London cocktail bars: ten of the best

There’s a cocktail bar for every mood in London but with so much choice deciding where to go can be confusing. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to impress a date, experiment with gastro-mixology or to drink in the views, take your pick from our selection of London's best cocktail-sipping experiences below.

There are plenty of bars offering pretty good views over London but Paramount is one of our favourites. Why? It’s chic in an inclusive way – making you feel posh without being intimidating. Your experience starts at ground level. After checking in with the reception staff, you step into the lift and after a few ear-popping moments you’re up to the 32st floor. The first thing you notice is the dramatic hand-crafted, copper bar in the centre of the room. Designed by Tom Dixon, it’s every inch the showstopper. Then there’s that breathtaking vista. However cool you think you may think you are, it’s unlikely you’ll fail to be impressed from the views afforded from 385 feet up – even the usually dingy end of Oxford Street looks impressive from a height.

Top tip: Don’t leave without heading up to the Viewing Gallery and Bar on the 33rd floor; it’s not as bustling as the main bar area below but you do get whopping 360 degree views.

Top tipple: Dakers Last Words (Bombay Sapphire gin infused with rosemary and Yellow Chartreuse and shaken with yellow and pink citrus, all garnished with an Absinthe-flamed rosemary stick).

Address: 101-103 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DD. T: 020 7420 2900.

Open: Mon-Wed 8am-1.30am; Thurs & Fri 8am-2.30am; Sat 11.30am-2.30am; Sun noon-4pm.

Best for non-alcoholic cocktails: Long Bar at The Sanderson

Gone are the days when anyone seeking out non-alcoholic drinks had to contend with fruit juice out of a carton or boring old lemonade. Most good bartenders will mix up something tasty if you ask them to park the alcohol to one side but some, like the Long Bar at The Sanderson hotel, make a point of featuring imaginative non-alcoholic choices on their menus. Listed in the drinks menu in a special ‘On the Wagon’ section, the four fruit/herb concoctions are nicely balanced and won’t leave you feeling like you’ve been overlooked in the creativity department. The venue gets top marks for cocktail presentation and stylish setting as well.

Top tip: If it’s the calories you’re avoiding rather than the spirits themselves, check out the Skinny Cocktails section with five drinks ranging from 134-150 calories each.

Top tipple: Lychee Lemonade (fresh lemongrass and ginger stirred with pressed lychees and lime juice).

Average price: ‘On the Wagon’ cocktails priced at £7.

Address: 50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG. T: 020 7300 5588.

Open: Mon-Sat 11am-3am; Sun noon-midnight.

Best for English eccentricity: Zetter Townhouse bar

It’s hard not to fall in love with the Zetter Townhouse bar. It’s like visiting our favourite delightfully dotty aunt and kicking back in her front room. There are quirky touches everywhere: a life-sized stuffed kangaroo here, decorative china plates there, plus more books, paintings and cushions than you can shake a stick at.

The stylish mishmash and comfy upholstered sofas make for a warmth and cosiness you won’t find in most bars; particularly ones of this calibre. Zetter Townhouse Bar recently picked up the World’s Best New Cocktail Bar prize at the prestigious Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Little wonder really, every one of the dozen cocktails on Tony Conigliaro’s seasonally changing list is classically structured, consisting of an average of only three ingredients made to work hard and delight the palate with homemade cordials, tinctures or bitters.

Top tip: Be sure to have a poke around to take in all the details – even the walk to the loo is a visual delight.

Top tipple: The Master at Arms (Myers rum, port evaporation with homemade grenadine).

Address: 86-88 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 5RJ. T: 020 7324 4444.

Open: Sun-Wed 7am-midnight; Thurs-Sat 7am-1am.

Best for gastro mixology: London Cocktail Club

Bacon and egg in a glass anyone? Or how about a squid ink sour? These are just two of the brilliant concoctions on the menus at the two London Cocktail Clubs owned by JJ Goodman and James Hopkins. Food is very much in focus and while there are plenty of well-priced and very imaginative bar bites to accompany your drinks, it’s the culinary cocktails that really show off the creativity of the LCC crew. For proof, consider this: Andy Mil, the head bartender, beat off 50 finalists from all corners of the globe to win the Food Matching section of the World Class Global Finals in Rio earlier this year.

Hence cocktails like the Cheese and Pineapple Martini and the Oyster Bomb and sweet liquid treats like the Chocolate Brownie, a flip made with chocolate, crème de cacao and Baileys, served with a baby brownie on the side. There’s also the Cuptail, surely the only cocktail served with a buttercream frosting? It’s not all gastro though. If you’re not quite ready for drinks that taste like dinner or dessert, there are plenty of more classic concoctions to choose from, including crowd pleasers such as the Mojito and Bellinis.

Top tip: Look out for Andy Mil mixing things up behind the bar – he’s the current World Class Best Bartender in Great Britain.

Top tipple: House Grog, a blend of five rums, port, sherry, gin and Arrack - not for the faint-hearted.

Address: 61 Goodge Street, W1T 1TL. T: 020 7580 1960 (gin palace); 224 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8EB. T: 020 7580 1960 (rum parlour).

Open: Mon-Fri 4.30pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight.

Best for romance: Beaufort Bar

Sleek, chic and discreet, the opulent Beaufort Bar is top of the list for anyone looking for the perfect spot to impress a date. The Art Deco setting couldn’t be any sexier – think smouldering black lacquer, burnished gold alcoves, velvet upholstery and the kind of low-lighting that shows everyone off to best effect.

Although it takes second billing to the American Bar upstairs, the Beaufort Bar is a star in its own right – not only in the looks department but in the fact it occupies the former cabaret stage where late greats such as George Gerschwin and Frank Sinatra once performed. The drinks are equally glam. Served in stunning, long-stemmed crystal glassware that make you feel like a movie star before you’ve even taken a sip, they’re the perfect vessels for the extensive choice of champagnes or sparkling cocktails.

Top tip: True to tradition there’s nightly entertainment on offer so ensure you arrive in time to see the performers (or avoid them, depending on your preference).

Top tipple: Encantador (Bacardi Superior, Aperol, Eau de Framboise, pressed lemon and vanilla).

Address: The Savoy, Strand, WC2R 0EU. T: 020 7836 4343.

Open: Mon-Sat 5pm-1am; Sun 2.30pm-6.30pm.

Best for Speakeasy style: Evans & Peel Detective Agency

Speakeasies have become so common in London that most have lost the requisite mystique. Not so Evans & Peel. Make an appointment (only bookings allowed), then when you arrive at the address (in an unassuming spot just off Earls Court Road), press the buzzer and await instructions.

If your name is on the list you’ll be granted access to the detective’s office in the basement. Then, after the briefest of interrogations, the bookshelf in the middle of the room opens to reveal a world where draught ale is dispensed from a radiator, bottles of champagne are disguised in brown paper bags and classic cocktails are served with a 1920s American-style twist.

