Basement Sate, Exclusive Hire

Absolute favourite place for cocktails in London. Great for date night or catching up with friends, as the leather seats, low lighting, and exotic drinks make for a sophisticated and perfectly schmooz-y vibe. Bathrooms have always been clean and the reservation function is easy to navigate.

The staff are fantastic, very attentive and friendly. The cocktails are very well made, I imagine double measures as tasted sufficiently boozy and very good price for London, £12-15. I love the music, not too loud or commercial. Good atmosphere and aesthetic. The only minor feedback, intended to help, is that if you book for two, they may seat you on a table for 4-6 opposite strangers. It's not too bad but lacks a bit of privacy. I specifically asked for a cosy table for 2 when booking, so that request passed them by. They did let us swap table soon enough, so not a big deal, and plenty customers won't care. The cocktails were great, but for a dessert place they didn't have much in the way of creamy cocktails, it's mostly citrus tonic style. They did have a Bailey's one, but it was very minty. A non minty option would be great. Perhaps a White Russian or Pena Colada type of drink added to the menu. Personally, I'm not a fan of mint, chai tea, or cardamom, one of which was in what would otherwise have been my 3 favourite cocktails. There didn't appear to be an option to remove an ingredient when we asked, so a couple more cocktail options would be good. We had a great time though, and as I say, the staff are brilliant, so we will definitely be back. It's one of the best I've been to in London, especially for couples. X