A speakeasy, which is easily found with great drinks: The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town @ The Breakfast Club (11. November 2023)
The thing I truly dislike about speak easys today is the fact that you really have to book in advance, and it’s very public. I mean, back in 2016, when I visited my first speak easy, it was really a well hidden place, where you would not get in if you didn’t know. Nowadays, you have to pre-book, there is a bouncer, you don’t get in without a reservation. It just really kind of kills the charm of the whole speak easy experience. In any case, The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town is a nice place, as the entrance to the bar is through the fridge door. But, again, make sure you book in advance and that you’re on time.
To try the selectino of different drinks they offer, I decided to start with the “Wild Thing (wild berry tea infused with Zubrowka Vodka, Liquore Strega, homemade strawberry & balsamic shrub, pomegranate juice, sour cherry sherbet, lemon & fresh thyme)” (GBP 15.00), which was nicely refreshing and inviting.
The “Mayor’s Tea Party (Earl Grey infused Tanqueray 10 Gin, Rin Quin Quin peach vermouth, homemade lavender syrup, lemon, grapefruit bitters)” (GBP 12.00) was lovely since it really didn’t look like a cocktail, but you felt like you’re partaking in a tea party, which felt just somewhat cool. On top of that, the drink was absolutely enjoyable.
The “Vanilla Kiss (Ketel One Vodka, Liquore Streta, apricot jam, lemon, vanilla, basil & prosecco)” (GBP 14.00) was – to me – the most disappointing drink that evening. I mean, it was not only messy to drink, but in terms of flavour profile, I found it relatively bland (compared to the previously tried drinks).
The “Cinema Paradiso (Ketel One Vodka, homemade popcorn & caramel syrup, lemon, topped with Fevertree ginger beer)” (GBP 15.00) was good in terms of drink, but – personally – I wouldn’t have needed the pop corn (as I’m personally not a big fan of pop corn anyway).
Given I was quite hungry after a whole day of cooking and the lunch food had already ‘evaporated’, I went for “Corn Ribs (deep-fried corn wedges coated in American spice mix served with a chipotle mayo)” (GBP 8.00), which were absolutely delicious. As a corn lover, it was just exquisite. A bit annoying, messy, and hard to eat and basically impossible to eat it without getting your hands greasy, but other than that, it was quite perfect.
The “harissa cheese fries” (GBP 5.00) on the other hand were just about okay.
What I like is the attention to detail – the first page of the menu is the “rule book” of the bar. Read through it yourself.
And once you spend a bit of time looking at the bar (where I was seated), you will spot the little cat knick-knacks and cat dolls in all areas of the bar. So, the theme is quite strong.
The interior is okay, but not really that memorable. Sure, it’s a nice bar, but it strongly lives off the entrance (through the fridge door) and the quality of the drinks.
Once you leave the place, you get out through one of the doors, which is an exit door of the toilets. This actually makes a lot of sense, since you’re trying to keep the entrance hidden.
From the outside, you wouldn’t expect that there is a speak easy in The Breakfast Club – but I suppose that’s the point.
All in all, the place is nice – the drinks are great, and the secret passage is quite exciting (if it’s your first speak easy). However, when it comes to the interior of the bar, I found it relatively disappointing. All in all, The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town is worth a visit, but is not a place where I would stay for hours.
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Contact Details:
The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town @ The Breakfast Club
12-16 Artillery Ln
E1 7LS London (UK)
Tel.: +44 20 70 78 96 39
Homepage: https://thebreakfastclubcafes.com/the-mayor-of-scaredy-cat-town/
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
