A London food diary entry on the new Phileas Fogg-themed drinking den, why themed bars usually make her cringe, and the specific cocktail that changed her mind entirely
Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern has opened in Covent Garden this month, a new Victorian-inspired drinking den filled with curiosities pulled from the world of Phileas Fogg, and I went in fully prepared to roll my eyes at what I assumed would be a fairly naff themed bar experience, only to leave several hours later having genuinely enjoyed myself far more than my own cynicism had allowed for.
Why I Walked In Braced To Be Unimpressed
Themed bars have a specific reputation in this city for style considerably outpacing substance, all elaborate decor and disappointing drinks, and I’ve been burned by enough of these concept venues over the years to walk into any new one with my expectations firmly, deliberately lowered.
What Actually Won Me Over Within The First Twenty Minutes
The covered terrace had live performances running while we arrived, and the specific detail of the space, curiosities genuinely inspired by the adventurous explorer from Around the World in Eighty Days rather than a vague, generic Victorian aesthetic, made the whole concept feel considerably more thoughtfully assembled than I’d anticipated.
How The Food Menu Handled The Balance Between Concept And Actual Quality
Properly done pub classics, fish and chips that didn’t feel like an afterthought to the theming, with Sunday roasts apparently arriving come autumn, a menu choice that suggested the kitchen was taking the actual food as seriously as the surrounding curiosities.
What Specific Corner Of The Venue Actually Became My Favourite Spot For The Evening
One of the hidden booths tucked away from the main room, considerably quieter and more intimate than I’d expected from a venue clearly designed around spectacle, proving the space had genuine range beyond just its most Instagram-friendly corners.
Whether I’d Actually Recommend This To Someone Who Shares My Usual Skepticism About Themed Venues
Genuinely, yes, with the caveat that you go in prepared to actually engage with the concept rather than simply mock it from the sidelines. I arrived a cynic and left planning a second visit, which is not a sentence I expected to write about a Phileas Fogg-themed pub in Covent Garden.