The best bars in London for cocktails
There’s no shortage of spots for a memorable tipple in London. The city is home to almost every type of cocktail bar imaginable. From generously upholstered snug basement hideaways, to sleek and minimalist conversions echoing an industrial past, to stately and sparkling grand parlour-like spaces. Across this varied spectrum, you’ll find mixologists pushing boundaries with increasingly playful themes, atypical ingredients and experimental techniques, or simply fixing up flawlessly executed classics. Read on for a list of the best cocktail bars in London. Whether it's a chaat masala-spiced margarita or a songstress-inspired concoction, there’s something for everyone – shaken or stirred.
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The best bars in London for cocktails
Oli Hillyer-Riley1/48Bar Flor
Whether it’s for a cosy evening tucked into a softly lit banquette, or a lively night at the bar accompanied by the buzz of tapas being prepared before you, Bar Flor is a place for thoughtfully curated drinks and expertly matched dishes in a warm, inviting setting. Located in the stylish Newson's Yard, it is the ideal spot to unwind after exploring the many interiors shops along Pimlico Road.
The menu stands out for its impressive range of vermouths and beautifully balanced cocktails. The Peschiole Martini is a particular highlight; it's a playful twist on a dirty martini that’s both punchy and smooth, with the peschiole pickle liqueur bringing a bright, distinctively tangy edge. The Spanish-inspired food complements the drinks perfectly. Their pintxos are small in size but big on flavour, from Cantabrian anchovy with salted butter to blue cheese with green fig. Each dish is carefully balanced, allowing the fresh, simple ingredients to shine. The slightly larger tapas are equally as well executed. The crisp calamari sandwich in crusty bread is especially good, fuss-free and utterly satisfying. - Diya Pandey
Bar Flor, Newsons Yard, 57 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NE
Johnny Stephens2/48Barts
Part of the fun of this speakeasy-style bar is finding it behind a discreet door in a chi-chi Sloane Avenue block of flats. Behind the tiny vestibule wallpapered in comic strips is a vaguely Edwardian parlour-esque space bedecked with taxidermied animal heads and sabotaged paintings. The cocktails are punchy and expertly made, and you might even spot a minor royal among the party-goers – if you can stay sober long enough.
Barts, Chelsea Cloisters, 87 Sloane Ave, Chelsea, London SW3 3DW
3/48Le Magritte Bar at The Beaumont
Inspired by the American-style bars popularised across London and Paris during the 1920s, the ambience at Le Magritte feels gracefully suave. Equally smooth are the drinks, currently also reflecting old school American culture with cocktails based on timeless hits from ‘The Great American Songbook’. For example, the Summertime, flavoured with seasonal plants like hibiscus whilst embodying Ella Fitzgerald’s signature honeyed tone with its sweetness. The bar’s rose and chocolate colour scheme and art deco interiors make for an easygoing, stylish backdrop for a sip and natter away from it all. - TO
Le Magritte, The Beaumont Mayfair, 8 Balderton St, Brown Hart Gardens, London W1K 6TF
4/48The K Bar at The Kensington
It’s easy to lose track of time in this swanky, club-style bar. Plush armchairs and sofas, and warm gingerbread brown oak panelling invite easy relaxation as well as creating a sophisticated setting. Drinks are spirited (in both senses of the word), and imaginative without feeling superfluous. My recommendations include the Parca, a mezcal and chartreuse based drink that’s slightly fruity with kumquat, its tartness enhanced with tangy agave vinegar with a mezcal and chartreuse base. Also lovely is the Pangea, tropical with hints of vanilla blending rum, coconut, banana and pandan. - TO
The K Bar, The Kensington, 109-113 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London, SW7 5LP
The Corrigan Collection5/48Dickie’s Bar
Though an intimate offshoot of celebrated Mayfair restaurant Corrigans, the small but mighty bar feels like a world of its own. Sink into a cushioned booth facing the coffee bean-coloured wood-panelled bar for a slow evening of expertly crafted drinks with top tier bar snacks to boot (the croquettes with piccalilli are a must) – all soundtracked by live soulful yet gentle guitar and singing. Margarita fans should go for the Tommy’s Margarita, livened with a homemade spicy agave. Look out for seasonal options too, the Strawberry Mint Margarita is fruit-forward refreshing choice from the current strawberry-focused menu making the most of this summer’s particularly excellent season. It’s a particularly good spot for unwinding in a small group, and for couples…or aspiring couples… - TO
Dickie’s Bar, 28 Upper Grosvenor St, London W1K 7EH
