Fluid Eating's Review of Jewel
It is a fact universally acknowledged that trying to find an upmarket yet unpretentious bar in Covent Garden is like trying to find hens’ teeth; or Pixie Lott’s sense of individuality. Snooty doormen, overpriced drinks, and bland, unimpressive food are all fairly commonplace in this often overcrowded and fairly touristy part of London. Yet, on a bleak January evening, my guest and I were treated to a glamorous yet remarkably laid back night at Jewel Covent Garden.
The outside of Jewel is slightly misleading – despite its modest exterior this place is huge with many mezzanines and floors. There’s a bar with some sparsely strewn tables on the ground floor, a second bar and dancefloor downstairs while upstairs is where the unfeasibly comfy VIP booths are situated (with own bar). The lighting throughout is brooding, whilst the glitter of extravagance is mirrored on the walls and through the shards of crystal light from the chandeliers. Music emanates from a DJ booth downstairs and seems to be a mix of cool house and commercial dance. It was by no means overbearing or distracting and easily allowed for conversation without ending up hoarse.
We arrived at the trendy bar/club to find it packed to the rafters (unusual for a Thursday night we were told – apparently, there was a large birthday shindig downstairs). Jewel’s patrons are akin to the décor – glizty and beautiful – but not frigteningly so. I didn’t feel drastically underdressed despite my jeans, trainers and many, many layers. We were ushered straight through the crowd of suited and booted City Boys to our VIP booth where a very attentive member of the waiting staff greeted us.
Once seated and settled, we were treated to the Gourmet Sharing Platter, which included calamari, truly delicious wedges, delectable sticky ribs, and goats cheese flatbread (it is worth noting that the attentive staff were more than accommodating when it came to our slightly fussy food requests). Testimony to just how good the platters looked was the fact that after ours arrived, three adjacent tables followed suit and ordered exactly the same. We weren’t left disappointed –tasted as good as they looked - and it was just the right amount to line our stomachs for the cocktail extravaganza that was to follow.
The cocktails are the real pull here – and rightly so. The choice is extensive – ranging from classics such as Carrie Bradshaw’s tipple of choice, the Cosmopolitan, to Martinis and contemporary house specials (all around the £8 mark). My guest and I pride ourselves on being Mojito connoisseurs so felt obliged to see how Jewel’s fared. Four thumbs up from us.
Others favourites were the Bramble and the Gin & Sin – both lovingly created with fresh fruit. My guest braved one of the Grey Goose Vodka Martinis – she absolutely adored it but, in truth, it would have been too strong for me to drink a whole one. Later in the evening we, cheekily, opted for a cocktail instead of a pudding. And the cocktail in question - Pure Lust, made with vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur and double cream - was more than a sufficient replacement.
It was around this time that the cocktails began to take effect and I realised that if we didn’t leave promptly, we ran the risk of attempting to gatecrash the party downstairs and humiliating ourselves on the dance floor. So we opted to preserve our dignity and head home. It was a school night after all. But we will be back at some point. We still have the rest of that cocktail list to get through...
Reviewed by Sophie Atkinson
Description:
The five designed areas take influences from around the world and blend them together for an unforgettable experience.
Numerous celebrities have chosen Jewel as their preferred location for private parties and the venue is a favourite with the local theatre crowd and young media professionals.
Professional and experienced waiters and bar staff will serve you the finest drinks from an extensive list, whilst resident chefs prepare food from an eclectic and constantly updated menu.
Jewel Covent Garden encompasses superior style, outstanding service and an air of exclusivity for the perfect event. (Updated 24/03/2010)
Jewel Food & Drink Menus
Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at
Jewel. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's
offerings and assciated prices.
