on a timeout write up & we were pleasantly surprised. The wine was reasonably priced (£6-7.50 a glass), the volume t was good (we could actually hear each other talk!) and the decor was very pretty. Lots of wood & leather and even though it has been open over a year it is very well kept. The staff were quite polite with allowing us to pay for drinks as we ordered, but started to get a little pushy when we went over our original booking numbers. We booked for 15 (I think) and at one point looked like we had about 17 people there. The waitress was quick to point this out & told us that any additional people that arrived would have to sit at the bar. Understandable given that we went over our numbers, but frustrating given that the bar was quite empty and there was plenty of space. 4 stars because of this little bit of customer service frustration, but all in all I'd go back for a drink with one or two friends in the future. Good for a glass of wine & a catch up.

Hidden away in, dun-dun-durr, a basement. The friendly bouncer directed me down the stairs and then into a really chill bar where I met up with several friends. Service was a little slow due to the Friday night business but we didn't mind and staff were very friendly and helpful. There is a small and select menu to choose from: desserts and cocktails. Both combine an interesting variety of flavours but they all worked incredibly well and proves they know what they're doing. I tried the Makar The Leaf, Jessica Rabbit, Thunder Cloud and The Brave and The Bold cocktails with a Green Forest dessert. Whilst I found the Brave & the Bold to not be as flavoursome, the others were gorgeous and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their drinks and desserts. The drinks were fairly pricey for the amount that you got but that could be expected for a Soho speakeasy-style cocktail bar. There was also a service charge added on that we had not been aware of but we were content to pay it. Would definitely recommend: the flavours are delicious, staff friendly, and the ambience wonderful. Due to the pricing, it may be more of a fun one-off experience.

Heard about this newish cocktail joint snuggled almost underneath the Agent Provocateur shop and had to check it out. A menu consisting of cocktails and desserts...sounds good hm? Well, I have to say overall it's ok. Greeting upon arrival downstairs was pleasant and cheery, although I was surprised there was no greeter/bouncer in the initial street level entrance. The familiar sound of a cocktail shaker rattling away upon entry was very soothing and promising. Very low lighting: I'm in two minds about this: 1. Flattering on the skin and therefore good for dates 2. Can't read the menu properly without using the torch on my phone Does that mean I can smile and nod while someone else picks a drink for me? Onto staff then: Super pleasant, quick, and knowledgeable about the drinks and liqueurs used. Drinks: Very interesting and novel concoctions, executed well, but not always tasting brilliant. I had one of the bourbon based ones reminiscent of Corsodyl mouthwash. Generally, though, they were good. Back to the atmosphere: The place seems to be sustaining a personality crisis: Does it want to be a hidden, low-lit, cuddly speakeasy or a loud, shrill meat market (but still low-lit)? Not sure. The music was fine but so loud the five of us were huddled around shouting at each other to be heard. Not sexy. The cozy enclosed booths in the back are a delicious little idea encouraging lots of naughtiness. The problem is that if you require a waiter, you need to get up and wave at the staff, as the enclosure hides the empty glasses on your table or other indicators of service required. Having to do this kinda breaks the mood and is a bit inconvenient. Perhaps some sort of service 'on' light at these booths would be useful. In then end we each downed a load of cocktails and had a great time, but I think the place could benefit from some calibration to its character.

New cocktail bar, just under Agent Provocature. Like Experimental Cocktail Club, at street level it's just a doorway leading to a basement. All the hallmarks of a secret bar. When you come down the stairs it's into a wide space, not so typical of a secret bar anymore. But it does have dim lighting, muted decor in grey.brown tones. Some vintage touches with the furniture and an impressive bar. There are little wooden booths at the back, a little akin to a cowboy saloon but perfect for an intimate rendezvous or catch-up. The place is busy with a good buzzy vibe. The service is pleasant and efficient. The cocktails are a good quality I started with some rum based ones, which were refreshing. For those with a sweet tooth Basement Sate has a unique selling point. In addition to it's cocktail list it has a dessert menu. Sadly, I did not sample it. So, in terms of character, Basement Sate seems like it's still working itself out. Not unusual for a new venue. But it's cocktails are solid.

What can be better than cocktails with dessert? It looks like Basement State have all figured out. The atmosphere is nice very inviting you it make you feel very comfortable, another perfect place for a date. They have one dessert with pistachio with is so good! they drink I often go for still working on it and kevin spicy. ;)

Basement State does decent desserts and quirky cocktails that you can match to make the most of this fun experience. Basement State in Soho occupies the place that formerly was The Player where Lucky Chip had their Slider Bar a few years ago. Today, this is a dessert and cocktail bar - an interesting and delicious concept. I was arriving quite early that evening and was one of just few customers. The place is kind of dark, which perhaps makes it a little bit mysterious. Reading the menu is kind of like reading through a list of odd headlines. I quickly decided to get one dessert and one cocktail - after all, Basement State specialises in both. The Nuclear Lemon dessert sounded like a nice option. And indeed, it was good choice. Beautifully refreshing lemon macaroons in combination with chocolate and other small bits and pieces came together to a playful, fun and delicious dish. Following a quick chat with my waiter, I got the Purple Avenue cocktail with it. A tasty drink blending gin with apple, vanilla and blueberry flavours. It worked like a treat and I did really like the combination of this dessert with this particular cocktail. I will definitely keep Basement State in mind as a nice location for a date!