6/48The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s
There are a few lovely spots for a good drink at storied Mayfair grand dame Claridge’s. The Painter’s Room is one of my favourites. Washed in the soft pink hues of blush palette and lined with iridescent and natural stone surfaces, stepping into the cocoon-like space feels like stepping into the inside of a seashell. Tucked away from the rest of the hotel, it's a snug and hospitable spot for pre-dinner drinks or a digestif alike. The attentively prepared drinks reflect the level of effort invested into the charming art deco interiors. Flowing from the painter/artist theme, many cocktails creatively embody the tone of a colour profile. Like the ‘Beige’ cocktail, which encompasses the smoothness and calm associated with the colour, but is far from bland with floral notes of elderflower and rhubarb mead, and a soupçon of cinnamon. - TO
The Painter’s Room, Claridge's, Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
7/48SOMA
Named for a Vedic Sanskrit term meaning ‘to distill and extract’, SOMA’s understated facade and subterranean setting give off speakeasy vibes, but with a minimalist, industrial-chic twist. First timers shouldn’t be alarmed by the near pitch-black descent, eventually leading to the uniquely designed space, a world away from the commotion of evening-time Soho. The orbs of glowing white light dangling above the expansive metallic centrepiece counter create a dimly lit, celestial atmosphere, that feels mysterious yet still fun and light-hearted. The concise drinks programme offers creative takes on classic cocktails inspired by the Indian subcontinent. For instance their ‘Coconut’ is based on a Ramos Fizz, cleverly infusing the sweet and tropical flavours of coconut yoghurt but into a fragrant, clarified drink. Fans closer to East London or working in Canary Wharf can also try the newer Canary Wharf site. - TO
SOMA, 14 Denman Street, Soho, W1D 7HJ
The Lanesborough8/48The Library Bar at The Lanesborough
A perfect cross between stately grandeur and homely comfort, the Library Bar at The Lanesborough hotel is an ideal spot for whiling away a long weekend afternoon, whether that’s after a decadent Sunday lunch at the Lanesborough Grill, or for a dedicated visit for that long overdue catch-up. The cocktail menu is helpfully divided between more mellow and more robust flavour profiles, helping you to hone in on what might take your fancy. I’d go for the affectionately named Lilibet, an artful medley of gin, Earl Grey complemented with bergamot and Chardonnay wine foam, or the Maestro Margarita – heady with both tequila and mezcal, and fresh lime. Martini lovers should try out their ‘Martini Sundays’ session weekly between 6pm and 10pm, where you can avert any Sunday scaries with a regularly rotating signature gin cocktail and live piano music. - TO
The Library Bar, The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, Duke of Wellington Pl, London SW1X 7TA
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Greg Funnell 20229/48Bar Daskal
You’ll find this light and bright, artistic wine and cocktail bar on a curved street where the Dickensian architecture of Borough Market segways into the shiny new facades of the Borough Yards development. A brainchild of the team behind Barrafina and Parillan, unsurprisingly Spanish influences run through the bar menu – a number of options infuse sherry for instance. The Americano Royale is a favourite, particularly for an aperitif. Full-bodied, with a hint of bitterness mellowed by cherry-like sweetness and juiciness, each sip tastes loud and proud, like a trumpeted proclamation. - TO
Bar Daskal, 16 Park St, London, SE1 9AB
10/48Archive & Myth
I can’t blame anyone for snubbing Leicester Square, with its tourist traps and permanent crowds. However one venue worth a visit is Archive and Myth, a cosy and playful, sumptuously decorated underground bar. It's not somewhere you might expect to be sitting deep beneath The Hippodrome. Rather, a brick-walled, characterful sanctuary from the hustle and bustle outside that serves top-notch, innovative cocktails with highly attentive service to match. Standouts include the Daisy, combining guava liqueur, tequila and toasted coconut for a fresh and energetic pick me up, or the Queen Park – a sugar cane and spearmint-scented retelling of the late 19th century cocktail invented at Queen’s Park hotel in Trinidad. The collectible cards accompanying each drink with notes on their flavour profile and history are a nice touch too. - TO
Archive & Myth, Cranbourn St, London WC2H 7JH,
@lateef.photography11/48Little Bat
