Sapphire Lounge

I stopped in for some lunch but decided to just have my beer and go elsewhere. Service was fair, beer selection was pretty good, but not the best. No pianist while I was there — they had Neil Young and others on the overhead speakers. One TV screen in the bar area. Ambiance not really inviting or anything else. It wasn’t cozy, wasn’t chic, wasn’t local pub-​ish, wasn’t sports bar, wasn’t much of anything. Next time I’ll walk on past unless I’m really thirsty.

This is a cute little lounge bar, literally opposite Victoria Station main entrance, underneath the Shakespeare pub. The entrance is hidden round the side of the Shakespeare, down an almost secret door and consequently going in feels like discovering a new world.
So the clue as to what this place is like is in the name; it’s like an old American lounge bar, with a pianist tinkering the ivories whilst you enjoy your wine. You expect a glam singer with gloves to the elbow to drape herself across the piano and start singing in husky, smokey tones.
There’s a corridor that flanks the main bar area that’s full caves and caverns that you can sit in; it’s fantastic if you’re there with a group and manage to perch in one of these basically private ‘holes’. There’s also a lot of tables around the bar (and piano), so seating is plentiful. A great antidote to the multitude of pubs around Victoria, if for some reason you find yourself delayed, or just fancy a drink with a difference, Sapphire Lounge is a safe bet.