Opening on 24 October Zum Barbarossa will be London’s newest speakeasy bar serving up a range of cocktails alongside much late-night entertainment in the heart of Soho.
The 1730 Grade II listed Georgian townhouse houses a hidden basement, deep underground. Once inside you’ll find an intimate, Parisian style bar with historical arches.
Zum Barbarossa will serve as an all-in-one cocktail bar and club. Guests can choose from a selection of crafted cocktails and enjoy live DJs with a jazzy deep house vibe. With a state-of-the-art sound system provided by L-Acoustics.
The new speakeasy is the latest London venue from the family behind The Seafood Bar, the seafood restaurant on Dean Street. Zum Barbarossa will make its London debut following the success of its flagship bar in Amsterdam. From the winding Dutch canals to the bustling streets of Soho, Zum Barbarossa is the new kid on the block with a truly unique night-time offering.
Each cocktail served at Zum Barbarossa has been curated by expert mixologists. Highlights from the menu include the Spicy Rose Paloma, Hot Honey Highball, Banana & Pineapple Daiquiri, Tommy’s Spicy Mezcalita, and Zespresso Martini.
The speakeasy also features a selection of delicious small dishes to accompany the drinks. Guests can choose from delectable bites including caviar served with blinis, creme fraiche, shallots, & chives; dressed oysters with passionfruit lime oil dressing or prosecco, strawberry pearls & shallot vinaigrette; crab cakes; truffle & parmesan chips and much more.
Zum Barbarossa’s lore dates back to 1900 in Amsterdam, where ‘Zum’ refers to the iconic mosaic on the entrance to the Barbarossa cellar, depicting a fruit tree with two clovers, as seen on playing cards. The cellar gained notoriety for hosting illegal gambling games before a police crackdown in the city brought an end to said activities. After years of passing through different hands, the cellar finally closed in 1907. Fast forward to the present day and it now serves as one of Amsterdam’s top nightlife spots ready to embark on its first overseas bar in London.
Interior design studio, Marie Martin has overseen the design of the Amsterdam venue and the new London site. Inspired by the Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Zum Barbarossa captures its bold and joyful iconography with great spirit.
Pep de Visscher, the co-founder of Zum Barbarossa comments: “Zum Barbarossa is taking its first steps outside of Amsterdam to London’s Soho and we couldn’t be more excited. Our London speakeasy will have a similar feel to the original bar but will encompass the spirit of the city’s buzzing nightlife.”