An Islington neighbourhood gem, the Little Bat (from the team behind Callooh Callay) combines the cosiness of pub-style aesthetics and eclectic artwork, with an impressively varied and lively menu of signature cocktails. The Kumquat May goes down dangerously well, combining the sharp tropical zestiness of kumquat with tequila, grapefruit and sage. I’d recommend pairing your drinks with some dishes from the small plates menu by Chef James Cochran, like the lamb ribs doused in a sweet, nutty and subtly fiery blend of chillies, honey and sesame. - TO
Little Bat, 54 Islington Park Street, London, N1 1PX
12/48Dram Bar
Sprawled across three floors, Dram offers an indoor/outdoor day-to-night drinks venue that feels like a little oasis despite its central location straddling Soho and Covent Garden. The menu demonstrates the ingredient-focused approach, with cocktails named straightforwardly according to their defining component. On a sunny day, head to the quaint and artsy outdoor courtyard for a late afternoon spritz, such as the light and delicate Lychee and Tarragon highball, infusing Kay sake. From 6pm, you can head to the basement bar for something a little heavier and more complex, such as the Almond and Pineapple, boosted with aged whisky. - TO
Dram Bar, 7 Denmark St, London WC2H 8LZ
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MDRN LOVE13/48Lowcountry
Sitting directly underneath Counter 71, an inventive chef’s table concept in Shoreditch, is Lowcountry. As its name suggests, the basement cocktail bar draws inspiration from areas like coastal Georgia and South Carolina – the Lowcountry of the American South. Expect to find a selection of premium and rare bourbons and whiskies represented across the menu, for example in signature cocktails like the ‘Fat Fashioned’. Incorporating bacon fat-washed Buffalo Trace and maple syrup, it's a Southern-inspired nightcap through and through. The thoughtful alcohol-free menu is worth noting too. The space is simple and elegant, lined with swish and soulful marble surfaces and tiling, and pops of red upholstery emphasising its warm, cosy feel. - TO
Lowcountry, 71 Nile Street, London, N1 7RD
14/48Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London
Scarfes Bar in the Rosewood hotel is a deeply civilised place to have a drink. Stepping in to the bar from the bustling environs of Holborn is like getting into a warm bath - everything just feels a little bit better. The expansive room has the feeling of an extremely comfortable private members’ club, with exquisitely courteous staff, an open fire in winter, and an array of sofas and armchairs you won’t want to get out of in a hurry. The name is an homage to the caricatures of Gerald Scarfe, and there’s a delightful pop-up menu illustrated by the man himself. Another draw is the live music–jazz, soul and blues–every night of the week. As with all the best hotel bars, the drinks are expensive, but it’s well worth the price.
Scarfes Bar, Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
15/48Three Sheets
This smart and minimal bar in Dalston functions as a coffee bar by day, purveyor of cocktails by night. The regularly changing menu is cleverly organized by ‘One Sheet’, ‘Two Sheets’, ‘Three Sheets’ drinks, depending on how strong you like them. It’s all delightfully simple – just excellent, seasonal drinks with a minimum of fuss.
Three Sheets, 510b Kingsland Road, E8 4AE
16/48The Covent Garden Hotel
The Firmdale Group's hotels in central London are reliably lovely places for pretty much any occasion and we'd happily go to them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their bars are well worth knowing too for classic cocktails and new discoveries. A particular favourite right now is Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel (conveniently close to House & Garden HQ), which has launched a brilliant happy hour concept – Martini hour – where Martinis are £14 and come with free fries. As firm believers that strong drinks should always come with fried food, this is music to our ears and we strongly recommend a visit.
Covent Garden Hotel, 10 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9HB
17/48Tayēr + Elementary
Is the two-part bar the concept of the future? If this Old Street bar is anything to go by, we'd say yes. The first space, Elementary, is an informal bar with cocktails served from taps and pre-mixed bottles; the second, Tayēr, is the more high-end space, with a large bar in the middle serving up inventive mixology. Industrial in aesthetic and with a sustainable ethos, this is one of the bars to know now.
Tayēr + Elementary, 152 Old St, London EC1V 9BW
18/48Satan’s Whiskers
Satan’s Whiskers is certainly not the most sophisticated-looking cocktail bar in London, but this is a bartenders’ bar, with a trendy vibe to suit its Bethnal Green location. The kitschy décor takes in taxidermied animals, vintage liquor posters, and bare-brick walls, and somehow it all hangs together with a banging hip-hop soundtrack. The menu prominently features some classic drinks, alongside frequently changing new inventions.
