Putting a bar below a casino can be a bit of a gamble.
After all, there’s always the risk that — after a couple of drinks — you might decide that it would be foolish not to try and double your rent money.
But Archive & Myth manages to feel more like a hidden treasure than a risky bet, pleasantly removed from the bustling energy upstairs, and completely worth the effort to find.
To get there, head to the parade of rock-hard-abs that is the Magic Mike entrance at the Hippodrome Casino, and let them know you’re there for the bar. Once inside, look for a door covered in mysterious symbols. It’s locked, of course, but you find the daily-changing passcode on the website. Tap the right combination of symbols, and a sleek tablet will flash green, granting you entry. Step inside, and it’s like you’ve left Leicester Square behind. The bustling crowds, the cacophony of slots & clatter of chips, the biblically bright neon — they all fade away. Descend the stairs, and at the bottom, on your left, you’ll find Archive & Myth.
Inside, it’s an intimate, dimly lit space with soul and R&B playing softly in the background. There’s a mix of bar seating, where you can watch the mixologists work their magic, and cosy side sections for a little more intimacy. The vibe changes as the evening progresses, moving from chilled early on to lively later on, with the energy dialed up just enough to feel fun without being chaotic.
The drinks menu is printed on a long piece of card and split into “minor” and “major” cocktails – the former being a couple of sips (which nevertheless pack a punch) and the latter being regular cocktail size. These guys are obsessed with innovation, and talented enough to pull it off. Take their whisky sour. It comes topped with two different foams; one apple-flavoured, the other smoky, meaning that you can get two different drinks depending on which side you sip from. Or their Heston Blumenthal inspired Soxiante Quinze, which blends gin with white chocolate, elderflower, and caviar and somehow makes it all work. And, constant innovation means constant new drinks, so they’ve just released their brand-spanker of a festive menu:
- Roast Chestnut Old Fashioned – scotch, roasted chestnut infusion, salted demarera & black walnut bitters
- Yule Log Negroni – gin, chocolate wine, buttercream washed campari & creme de cacao
- Christmas Tree Gimlet – gin, fresh cranberry cordial, dry sherry, lime oleo saccarhum & pine tree liqueur
And if you really want to push the boat out, and that boat is a superyacht, then you can get some astonishingly expensive ‘vintage cocktails’ made with booze from the days of yore, like a Rob Roy with ’80s Laphroaig & ’70s Martini (a snip at £337). And speaking of old, don’t forget your ID — this is a casino, so they do not screw around with that.
All told, this is a really great night out in an unexpected location. If you’re in Leicester Square, there’s no need to gamble on anywhere else.
NOTE: Archive & Myth is open now, Tuesday to Saturday. You can find out more, and make a booking at the Archive & Myth website.
PREVIOUS PERK: Nudge Members (+1) got 50% off cocktails from 6th – 20th December 2024. Don’t miss the next perk – sign up for your free 7 day trial.
Archive & Myth | Below The Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH
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