The Zoo Bar & Club

Was the best bar we visited in London — 50% off all drinks? yesssssssssssssss please? they do this offer during happy hour, which believe me is far from an hour ! goes on for hours ! and they dont skimp on the drinks just cause they are half price ! you get the full wopper real deal. all shots. fab cocktails… all beers. all spirits. champagne etc etc … now probs not one English person in sight, tourist galore ! but dya care when the drinks are durt cheap? and because of same, the atmosphere is only buzzing !! love love highly recommended !. do not come here if your looking for a quiet one, its a place groups of hens and stags are attracted to

This review is based solely on the club — I came here with a group of 6 on a Monday evening and we paid a 5-​pound cover. Even though it was Monday, the club (downstairs from the bar) was pretty packed. There were 4 or 5 bartenders, and they were super busy. Granted, there was a special where a double-​shot drink with a mixer was 3.70, and a number of other drinks (such as a few pints) were also 3.70, so this may have contributed to the packed bar.
The venue is relatively nice, with tables in a secluded side room, well-​maintained bathrooms, and a few elevated dance areas as well. The male to female ratio was skewed, as my female friends and I friends were constantly hit on by men throughout the night. That was fine, but it was difficult to just enjoy the evening by dancing with friends, esp. with random dudes who show up dancing behind you.
Tl;dr — decent drinks and venue, questionable people.

Hmm… Zoo Bar, it’s hard to know what to say about it. I want to hate it so much. It’s lacking in beauty, it’s a bit dark and sticky, and there are quite a lot of sleazy guys. (Not too much bother as a straight guy myself, but annoying when they start hassling the women I’m with).
However, it’s in an extremely convenient location, it’s incredibly cheap, and if you don’t mind the very uninspiring music selection (Whatever is popular on the radio, pretty much), you can easily have a very good night here on a budget. Monday — Thursdays are £3.75 for a double + mixer.
It’s not a place you should come and stay sober. Go in, give in to the fact that it’s not the classiest place you’ll ever visit, and down some drinks. Then down some more. The music will become better, the patrons suddenly eloquent, and I’ve enjoyed almost every night out here.
The smoking area outside is a particularly interesting place, with people from all over the world chatting, drinking, smoking and having fun. I’ve met so many fun people numerous times, and this completely redeems Zoo Bar in my eyes.
I’ve never had an issue with the staff, although they do employ toilet attendants who really like to make you feel guilty for not wanting to give them a pound for passing you a piece of tissue to dry your hands…
I prefer the slightly less chaotic atmosphere during the week. Weekends can be a little crowded and hellish.
Sober, the place starts off as a 1star, and easily bumps up to a 4 star with a group of good friends and a number of drunks later. I’ll round it off with a 3 total, because I’m usually a little toasty before I even enter the doors…

The most awful pub in London! Security guys are so RUDE. And don’t recommend to go there to anyone.

It’s in Leicester Square, it’s touristy, and it has happy hour til 9pm. If I’m honest, not my first place for a night out. Or second, or probably top ten… or twenty… but it wasn’t my decision. That said, a couple of good brews on tap (although you need to go to Zoo Too next door for them) and decent enough mixed drinks (you’d be surprised just how many places get it so, so wrong…). Went on a Friday night and it was £5 entry which got you a free half of Stella. Upstairs was packed but downstairs was quiet enough, with different music on the sound system. Chairs and sofas were a little worn for wear with holes in the leather.
As the evening went on, it got more packed, lots of lads and ladies dressed for a night out on the town. We stuck to our reserved tables, not venturing onto the dance floor until the birthday girl finally called it a night, not wanting to be too drunk/​hungover for a wedding the next day.
Coming out, couldn’t fault it for the location, being in Leicester Square, plenty of travel options making it quick and easy to get home.
All in all, come in expecting a touristy nightclub and you won’t be disappointed. If you want somewhere a little more refined or swanky, this isn’t for you!