Satan’s Whiskers, 343 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 9RA
19/48Kwānt
This chic Mayfair bar (downstairs from Moroccan restaurant Momo), takes its decorative cues from the world of the tiki bar (or alternatively from the movie Casablanca, if you want to continue the Moroccan theme). Set up by ex-Savoy head bartender Erik Lorincz, this bar's smart white-jacketed bartenders serve up delicious tropical-style drinks with considerable flair.
Kwānt, 25 Heddon St, London W1B 4BH
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20/48No. 23
This sleek and intimate mezcalería is part of the restaurant and wine bar Carousel; we ate there and headed next door to No.23 for a post-dinner cocktail. Being midweek, it was very quiet, but I imagine that on a Saturday night the atmosphere would be livelier. They serve wine, beer and mocktails, but the thing to head here for is undoubtedly the mezcal. Their main cocktail list is comprised of twists on classics such as a Negroni, Colada or Old Fashioned, but all containing tequila or Espadín mezcal.
I tried the potent M&M, a sweet, smoky and spicy cocktail of Espadín, amaro, burnt coffee, ancho, pepper and soda. Service is excellent - we received a thorough education in different types of mezcal as our drinks were made - and the cocktails are all priced around £15, which is fair for this area and the quality of the drinks. Similarly to their sister establishment Carousel, No.23 has a rotating guest residency scheme. When we visited, they had guest cocktails from a Scottish whisky distillery on the menu for a limited time. - Tilly Wheeler
No. 23, 23 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, W1T 1RW
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21/48Common Decency at NoMad Hotel
You might very well walk past Common Decency several times before actually finding the unsuspecting staircase heading into the NoMad hotel's subterranean new cocktail bar. This place used to be the Bow Street Magistrates' Court, which housed the police station that jailed Oscar Wilde in the name of “common decency” (get it?). Now, expect drama on a glamorous scale – from the snug, dimly-lit Belle Epoque interiors to the cocktails that focus on hyper-seasonal ingredients like quince skin and squash seeds. Bartending duo Leo Robitschek and Liana Oster have split the cocktail menu by main ingredient, giving you a safe option and an ‘out there’ option for each one. Don't sleep on the bar snacks either, which also rotate seasonally – especially if the chicken croquettes are on the menu.
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Common Decency, 28 Bow St WC2E 7AW
Caitlin Isola22/48Seed Library
Heading down the stairs down into Seed Library, the bar underneath East London hotel One Hundred Shoreditch, is a little like going backstage at the opera or some sort of rock star’s arena tour – all dark stairwells, windowless doors and black curtains. Make it in, though, and you’re suddenly in a louche 1970s-inflected take on a cocktail bar as though it was designed by, say, Gio Ponti: low banquettes and chairs, breeze-block bar, everything upholstered in browns and maroons.
Seed Library was, in fact, created by pun-loving cocktail virtuoso Ryan “Mr Lyan” Chetiyawardana, of Lyaness – formerly Dandelyan – on the South Bank and other bars around London and the world, and its eight-drink menu (not including the £300 Krug-and-snacks “Ballermaker”) is pleasingly straightforward. The Spicy Metropolitan (Grey Goose, scotch bonnet chilli and orange liqueur) will send you giddy even as it clears out your sinuses, while the fruit-forward Koseret’s Downfall (Bacardi, apricot, pineapple and soda water, plus a taste of Ethiopian koseret) will please anyone looking for something sweeter. There are also beguiling takes on the Daiquiri, Champagne cocktail and gimlet, a “purple shiso” Martini and many other intoxicating options. Then, because you’re in Shoreditch, accompany them with potato smiles, lamb sweetbreads or – we kid you not – a deep-fried Mars bar.
Seed Library, 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ
23/48The Little Scarlet Door
The Little Door group of bars like to dub themselves ‘the best houseparty in town’, and this latest addition is true to the theme: a bar decorated like an eccentric, eclectic New York flat. Upstairs looks like a chaotic and cool ‘shared kitchen’, and downstairs there are vinyl collections, a playstation and quirky art and objets a-plenty. The drinks are fun, elaborate and seemingly film-themed (we recommend the Et Tu Mama Tambien) with cocktails ranging from £8 to £14, and the food is delicious in the modern mezze style. Our bartenders were incredibly friendly, and were happy to whip up an amazing non-alcoholic drink for our non-drinker friend.
