4 Carlisle Street,
Soho,
London,
W1D 3BJ
(020) 7287 5041
The ViewLondon Review
Seemingly exclusive, Candy Bar may be slightly daunting at first. Pass the entrance and you will find that this secluded little
niche is not only one of the capital’s leading lesbian bars but also a great environment for a relaxed afternoon as well as a party
night.
The Venue
Fresh from a recent revamp, the décor at Candy Bar may have changed slightly but things have remained essentially the same: the
diminutive entrance still exudes private club vibes but once you are in, you become part of the group. Spread over three floors, the
ground
floor is normally where the action is as the long bar is definitely where most people
congregate. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth exploring the other floors: upstairs, there is
a comfy seating area with large couches, while the basement is a lively club area. The
most obvious change, though, is that the hot pink décor has been replaced by a stylish
black, visible on the upholstery as well as the on-trend floral wallpaper.
The Atmosphere
Candy Bar acts as a true safe haven for the Soho lesbian community. Open from 1pm
daily, this place is ideal for a relaxed afternoon drink away from the crowd and the
atmosphere can remain quiet until 8pm on weekends, even when other bars have picked
up pace. Once it fills up, though, Candy Bar becomes vibrant and loud, especially right
before the true action kicks in when the dance floors opens. Open till 4am on selected nights, the week is packed with regular music
nights, spanning everything from indie to charts hits, and there is karaoke on Wednesday (possibly explaining the large TV upstairs
and the odd music videos flowing from it) and a social on Sundays.
The Drink
The drink list strikes as pretty standard: it fulfills most unpretentious palates, but do not expect anything particularly exciting.
The female bartenders shake a few classic cocktails (£6.50), think: mojito, cosmopolitan, long island iced tea, sex on the beach,
martini and a few others. The wine list offers 13 bottles, all cheaply priced between £13 and £24, with glasses a mere £4.10-£4.60
for a small or £5.10-£5.80 for a large. Beer is popular amongst regulars and there are a few options on draught (£3.60-£4.10) as well as in bottles (£3.70-£3.80). The selection of bubbles is particularly good, revealing the part-time party nature of Candy Bar: pick from six
bottles fairly prices at £22-£60. Finally, if you need an extra kick, you can opt for the spirits and liqueurs: £2.60-£3.30 for a
single or £5.20-£7.70 for a double.
The Last Word
Discreet, welcoming and private, Candy Bar is a great cocoon for the lesbian population of Soho. Its only fault is that it’s not a bit more
adventurous with its drink selection. Such a sweet spot deserves options with more personality.