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The 40 Elephants, London,

The 40 Elephants

4.3
4.3
109 Reviews
£26 to £40
Cocktail Bar

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2 people
22:00
Booked 3 times today
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Charming
  • Fancy
In our bar every cocktail tells a story so, we would like you to enjoy the drinks based on the stories of one of the biggest criminal gangs in English history.
The 40 Elephants was an all-female organized crime collective active in London's Elephant and Castle District from at least 1873 right into the 1950. They specialized in shoplifting, with some blackmail and extortion thrown in to make them particularly badass.
This gang was notable for its longevity and skill in avoiding police detection. Their most notorious leader, Diamond Annie, was known by the London police as "the cleverest of thieves".
Forty Elephants funded a life of decadence in London roaring twenties, hanging about the glamorous hotels, bars and theaters they could only dream about before their turn to crime.
Glamour was both a goal and a smoke screen for the Forty Elephants, through which they created their own thrilling world of fashion. money, and fame.

Additional information

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 109 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 3.8Value

Noise • Energetic

109 Reviews

  1. Dimitrios

    Toronto

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 26 October 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    All tables were served olives and nuts with the drinks apart from ours
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 1 November 2024
    Thank you for your feedback, Dimitrios. We apologise for the oversight regarding the olives and nuts. Your experience matters to us, and we’ll ensure this is addressed. We hope to have the chance to make it right on your next visit! Best regards, The 40 Elephants Team

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  2. Ian

    London

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 26 September 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We just had a cocktail here before our dinner at Ekstedt at the yard. The setting was nice and the cocktails were OK, although not special, and were expensive even by London standards. They charged us extra for ordering off the menu, for a very simple gin / triple sec / lemon cocktail which was a bit of a surprise...
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 1 October 2024
    Hi Ian, We appreciate your feedback! We're pleased that you like the setting, but we take your comments on the cocktails and pricing very seriously. We will look into both issues and hope to provide a better experience next time. Best regards, The 40 Elephants

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cozy and comfortable, the perfect place for a relaxing evening with delicious food and drinks. Service was excellent!
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 28 September 2024
    Hi Sir/Madam, We appreciate your generous review! It brings us great joy that you found The 40 Elephants to have a warm and inviting atmosphere, that you enjoyed our delectable food, and that you were impressed by our high level of service. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again soon! Warm regards, The 40 Elephants

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  4. Rachel

    Warwickshire

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 3 August 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful cocktails. So interesting on the history of the bar and all the information we found there. Ambience was very good and attention to detail was lovely. There were some children allowed in there which changed the dynamics of the place due to noise so overall it would have been a 5 star.
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 15 August 2024
    Hi Rachel, We express our gratitude for your marvellous feedback! We are more than delighted that you and your guests appreciated the libations, the storied past of the bar, and the space's atmosphere. Your remarks about the noise level are appreciated and will be taken into consideration for future improvements. We sincerely hope to see you all again soon! Best regards, The 40 Elephants

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 July 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bar does not open for cocktails or beer until 1600. Bar staff was awesome to accommodate us at 1400 for drinks. OpenTable might want to adjust the time.
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 18 July 2024
    Hi Sir/Madam, I appreciate your understanding and the comments you gave us about our bar hours. It is great to know that our staff ensured you could have your drinks early. The feedback and comments you provided will definitely help us figure out if we need to make any changes in the future. We hope to see you again very soon! Kind regards, The 40 Elephants

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    New York City

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 23 May 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and drinks were very good. But the service was shocking! Staff un attentive and you would’ve got more business from us last night had it not been for the fact that three members of staff were just stood around chatting when it was plainly obvious we wanted more drinks and potentially we might have had more food.
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 26 May 2024
    Dear Sir/Madam, We apologise for your unsatisfactory experience. Hearing from you is truly valuable to us, and we have shared your comments with our team as we always strive to improve our service. We want nothing more than to have the chance to serve you again, this time with the kind of experience that makes you a happy guest. Best regards, The 40 Elephants Team

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  7. June

    London

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 11 May 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Last minute decision but a good one From a wonderful warm welcome and attentive service to an excellent bar menu, we will be back
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 15 May 2024
    Hi June, We are very pleased you had such a good time and that things turned out so well given the short notice. Our priority is to always give a warm and attentive welcome to our guests, and we're delighted that you enjoyed our bar menu. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Kind regards, The 40 Elephants Bar

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 3 May 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Any ambience was ruined by children being allowed in the bar.
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 6 May 2024
    Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding the presence of children in our bar and its impact on the overall ambience. We appreciate your perspective and understand the importance of maintaining a suitable atmosphere for all guests. We have taken your suggestion into serious consideration. We are currently exploring the possibility of establishing an alternative area within our establishment where families with children can enjoy their time. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any further suggestions or concerns. We look forward to welcoming you back and providing an enhanced experience that meets your expectations. Warm regards, The 40 Elephants Bar

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 April 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An excellent venue hidden in an amazing hotel, very nice cocktails as well.
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 6 May 2024
    Hi Sir/Madam, Thank you for your kind feedback. We greatly appreciate your recognition of our exceptional venue, nestled within our remarkable Great Scotland Yard Hotel. We are delighted to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed our exquisite cocktails. Your positive comments truly mean a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable afternoon tea experience in the near future. Warm regards, The 40 Elephants Bar

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Norfolk/Suffolk

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 April 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We popped in for pre-theatre drinks. High-end aesthetic and great service from staff. It’s not well sign-posted from the outside as the bar is within a hotel. Cocktails were tasty and beautifully presented - you can tell the mixologist behind the bar cares about his craft. Note that this is represented in the prices too though - £20 per cocktail, and £12+ for mocktails too. Something to bear in mind, especially if you’re going with a group.
    The 40 ElephantsResponded on 22 April 2024
    Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you so much for visiting the 40 Elephants Bar. We are glad that you found our cocktails tasty and beautifully presented by our barman and that our staff rendered satisfactory service. We are grateful to have received such overwhelming feedback. We hope to see you again for another ultimate cocktail experience. Best regards, The 40 Elephants Bar

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FAQs

The 40 Elephants is rated 4.3 stars by 109 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
22:00
Booked 3 times today
Google Map for The 40 Elephants

3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London, SW1A 2HN

Additional information

  • Area
    Westminster
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 9:30 am–12:00 am
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Dining Bar, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Embankment and Charing Cross Stations
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Amador Parada
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options
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