The décor is as clandestine as you’d expect. Dim lighting, bare brick walls, a crackly retro soundtrack and tables made from reconditioned scaffolding boards are all present. Together it all makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time and into a naughty secret.

Top tip: Order a few of the small plates to go with your cocktails - most of which have a touch of smoke added by the in-house smoker.

Top tipple: The Hop, Skip and a Jump (Martell VS, lemon sugar, Pale Ale reduction, honey, egg white and orange bitters)

Address: 310c Earls Court Road, SW5 9BA. T: 020 7373 3573.

Open: Tues-Fri 7pm-midnight; Fri & Sat 5pm-12.30am.

Best for history buffs: Rules

If you like history, you’ll adore Rules. Established by Thomas Rule in 1798 it’s one of those places that every historical figure seems to have frequented. Charles Dickens, H.G Wells, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Joan Collins, you name them – they’ve all popped in for the traditional British dishes served in the ground floor restaurant, while the upstairs bar is a former private room where Edward VII used to entertain his mistress Lillie Langtry.

If you like your bars light and streamlined, forget it, Rules is of the swirly patterned carpet, dark wood and red upholstery brigade. And that’s part of its appeal. Perch at one of the dainty tables dotted around the room (bagsy the table by the fireplace as the autumn nights start drawing in) or better still, try to get one of the few stools at the bar and watch as the Rules crew mix up one of their exceptional classic cocktails.

Top tip: You can order food off the menu but if you don’t, no worries, you’ll be offered a plate of delicious Stilton to accompany your drinks.

Top tipple: Ask bar manager Chris Lacey to make you a Sazerac – it’s his favourite drink and one he excels at.

Address: 35 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7LB. T: 020 7836 5314.

Open: Mon-Sat noon-11.30pm; Sun noon-10.30pm.

Best for quirky elegance: Artesian

If you know your interior designers, we have two words for you: David Collins. This design team don’t do ‘plain’; theirs is a world of 100 per cent five-star luxury. Despite the opulent Chinoiserie, smart-as-you-like lilac leather seating and show-stopping mirrored pagoda bar, Artesian has a playful side to it, thanks largely to award-winning bar manager Alex Kratena and his team – they’re serious about their drinks but they don’t take themselves too seriously.

For proof look no further than the Twisted Disco section of the menu. The Sex on the Beach, Pina Colada (made in a Slush Puppy machine no less) and Blue Lagoon (with tapioca pearls for bubble tea lovers) are fun but extremely tasty. Along with the classics, there’s a fabulous selection of originals such as the Spontaneity combining Tanqueray gin, Velvet Falernum, fresh lime, aperilla, bitters and finished with a drizzle of sesame oil.

Top tip: Rum is the speciality spirit, so try one of the dozen rum-based cocktails.

Top tipple: The Langham Martini (Tanqueray No TEN gin, crystal-clear ice and your choice of five specially made vermouths inspired by fashion capitals. It comes served in a detachable bespoke silver vessel that’s designed to keep your Martini cold to the last drop.)

Address: The Langham Hotel, 1c Portland Place, W1B 1JA. T: 020 7636 1000.

Open: Mon-Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-midnight.

Best for entertainment: Nightjar

Enjoying a great cocktail isn’t just about the drink, but rather about the drinking experience as a whole. At Nightjar the promise of live jazz isn’t an afterthought (as is often the case in many venues) but is actually an integral part of the whole experience with drinks and music going hand in hand. So while the drinks menu is divided up into Pre-Prohibition, Prohibition, Post-War and Nightjar Signatures, the music on offer on most nights specialises in Golden Age jazz from the 1920s to 1940s. Moreover, they go all out to offer variety, including New Orleans, Blues and Latin. The underground interior is stylish, dark and intimate and this, along with the fact that they employ a table service policy, delivers a feeling of old-school charm. It avoids being overly refined or stuffy though, perhaps thanks to its hip location on the edge of Shoreditch. Sit back and spend the whole evening there.

Top tip: The sound is good wherever you’re seated but to really get up close and personal with the performers make a reservation and request a table at the front of the ‘stage’.

Top tipple: The Millionaire (Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon, Grand Marnier, absinthe, Nightjar grenadine, duck egg white, lime juice and nutmeg).

Address: 129 City Road, EC1V 1JB. T: 020 7253 4101.

Open: Sun-Wed 6pm-1am; Thurs-Sat 6pm-3am.

Best for party people: Callooh Callay

Everything about this Shoreditch hotspot says good times - from the name of the bar (it’s taken from Lewis Carroll’s nonsense rhyme), through to the old-school cassette tapes decorating the walls of the toilets. The oversized wardrobe in the main bar at the front of the building is the clincher though – walk through it and you’re in another play area, containing a lounge and the Jubjub Room reserved for members. It’s a young crowd but if you’ve got the right attitude you won’t feel out of place. Particularly if you’re into innovative cocktails.

Not for nothing did the team pick up the World’s Best Cocktail Menu prize at this year’s Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail; the drinks have an irreverent about them, that goes for everything from the Marmaggedon (Ocho Reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, agave syrup, topped with beer and rimmed with Marmite) to the Just Bee Good To Me (42 Below Manuka vodka, pineapple, Cointreau, lemon juice, jasmine tea syrup, Prosecco). Fun, creative and tasty in equal parts.

Top tip: Go with a group and order the popular If You Don’t Gnome Me By Now (gin, lemongrass, fresh lemon, elderflower and Prosecco), served in a delightfully kitsch garden gnome punch bowl, £55.

Top tipple: Anise & Nephew (Wray & Nephew rum, Velvet Falernum, fresh pineapple and lime juice with Pernod absinthe).

Address: 65 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY. T: 020 7739 4781.

Open: Sun-Wed 6pm-midnight; Thurs-Sat 6pm-1am.

The Cocktail Lovers are Mr G and Ms S, a married couple carrying out painstaking research in the capital’s best cocktail bars. Cocktail connoisseurs, their crammed book of contacts and rolodex of informed recommendations are highly sought after. You can visit their site or download their magazine at The Cocktail Lovers and follow them @cocktaillovers.

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Cocktail bars london

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London's best cocktail bars

Words by: Simon Difford

In our experience the following London bars serve consistently good cocktails, regardless of what bartenders are on shift and independent of the time of day or the day of the week - factors which can be surprisingly revealing. As well as good cocktails, these bars offer good surroundings, ambiance and service.

London is a big city so to aid your planning visits and tours we have listed these bars by area of London and then alphabetically within each area.

We are continually updating and revising the bars we award a Difford's Guide rating of 4.5/5 or more to and due to the high number of great bars in London it is these bars that make it into our best-of-the-best list below.

