From the lavish décor and great drinks to the good music, Green Carnation is full of decadent pleasure. And it’s all in done in honour of the most famous hedonist of all time, Oscar Wilde.

The Venue
Spread over three floors, including a lounge bar, dance floor and snug cellar, Green Carnation reminds you of a high-profile members’ club, without the strict membership policy. Decadence is the aesthetic of choice and it has to be this way as Green Carnation has strong ties with Oscar Wilde, whose witty mottos are emblazoned in gold on the walls. Even the name of the venue comes from a scandalous volume published about Wilde’s licentious gay life. The lavish décor is a velvety take on Victorian grandeur: flocked wallpaper and damask upholstery in black, burgundy and green coats the walls, round couches, chairs, and even the low tables. The first floor bar also has beautiful wooden paneling adding to the 19th century illusion.

The Atmosphere
Oscar Wilde may have spent his life pursuing pleasure, but Green Carnation is less hedonistic and licentious than the author would have liked. At weekends, the upstairs bar is so busy you can hardly turn around but the atmosphere remains friendly. The dance floor, despite the good music, is less popular and so is the basement and its cellar rooms. The crowd, which is predictably gay-friendly without marking Green Carnation as a gay bar, is the upper-end of the Soho crowd: most people are in the early thirties, well dressed and keen to spend, although the venue remains non-judgmental and open to all.

The Music
Live DJs spin beside the dance floor and the party-mix is good although the crowd may or may not dance depending on the night. The volume is particularly loud, even in the basement, which is why most people prefer the upstairs lounge with its more chilled, sexier tunes.

The Drink
The menu is very comprehensive and there are plenty of people with a pint of beer (£3.50-£4), although you may think that everyone orders cocktails (£7.50). From this list you can pick from many classics, clever twists (think lavender martini) and some of their owns, including the daring Jackaretto (whisky, lemon juice, Amaretto and cola). Out of the champagne cocktails (£8.50), the Champagne Cooler (Hennessy, Cointreau and Moet with mint), sounds particularly attractive but the final flavour is less than the sum of its premium parts. There are also sixteen bottles of wine (£15-£28.50) and no less than thirteen champagnes are available (£42-£225)

The Last Word
In equal measures opulent, decadent and hedonistic, Green Carnation has all the elements needed for an indulgent night out in Soho.

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