The Little Scarlet Door, 12-13 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DL
Erik Lorincz24/48The American Bar at Savoy
The fashion for cocktails really got going in the US in the late 19th century, and in Europe the term 'American bar' was used to refer to bars serving these newfangled concoctions. The Savoy set up its American Bar in 1904, and there's no better place in London for a dose of vintage charm. There's a wide range of beautifully presented drinks, discreet service, and it's an excellent place for people-watching.
American Bar at Savoy, The Royal Academy, 6 Burlington Gardens, London W1J 0BD
25/48Artesian
The Langham Hotel is the setting for this graceful bar, which combines opulent Oriental décor with highly theatrical drinks. The pagoda-esque lines of the bar and the lilac leather seating are very lovely, and the bar has recently created a whole new menu around the theme of 'Connections', which feels very relevant after such an isolating year. The 'Cherry on Top' (pictured) from the 'Celebration' section of the menu is a particular delight, a rich, slightly tart concoction of vodka, oloroso sherry, cherry pistachio cordial, and champagne. The service is discreet and friendly, and as in all of London's grand hotels, it's always fun to watch the crowd.
Artesian, 1C Portland Pl, Marylebone, London W1B 1JA
CHARLIE MCKAY26/48Joe Allen
Open since 1977 in the heart of Covent Garden theatre-land, Joe Allen is a wonderfully charming place to stop in before or after a show, or frankly at any time of day. With its hearty menu of American classics, the restaurant is heaps of fun, but we're particularly enamoured of their new cocktail bar, Joe's Bar, which has opened just inside the front door. Moody and wood-panelled, it’s an atmospheric space that feels like a proper New York bar (the restaurant is sister to a New York original). Pop in for a range of classic and creative cocktails (all around £14) plus a selection of (quite hefty) bar snacks. A new favourite spot in central London. - TO
Joe Allen, 2 Burleigh St, London WC2E 7PX
27/48The Spy Bar, Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall
For a real touch of James Bond, there's no better place to go than the impressive subterranean speakeasy at the splashy new Raffles London at the OWO – which even has half the car from No Time To Die mounted on the wall. The aptly named Spy Bar is hidden in the former MI5 interrogation rooms in the Grade II listed Edwardian Old War Office and feels like a real step back in time. Come here for whisky drinks prepared in the most creative of ways, led by the experimental bartenders Sotirios Konomi, Davide Sinibaldi and Kyriaki Dachtyloudi who have a lab near the bar to create all sorts of concoctions. We particularly loved the Double O Seven cocktail, a modern twist on the martini made with vodka, rhubarb, coconut, sweet vermouth and… absinthe. As well as the classic Vesper. – Tal Dekel-Daks
The Spy Bar, 57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX
28/48Sketch
Most cocktail bars in London tend to be dimly lit, tiny basement spaces - not Sketch. This sprawling venue takes in a sumptuous pink tea room decked out in Chinoiserie patterns, and a truly bizarre round bar with shiny white surfaces and disco lighting. You might find better cocktails in London, but you definitely won't find more outrageous surroundings.
Sketch, 9 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XG
Addie Chin29/48Swift
One part casual aperitivo bar, one part serious whiskey lounge, Swift offers something for everyone. Pop into the bright upstairs bar with its Italian café vibe for a spritz or Sgroppino, or make a reservation in the darker downstairs for a range of complex cocktails and an extensive selection of whiskeys. There are also outposts of Swift in Borough and Shoreditch for east and south-based folks.
Swift, 12 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 4TQ
30/48Fitz’s at the Kimpton Fitzroy
The most impressive hotel on Russell Square has had a major makeover, reopening in its new, sumptuous incarnation as the Kimpton Fitzroy. You don't have to be a guest to enjoy some of the hotel's loveliest spaces, like its glamorous cocktail bar Fitz's, which deserves a place up there with the grandest dames of London's hotel bars. One of the coolest things about the bar is the cocktail masterclasses they run, in which guests get a guided tutorial in making cocktails - a useful skill to have if ever there was one. You can even have a bespoke masterclass organized around an ingredient or concept of your choice (it can be anything), and the genial Head of Bars Sean Fennelly will take you on a tour of cocktail history that's tailored to your preference.