If you have had a good, bad or indifferent experience in any of these bars, or know of another bar which you believe should be included then please email simon@diffordsguide.com

MAYFAIR & SAVILLE ROW

4 Lancashire Court, Mayfair, W1S 1EY

Part of the Mews of Mayfair group of restaurants that straddle the narrow pedestrian alley that's grandly named Lancashire Court and runs parallel to New Bond Street, Cartizze is a distinctly upmarket Venetian-influenced Bellini and cocktail bar. 5/5

Claridges's Hotel, 55 Brook Street (corner Davies St.), Mayfair, W1A 2JQ

This quaint lounge bar, which acquired its warm Art Deco look in 1999, is small but somehow stately with lined with comfy, red leather bar stools, chairs and banquettes. Claridge's boasts impeccable 5-star service, one of the best ranges of champagne in Britain and beautiful presented well-crafted cocktails. 4.5/5

The Connaught Hotel, 16 Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL

The more classic of the Connaught's two bars in both feel and the cocktails. 5/5

The Connaught Hotel, 16 Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL

Formerly known as the American Bar, the Connaught was named World's Best Hotel Bar at Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans in 2010 and again in 2016. Head bartender Ago Perrone was also named International Bartender of the Year in 2010. It continues to impress as one of the capital's finest cocktail emporia. 5+/5

The Connaught Bar

The Dorchester Hotel, 53 Park Lane, W1A 2HJ

Impeccable, traditional service standards ensure this bar remains one of London's best. 4.5/5

London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, W1K 6JP

A luxurious low-lit, marble, leather and dark wood little jewel box of a bar - the hotel's former left luggage room - with a 1920s soundtrack and well-made classically styled cocktails.4.5/5

15 Bruton Lane, Mayfair, W1J 6JD

The adventures of Phileas Fogg and his trip around the world in 80 days is the theme behind this quirky cocktail parlour in the heart of Mayfair. 4.5/5

8/10 Pollen Street, Mayfair, W1S 1NQ

Jason Atherton's first restaurant, where what has become a global formula for success was established. Gareth Evens' cocktail naming and theming influence is not as apparent here as at other bars in this restaurant chain but cocktails remain consistently good.4.5/5

1st Floor, 50 Davies Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 5JE

Set above the Mayfair's oldest pub (dating back to 1738) The Whip has the feel of an English gentlemen's drinking den with horsey prints, sketches and photographs adorning the walls. It's a homely spot serving outstanding cocktails and food. Juleps are the house speciality and are perfect to wash down one of the sharing platters.

COVENT GARDEN, ALDWYCH & HOLBORN

The Savoy Hotel, Strand, WC2R 0EU

White-jacketed bartenders mixing 'tribute' cocktails to bartending giants using gold three-piece shakers to the sound of a live pianist. Quite simply, part of bartending lore. 5+/5

The Savoy Hotel, Strand, WC2R 0EU

The Beaufort bar has been built on the hotel's former cabaret stage.

The black and gold interior is all about extremely polished finishes, plush upholstery, deep carpets and acres of gold leaf. 5+/5

FITZROVIA & MARYLEBONE

London Edition Hotel, 10 Berners Street, W1T 3NP

This glamorous, buzzy, urbane and sophisticated bar and dining room, definitely hits the mark in terms of conviviality. 4.5/5

61 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1TL

Descending down to the Goodge Street London Cocktail club is akin to entering a gothic, slightly decaying, Sherlock Holmes novel. 4.5/5

1 Chiltern Street (near Blandford St), Marylebone, W1U 7PA

The Chiltern Firehouse is one of London's A-lister hang outs so securing a reservation at the restaurant or terrace can be challenging. Succeed and you'll gain access to the Aperitif Bar. However, accompany an A-lister or book a room in the hotel and you'll be able to experience the delights that await in the Ladder Shed bar. Get a room! 5+/5

39 Whitfield Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 2SF

Forget the fortnight ahead booking for dinner and head to the basement bar for cocktails and bar snacks. 5/5

London Edition Hotel, 10 Berners Street, W1T 3NP

Secreted at the rear of the lobby of Ian Schrager's gorgeous London Edition Hotel, the Punch Room is a lounge bar that specialises in, yes, punch. 4.5/5

SOHO, CHINA TOWN & LEICESTER SQUARE

58 Poland Streeet, Soho, W1F 7NR

On the first floor of Jason Atherton's two-floored Soho site is Blind Pig bar, an eclectically clubby area with a copper-topped bar: wood-pannelling meets New York loft. 5/5

13a Gerrard Street (nr Macclesfield St), Chinatown, W1D 5PS

Epitomising the modern speakeasy, Experimental Cocktail Club Chinatown, is reached through an unmarked doorway that sits between two brightly-lit Chinese restaurants. 4.5/5

Basement Hix Restaurant, 66-70 Brewer Street, Soho, W1F 9UP

Celebrity Chef, Mark Hix's eponymously named Brewer Street venue is the darling of the food critics, but the basement bar receives pundits praise in its own right. 4.5/5

61 Poland Street, Soho, W1F 7NU

The comfortably moody surroundings, secretive address and calm atmosphere, coupled with some of the best classic cocktails in London, make this a special place for seriously discerning drinkers. 5/5

7 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 5JE

This tiny espresso and cocktail bar is is owned by two men with huge reputations: Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrooke Row; and Marco Arrigo, barista trainer extraordinaire. It goes without saying that the coffee and cocktails served here are extraordinary good. If you intend to visit after 5pm be sure to pre-book on bar's website. 5/5

Dukes Hotel, 35-36 St James's Place, SW1A 1NY

Dukes was, for many years, the only place in town to get a decent Martini, and while the wider London cocktail scene has upped its game considerably, Dukes has retained its reputation in this particular area of mixology. 5/5

KNIGHTSBRIDGE, BELGRAVIA & SOUTH KENSINGTON

The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL

Although it is tiny, no one could accuse this David Collins-designed bar of being understated. 4.5/5

City Social Bar

Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1HQ

The fact that the view from the 24th floor of Tower 42 is merely an added bonus should tell you just how sublime the drinks and service at City Social are. And it's quite a spectacular view. 5/5

13 Well Court (off Bow Lane), City of London, EC4M 9DN

Hidden away on a cobbled passageway lying off Bow Lane, this excellent subterranean lounge bar is inspired by the British Empire and celebrates gin and rum with an impressive range of both spirits. Fittingly, these also dominate the cocktail menu with the bar's latest libations aptly named Empire references. 4.5/5

27a Throgmorton Street (below The Arbitrager), EC2N 2AN

Brought to us by the folks at the excellent Hide Bar in Bermondsey, this basement cocktail bar has a name that sounds more fitting for a firm of City lawyers, but refers to the bar's twin signature cocktails: the Demon, a suitably spirituous drink and the Wise, a lighter sour in style.