Jewel Food menu
The Jewel chefs produce an array of delicious and mouth-watering dishes that will satisfy the biggest of appetites. The menu serves good wholesome and straightforward food - from the sirloin steak baguette to the Jewel Salad, all the dishes are created using only the freshest ingredients.
| Item |
Price |
| Crispy Herbed Aubergine |
£4.95 |
| with Yoghurt-Cucumber Dip |
| Bacalhau Fritters |
£6.95 |
| Salt cod fishcakes with potato and garlic |
Jewel Drink menu
Jewel offers an extensive cocktail list that is continually updated with the freshest and most exotic ingredients available. Add to this bottled beers, wines, champagnes and a selection of soft drinks.
| Item |
Description |
Price |
| Bottled Beer |
1664, Kronenbourg Blanc, Becks, Budweiser, Sol, San Miguel, Michelob, Kronenbourg Blanc.. |
£3.50 |
| Red Wine (glass) |
Les Ormieres - France. |
£3.70 |
| White Wine (glass) |
Les Ormieres - France. |
£3.70 |
| Champagne Cocktails |
Soho Grand:
Grand Marnier Blended Cognac, Cherry Marnier Filled with Deveux Champagne and Fresh Cherries. |
£7.90 |
Jewel Special Offers
A wonderful range of special offers that change monthly.
Title: Every Day Happy Hour
Description: Every Day Happy Hour. Indulge yourself... without the guilt!
Cocktail: £3.95
Btl Beer: £2.50
Food Platter: £7.85
Classification: Food & Drink
Date: 24 Mar, 2010 - 30 Mar, 2020
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: 17:00 - 20:00
“I will try to be brief as much as possible on my review. Quite frankly a great bar!
At first glance you may think that the drinks and food are expensive, but have another look cos they have happy hour, which make really quite affordable.
Cocktails are unlikely any others that you have tried a billion times in other bars and the food is equally good.
I usually go on week days but tried for the first time last Saturday, was really impressed with the amount of good looking girls (sorry, it's important to me!) and the dance floor was on fire!
I would prefer if I could have had a table but the place was fully booked. Will try again next time!
Overall, a very charming bar and great atmosphere. Recommend!”
Rating: 
— Wayne, London
(04 Feb 2010)
“After a friend recommending this bar, I decided to celebrate my birthday there and I have to say that I have no regrets at all. Staff were very friendly and helpful with us (always with a smile).
The food menu is affordable and tasty, inspired on spanish tapas, very nice, and the cocktails are made with perfection.
The bar was full of beautiful and interesting people, great atmosphere, incense and candles everywhere and we loved the service.
I have been there more times after that and every time is just superb. We always feel very welcome, rare to find it in London.”
Rating: 
— A. Annabelle, London
(03 Feb 2010)
“Call me superficial, but I love this place, it´s definitely the spot to be seen in Covent Garden!..
Even though I like the decor, service, etc. The best thing for me is 1.- I know that when I´m there, people will not be pushing me all the time (because the place is packed) and 2.-Guys are not going to annoy me more than what it´s necessary, and the ones that do they´re too handsome and sophisticated by general rule for me to get annoyed with hehe....
So ladies, if you would like to meet interesting and beautiful guys, wear your best dresses and meet me here, you´re not going to regrett it.
By the way, I´m also attending their Crystal Ball on NYE, in case anyone would like to join...”
Rating:
— Grace, London
(18 Dec 2009)
“After reading all the reviews from 2008 I wasn't sure about trying my luck at this bar in Covent Garden, but a friend of mine who went in April told me that it was a really nice bar. So I decided to celebrate my birthday there and I have to say that I have no regrets at all.
Staff were very friendly and helpful with us (always with a smile). We found out that they changed the whole menu and the new one is affordable and tasty (inspired on spanish tapas yummi). In the middle of the evening, the hostess that guided us to our table came to ask if everything was ok, and she gave us a complimentary bottle of wine, as it was our first visit and my birthday.
Nice food, beautiful and interesting people, great atmosphere (with all these lights incense and candles) and we loved the service. I have been there more times after that, and every time that I call to book they remember who I am. We always feel very welcome, and that's weird to find it in London.”
Rating:
— Anne, London
(14 Aug 2009)
“Wow - Jewel what can I say?! If you like to be surrounded by wannabe WAGs, upwardly mobile Asian totty and out of town tourists then here's your place. It's a nicely decorated bar, seems to be nice areas to drink in and dance in but gets very crowded and it has Nothing Special about it. I guess it appeals to a certain type, which is not me! I found it to be like it's name, Jewel, ie quite superficial. However, on the up side, drinks are nice, if a bit expensive.”
