House of Wolf

I had heard good things about this place - apparently it used to have a really cool cocktail bar upstairs. The menu has changed, but the cocktails are still pretty good. The bartender upstairs is pretty unfriendly which is a bit off-putting. He didn't seem too keen on explaining the cocktails, which read moreI had heard good things about this place - apparently it used to have a really cool cocktail bar upstairs. The menu has changed, but the cocktails are still pretty good. The bartender upstairs is pretty unfriendly which is a bit off-putting. He didn't seem too keen on explaining the cocktails, which are listed on a blackboard, but with no info on ingredients. A bit like getting blood from a stone asking what they contain! The staff in the main bar downstairs are great though, and they often have live music on a Wednesday. Definitely one of the better Upper St. bars.

There had been so much online hype around the opening of this new experimental restaurant and bar that I was intrigued whether it would live up to expectations. After an evening of eating and drinking at House of Wolf, I can say that whilst I wasn't completely blown away, I certainly wasn't disappoi read moreThere had been so much online hype around the opening of this new experimental restaurant and bar that I was intrigued whether it would live up to expectations. After an evening of eating and drinking at House of Wolf, I can say that whilst I wasn't completely blown away, I certainly wasn't disappointed by any means. This month's resident chef Caroline Hobkinson served up a meal focused on the senses, which meant inserting earplugs and donning blindfolds for various dishes. I wasn't too keen on bobbing around for my bread hanging on a string above the table, but some of the other courses really were impressive (and fun!) and Caroline herself came out to explain some of the thinking behind her meal which was a nice touch. If you're a serious foodie, you may be underwhelmed, but the thinking behind House of Wolf is clearly a lot of style to go with the substance - it's not just about what you're eating but how you eat it! That said, I was quite surprised by the decor of the restaurant - it's a lot lighter than I imagined and the lights could have done with being turned down a notch to provide a more intriguing atmosphere. For drinks after dinner, we managed to squeeze ourselves into the private Victorian fainting room which is nestled behind a secret door in the Apothecary bar. Decorated with naughty pictures and a bizarre mechanism on the wall, it's well worth a peek if you can find it! The cocktails were very tasty too - and at £8.50 they were much less expensive than I thought they'd be. All three floors of House of Wolf are a shrine to decadent frivolity; if you're looking for something fun and different, you should definitely check it out.

Uh Oh. Hands down, one of the worst nights out I've had in London. Ever. Aside from the lovely, trendy ambiance, there is literally nothing good about House of Wolf. Conceptually it's a cool idea - a converted mansion, with each floor having it's own unique decor, flare and theme. However it's p read moreUh Oh. Hands down, one of the worst nights out I've had in London. Ever. Aside from the lovely, trendy ambiance, there is literally nothing good about House of Wolf. Conceptually it's a cool idea - a converted mansion, with each floor having it's own unique decor, flare and theme. However it's practically impossible to get a table, even with a reservation. The service is abysmal - our barman was really drunk and made cocktails (£12 cocktails at that) that were literally unpalatable. It took nearly an hour to have our drinks delivered and then another hour to pay for them. By midnight they were trying to clear out the place. A horrific evening. Just don't go.