29a Wentworth Street, Petticoat Lane Market, E1 7TB

Originally a storeroom for the old suit company above, this speakeasy-like bar is named after the old sign emblazoned high above on the front of the building. 4.5/5

157 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, E1 6BJ

Relaxed, confident and super-friendly staff create complex, balanced and beautiful drinks, most delightfully simple, demonstrating a profound and respectful understanding of flavour. 5/5

94 Middlesex Street (Petticoat Lane), Spitalfields, E1 7EZ

Opened in December 2016 by brothers Gerry and Jon Calabrese, with a 60 strong cocktail menu curated by their father, Salvatore Calabrese, The Holy Birds is best described as a posh Nando's with great cocktails and 1960s furnishings. 4.5/5

Black Rock - 9 Christopher St, EC2A 2BS

SHOREDITCH

65 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AY

Cocktails here are made by a highly experienced team so expect great things. A characterful little bar which is filled with characters. 4.5/5

202-204 Brick Lane, E1 6SA

Entering into this subterranean speakeasy and you'll find yourself in a Milk & Honey-level of darkness, with a similar Prohibition jazz soundtrack. A decorative tin ceiling completes the look. 4.5/5

Basement, 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU

Happiness Forgets is not only a firm favourite with the eastern locals but has very much become the bartender's bar in London. "High end cocktails in a low rent basement." 5+/5

147 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3QE

Intimate subterranean cocktail bar that's known for the quality of its creative cocktails (particularly with Suze) and its vintage valve driven sound system which attracts an interesting line-up of guest DJs. 4.5/5

12-16 Artillery Lane, Bishopsgate, E1 7LS

A 'secret' hidden basement speakeasy reached via a Smeg fridge from The Breakfast Club restaurant, just don't exit via the fridge - that would give the game away. 4.5/5

66-68 Rivington St, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AY

Perched on top of Bedroom Bar this is the latest cocktail spot to emerge in bustling Shoreditch, paying homage to drinking in New Orleans. 4.5/5

63 Worship Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 2DU

The name Worship Street Whistling Shop references an old term for a drinking establishment and located behind the large wooden doors on Worship Street is just that, a delightful subterranean drinking den. 4.5/5

BETHNAL GREEN & HACKNEY

Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, E2 9NF

Located in the Town Hall Hotel, Peg + Patriot is a delightful oasis of expert mixology in sharp contrast to the urban bustle of Cambridge Heath Road. 5/5

343 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9RA

This venue is a perfect mix of eccentric taxidermy, candle-lit seating and grungy east end watering hole. Great classic drinks grace a daily-changing menu. 5/5

Arch 250 Paradise Row, Bethnal Green, E2 9LE

Proof that a railway arch can be made homely by the clever application of dark-stained wood panelling. Perhaps better known for its food and wine, Sager + Wilde is also one of our favourite Bethnal Green cocktail spots. 4.5/5

441 Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, E2 0AN

An out-and-out East End boozer given a new lease of life, complete with a brilliant cocktail offering. However, as befits a proper pub The Sun retains its beer pumps with an ever changing selection of mostly local brews. 4.5/5

DALSTON & STOKE NEWINGTON

129 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, N16 0PH

A discrete and rather unpromising doorway alongside Burger Bear leads down a dingy staircase to what is a sizeable and rather swanky cocktail lounge. Run by the folk behind the excellent Happiness Forgets in Hoxton Square. 4.5/5

CLERKENWELL, BARBICAN & SMITHFIELD

44 Old Street (corner Timber St), Clerkenwell, EC1V 9AQ

Rusty Cerven and Marian Beke and taken a tiny (just 40 seats) emerald green tilled corner pub in no-man's land and turned in into one of London's must visit bars. Some of the drinks, and particularly the garnishes, are over-the-top but the signature Gibson is simply brilliant. Be sure to ask for extra onions and steak tartare bites and perhaps ask for it to be served in a glass rather than the default stainless steel vessel. 4.5/5

Overseen by eminent mixologist Tony Conigliaro, this homely cocktail lounge sprawls across the ground floor of a fabulous 13 room hotel formed by knocking two Georgian townhouses together.

49-50 St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, EC1V 4JJ

SOUTHBANK, BOROUGH & BERMONDSEY

Mondrian London at Sea Containers, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD

Lying in the belly of a vast landmark hotel on London's Southbank, Dandelyan boasts a stunning location overlooking the River Thames. Here Ryan Chetiyawardana, A.K.A Mr Lyan, and his team offer one of the most creative and best executed cocktail menus in the world. 5+/5

The Shard, 31 Saint Thomas Street, Borough, SE1 9QU

The highest bar in not only England but Europe, Gŏng sits on the 52nd floor of the Shard, handily smack next door to the infinity pool - also the highest in Europe. Unlike other lofty bars with stunning views, at Gŏng they serve tasty cocktails. You'll also encounter the kind of 5-star service you'd expect of a Shangri-La hotel. 5/5

39-45 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3XF

The Hide Bar's location below the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, rightly suggests that this is a place where folk take good drinks seriously. 5/5

Hutong in the Shard

47-51 Great Suffolk Street, Borough, SE1 0BS

The understated exterior of the Union Street Café, practically hidden on this back street in Southwark, belies this fabulous basement bar which is part of fiery celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's empire. 4.5/5

ISLINGTON, HIGHBURY & KINGS CROSS

69 Colebrooke Row, Islington, N1 8AA

This bar is notable due to it being owned and run by Tony Conigliaro. It's rare to find Tony behind the stick these days, but the very talented bar crew make consistently great drinks, delivered with equally attentive service. 5/5

25 Canonbury Lane, Islington, N1 2AS

This bar has one of the best cocktail menus we've ever seen brought to life by a couple of very talented bartenders. 4.5/5

St. Pancras Renaissance, Euston Road, NW1 2AR

George Gilbert Scott was the architect responsible for St. Pancras, and the bar attached to Marcus Wareing's new restaurant in the hotel is a fitting tribute to his most lasting legacy. 4.5/5

NOTTING HILL, LADBROKE GROVE, MAIDA VALE & PADDINGTON

65 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UJ

65&King aims to recall 'the heady glamour of American Deco' and indeed, on entering this cocktail bar you do feel as though you've crossed the pond from London to Manhattan. 4.5/5

177 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 2DY

To quote from a press release, Trailer H has the "e-z-boy feel of a low rent, mid-60s California valley bachelor pad. a retro-sexual haven of cosmopolitan kitsch and faded trailer park glamour - cork tiles and shag pile, love songs and vol-au-vents." 5/5

