Bar review: Kamara, Soho, London
An East Mediterranean cocktail bar in the heart of Soho.
February 2026
From the team behind Brother Marcus (Tasos Gaitanos and Alex Large) comes Kamara – a Soho cocktail bar and mezze spot bringing East-Mediterranean flavours to central London. Working alongside Angelos Bafas (ex-Soma), the trio have crafted a space that balances intimate cocktail and wine bar energy with refined small plates and mezze – all with an elevated yet relaxed atmosphere.
Atmosphere and ambience
Dark and dimly lit, Kamara has an earthy, natural atmosphere that feels instantly comforting. I felt like I was sitting in a clay pot when I visited – in the best possible way.
The space completely wraps you up, with soft lighting and textured walls. There are low stools and booth seating near the main bar for cocktails and people-watching, while the back of the room leans a little more restaurant-style, though it still keeps with the swanky cocktail-bar decor.
Cocktail menu at Kamara
If there’s one thing to get you through the door at Kamara, it’s the cocktail menu. This is a cocktail bar first and foremost – so come for the drinks. Be warned, though: they’re likely to split opinion. There are no obvious classic cocktails on the list, with more inventive and unexpected serves taking pride of place on their cocktail menu. Though if you’re craving a classic cocktail, I’m sure they’d have no problem whipping one up.
My standout was the Apricot “champagne”, which, unexpectedly, contains no champagne at all. Instead, it’s made with Lemnos muscat wine, sundried British apricot nectar, a blend of dry fortified wines and apricot kernels.
In simple terms: it’s super fruity and apricot-forward. It feels somewhere between a dessert wine and a celebratory glass of sparkling – gentle fizz with a lovely richness and weight.
The wine list
Beyond the cocktails, Kamara’s wine list is impressive. The focus is on standout producers from Greece, Georgia and Lebanon – regions with serious winemaking heritage.
It’s rare that a cocktail bar manages to carefully curate its wine list as well, but Kamara manages it.
Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or the self-appointed wino in your friend group (it’s me, I’m the friend), something intriguing is waiting for you on Kamara’s wine list. My top pick? Karanika Brut Cuvee Speciale – a dry Greek sparkling wine with beautiful soft bubbles.
Small plates & snacks
As a Brother Marcus venture, a mezze-style menu was always going to be part of the offering. Expect elevated bar snacks and small plates: fried chicken with muhammara and Greek graviera, and crispy calamari with zhoug aioli, burnt lime & Aleppo chilli – all ideal for sharing and pairing with a second (or third) round of drinks. If you’re in the mood for a full sit-down dinner, head downstairs to Brother Marcus Soho, which sits directly beneath Kamara. But for drinks and snacks done properly, staying upstairs makes perfect sense.
Worth a visit?
Kamara feels like a confident addition to Soho’s bar scene. The service is warm and knowledgeable, the drinks are genuinely distinctive, and the wine list adds a little something extra, rather than feeling like an afterthought.
In a part of London that’s already saturated with bars, Kamara manages to feel considered, intimate and refreshingly original. If you’re after inventive drinks, a strong wine list and small plates in central London, Kamara deserves a spot on your list.
