Freud

Freud’s Bar is a basement venue along the end of Shaftesbury Avenue. It is not immediately obvious that it is a bar until you descend the metal staircase out front and make your way down the bar. On the left as the toilets, a large and dirty, smelly room with odd shaped cubicles and wet floors. On the right is the body of the venue and for a Friday night even my jaw drops to look down upon 6 or 7 person deep bar where the grappling of hands of the crowd of many looks like a frantic stock exchange. Knowing I will have little success in this swamp of folk I have a colleague buy a drink for me as I wait by the bar entrance. The place is far too crowded and with little seating available it really is a bare minimum bar. In fact when my drink does arrive half has been lost thanks to stray elbows and I learn that the drink is poor justification for the price.

Overall popular perhaps just because it sits on the feet of covent garden but on a Friday night there is little point in coming, it is a madness that only the most thirsty dare endure.

Greg's profile     Other reviews by Greg     Greg likes    

Located at the top end of Neal Street, it does seem rather in keeping that this bar is just around the corner from ‘the best’ sex shop in London (aka Coco De Mer)… Anyways, I digress, Freud is a bit of an old timer on the central London bar circuit, but still manages to offer a stylish retreat from the crowds. Hidden down a metal staircase, this basement bar is pretty good for cocktails and has rotating art exhibitions on the walls, the interior is pretty minimalist but the atmosphere and pure style emanated by the cliental usually make up for that.

Sian's profile     Other reviews by Sian     Sian likes    

Neatly compacting cafe, bar and art exhibition into one hidden away venue, Freud Bar is- I guess - original in many ways. The artwork changes every month, and the bar is known for its cocktails. On top of that, a range of food is served throughout the day, and looked pretty tasty. Clean, cool and creative, Freud Bar should definitely be on list of 'ones to visit'.

rachael's profile     Other reviews by rachael     rachael likes