CLAPHAM, BATTERSEA & WANDSWORTH

5-9 Battersea Rise, SW11 1HG

Past the sliding door, you're in a disco-themed room with gold curtains, Haiwaiian-shirted bar staff and a handlebar-moustachioed logo. 4.5/5

BLOOMSBURY & HOLBORN

Rosewood London Hotel, 252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN

Scarfes Bar is a charming edition to the growing Holborn scene and we suspect will become a favourite during the winter months in front of that lovely fire. 5/5

CHELSEA, FULHAM & PARSON'S GREEN

87 Sloane Avenue (next door to Barts), SW3 3DX

Slicker and sporting a glossier Chelsea set than next door Barts, this sparkling symphony in shiny silver, crystal and black takes its heart from the glamorous Art Deco cocktail bars of Buenos Aires in the 1920s and 30s. 4.5/5

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The ultimate list of cocktail bars in London

When we first created this list back in 2010 you might have heard the words “there aren’t that many decent cocktail bars in London”. What madness is this? Now following a revival, London bars have definitely come a long way, with top-quality classics sharing a drinks list with the latest cocktail concoctions. This year, we've added in some award-winning new bars to ensure whether you like them long and strong or short but sweet, you can get a quality cocktail. So here, in no particular order, are updated 50 places to pick from:

1. The American Bar at The Savoy, Strand

The bar is named after the slang for cocktails so you know you are in the right place. The Savoy Cocktail book is still regarded as the “Bible for bartenders”. Class all the way.

2. Bourne & Hollingsworth, Rathbone Place

A tiny 30s bar hidden away (look for the stairs by the black and white poster). Very handsome bar staff too. Expect drinks served in jam jars and tea cups.

3. Dirty Martini, The Piazza, Covent Garden

In the week happy hour till 10pm – but get there early at the weekends (open late!!) Get here early for their 2-4-1 deals. Make sure you get the chocolate martini. But if it’s busy and you’re thirsty, go elsewhere.

Dirty Martini

4. Trader Vics, Park Lane

Come here for the famed Mai Tai. Just had a major revamp – over a tenner for the top cocktails - Aloha

5. Nola, Shoreditch

Having scooped the 2014 Best New International Cocktail bar at the prestigious “Spirited Award”, this East London tribute to New Orleans is a must-visit. Members-only post-midnight but you can get a signature Sazerac for less than a tenner.

6. Trailer Happiness, Notting Hill

Fun and silly, which is what cocktails should be, don’t you think? Kitsch rum cocktails

7. El Camion, Soho

Simply magical margaritas and late night opening hours, Monday to Saturday, makes this a new Soho superstar.

8. Barsmith, Farringdon

If you work near Farringdon, you'll probably already be familiar with Barsmith's excellent cocktails and happy hour. But this summer they've gone Tiki themed, which means it's 2 for 1 on tropical cocktails like the ‘Zombie' from 7 - 11pm Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday too.

9. Freud, Shaftesbury Avenue

Great little bar and gallery, but the cocktail list is enormous. Worth the trip if you can afford to try lots of new things

10. Zetter, Farringdon.

Worth the trip east for the fabulous martinis. The Zetter Townhouse hotel is award winning, too.

11. Nightjar, Old Street

An Art Deco slice of heaven, this 1920s themed bar (think pre & post prohibition cocktail drinks on the menu) is open until 3am at the weekend.

12. The Purple Bar, The Sanderson

If there is a more opulent hotel bar in London, we're yet to find it.

13. Shochu, Charlotte Street

Hidden away and serving unique (if expensive) cocktails using the Japanese spirit Shochu.

14. Benugo at the BFI, Southbank

Wonderful Margaritas. Better when it’s quiet though, which is pretty rare.

15. Bar 55, Camden

One for the after work crowd. Great cocktails and super boozy 2-4-1 deals throughout the week.

16. Garlic and Shots, Soho

Well it’s great. if you like garlic and you’re not planning on kissing anyone.

17. Charlotte Street Hotel, Fitzrovia

Great in summer, if you’re lucky enough to get a table outside. Don’t move if you do. And go for the Dark ‘n’ Stormy.

18. Match, Margaret Street

Nifty little spot, and never too busy. Great cocktails, but go with a group as it now has sharing bowl punches

19. Mele E Pere, Soho

More a restaurant but does amazing martini’s; we recommend the “Dirty” one. Not the cheapest, but quality all the way. They even had Prosecco on tap!

20. Beach Blanket Babylon, Notting Hill

Stunning design and a classier feel than the Shoreditch branch.

21. Cellar Door, Aldwych / Covent Garden

A funky underground cocktail bar in a former public toilet. Yep, really. Open until 1am every night so a great central London late night option.

Cellar-Door-EastEnd-Cab

22. Tropicana Beach Club, Covent Garden

Tropical cocktails and bargain 2-4-1 deals between 5pm-8pm, Thursdays to Saturday. Beach themed food, too.

23. The Hospital Club, Covent Garden

If you can get in, the martinis are a treat. So are the little shots that waiters pass around the bar.

24. LAB, Soho

So many cocktails from developing bartenders! You’ll need a year (and a strong liver) to go through them all. Try something new.

25. Zensai, Camden

There aren’t many cocktail bars in Camden, but this one is really very good and has great 2-4-1 deals early doors throughout the week.

26. Crazy Bear, Fitzrovia

Fab members- only clubhouse bar. If you have the creds; pop in early to get a table.

27. Soho Hotel, Soho

They do great mojitos at the hotel’s Refuel Bar. Expect to pay well over a tenner though. Ouch.

28. Titos, London Bridge Street

More of a restaurant, but we hear they do the best Pisco sours in town.

29. Good Godfreys, Waldorf Hilton, Strand / Covent Garden

Another hotel bar which is open late; try their decadent signature cocktail, The Perfect Host, for a 1920s twist.

Good Godfrey's

30. Sketch, Mayfair

Worth a trip for the egg-shaped toilets alone. This is a destination cocktail bar in magical surroundings.

31. 69 Colbrooke Row, Angel

This small, classic, award-winning bar whips up a darn good tipple. Book ahead. If you're feeling inspired try a cocktail masterclass.

32. Be at One, Soho

It’s a pub turned bar chain, so it’s got a very friendly vibe and you'll know what you're getting.

33. Bob Bob Ricard, Soho

If you can get into the elegant bar, the cocktails are great (if a tad expensive). Otherwise just sit at the tables pressing the champagne trolley buttons.

34. The Courthouse, The Courthouse Hotel, Soho

Want to drink convict-themed cocktails in a prison cell? Then come here; I rest my case!

35. Milk & Honey, Soho

Looking for a more exclusive drink? Then come to Milk & Honey before 11pm if you’re not a member. It's best to call or email and reserve.

36. Artesian, The Langham, Marylebone

On several of the world’s best bar lists, this is the height of cocktail bar sophistication. They love pushing the boundaries and have unique and experimental recipes.