Rating:
— Moushka, London
(01 May 2009)
“Good Venue (if you can use the bits you want to) but poor booking system. We had our table moved...”
Rating:
— Sarah Barrick, Strawberry Hill
(20 Oct 2008)
“To be frank, I wasn't to keen on the place, the decor was fantastic and the music was great but because of the parties booked it limited my friend and I to one small area, which was full of people so it was difficult to move around and it took a long time to get service and drinks. The atmosphere wasn't good and I didn't find the staff too friendly either, so I have had a completely different experience to everyone else. Maybe I just went on a bad night, I think the parties had a major effect on the enjoyment. I might try again sometime considering all the good reviews.”
Rating:
— Suzy, Chelmsford
(19 Mar 2008)
“I spent so many of my Friday nights there last summer, simply because Jewel is THE best bar in the West End to me. Miss u... but see you very soon!”
Rating:
— Deens, Warwick Uni
(18 Mar 2008)
“We had visited Jewel Bar in Piccadilly several times before we went to the one in Covent Garden. We were told by friends that they had just been re-launched and it was well worth a visit. We were not disappointed! The service, atmosphere and music were superb. They had it just right. My boyfriend and I had a fantastic night. In three words: Relaxed Sophisticated and Beautiful!”
Rating:
— Julie Stewart, London
(05 Sep 2007)
“This place is chic, elegant and sophisticated. My friends and I could not compliment the venue enough. We were looked after from the moment we got through the door. Even security were courteous and friendly as were the barstaff. Our waiter was charming and extremely efficient and brought us Mojito's all night! At times venues like this can be pretentious, this one however is the opposite. Jewel is a great Bar!!”
Rating:
— Natasia, London
(13 Apr 2007)
“I love this bar. It's just what Covent Garden needs. The drinks are excellent, friendly staff and the DJ on Friday night played an outstanding set of Funky House. Great venue, good looking clientel and an alround tremendous vibe! Great stuff.”
Rating:
— Dale, London
(10 Apr 2007)
“We visited Jewel last Saturday night for my birthday. My freinds and I had a fantastic night and will definitely return soon. Staff and Management were extremely accomadating, cocktails were exceptional and the DJ was great. Infact, when it came to closing time we didn't want to leave!”
Rating:
— Anita, London
(03 Apr 2007)
“Stunning! An absoultely beautiful venue full of good looking people. Cocktails are fabulous, friendly staff and great music. Thank you Jewel, without question, My favourite bar in London.”
Rating:
— Lee, LONDON
(16 Oct 2006)
“I thought it was wicked! Really nice deco, good djs, nice atmosphere (good snob/pleb balance) very tasty cocktails and not too expensive for covent garden. Defo check it out at least once, Jewel really is a nice bar.”
Rating:
— Missy B, London
(28 Jan 2006)
“Was a great fan of "The Spot" so my sister and i were a bit unsure about returning since the re-design and name change. We went last night and had a great time. Same Dj as before and Daves still bouncing about but long gone are the tight arses who would never offer to buy a drink. All in all i would say Jewel is now a classy place. We can't wait to go back.”
Rating:
— claire, west london
(27 Aug 2005)
“I have been to this bar about 4 or 5 times now and every time has been brilliant! I have been when they have live bands/singers and they have always been fantastic... a real joy to listen to. I have also more recently been on a friday night and it was one of the best nights out I had had in a long time. Me and my friends were "chatted" up a little at the door whilst we waited and once we were in there was a lively and welcoming hustle and bustle with great music (not live). You feel special when you are in this bar... mixing with men and women who like to take care in their appearance, yet not at all snobby/bitchy. I felt very relaxed and at ease. The waiters were all very nice and served us quickly even though the bar was PACKED. We were the last to leave at gone 1 in the morning!! I have also been on a couple of Saturdays which have always been consistent, but Friday is the better of the two. Sunday is a nice time to go and chill out for a couple of hours with your boyfriend (or girl”
Rating:
— Helen B, London
(28 Feb 2005)
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