Dirty Martini - Cocktail Bar in Bishopsgate — Restaurant in London

Do not visit if you want to have a good time. I gave it one star but would prefer to give it 0.5. The .5 is because it looks nice. The staff's attitude is atrocious. All of them except the bouncer who eventually had to be mean by default because all his colleagues were. Where to start. It was a colleague's leaving do and we were drinking at the pub across the street but was looking for somewhere with music. So got to the bar, the whole place was sparse, music dead, but it looked like a DJ was setting up. Waiting for someone to take our order, like I said it was empty not sure why had to wait. I saw an order receipt spike on our side of the counter. Due to health and safety training that I have, I saw the potential danger and moved it to the bar tenders side of the counter. The female bartender came back shortly not to take our order but to put it back on the customer side of the counter never before have I seen that. It's usually out of the reach of the potentially intoxicated individuals? I moved it again where it would be out of our reach and harder for her to observe it missing. They had two used martini glasses sitting on the counter top, seeing the group of us they didn't remove it, not sure why we met it there, they weren't busy. My colleague with long hair, flicked her hair, the glasses fell and break. Now they all rushed over to us, to clean up. They were upset we broke it, you can see it on their faces but again no one took our orders. Their lack of risk assessment and observance is very questionable, do they not get health and safety training? A place where a lot of incidents can surely happen?

The glass is now clean up and they sent a young guy over to us to take our order. He saw 10 of us and probably decided to wing it. Started taking orders and got confused then whipped out a phone and started taking orders again. He didn't take down a colleague's (the one the leaving do is for) order and forgot what it was mentally after the guy said it a few times. The bartender circles back to him and ask him again, he said I gave you already. The bartender retorts well I don't have it, so my colleague already annoyed from waiting said how is it you don't have it? The bartender not the smartest says, don't give me no attitude just give me your order. So I interjected he didn't give you an attitude why you take everyone else down and not his. A floor manager quickly maneuvers behind the bar and says what's going on. The bartender says he's giving me attitude, the stupid manager says if he is giving you attitude don't serve him. I said if he doesn't serve him he doesn't serve anyone of us we all will leave, we about to spend too much money in here to take this attitude. Before you know it, the only friendly person we met at the door (the bouncer) came behind us and asked what happened so I explained to him. He looked like he got our point but because he is working with these knobheads he has to not agree with us and take their side, we of course left because we weren't trying to have that, we wanted to have a good time. We all went over to Be-at-One just around the corner and had a lovely time with much better...

I advise anyone of colour to not go to this branch.

Doesn’t even deserve 1 Star and I wish I read all these reviews before I booked brunch here tbh.

We were seated at a table that was sticky and dirty which we didn’t realise until after she left and after waiting 10 minutes to find a staff to ask to clean it for us we decided to move to a different seat.

We were aggressively approached by the same member of staff who shouted, “Who told you you could move here” to which I replied “no one”, she then proceeded to say “Well you need to move back to where I sat you, you can’t just decide where you want to sit”. Without causing a scene me and my friend sat back on the table we were originally put on.

The service was extremely slow and no staff were seen other than the bartenders. The guests next to us had to keep on going up to the bar to ask for another drink, even though it is bottomless and the drinks should be free-flowing, giving the 90 minute time slot.

We attempted to get the waitresses attention again (the same one that was rude to us earlier) to order a drink to which she walk straight past and ignored us (the music was loud so I thought nothing of it at the time) so I tapped her elbow in an attempt to get her attention. She stopped and continued to take our order for another drink.

10 minutes later, another staff member came up to us and advised we were being kicked out by management for “Grabbing” a staff member. The same staff that was rude and aggressive to me and my friend throughout our whole visit has fabricated a story and got us removed.

The manager didn’t help the situation and when I asked him for a customer service number or email he refused to give any.

To add one last thing when I walking in the venue two black girls were walking out and told me this place is giving racist vibes and that I should go elsewhere. After my time here fully agree and my treatment was most definitely...

I did post a review that they asked of me via email but I might aswell double up on here. My first experience of this place and it was awful. Keep in mind I made a reservation well in advance for an “area” and was charged £50 for a “deposit” before I stepped foot in the place. Fair enough, I know some places charge for deposits and then it goes towards the final bill etc or you get it back if you turn up. Showed up, a minute until my booking time and bouncer gate-keeper man put his whole arm out told us we can’t go down to the bar because it’s too early and it’s currently “too busy”. Ten minutes in he tells us that the “area” is just being prepared for us but it’s not ready for us…. (We are a group of 4)…..Then proceeds to allow a group of people in and ignores us. It is now well past my booking time. What was the point of me making a booking if people are let in as walk ins?! What was the point of my £50 deposit??? Is this a deposit or entry fee?? Not made very clear when booking was made initially but I thought screw it - it’ll be a nice time.

We’re now cold and annoyed at how rude the door man was. Finally we get to go in, the whole place is not even half full!!! Where was this busy place the gate-keeper talked about?! Regardless, we get to our “area” which we’re two wobbly, sticky tables pushed together….. they made the “area” sound a bit better than what the reality was but whatever. Drinks were very slow, bar staff seemed to be in no rush at all. The drinks were okay, I feel like I’ve had better cocktails elsewhere in half the time…

Nothing great, overall a very, very average bar. I won’t be recommending this place and won’t be returning again. There are better places in London with better atmosphere and friendlier staff. Will be looking to get my £50 back too. Save your money...