Artesian-Bar

37. Shoreditch House, Shoreditch

Very swanky members’ club. Very swanky drinks.

38. Lost Society, Clapham

A lovely little south west London bar, with English classics on both the drinks and food menus.

39. The Hawksmoor, Shoreditch

Not just incredible steak, they can shake a decent tipple as well. Amazing cocktail list.

40. Callooh Callay, Shoreditch

Fitting in rather snugly with its trendy Shoreditch neighbours, this award-winning cocktail menu just has to be tried. Go through to the back room for a more private space.

41. The May Fair bar, May Fair Hotel, Mayfair

An award-winning hotel bar. This is a cracker whether your poison of choice is the Mojito or the Martini. Cocktails start from £13, so this is the place for that special treat.

42. South London Pacific, Kennington

A little way out of town, but worth it if you’re a fan of all things Tiki. Great drink deals before 10pm; Aloho!

43. Freedom, Soho

This is a great little gay/mixed bar. Awesome cocktails (try the Zombie) and a giant disco ball above the dancefloor.

44. Sugar Cane, Clapham

Who wouldn’t want to drink in a Tiki hut? Lots of rum on the shelf here in, err, tropical. Clapham.

45. Covent Garden Cocktail Club, Covent Garden

This members-only club only costs £1 to join via email 24 hours before you go (and you can then sign in 3 pals). Their 2-4-1 deals run nightly and membership means it doesn’t get absolutely heaving.

46. The Rivoli at The Ritz, Piccadilly

Great drinks in amazing Art Deco surroundings. But then it's the Ritz - you wouldn’t expect anything less, would you?

47. Steam and Rye, Leadenhall Street

Fab cocktails and live music to boot.

48. White Lyan, Hoxton

This dark, quirky new bar eschews ice and has all their drinks pre-mixed. Very original and surprising tasty, a cocktail experience with a difference.

49. Cubana, Waterloo

Sure it’s a bit of a dive, but the mojitos are wonderful.

50. Hakkasan, right by Tottenham Court Road

Tucked away, you’d think you were in another part of the world.

Freud

We would love to hear what your favourite bars are and let us know if we have missed one of yours off. Please leave a comment below or get in touch on Facebook or Twitter with your drinks and bar recommendations.

London Cocktail Week

1-7 October 2018

A Digital Pass entitles you to…

£6 festival cocktails in 300 of London's best bars
First look access to pop-ups and parties

LCW is the biggest, most vibrant celebration of our capital's fantastic cocktail scene. With 300 bars signed up to the Cocktail Tours and a week-long cocktail village at it's heart, we'll be back for the ninth year 01-07 October 2018.

London Cocktail Week 2017 Highlights

LCW17 : on film

All the cocktails, all the fun and all the laughs. Cheers to another fantastic LCW!

All London Cocktail Week Bars

All the fantastic bars that took part in this years London Cocktail Week - which each served up bespoke £6 cocktails for festival pass holders. We can't wait to work on next year's list. See you at the bar!

LCW: A History

Tracking the history of the festival from it's creation in 2010.

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London's Best Cocktail Bars, Because Why Not Sip It In Style? (PICTURES)

From Bloody Marys to Tom Collins, there's nothing we like more than sitting on a high stool (or a low stool, chair, sofa or simply standing) and sipping on a tasty cocktail.

We'd like to think of ourselves as cocktail connoisseurs here at HuffPost UK and have pain-stakingly scoured the capital to bring you a range of fine establishments to wet your whistle.

Think we've missed any or disagree with our choices? Let us know in the comments below.

London's Best Cocktail Bars

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The 20 Best Cocktail Bars in London

London has many places to explore and one thing we do very well are cocktail bars. We might not be New York (yet), but in my opinion the choice of quirky, classic and awesome cocktail bars are well on their way to catching up. If you live in the city or are visiting from near or far then here are our chosen Best 20 best cocktail bars in London!

1. Aqua Spirit

You’ll find Aqua located off of Regent Street on Argyll Street, the entrance is at ground level but you’ll be whisked up in a lift to the top floor where you’ll be greeted with a beautiful dark, Japanese style bar, adorned with bamboo in the seating booths. Always guaranteed to be busy on a weekend, it’s a great place to start an evening in central London if you’re looking for one. Their strawberry mojitos are pretty delicious!

2. Sushi Samba

Sushi Samba is across the world and is renowned for it’s food however it’s London location at the top of the Heron Tower is definitely worth checking out. Whilst the drinks may be a tad overpriced, this is London and you will be standing on a roof terrace with a pretty spectacular bar. Go up and have a look at the view, weekends there will likely be a queue and make sure you’re not wearing trainers as sorry guys this is one of those places but the despite the steep prices the atmosphere, views and high quality cocktails are worth it!

3. Madison Rooftop Gardens

Madison Rooftop Gardens has a pretty incredible view over the city and especially St Paul’s Cathedral. It has a great after-work vibe and is always buzzing in the summer. Pick up their cocktail or wine list and enjoy the views over the city as the sun sets!

4. Radio at ME Hotel

The Radio at the ME Hotel may attract an assortment of London’s wealthier, flashier clientele but it has one of the best, if not the best view from a cocktail bar in the city. Head up on a sunny day or for sunset and you’ll be pretty content with your situation. Naturally the prices of drinks are expensive because well it’s London and the view is something else. It’s worth visiting for a special occasion or if you want a drink before dinner!

5. Duck and Waffle

Duck and Waffle is located on top of Sushi Samba in the Heron Tower by Liverpool Street Tube. Whilst I personally wouldn’t recommend their food, their cocktails are great and if you manage to snag a table by the window then you’ll be greeted with a pretty exceptional view over London. The lift to get up is also pretty cool, it’s glass so you whizz up watching London as you go.

6. Queen of Hoxton

You’ll find the Queen of Hoxton in the heart of East London. In the summertime their rooftop transforms into the perfect location for any sunny afternoon or evening. It’s got a really cool vibe and is usually playing great music, this combined with rooftop views makes it an obvious choice of destination when searching for a bar in the city.

7. The Shard Aqua

The Shard is the tallest building in London and many of the top floors belong to restaurants and bars including Aqua, who’s other branch I told you about above. The views over the city from the bar are pretty exquisite and the choice of cocktails are even better. With very talented bartenders and a fabulous view of the city, this is definitely a cocktail bar you should be visiting.