Went a few weeks back and have to say the crowd was a little less to be desired. The drink prices were fair and the door staff were really friendly and got in without waiting in a line. The music was good but had an OK time even though the girls in the club were not all that attractive. I might be willing to give this place another try because of the fact that this place was in a tourist area and seemed like it might have been an off night. It was packed though and I will give it three stars because of the fact that the staff was friendly and the drinks were reasonably priced.

Good music and fun crowd… touristy but cool.

This place is on point. It was our second to last stop on our pub crawl but we ended up coming back here because it was so much fun! Definitely the perfect mix between a bar and a club– DJ was spitting out house/​edm/​top40/​hiphop. Stripper poles inside and platforms for dancing. A really touristy bar in Leicester Square.
Security guards inside and the bouncers are INCREDIBLY rude. Put a bit of a damper on what was an awesome night.

Security guards are animals — Stay away from Zoo bar!
I would not recommend this place. The club needs to be closed down as soon as possible.
Not Recommended at all for tourist and all Greatest Transgender! & For all the Qualified people, Please Avoids, Please.
Please do not go to this club for you own safety. There are loads of betters clubs out there.

This place packed like a zoo when we went in and it wasn’t even that late, like 1030 or so, but it was a Friday night. Came here with a pub crawl from the youth crowd, we were let in without cover and no problems with the lines at all. Once we were let in it was hot, it was cold outside but it was hot, like shirt sticking hot.
The music was Top 40 mixed and it wasn’t a complete mess at the bar, the drinks weren’t that pricey, you have to consider when I say this, this is London, Leicester Sq and as an American I have accepted Euros and Pounds.
I would come back if I was back in town and with a large group of people say like on a pub crawl than why not but otherwise I m sure there are other clubs in the area.

The Zoo bar once upon a time was my favorite club to go and dance and have so much fun.
I remember even dancing on the bar over there.
The music was always good but the place was usually packed and if you need to go and find a toilet then good luck!
As a single person in London with group of friends you can have so much fun there.
As a couple I wouldn’t recommend it.

Sticky and dark. There’s been one or two nights there, mostly fun, but well Meh.
One good point? Free entry before 22:00.

It’s a zoo out there.
Or so thought the 3/​5ths man. He stood aside the bar with arms crossed. His scrunching faced revealed a deep seeded anger for all of humanity. His glaring eyes stared down everything, but nothing at all.
The 3/​5ths man stood still, idly by the bar in his solitude. He was furious, but controlled. His rage dripped from his being, yet contained itself in his puddle of hate. His arms coated in leather slid together as they crossed. They pulled against his chest as tight as a straight jacket. His furrowed brow was tenser than a thousand Athenian Olympians in a ruthless tug of war match. His pursed lips let nothing in, nor out. They were so tightly shut that even Hercules couldn’t pry them open with all his might.
The 3/​5ths man stood tall despite his 3/​5ths of a man height. His straightened spine was laced with constrained vertebra tightened like a boa constrictor’s grip. His beady eyes glazed over like a thin film of water on a diner’s table. He hated so much, yet felt so little.
His pint sat still atop the bar’s counter. The liquid dormant in the glass as it begged to be drained away. The 3/​5ths man finally loosened his death-​cross as his arms fell to his sides. He reached to grab his pint and drew it towards his mouth, the beer finally breaking through the barrier of his locked lips. He sucked down the golden beer with immense pain and distress. His wincing face displayed a torture-​esque emotion as the carbonation bit his 3/​5ths throat.
When he set it down, something changed in the demeanor of the 3/​5ths man. His arms crossed, but this time looser. He brought one hand up to his mouth as his index finger and thumb rubbed below his mouth. He was thinking. Finally thinking about what more there was in the world. That darkness wasn’t the only shade on Earth.
As these existential thoughts vibrated through his weary brain, he felt something else. With haste, the 3/​5ths drove his left index finger deep into his right nostril. He felt around for happiness to no avail, so he tried the left nostril. No luck. Perhaps he tried to touch his 3/​5ths brain and massage the sad soreness.
Alas, the 3/​5ths man had given up. Back to his anger and misery, his arms crossed again and he pulled them tight. His angry mug shaped to fury once again. The 3/​5ths man will never be forgotten.
Also try the mixed drinks here.

