Milroy's of Soho Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Attentive service from knowledgeable staff."
• "The in-store clerk was pleasant and very helpful."
• "Warmly welcomed by Joel, an affable expert in the realm of whisky."
• "Rez, the guy who was probably an extra in Vikings and the manager in the awesome shirt all looked after us with good suggestions and fun banter!"
• "Great local bar with excellent staff who are super knowledgeable about whisky."
• "The staff are knowledgeable and take their time to walk you through a whisky wonderland."
• "Extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff (and local customers too!) to help you find your tastes and preferences."

Cons:

• "I have found the staff at Milroy’ rude, making for an uncomfortable experience."
• "It appears they are unable to cope with groups larger than 3 or 4 and they show a lack of respect for their customers."
• "Unfortunately we found a very unpleasant bartender: he was not willing to suggest us any spirit and explain us anything about whisky."
• "Great selection of whisky but disinterested and arrogant staff."
• "The staff don’t look at you and everyone there seems to know everyone else."
• "Service was terrible!"
• "Waited patiently for 10 minutes as the waitress completely ignored us."

Selection and Variety

Pros:

• "Fantastic selection of whisky and knowledgeable bar staff."
• "Prices are reasonable and there's always something new to try."
• "Superb selection of whisky, to drink there or buy."
• "The variety of whiskeys you can taste here is just mind blowing."
• "They offer the widest range of whiskies I’ve ever encountered."
• "Selection of bottles for sale is impressive."
• "One of the best whisky selections I've seen."

Cons:

• "But it was weird that some so easy-to-find whiskies were not available; like Port Charlotte or Ledaig 10 or 18 or any Arran."
• "Since the whisky bar focuses on excellent independent distilleries, you'll struggle to find good but mainstream brands, such as Macallan, Glenmorangie and Dalwhinnie."
• "Big selection of whisky, but it could be better. They don't have what should be considered basics for a whisky bar, i.e. No springbank, no Glen scotia, no glenallachie etc."
• "Just wish they had more options for Islay whiskeys bottled at cask strength & single cask."
• "Next time they refused to make me an old fashioned, it was straight whisky, or a g&t on tap. No thanks. Staff member was very snobbish about it."

Ambiance and Decor

Pros:

• "A hidden passage to go to the restroom or the vault."
• "Secret cocktail bar downstairs all based on whisky."
• "Head through the bookcase at the back of the shop and you'll be greeted with a wonderfully atmospheric, dimly lit bar."
• "This beautiful establishment has a cocktail bar downstairs and a whisky/whiskey bar upstairs."
• "The ambience and vibe were terrific."
• "The hidden downstairs bar located behind the bookcase adds to the mystique!"
• "The 'hidden' cellar is a must for groups or an evening with a great atmosphere and mood."

Cons:

• "Decor is mood lit but as its underground no windows so one for autumn /winter rather than Summer."
• "It wasn't as whiskeyish as I would have liked."
• "The secret entrance (push the bookcase) plus the prohibition feel and live jazz band gave this place a really cool atmosphere."
• "The interior is stunning, a bit like Belle's library but with whisky."

Price and Value

Pros:

• "Prices are quite high and they don't do half pours which surprised me."
• "Very competitively priced, and order was fulfilled within a week."
• "Very reasonably priced considering the quality and selection on offer, especially for Soho."
• "Pricing was very reasonable."

Cons:

• "I'm definitely going to be going back, but probably on a payday as it's easy to rack up an expensive tab if you're not careful!"
• "One little minus are the prices for the drams which are on the very high end but it's the price to pay to enjoy the experience!"
• "Where Milroy's falls down, even more than other places in London is the price."
• "Prices are slightly high too, but generally I like this bar."

Customer Experience

Pros:

• "Wonderful place which lives up to all the hype. Lovely ambiance."
• "I love the thought they put into all the decor, the children's book menus, and the unique and changing cocktail menus."
• "Lovely little find, we were down in the vault. Great selection of specialist cocktails."
• "The staff are always a great help. They never fail to recommend something that I've never had before and may even have an open bottle or few in the back for tastings."
• "Great experience, great atmosphere, top spot."
• "Perfect spot for a date or to celebrate a special occasion."
• "Wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommend for its eye candy appeal."

Cons:

• "Only problem: lack of seating space! It does at least mean that it's quite quiet but you might have to stand a bit before getting so sit down."
• "We wanted to stay for longer but just couldn't because it was so hot, we were melting."
• "The only thing holding me back from five stars is that the bar downstairs is a little pokey and thus the lack of air conditioning is accentuated."
• "If only the place was a little bit bigger. It can be quite packed in the evening and you will be lucky to find a seat, especially if you are not a couple."
• "The only common detractor in many reviews I’ve read, is the bald guy with the beard - he’ll go out of his way to be rude or break your reverie."
• "Went with two or my girlfriends and were reprimanded by staff for talking loudly in the basement bar."
• "However, I have been consistently disappointed by my inability to secure a reservation for a table downstairs, regardless of how far in advance I attempt to do so."