Freud Cafe

Address: 198 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JL, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7240 9933
Website: view Freud Cafe’s website
Door: Open door/walk-ins
Style: Café bar
Food: Set menu

Review

Down a perilous flight of iron stairs to a subterranean bar, the Freud Cafe has been has been serving up cocktails since 1986. The decor is rough and ready, dim lighting, basic wooden tables, stools and benches - it's a million miles away from a swanky hotel bar but fits the relaxed blend of Londoners it attracts.

The Freud also works as a gallery, with art work regularly rotating on the walls. During the day there are soups, salads and sandwiches, whilst at night the atmosphere is definitely more like a cocktail bar. The menu is written in chalk above the bar but contains an extensive list of cheap cocktails, all quite basic.

Whilst the drinks may not be sophisticated and technically accurate, the atmosphere in the Freud is contagious, it's chatty, relaxed and ultimately fun.