Let’s be real for a second: Leicester Square is a beautiful, chaotic, slightly sticky circus. You’ve got the M&Ms World, the Lego Store, and about a thousand people taking photos of the same Odeon sign. Escaping into All Bar One feels like finding a quiet alleyway in a video game, where the health bar refills. I once ducked in after watching a street performer spray-paint a portrait of a pug, and the air conditioning was so majestic I nearly wept.
The window seats are a prime people-watching spot, if you’re into that sort of thing. You can sip your drink and watch the chaos outside like it’s a nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough. “Here we see the Homo sapiens touristus, pausing to take a photo of a pigeon. Fascinating.” It’s entertainment you don’t have to pay for, just a slightly overpriced cocktail as the entry fee.
Menu: Comfort Food for the Disorganised
The menu isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, which is exactly what you want when your brain is fried from a day of “culture” and tube delays. You’ll find the usual suspects: halloumi fries, burgers, and flatbreads that promise more than they deliver but still taste like a hug. I ordered a Caesar salad there once, and it had just the right amount of dressing, which in London, is a minor miracle.
And the drinks? Oh, the drinks. They have a whole page dedicated to “Gin & Tonic” which feels like a declaration of war on sobriety, but in a friendly, British way. My go-to is always the Elderflower Spritz, because it makes me feel fancy even though I’m wearing jeans that have definitely seen better days. It’s the kind of drink that says, “Yes, I am an adult. No, I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow.”
All Bar One Leicester Square | Pre-Theatre Drinks & Terrace Bar London