Literally, a hidden basement in Soho with great desserts and interesting mixed drinks. I started with the vodka-based Kevin Spicy that was wonderfully refreshing but pretty weak. I followed up with the tequila-based Thundercloud, which was tart and slightly more intoxicating. Our server was super attentive and knowledgable about the menu. Since Basement Sate is known for its dessert, we ordered the Kinder Surprise, their most popular dessert. It's a large milk chocolate shell topped with gold leaves and filled with brownie pieces, praline, mini balls of caramel, and chocolate/hazelnut whipped creams. Absolutely wonderful and cavity-inducing, and highly recommended if you're looking for something sweet. We saw three other tables order desserts, and they all ordered the Kinder Surprise. Tl;dr - Unique drinks (not strong), come for the Kinder Surprise.

A friend of mine who lives in London brought me and my boyfriend here on a Friday night. Apparently everything in London requires a reservation, but we were lucky to get in here without one. From the outside, it looks like a door to an apartment, so out-of-towners would have no idea that this would be the entrance to a speak-easy bar. You get downstairs, and we were seated in a back cove, which was really nice. The drinks are pretty big and well made. It has a nice vibe and a pretty cool place to spend your friday nights with friends.

Amazing hidden place, a real alibaba cave Quick service, very original dessert! I took a chocolate cigar it's served in a cigar box there is a hard chocolate shell in shape of a cigar and inside some soft chocolate to suck! The chocolate is very tasty not too rich! Brilliant concept and very original!

Really enjoyed the cocktails, really authentic with some quirky names like "Patrick the wombat" , loved how they paired the drinks and the desserts and found the staff to be super nice. Will definitely be back.

This is one of those places that looks incredible on paper but unfortunately is a bit of a let down when you arrive. As a whole, the decor is quite boring and there was no atmosphere. The cocktails are amusingly named and quite nice, but nothing special. The desserts are overpriced for what they are and I wouldn't recommend them to be entirely honest. They earned an extra star by having lovely staff, who were very helpful.

Following a rather disappointing dinner at Barnyard, my dinner mate (and of course very good friend) and I were hoping for a dessert place. We were on our way to Yauatcha to dig into Asian (Oriental) flavoured French Patisseries. Now, of course, since Princi had made it's mark on the London food scene, and L'eto Cafe near by had placed it's colourful creations in their splendid glory in their windows, London seems to have a new fad, after a burger and ramen of course. It's dessert/cocktail bars. UGH. We wander by this door that is opened to the basement, and we are greeted by a "bouncer" at the door. Asking if it's open (bear in mind, this is day two and at 9:30pm, there's barely a soul at the door), the "bouncer" says that they're only opened for bookings. We didn't have any of course. So we ask if we can be led indoors just to take a gander, and he lets us head downstairs. Decor wise, it's great, spacious looking and smelling very much of new-ness. The bar is dimly lit, and sightly confusingly laid out. It's hard to see if there are tables or chairs empty, as the moderately sized crowd is milleu'ing in the centre. We are actually seated down as patrons, and strangely enough decide against all understanding to stay here for desserts instead of the tried and tested Yauatcha. I mean, trendsetters take risks... right? We order the Vacherin, and it arrives relatively quickly, and it's pretty good. But, somewhat clashing in flavours. Too much citrus I think, but overall a good dessert. It's also way to dark to see anything, so it's almost like having dessert in the dark and you're left wondering what you're actually eating. Additionally, where we were seated, (by the DJ station), the AC unit was just BLASTING cold air right into our faces, and it was absolutely freezing. We were not exactly in an adventurous mood, so we just stayed for the Vacherin. Dessert wise, certainly decent, but we were wondering why a dessert and cocktail bar would have only 6 desserts and about 12 cocktails. We leave and end up at Yauatcha anyway for the blueberry cheesecake. More choice and more drinks... and the desserts are cheaper... and the little details of service truly make the difference. I don't know how long this fad will last in London, but I kinda want it to end already.

This place is simply amazing! The cocktails were really good: "Keep on stirring" tequila, aperoll, almond syrup, coconut water - probably one of the best cocktail I ever had! I tried the desserts, they were really nice as well. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The music is incredible!!!!! a real place for music lovers! I definitely recommend this place! In my top 3 cocktail bar in London!

Had a rather lovely date here and took advantage of a 'free desert with your first round of cocktails' offer they had at the time. Cocktails were stunning, and the 'Kinder Surprise' desert was a chocolate lovers heaven. Lovely atmosphere and decor too. A really nice balance. I'll be back!

Billy hooked me up a treat. What a top man and a top place..although I feel a bit guilty about reviewing..it's a secret ;)

Nice place to come for a drink - friendly and good service, and delicious drinks! We got the smokescreen which really doesn't taste like vanilla and is more of a tart, fruity drink (without being overly sweet) and the VPOG&T, which was good but nothing special. Would recommend for any date night or for large groups!

Stumbled across this gem on a recent trip to London. One of the things I dislike about London (and am glad has yet to afflict Dublin in the same way) is the huge amount of bar chains there are, with identikit fit outs and menus so finding a unique and interesting place for a drink is always my priority. Also my cocktail taste would be more of a well made Tom Collins than a 2 for 1 Woo - Woo deal, so this fitted the bill perfectly. The cocktail menu is short but the bar staff are very knowledgable and able to recommend and advise on cocktails and flavours to match your tastes. There are some interesting combinations and flavours but they have definitely been researched and match well. Well worth trying more than one, not that I needed an excuse! In fact the beetroot based offering felt like it was actually virtuous rather than naughty. The concept of a dessert and cocktail bar is also great, although this was just a treat. It would be a nice idea to mix up a night out after dinner. Alas, I will have to wait til my next trip but I'm sure my ex-pat friends will be doing in the meantime!