Rake’s Café Bar — Restaurant in London

Rake’s cocktail bar in Liverpool Street opened to the public on 1 June 2018 offering a day to night bar and restaurant. The back story and concept of Rake’s is really rather interesting. A Rake’s Progress is a series of eight paintings by William Hogarth which shows the decline and fall of Tom Rakewell. Who is Mr Rakewell I hear you ask? Well, he was the son and heir of a rich merchant who came to London, wasted all of his money on luxurious living and gambling, was imprisoned and ultimately ended up in a mental institution.

The walls of Rake’s are covered with contemporary art paintings illustrating the new “Rake’s Progress”. They are meant to depict an individualistic outlook to life, which I am a big fan of.

The cocktails take inspiration from, and are named after, the world famous series of 8 paintings. Much like the modern day Rake, these cocktails are crafted with fine ingredients and expertly mixed.

We had cocktails in The Front Room, which is the main café bar area with a gorgeous pergola space. The separate Parlour Room has a soft pink decor and is a gorgeous lounge area to relax.

As it was lunch time we sampled a couple of the non-alcoholic cocktails. We loved the ‘DID’ with seed lip spice, peach, lime, sugar, chives, ginger ale which was so refreshing. The Amuse Goose (loved the name!) is another good choice with gooseberry syrup, rose cordial, mint, elderflower tonic.

We obviously had to try one of the alcoholic cocktails, particularly with names including ‘The Orgy’ and ‘The Arrest’ and opted for The Mad House: Fennel, orange & red pepper vodka, kummel, verjuice, agave, chilli, egg white. The name was certainly depicted in the cocktail which has vibrant colours swarmed over the top. We were a little concerned that the cocktail might be a little spicy but it was spot on.

With great cocktail bars, you do not always get great food. Luckily for us, Rake’s is an exception. There is a great variety of smaller and larger plates with influences from around the world.

From the smaller plates, we sampled a number of dishes. The Broccoli & Chickpea fritters, achari yoghurt and Sriracha sesame cauliflower wings were both impressive vegetarian dishes. However, our favourite veggie small plate was the Muhammara, beetroot hummus and baba ghanoush, artesian crackers. The dips were amazing and we loved the Muhammara spice (red pepper).

We also LOVED the Corn Fed Chicken & Chorizo Croquettes, saffron aioli. They were literally melt in your mouth good and made you want more. The only smaller dish that slightly disappointed was the Burrata, smashed peas, mint and lemon. It was not creamy enough for me and lacked flavour.

From the larger plates we tried the Loaded Potato Skins filled with red lentil dhal, tahini sauce, and pomegranate and mint slaw. It was an impressive and inventive dish.

Rake’s Café Bar in Liverpool Street is a welcoming and classy venue offering great cocktails and food. We loved the story behind Rake’s and the inspiration for the...

Racially Discriminated. I wish I could give this place no stars!!!

On Arriving my partner and I were ignored and not seated until we asked for help, which i assumed was due to short staff or a busy night. ( Friday) Then when we were eventually seated, we ordered two glasses of prosecco and we were abruptly asked to pay immediately to clear the bill, which was a tad strange as we were also going to order food but didnt get the chance. Then a white couple came and sat at a table near us and ordered drinks but they were not asked to pay. I then asked the waiter why we were asked to pay on ordering our drinks and before our drinks had even arrived at our table. Which he said it was the general policy, but because I had witnessed that the white couple hadn't paid, I asked to speak to the manager who came over and confirmed that 'The policy' was in fact accurately done by his staff. So I explained to the manager that I witnessed the other couple at the other table not paying and recieving their drink and not paying. The manager assured me that the couple had indeed paid and that I was wrong to be offened and to jump to racial conclusions. I explained to him that I had witnessed them not paying and if I were to ask them if they paid would his policy still hold weight. He assured me they had paid again. I asked the couple who had slightly over heard the issuse and they confirmed my assumptions that they had not indeed paid and to make matters worse they informed me that they had actually been seated at a different table but the gentlemans wife felt cold so they had moved tables and they were 4drink in two each and they had not been given any bill to clear. Understandably and supportivly they were disgusting at our treatment. The manager immediately apologised and attempted to refund the bill with small note (six £5 note and coins) which was a further disbelieving insult. I refused to accept the money and he went back to his till to find larger notes.

Absolute horrible experience as we live in the area and were frequently at the 'Champagne bar' the establishment it used to be.

Never going there again. And if you are of colour save your money for somewhere where you will be treated equally. Rakes Cafe Bar - You should be ashamed...

Here are some great compliments specifically for a café, whether you're writing a review, giving feedback in person, or posting on social media. I’ve included both general compliments and some that work especially well for Pakistani-style cafés.

🔹 English Café Compliments:

"Such a cozy and inviting atmosphere – perfect place to relax!"

"The chai/coffee was brewed to perfection – rich and comforting."

"This café has the perfect blend of great ambiance and delicious food."

"Every detail, from the decor to the service, is done with love."

"The desserts here are heavenly – I could eat them every day!"

"Incredible hospitality – makes you want to stay longer!"

"A hidden gem! Authentic taste with a modern vibe."

"The vibe here is unmatched – it’s my new favorite spot!"

"Whether it's a quick cup or a long chat, this café never disappoints."

"From chai to cheesecake – everything here hits the spot!"

🔹 For a Pakistani Café Specifically:

"The doodh patti here tastes just like it’s from a dhaba in Lahore!"

"Loved the fusion of traditional Pakistani flavors with a modern café feel."

"Pakistani hospitality in a café setting – absolutely loved it!"

"Finally a place where chai feels like an experience, not just a drink."

"The paratha rolls and chai combo – 10/10!"

🔹 In Urdu (with transliteration):

"Is café ka mahaul bohot sukoon da hai." (The atmosphere of this café is very peaceful.)

"Chai ka taste lajawab tha!" (The taste of the chai was incredible!)

"Yahan ka khidmat ka tareeqa dil jeet leta hai." (The way they serve here wins hearts.)

"Meetha bhi zabardast tha, chai bhi zabardast!" (The dessert was amazing, and so was the chai!)

"Aisi jagah ho tou banda har roz aay!" (If every place was like this, I’d come every day!)

Would you like me to tailor a compliment for a specific café name or a type of menu (e.g., desi breakfast, modern fusion,...