Phileas Fogg

“Monsieur is going to leave home?” “Yes,” returned Phileas Fogg. “We are going round the world.”

― Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days

 

Being an Urban Adventurer, I’m constantly on the hunt for the extraordinary, the jaw-dropping and the eccentric in London.

During my adventures I’ve visited the pinkest, the quirkiest, the weirdest and the smallest bars and cafés. Now I’ve found, and this is without doubt, the most adventurous bar series in town.

Mr Fogg’s have 6 Insta-worthy adventurous bars, each with different themes, inspired by Phileas Fogg’s incredible journey around the world.

The Inspiration

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

The concept behind Mr Fogg’s bars is Jules Verne’s famous novel, Around the World in 80 Days.

Each bar takes us to the theatrical world of Mr Fogg in the Victorian era, reflecting a stop of the adventurer’s journey.

The bars are stuffed with things Mr Fogg might collect during his journey. Maps and charts, flags and stuffed animals, old bicycles, bird cages, antique clocks and telescopes.

It’s not just the decoration that reflect Mr Fogg’s Victorian world. Each Mr Fogg’s venue offers different cocktail menu tailored to the bar’s specific theme helping you stepping into the novel’s pages and completely immerse into the fantasy novel.

 

 Mr Fogg’s Residence

“We are going round the world.”

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Mr Fogg’s Residence showcases a vast collection of rare artifacts and antiques he collected during his journeys in the farthest corners of the globe. Each item has an interesting and adventurous background and story about how Mr Fogg obtained it.

Even the ceiling is loaded with treasures such as old bicycles, bird cages once gave home to rare birds, paintings and a life size hot air balloon.

Mr Fogg’s Residence is really beyond the law and physics.

 

Adventurous Fact

• In 2017, Mr Fogg’s sent the first bottled cocktail to the space. The bottle was sent to 27km high above the surface and was exposed to temperatures as low as -57 Celsius. Upon its arrival back to Earth, the cocktail flavoured a limited-edition drink in Mr Fogg’s Residence. The cocktail was named as ‘From The Earth to The Stars’ after another famous novel from Jules Verne. Only 50 of out-of-this-world cocktail creation was available, each costing £25. The lucky drinkers got a certificate with their order, announcing that they’d drunk something supernal. And how the celestial cocktail tasted? Well, imagine a perfect blend of superterrestrial bitter, campari, gin, lavender, grapefruit peels, orange peel, lemon peel, fresh chamomile and angelica root. Mmmmm…exquisite.

• Instead of removing furniture, they have implemented social distancing by sitting Victorian-style mannequins to their tables. The idea helps maintaining the safe social distance while adding to the fun atmosphere instead of taking from it

Mr Fogg’s Tavern

“But what then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey? Nothing, say you? Perhaps so;…Truly, would you not for less than that go around the world?”

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Mr Fogg’s Tavern lies in the heart of London’s famous theatre district and transports you to a traditional Victorian pub. The waiters and waitresses are dressed and act as if they were from the Victorian era and to enhance the experience, the ceiling is enwrapped with eccentric memorabilia from all over the globe.

Robust wooden tables and benches are waiting for the tired travellers to quench their thirst with a pint of draught beer or one of the Landlady Fanny McGee’s famous juicy punches.

Adventurous Fact

• Mr Fogg’s Tavern is not just a tavern. It’s a heaven for art and theatre lovers

 

Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour

“Phileas Fogg took a chair, and sat down near the fireplace, opposite Aouda. No emotion was visible on his face. Fogg returned was exactly the Fogg who had gone away; there was the same calm, the same impassibility.”

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour is a hidden hunter-themed room upstairs within Mr Fogg’s Tavern. The Gin Parlour is a tiny yet cozy hideaway with vintage upholstered seats, a fireplace, chinoiserie wallpaper and an exquisite collection of gins, tonics and botanicals.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

I loved the idea of Victorian hats being left all around the bar waiting for visitors to try them on and take photos while wearing them.