Fitz’s, corner of Guilford Street and Russell Square, London WC1B 5BE
31/4869 Colebrooke Row
This tiny room down a side street near Angel is everything a cocktail bar should be. It's impeccably designed to recall an intimate Italian café, with dark furniture, dimmed lights, and courteous white-jacketed bartenders. The drinks are short, strong, and highly original, with complex flavours and not an extraneous ingredient in sight.
69 Colebrooke Row, London N1 8AA
Jerome Courtial32/48Nightjar
The quintessential bar for spectacular and theatrical cocktail presentation, Nightjar can be found behind an unassuming door on Old Street. Down the stairs you'll find yourself in an elegant and sophisticated basement, where drinks with seven or eight ingredients (at least three of which you’ve never heard of) come to you in whimsical brass birds, giant teapots, and alchemist’s flasks.
Nightjar, 129 City Rd, London EC1V 1JB
33/48Bar Americain at Brasserie Zedel
Most seats within Bar Americain benefit for an unspoiled view of the bar, with its ceiling height selection of liqueurs, spirits and vermouths glistening enticingly. The art deco-style space is decked out in wood and dark leather, giving it an intimate, cosseting feel that belies that fact that you are sipping your stiffening drink right beneath the chaos of Piccadilly Circus. It's an excellent escape in the middle of the bustle.
Bar Americain at Brasserie Zedel, 20 Sherwood St, Soho, London W1F 7ED
Akemi Kurosaka34/48Zetter Townhouse(s)
The two Zetter Townhouses, one in Marylebone, one in Clerkenwell, are both unobtrusive but incredibly stylish hotels hiding in Georgian townhouses. Each comes with a cocktail bar masterminded by Tony Conigliaro, so you know the drinks will be strong, thoughtfully designed, and not overly showy. The bars themselves are furnished to look like “the private residence of a most beloved and eccentric Great Aunt” – all sumptuous armchairs, stuffed animals, and rich wallpaper.
Zetter Townhouse, 49-50 St John's Square, London EC1V 4JJ and 28-30 Seymour Street, London W1H 7JB
35/48The Connaught
This dark, seductive corner of the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair offers some of the best martinis in London, complete with very elegant service. Order a house martini and the barman will bring a trolley to your table, and make it right there to your specifications. The custom range of bitters to go with your gin selection is a lovely touch.
The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London, W1K 2AL
36/48Oriole
As the little sister of Shoreditch's Nightjar, you can expect a certain level of flamboyance and luxury from this Smithfield Market bar. Both the lush, green and gold interior and the exquisite cocktail menu are themed around empire and exploration, so don't expect to be familiar with all the exotic ingredients. Fortunately, there's much more space here than at Nightjar, but we'd still recommend a reservation.
Oriole, Smithfield Markets, E Poultry Ave, London EC1A 9LH
Addie Chin37/48Bar Termini
Soho's Termini is a sister to 69 Colebrooke Row; both have cocktail tastemaker Tony Conigliaro at the helm. There's a more explicitly Italian feel to this equally tiny and simple space, and they provide an excellent range of house Negronis, each with its own variation on the classic formula. It's usually full, but well worth a bit of a wait.
Bar Termini, 7 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 5JE
38/48The Blind Pig at Social Eating House
Blind Pig is the upstairs bar at Jason Atherton's celebrated Social Eating House in Soho. It's a dark and tasteful space, with a copper-topped bar and leather banquettes. The menu is inventive and literary-themed - try the Roald Dahl-inspired “Float Like a Peach” or Paddington Bear’s “Lost and Found” and they have a strong line in witty garnishes.
Social Eating House, 58 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 7NR
39/48Beaufort Bar at Savoy
The American Bar gets all the attention at the Savoy, but this gilded Art Deco space with its glossy black walls is arguably the more alluring bar of the two. There are 'character' drinks, based on celebrities like Coco Chanel and Monet who haunted the Savoy, heaps of vintage glassware, and regular evenings of cabaret and live entertainment.
Beaufort Bar, 99 Strand, London WC2R 0EU
40/48Lyaness
Ryan Chetiyawardana's original bar, White Lyan, was a pioneer in sustainable, low-waste cocktails, eschewing tropical citrus and ice for a more local, eco-friendly approach. Its sister bar, Dandelyan, opened in the Mondrian Hotel with an array of potent, plant-based drinks. The hotel has since changed names and so has the bar: though the space is the same, this is now Lyaness in the Sea Containers Hotel, with a brand new blue colour palette to boot. If the eco-approach to cocktails whets your appetite, try Chetiyawardana's other London bar, Cub in Hoxton.