8. Bodega Negra

If you can find the entrance to Bodega Negra you may be misled into thinking it’s a sex shop, thanks to the luminous signs which adorn the deceptive window. You’ll walk in and be greeted by a scantily glad mannequin, a hostess and a flight of stairs. If you don’t have a reservation for dinner (which you should seriously consider an advanced booking because the food is amazing) then just say you’d like to have drinks. The bar is always busy and drinks are pretty reasonably priced considering it’s Central Soho location, be sure to try their blended margarita of the day, you won’t be disappointed! @bodeganegra

9. Barrio East

Barrio has a couple of locations in London, one being off Shroeditch Highstreet. Barrio East is a really fun place to go with friends. They serve reasonably priced and delicious cocktails with a central American theme running throughout. You won’t be disappointed by the taste or aghast at the price. Add it to your lists!

10. The Blues Kitchen

The Blues Kitchen in the heart of Shoreditch is a really fun place to enjoy an evening with friends. There’s both delicious food and cocktails to choose from. Their moderately priced, the venue is very shabby chic and very Shoreditch. I highly recommend you pay them a visit for some drinks and maybe even dinner if you’re peckish, awesome music and great vibe.

11. Simmons Camden

There’s a number of Simmons Bars around London, including one in King’s Cross but the one in Camden is a personal favourite. It’s relatively new and offers very reasonably priced drinks for their location. They’re known for their cocktails served in teapots and saucers so definitely check them out if you’re in the area!

12. 5cc Electricity Show Rooms

The 5cc Electricity Show Rooms is a hidden, speakeasy style bar with a number of locations in London including Hoxton and Farringdon. If you’re planning on visiting them then definitely try their ‘Post Order’ cocktail, it’s delicious.

13. Chelsea Prayer Room

The Chelsea Prayer Room is guarded with an ever changing password, it’s located within the restaurant Goast on the Fulham Road and they serve up a pretty delicious and serious choice of cocktails. Dress the part and head on down, you won’t be disappointed.

14. Barsmith

Barsmith is located in Farringdon and they specialise in house infused spirits and cocktails. It recently won Bar of the Year and for good reason too. They’re also incredibly good value with the offer of 2 for 1 cocktails every weekday from 8-10pm, the best happy hour I’ve ever found in London! Delicious choice of cocktails and great atmosphere should definitely entice you through their door.

15. Trailer Happiness

Trailer Happiness can be found downstairs in Notting Hill off of the infamous Portobello Road. All of their cocktails are delicious and have a little Tiki twist to them. It’s a really fun place to go with a group of friends and catch up over a couple of drinks!

16. The Phene

You’ll find the Phene in the heart of Chelsea off of Phene Street. It’s a little bistro style restaurant and bar with a lovely garden to sit out in on a sunny day. The garden is what really makes this bar a destination to visit in South West London. Their mojitos are also delicious and they have lots of more original cocktail recipes on their menu for you to choose from. Definitely a great spot during the summer months!

17. Looking Glass Cocktail Club

The Looking Glass Cocktail Club are renowned for their innovative and different cocktails. They’re located off of Hackney Road near Columbia Road, they’re definitely a one of a kind type of bar. There’s a speak easy vibe to the place and delicious choice of cocktails making them well worth the hunt to find them!

18. Artesian

Artesian is a very sophisticated and original bar in London, with a team of exceptionally talented mixologists and bartenders you’ll be spoilt for choice when visiting them. They’ve received a number of awards for their cocktails and you’ll be forking out quite a bit for a drink but it’s definitely a location to spoil yourself on a special occasion!

19. Evans and Peel Detective Agency

The Evans and Peel Detective Agency is a true speakeasy located in Earls Court. It’s all very csecretive with a statement you have to tell the hostess. Once inside you’ll be treated to their awesome selection of cocktails and vintage spirits, there’s also a great selection of food to choose from. Booking is essential so be sure to call them up in advance.

20. Nightjar Bar

The Nighjar is somewhere you won’t be forgetting anytime soon. It’s a beautiful, low lit bar with a cocktail list that’s divided into eras, such as Prohibition. You’ll find them near Old Street Station in East London and it’s the perfect place to try out an experimental cocktail and chat with a friend.

WOW Contributor

Story by World of Wanderlust contributor Emma Bates.

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Just the list I was looking for!! Headed to London for the first time this week and can’t wait to try out these spots!

Jennifer @ This Off Script Life

I’m returning to London in a few weeks — can’t wait to try one of these cocktail bars while I’m there. Thanks for putting together this great list.

Daniel | Dan Flying Solo

Great list Emma! Must have been really hard work drinking so many cocktails! Radio @ Me will always be my favourite, great spot!

alfredo ciano

Ok Dear Emma : Your Guide is Very Complete . For a Trip on the Streets of London Night & Day . ByeBye , Lots of Luck .

Maddy @ Travel Alphas

These look delicious! Such a great list that I’ll have to put to the test very soon!

Andrea Petersen

Awesome list! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Lots of love, Andrea xxx

Liana Ginefra

Sushi Samba is awesome! Amazing views and drinks are delicious 🙂 although it’s definitely on the pricier side.

Bodega Negra and Duck & Waffle are great, and I love seeing the Phene on Made in Chelsea, haha 🙂

If you haven’t been already, I strongly advise everyone to visit the 55 Bar in Camden, their cocktails are amazing!

Great list! I hadn’t heard of some these before so thanks for sharing. Ooh and there’s also Sky Garden which has lovely cocktails too!

They all look delicious.

You missed out a few :O

Experimental Cocktail Club is by far one of the best in London! Also Mark’s Bar in Soho, as well as Zetter Townhouse, Opium, Joyex Bordelle, Mr. Foggs, Portside Parlour, American Bar at the Savoy etc

Wow this is so amazing : ) I love London so incredibly much!

Céline blogging on

I saved this post for when I will be living in London and not be pregnant anymore 😉

Leonie Parker

You gotta love Cocktail in London. Love your photos!

What a great list! However, I think Experimental Cocktail Club is missing. Such a good place for yummy cocktails 😉

Thanks for this post!

One of the loveliest places this year: the Hendrick’s Horticultural Oasis at Blakes Hotel 🙂

Iida-Emilia

What an awesome and beautiful cocktails.I’ve visited London but never thought it as a cocktail-city. I definitely need to go back there and explore that side of it too!

These all look delicious! Will have to bookmark them for when I’m in London in December. I’ll definitely have to be drinking myself a blanket at that time of the year!

Jennifer Stevens | Adventurous Appetite

Cool photos and great list!!

Joy Della Vita (Lisa)

What a nice selection! 🙂

Thank you for this post, I’m planning to head to London to meet my friends. Now I have some suggestions where we can have some drinks 😀

Adding this post to all the reasons I want to move to London!

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Spirited sophistication begins at Dirty Martini

Known for our bespoke range of martinis, signature cocktails and glamorous interiors – Dirty Martini is the perfect destination to shake up your favourite cocktails every night of the week.

Our cocktails

Our celebrated martini collection might be what we're renowned for, but with an extensive and inspired selection of cocktails to choose from, we've got something to excite every cocktail-lover.

