Steam And Rye

NOTE: Steam And Rye has now closed.

A wise man once said,

 “If you love something, set it free…

… and if it doesn’t come back, hunt it down and kill it”.

Which although sage advice, unfortunately has absolutely nothing to do with the 9,000 square feet of bucking broncos, dancing statues, underground train carriages, giraffes and cowboy boots that we’re here to discuss.

So instead feast your eyes on Steam & Rye, a place which some may imagine to be the City-dwelling “Great Gatsby-inspired” restaurant and bar that it’s being described as, however which is – in fact – just one oversized funhouse.

FUNHOUSE (n.): A place in which to have fun.

Because really the theme here is less “Great Gatsby”, and more “drink cocktails out of cowboy boots while riding a bucking bronco, eating unlimited smoked BBQ ribs and dancing to live music every night of the week until 3am”.

In addition to the cluttered quirk-fest that is the first floor Cargo Hold and the velvet-clad 1st Class Cocktail Carriage in the basement is the main bar/restaurant which – being modeled on Grand Central Station – naturally features a collection of Eastern Pacific steam train dining carriages; a huge “living clock” sandwiched on either side by statues that come to life in order to dance for your viewing pleasure; and a stage on which live bands perform every night of the week.

To eat you’ll find fairly-priced appetisers like baked beans with pulled pork and jumbo BBQ’d chicken wings alongside mains like BBQ’s ribs, surf n’ turf sharing platters and Josper-grilled 350g USDA steaks. And to drink: cocktails like the Mississippi Lullaby, The Kansas City Shuffle and Dead Man’s Boot, which is literally served in the boot of a dead man…

But we had you at “Bucking Bronco”, right?

NOTE: Steam And Rye has now closed.

Steam & Rye | 147 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 4QT

Like unusual bars? Check out our excellent guide to cool bars in london.