Lyaness, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD
Lateef Okunnu41/48Happiness Forgets
It’s quite rare to find a bar in East London that's free of pretension and gimmicks, but Happiness Forgets does fit the bill. Nestled in a compact basement in Hoxton Square, this bar boasts staff who really know their stuff. The drinks rather than the surroundings are the focus here, and it shows.
Happiness Forgets, In the basement, 8-9 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6NU
42/48Cahoots
Kingly Court’s Cahoots is not a subtle bar. Follow the “To the Trains” signs down a narrow staircase, and you’ll find yourself in a riotous “Blitz Party on the Undergound” themed bar. The extensive cocktails (listed on a retro piece of newspaper) conform to the jolly wartime theme, but the gimmick doesn’t get in the way of the quality. There’s jaunty live music if you stay late into the evening – it’s the perfect place for a knees-up.
Cahoots, 13 Kingly Court, Carnaby, London W1B 5PG
43/48Bobby Fitzpatrick
This gleefully 1970s-themed bar in West Hampstead serves up generous helpings of rum-heavy Caribbean cocktails. The attention to detail in the décor is astounding (the toilets are a particular joy) – think brown geometric wallpaper, shag carpeting, and wicker furniture. Start with one of their clever daiquiri variations, and don't miss out on the amazing slushy Piña Coladas.
Bobby Fitzpatrick, 273 West End Ln, London, NW6 1QS
44/48Trailer Happiness
Tiki cocktails and 1960s kitsch are a winning combination at this Portobello Road basement bar, one of the few really great cocktail bars in West London. The wood-lined walls and mod furniture give off a general “grandma in her party days” feel, while the tropical, rum-focused menu is the ideal fuel for a riotous evening.
Trailer Happiness, 177 Portobello Rd. London W11 2DY
45/48Punch Room at the London Edition
Fitzrovia’s London Edition hotel plays host to this attractive, reservations-only bar, with its list of 30 signature punches. The oak-panelled room has a whiff of 1970s style, bolstered by a bouncy soul soundtrack. At the weekend you can also come for “Scandal Water”, or afternoon tea accompanied by a selection of punches.
Punch Room at the London Edition, 10 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP
46/48Coupette
The apples are the draw in this casual Bethnal Green bar. They focus, slightly unexpectedly, on Calvados, and offer a wide range of apple brandies in addition to a cocktail menu which prominently features them. A hip-hop soundtrack and no-frills décor makes a rather incongruous backdrop, but there’s no arguing with the quality of the drinks and the bartenders’ expertise.
Coupette, 423 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 0AN
47/48Bar 45 at 45 Park Lane
The deeply civilised Bar 45 is one of many reasons to visit the glorious Art Deco hotel 45 Park Lane. This chic space, its walls lined with impressive artworks, plays host to an excellent cocktail menu. Its new incarnation, ‘Art Form’ takes its impetus from said artworks, with elaborate drinks such as the Infinity Martini, inspired by the work of Yayoi Kusama, and the warming whiskey-based Nuage, which looks to the subversive surrealist art of Magritte. The highlight, however, is surely the Negroni trolley, a selection of twists on this Italian classic that are prepared tableside with a dash of theatre. This is the perfect place to meet for drinks before heading on to the hotel’s Wolfgang-Puck-run steak restaurant, CUT, or at the beginning of any Mayfair night.
45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN
48/48Ginger Lily
Set at the back of the new Pan Pacific hotel, Ginger Lily provides a calm spot away from the chaos of the city. Whilst it runs the risk of becoming a city boy haunt, if you pick your time and day well enough you should all but have the place to yourself. Their Champagne list features glasses from over 100 Champagne houses, so you won’t feel restricted in your selection. The cocktails on the menu are experimental, though traditional ones like Margaritas and Martinis are available on request. True drink buffs will enjoy choices like Medimar, a cocktail made from Ketel One vodka, Professore Classico-infused basil, truffle oil, bitters, parmesan crisp. Infused for days at a time, the truffle vodka is a punchy, earthy flavour that isn’t for the faint hearted. For a fruity, easy option, try the Paper Plane.
Ginger Lilly at Pan Pacific, 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB
