Two hundred gins is not a gimmick when the staff can actually navigate them. Mr Fogg's Gin Parlour turns the long list into a guided tour rather than a wall of bottles.
Mr Fogg's Gin Parlour sits at 1 New Row, a short walk from Leicester Square in Covent Garden. It is part of the Mr Fogg's group, the chain of Victorian adventure-themed bars built around the fictional globe-trotter Phileas Fogg, and the Parlour is the one that puts gin at the centre. Covent Garden's own directory lists it among the area's destination bars, and the theming is committed rather than half-hearted.
The headline number is the gin list. The bar stocks more than 200 gins, from supermarket-familiar names to rare and small-batch bottles, and builds its drinks around them. Square Meal covers the Parlour as a gin specialist within the group, and the cocktail menu leans into that depth with house serves and a strong run of classics.
The room
The Parlour plays the Victorian drawing-room card hard, all dark wood, antique clutter, framed prints and warm low light. It is theatrical without tipping into theme-park, and the detailing rewards a second look. The space suits leaning in close as much as a stand-up crowd, and the staff stay in character just enough to carry the conceit. It is one of the more atmospheric gin rooms in central London.
What to order
Start with a guided gin and tonic, naming a flavour you like and letting the staff pull from the 200-plus shelf to match it; this is the fastest way to use the range. Second, order a house cocktail off the themed menu, where the Parlour's gin focus shows in the build. Third, take a classic done properly, a Martini or a Negroni, to judge the bar on fundamentals rather than spectacle. Pricing sits at central-London cocktail level, fair for the depth of stock and the setting.
For where it sits in the wider city, see our guide to the best cocktail bars and the rest of the field in our London cocktail bar collection.
Who it is for
It is for gin drinkers who want range and for visitors who want a bar with a story. Couples get an atmospheric date room, and groups get a memorable central stop before or after the theatre. It works for anyone near Covent Garden who wants more than a standard pub gin. It is less suited to drinkers chasing a minimalist, modern cocktail den, since the charm here is the period dress-up. For more nearby options, our London bar guide covers the surrounding streets.
Best time to go
Aim for the early-evening window on a weekday, when the room is full of character but not yet packed and the staff can spend time on your gin choice. Friday and Saturday run late, to 1am, and fill with the West End crowd, so book ahead for a weekend table. Sunday is the calmest sitting, closing at 10pm, which suits an unhurried tasting.
Sources: Mr Fogg's official site (mr-foggs.com); Covent Garden directory; Square Meal; Visit London. Address and hours verified June 2026.