«I just wanted to watch the football game. That’s it. Martha kicked me out for bringing one of our farm animals into the house.
‘Come back when you have that sour look off your face why dontcha?’ my Irish wife spat as I left. ‘This house is no zoo! Don’t bring your mule in here!‘
Maybe I was wrong to bring an animal into the house, but it’s nice looking at things eye-​to-​eye once in a while, you know what I mean?
Looking up at her I said, in my rather thick British accent, ‘Fine.‘
I wanted a beer and something to rest my head against while watching the game. To spite Martha, I decided to visit The Zoo Bar. Maybe I do want to live in a zoo, Martha! Maybe I feel like I am an animal in a zoo once in a while! Ever think about that, Martha?
So I went to the Zoo Bar for my pint.
I hated the place.
The glasses were dirty and so were the hoodlum kids inside. I just stood there and watched the riffraff around me riff and raff. I got to rest my head though, the bar rested just above my neck.
I should probably mention that I am a 3/​5ths man.
And getting a drink at the Zoo Bar really made me feel like I was in a zoo.
When I got home I told Martha I would keep the mule outside.»
–The 3/​5ths Man

Wir waren an einem Sonntag unterwegs in London auf der Suche nach einer Bar oder einem Club, wo noch was los ist. Auf der Straße wurden wir dann von einem angequatscht, der uns in den Club locken wollte mit Versprechungen wie großem Frauenüberschuss und a lot of Brazilian puss*** Uns war natürlich klar, dass das absoluter Quatsch ist, aber weil wir schon länger unterwegs waren, haben wir uns dann doch dort reinschleifen lassen, nachdem wir den Eintritt bei ihm von 10 auf 5 Pfund inkl. einen Shot an der Bar runtergehandelt hatten. Die Stimmung war ganz ok im Club, die Musik einigermaßen ok. Garderobe hatte dann noch mal 2 Pfund pro Person gekostet. Es war allerdings ein sehr großer Männerüberschuss dort und so richtig Stimmung kam (zumindest bei mir) nicht auf. Zudem machte der Club um 1 Uhr zu. Fazit: Zum Abfeiern mit Freunden ganz ok, zum Flirten eher nicht.

I came here on a student night which meant £5 entry. It was cheap enough, but I’ll never come back. I’ve never had such a gross time at a club. Out group literally walked in, got a drink, looked around, and left. The highlight of my 30 minutes here was when my friend fell down the steps walking in, cause that was really funny. Everything else here depressed and annoyed me.
They have a cashpoint by the door, which is the only redeeming thing. and reasonably clean bathrooms. But that’s all

I have a fond place in my heart for Zoo as this is the first club I ever went to during my last trip to London when I was only 16.
Now studying abroad, we just so happened to come back 5 years later on our first weekend!
I had a great time, maybe because I’m a bit nostalgic.
Zoo isn’t a great club, but it is a fun time for tourists who might want to meet some fellow Americans and hear some recognizable tunes (Top 40 :/​)
Drinks are somewhat expensive and it seems as if there is usually a cover for guys.
Still, I say its worth a visit if you are in Picadilly Circus looking for a fun night at a big club.