The bar is really a hidden gem and the cocktails are beautifully presented and delicious.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Adventurous Facts

• The Gin Parlour has over 230 gins to choose from, some of which are rare from different corners of the globe
• The Gin Parlour runs ‘Gin Safari’ experience where you can not only taste Gins from different parts the world, but also learn all the ins and outs of Gin, botanicals and tonics. Plus, the safari includes tasty treats, such as cheese platter, platter of cured meats and olives (vegan options also available)

Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals

“I see that it is by no means useless to travel, if a man wants to see something new”

 

House of Botanicals is an exotic tropical paradise. Lots of greenery everywhere and a beautiful, dreamy floral spiral staircase.

The venue really looks like a botanical garden and the cocktails had carefully been designed around the theme of the venue. A perfect escape from the busy city life.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

We ordered a ‘Miss North’s Pitcher Plant’ and a ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ to start. ‘Miss North’s Pitcher Plant’ stylishly came in an oh-so-Instagrammable pitcher plant shaped glass (Wow!).

Photo: Urban Adventurer

‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ came in a cool silver goblet and was decorated beautifully. Both cocktails were amazing. Their tastes were in perfect balance.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

The second round was a ‘Kooh-I-Noor’ and ‘An Unexpected Beginning’. Both the presentation and the taste absolutely fit the venue’s unique atmosphere.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

The staff was the loveliest we could imagine. The bartenders even posed me for a photo.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take photos upstairs because it was full, and due to Coronavirus, nobody was allowed to go upstairs unless their booking was for there.

It’s understandable in the current situation. Next time 🙂

Adventurous Fact

• House of Botanicals’ staff wore beekeeping suites to provide a quirky PPE solution when re-opening their suite after the first lockdown. Learn more about Mr Fogg’s nailed social distancing in thier venues here

 

Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration

“It’s really useful to travel, if you want to see new things.”

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Society of Exploration is just a stone-throw away from the bustling Charing Cross station, and it’s a sanctuary for the likeminded and the curious.

The bar celebrates the revolution of innovation, travel and Victorian mechanics. The venue is split into three extraordinary rooms:

The Map Room, which is an impressive collection of antique maps, travel books and other souvenir from the farthest corners of the planet.

The life-sized Victorian train carriage that provides an intimate place for banquets and other events. Its rustic leather seating, antique brass lamps and large windows overlooking the bar provide the perfect place for an intimate gathering.

The bar area’s decoration is rich and eccentric. The walls are covered with wood panels, providing a backdrop for a collection of antique barometers, oil paintings, trophies and other artefacts.

Adventurous Facts

• In 2019 Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration launched a viral video campaign. It was advertising the most adventurous dream job one can imagine.

The successful applicants would travel the globe in 80 days (or less) to collect the most unique and diverse ingredients for cocktails while all expenses covered.  The video quickly gained media attention worldwide, received more than 10,000 (!) applicants and even the famous actor Ryan Reynolds wanted to apply.

• Society of Exploration is home to Mr Fogg’s incomparable Mechanical Mixologist. It’s the world-first automated cocktail making machine, a revolutionary invention making you the finest ice-cold Negroni at the touch of a button.

The machine automatically puts an ice cube into the glass then rotates a wheel of ingredients to mix and pour them into the glass before serving it on a conveyor belt

 

Mrs Fogg’s Dockside Drinkery & Distillery

“Mr. Fogg … would you like both a relative and a friend? Would you like to have me as your wife?”

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Ahoy sailors, seadogs, pirates and stowaways! No dry throats here. Anchor your boat and have an ice-cold draught beer, a punch or wine in this restless and bustling Victorian-style bar at the East End.

In Mrs Fogg’s Dockside Drinkery & Distillery you’ll feel like you were on an adventure on sea.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Once boarded on the ship you will either be seated in the bar area upstairs or the life-sized Rangoon Steamer, equipped its very own bar, providing a VIP travelling experience.

Below deck is where the crew rest and stowaways hide. It’s a richly decorated speakeasy style bar.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

In the Engine Room you can sit within chopper pipes and dials and switches.

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Dockside Drinkery & Distillery offers two course brunch, two course brunch with free-flowing pink prosecco, Mrs Fogg’s Pink Gin Cruise or Gin Adventure. Cheers!

Adventurous Fact

• You can witness a full functioning distillery in the Engine Room
• The staff is dressed like ship crew

 

Ready for your next adventure? Why not visit the elegant Churchill Bar and Terrace? Did you know that the Churchill Bar and Terrace have been given the blessing of Churchill’s extended family? The Churchill family also contributed to the bar’s décor.