Apartment 195

Apartment 195 hides above the King's Road at numbers 195 to 197, reached by pressing a buzzer and climbing a flight of stairs. At the top is a lounge bar with damson walls, rosewood, an open fireplace and a six metre burnished copper bar running through the centre. For Chelsea, it is an unusually low key room, and that is the appeal.

This is a bar for a date or a small group who want to feel like they found something. The buzzer entry keeps it quiet, the leather sofas keep it comfortable, and the cocktail list keeps it interesting. If you want a loud King's Road scene, walk on. If you want a hidden first drink, ring the bell.

The bar splits into two areas, the Lounge Bar and the Salon, with Victorian bay windows, chocolate leather sofas and slate tables. Time Out sums up the look as Vivienne Westwood meeting a laid back gentlemen's club, which fits the deep colours and the copper centrepiece. It is built for settling in rather than standing at the bar.

The King's Road setting adds to the draw. Chelsea's main artery is better known for its shops and its crowds than its hidden rooms, so a buzzer entry bar above the street feels like a real find. Regulars treat it as a reliable alternative to the louder ground floor venues that line the same stretch.

The list runs contemporary cocktails, but the bar is best known for its mojitos, which regulars have called legendary for years. The showpiece serve is the Crown Jewels, a glass of honey sweetened rare cognac topped with vintage champagne. There is also a long wine list for the Salon. Start with a mojito, then move to the Crown Jewels if you want the bar's signature flourish.

A Chelsea crowd fills the room, skewing toward couples and small groups who want a quieter night than the King's Road usually offers. It lifts on Thursday through Saturday, when the Salon books up. The dress is smart casual and the mood is relaxed.

Find more nearby in our London cocktail bars guide and the London bar guide. For a Chelsea and beyond crawl, pair Apartment 195 with Dukes Bar in St James's, the Connaught Bar in Mayfair, or Gordon's Wine Bar in Embankment. On the move, use our cocktail bars near me hub.