Perhaps this place would get more stars if I did not have such an awkward and terrible experience. It’s a tourist attraction, meaning that many of the guys where will be sleazy, thinking they can pick up any girl. There have been about four guys I had to tell off and literally told them, «No I am not attracted to you» (after standing frigidly) before he let go. There’s no way around it. Just because you’re dancing here, doesn’t mean that you’re invited to every girl in the room.
There is also an unusual amount of guys dancing around each other while staring at girls. Unfortunately they were also the cute ones, who were too shy while the annoying ones were the ones chasing the girls away. It wasn’t a good night, perhaps.
However if you’re planning to come in before the gross crowd, their drinks and cheap and the bar tenders are very nice/​sweet. Most of them smiled and offered to help choose drinks when we couldn’t decide which shot we wanted.
It’s gonna be a packed bar, so prepare yourself.
The coat attendant and the bouncers were very nice, but that might be because I’m a girl.
It’s really more of a 2.5 star, but I rather go down than up. I won’t deny that I might give it one more go, but I’m still grossed out about the collection of men that go there.

Zoo bar is so packed out on a Saturday night and the reviewer said before the world is laid out at your feet. This club attracts tourists considering is in Leicester square.
It was a £10 entrance and free cloakroom (guest list)
The main is room is house and the smallest room is early 2000’s RnB and now a days so called RnB. The upstairs bar plays 80s and 90s pop, soul and rock, plus it was a breather from downstairs because it was sooo packed.
Overall it was a good night.

Une sortie londonienne waoooh magique je me souviendrais surtout du nom de cette boisson que j’ai bu toute la soirée la PURPLE TURTLE .j’ai fini turtle effectivement mais un vrai délice et une ambiance éclatante. Et si on a trop bu il né faut surtout pas espérer repartir en voiture car à la sortie on vous confisque les clefs et ça c’est vraiment bien

une très bonne soirée dans ce bar londonien. Je né regrette pas les 15 pounds payé à l’entrée. Beaucoup de touristes (ce qui je pense en fait le charme), l’endroit et assez cher mais l’ambiance y est très très bonne…

I know I’m supposed to hate this place; the nights are tacky and tasteless, the interior is dull and uninspiring and the music is just god awful. On the face of it, Zoo Bar is just like every other club in the area — all style but very little substance. However, maybe I just happened to come on a good night, or maybe my friends were in a particularly good mood that evening, maybe I’d drunk a little too much, but in any case I had a really good night and for that I’m a little dissapointed in myself.
Zoo Bar has been around for a while now and is probably best known for its student nights meaning that drinks here are decidedly cheaper than many other places in the vicinity. In addition it seems to be fairly popular with tourists and travellers owing to its location. Generally this means the crowd will be pretty friendly and not overly trendy.
The club itself isn’t particularly remarkable, there’s a few dancing areas and the central focus is the island bar in the main room. There are limited drinks deals so if you’re looking for a cheap night remember to check before you order.
Not somewhere I’d go running back to, but for a student night out in London there’s not many better.

If you love cheap drinks, cheap chat up lines and tacky music– Zoo Bar is the perfect place for you. Zoo Bar should probably be called ‘Binge Drinkers R Us’!
Harsh? Yes. But in my experience definately true. I can see why this place is popular with students– unlike many places in London’s West End you can actually have a good night here for £25. With a glass of wine and mixers at just £2.50.
Unfortunately Zoo Bar also attracts the type of men who actually use chat up lines. The type of men who think they are in with a chance even if you say you are not interested.
I would not set foot in this place again unless it was a private function or I was taken against my will! There are plenty of other places in the city serving cheap drinks minus the meat market atmosohere!
You have been warned! Viist at your own peril…

In dieser Bar/​Club kann der naïve London-​Besucher sein blaues Wunder erleben. Die Stimmung dort ist sehr flirtative (auch wenn meistens ausschl. von der männlichen Seite ausgehend), was ziemlich nervig sein kann.
Aber wenn man in diesen Club geht, sollte man locker aufgelegt sein und alles, was einen sonst zur Weißglut bringen würde, gelassen nehmen.
Wenn man mit dieser Einstellung dort hingeht, ist der Funfaktor definitiv sehr hoch! Dann kommt es schonmal, dass man gemeinsam mit Leuten, die mit einer aufgeblasenen Gummipuppe tanzen/​spielen, abfeiert (kein Witz).
Fazit: Kann man hingehen, wenn man besonders lustig drauf ist.