Crazy Bear (bar)

After a late dinner at the authentic Barrica tapas bar just diagonally opposite on Goodge Street, it seemed almost natural to saunter across to Crazy Bear to have a drink and take in what I had read so much about in terms of its intriguing interior.

Crazy Bear on Whitfield Street (as opposed to the one in Covent Garden) has an almost deceptively quiet exterior, with only a single doorman outside to indicate that it was a venue at all. Once inside, you are enveloped by striking colours and leather bound Philippe Starke-esque decor as well as the beat of DJ-ed music emanating from the bar downstairs, which is where we headed as it approached midnight on this Saturday evening. We were faced with the availability of quite some choice seating areas, and settled into one of the comfortable leather bound benches (rather than the many hide-covered stools or the red leather cubby holes which we were told required reservation).

Though the crowd here lacks the sophistication or the nonchalant “je ne sais quoi” of say the Mayfair evening crowd, it reminded me briefly of Loulou's Club at the private member's venue “5 Hertford”. However after a few further minutes of ones eyes and ears familiarising with the lighting and sound, you realise that it does not quite get there. But thats not to say that it is not pleasant enough or not without its own vibe as it were, and so we proceeded to order our cocktails, which were to be honest “just ok” despite the barmen putting up a good show.

Perhaps one of the highlights of the evening was a visit to the loos which is “club design” through and through, and has one of those shared and look-through basin areas which connects the ladies to the gents. Go see it for yourself as I am sure my explanation may be insufficiently clear and make sure you not only wash your hands, but see how far you can reach (into the ladies as it were!).

And so despite various shortcomings, overall still a good effort, though as we left around 1am, it was only two thirds full. I hope for their sake this was just an anomaly on such a regular peak-time weekend evening, as I applaud Crazy Bear for striking a note of individuality and uniqueness on a few levels.

I've been there twice now, both for after work drinks and have been ‘greeted’ on the door by somebody jumping in front of me and blocking my path asking if I have a reservation. On being granted access to the hallowed basement I have received slow and pretentious service but served beautiful cocktails. Shame.

The decor looks like the harem headquaters of a Russian billionaire (not in a good way) and the toilets aren't amusing or clever, just ridiculous. The bar staff watched me go into the kitchen and then into the mens toilets without comment.

If you liked the toadstools at McDonalds when you were a kid you'll like their white pvc poufs that adorn the bar.

There are friendlier, classier and more customer focused places serving excellent cocktails in London which I feel valued and looked after in. There's no reason to return.