Not bad but nothing special: Ad Lib is a cocktail bar missing a spark but is decent enough for a drink or two, especially if you are into Merlins Energy Source.

The Venue
Just past the entry, in the first of the two rooms, soft lights, low couches, and leather bean bags can be found. Yet the decor of Ad Lib fails to impress: basic as it is, it delivers the feeling it has been designed by the eager wife of the owner and the end result is not as striking as any space laid out by a professional. The back room is furnished with dark brown high tables and chairs, matching with the latte paint on the walls. At the very back, the bar looks significantly more serious and it appears to be well stocked of everything.

The Atmosphere
Open only until 11pm any day of the week (closed on Sunday), Ad Lib works as a pre-drinking bar before you roll on to a real night out in Chelsea. They operate a happy hour, which helps to bring in customers, but it can still be fairly deserted during week days. The crowd of regulars is composed mainly of thirtysomething locals looking for a more interesting experience than that of a beer in a pub, but the place remains unfussy. The furnishing wants to deliver a lounge vibe but the music is often wrongly picked: luckily, a DJ is on duty at the weekends.

The Drink
Surprisingly, the drinks menu is quite short. Beers are all priced at £3.50 and you can choose from San Miguel, Cobra, Corona, Hoegaarden and others - draught or bottled. A dozen wines are also stocked, slightly expensive at £5-£6 per glass or £13-£34 per bottle.

Most patrons, however, are here for the cocktails but there aren’t that many on offer so Ad Lib does not really classify as a cocktail bar. The few daiquiris are priced at £7 while the house specialty seems to be Merlins Energy Source (natural energy drink with ginseng and guarana) mixed with anything possible (£7.50). Choose between Merlins Mojito, Merlins Classic (VSOP Cognac, Brown sugar, angostura bitter, Merlins Energy Source), Old Wizard (bourbon, sugar syrup, angostura bitters and Merlins Energy Souce) and other Merlin-related mixes. There are also a few classic shots available at £3.50. The positive note is that during happy hours the cocktails are cheap, as are the house wines and prosecco.

The Last Word
Not worth a dedicated trip, Ad Lib is still good for a quick cocktail in Chelsea - especially if you are not planning to stick around for long.

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