Cocktail making

Fancy yourself as a cocktail connoisseur? Stir, shake and taste your way to mastering the craft of mixology.

Find your nearest bar

With seven stunning venues in London and one in Cardiff, the Dirty Spirit is never far from your doorstep…

The Best Craft Cocktail Bars in London

London is home to, arguably, the world’s most progressive cocktail culture. Its bars dominate “best of” lists, and bartenders from all over the globe come here to earn their stripes. As the UK’s diners become increasingly serious about what they eat, taking issues of provenance and craft into consideration, equal attention is being given to what they’re drinking. Cocktail bars are full of locally foraged ingredients, artisan spirits and housemade infusions. And cocktails are no longer preserved for special occasions or hotel lobbies, but enjoyed alongside a meal or at a corner bar. From intimate and seductive speakeasies to relaxed neighborhood joints to shrines of molecular wizardry, this is where to find some of the best cocktails in the world. —Tyler Wetherall

69 Colebrooke Row

The glowing lantern on a quiet Islington backstreet signals the intimate mood at 69 Colebrooke Row. It's half 1950s Italian café, and half Federico Fellini film with gentle jazz and attentive suited staff making exacting drinks behind the bar. The cornerstone to Tony Conigliaro's lauded cocktail empire, Colebrooke Row's reputation may precede it, but in its essence it's just a quiet little bar serving the best drinks you've ever had.

live music

bar food

craft cocktails

The Cocktail Trading Co.

One of the growing crop of experimental London cocktail bars, The Cocktail Trading Co. is the handiwork of three veteran London bartenders. While there are plenty of well-executed classics to be had, the bar's eccentric streak is the real draw. Here they serve drinks in everything from Chinese take-out boxes to rain boots to trash cans garnished with Sesame Street’s Elmo.

craft cocktails

live music

low wine markups

Callooh Callay

“O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! He chortled in his joy.” Anyone familiar with Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky will approach this bar primed for playfulness. A surreal mishmash of styles with lounge seating, retro disco tunes and gold-framed family photos, this bar still churns out consistent drinks and friendly service after years on the scene. The menu changes twice yearly, and is always a marvel; past incarnations have included an "oyster card"’—the London metro card—which unfolded into an 18-recipe-strong feat of cocktail imagination.

bar food

full menu

craft cocktails

outdoor / patio

Experimental Cocktail Club

ECC's original Parisian location kickstarted the contemporary bar scene in Paris and shockwaves were felt throughout Europe. Its second location in London occupies three floors of a Chinatown townhouse designed to be seductive and quirky, with stylishly decrepit Chesterfield sofas, an antique kissing chair, teapot lampshades and ornate chandeliers. The entirely French staff maintains an air of effortless sophistication, and cocktails are naturally outstanding, though—compared with bars today—not actually all that experimental.

craft cocktails

Happiness Forgets

While the rest of Hoxton Square is awash with the mainstream Shoreditch masses, Happiness Forgets remains a bastion of civilized drinking headed up by luminary Alastair Burgess and DJ Andy Bird. In an unmarked bunker beneath a restaurant, the décor is simple (bare brick, a handful of tables, onion lamps, a few Polaroids of wild nights) because the focus here is on the drinks. Without fail you’ll be greeted warmly by the bartenders who—despite a ratio of 50 customers per—still have time for a bit of banter before whipping out a perfect drink.

craft cocktails

The Hawksmoor, a steakhouse founded in East London, built its reputation on bone marrow burgers, grilled meats and cocktails. Since opening in 2006, it has expanded to other locations and added a vaulted basement cocktail bar with antique mirrors, chemistry lab tables and a shining copper bar top. Dubbed Spitalfields Bar, after the surrounding district, it serves meaty snacks like pig’s head poutine alongside its seasonal drinks.

bar food

full menu

craft cocktails

good wine

day drinking

lots of rum

lots of whiskey

lots of tequila / mezcal

London Cocktail Club

A club only in name (no membership is required), London Cocktail Club's original location is a punk gin palace outfitted with graffitied images of swallows and wenches, shelves of dusty books and a snack menu offering "food porn" in B-movie poster format. Nothing is taken too seriously here, which is half the pleasure. Owners JJ Goodman and James Hopkins rose to fame after winning BBC’s The Restaurant with Raymond Blanc, so the cocktail focus is gastronomic, but not fussy. The prices are low, while the standards remain high.

bar food

craft cocktails

cheap date

Lounge Bohemia

Lounge Bohemia can be visited by appointment only with—ironically—a strict no-suit, no-office-wear policy. The unmarked door is like a porthole into 1970s Czechoslovakia with antique furniture from top hat-wearing owner Paul Tvaroh’s private collection. Bohemia is an eccentric take on the speakeasy, and aesthetic credentials aside, it was doing molecular cocktails long before many others in London, thanks to teetotaler Tvaroh’s culinary background.

craft cocktails

Milk & Honey

The late Sasha Petraske's NYC original ignited the neo-speakeasy craze worldwide, and in 2002 its UK equivalent opened. With no signage and only a subtle entry bell, it still feels secret, intimate and seductive. If accompanied by a member, access to the Red Room—where a frozen ice block is carved and chipped throughout the evening—is granted. Make friends fast, and play by the house rules. They’re strict.

bar food

craft cocktails

good wine

outdoors / patio

Behind an inconspicuous wooden door, tucked between two junk food shops on the chaotic Old Street roundabout, is Nightjar. The moodily lit basement bar harkens back to jazz-era clubs with a pressed tin ceiling, mirrored friezes and nightly bands playing everything from boogie-woogie barrelhouse to Delta blues. Bartenders serve drinks that are divided by historical epoch, as well as Nightjar Signatures that employ a range of exotic ingredients, like plankton air, Riaženka (Lithuanian fermented milk) and (once) whale skin. The garnishes are equally flamboyant, including conch shells, flaming honeycomb, dry ice and a .

craft cocktails

bar food

live music

A love letter to the city that gave us the Sazerac, Dan Priseman’s NOLA is a pocket of Southern hospitality in Shoreditch. Located above Rivington Street’s Bedroom Bar, it’s not an obvious find. With slow spinning fans, Parisian café tables and tropical foliage, there is an easy translation of the French Quarter, whose sentiment is expressed in the drinks, where New Orleans classics rule.

live music

craft cocktails

singles scene

outdoor / patio

tiki

dancing

Satan's Whiskers

This brilliant Benthal Green neighborhood bar with bad boy attitude is decked out with taxidermy, including a cigarette-smoking monkey and a stout with a jaw-dropping vegetable appendage. And just on the right side of naughty, it's friendly with a strictly hip-hop soundtrack for the young crowd that populates its seats. The drinks are hard hitting, and a welcome surprise from such a low-key venue; the food is excellent, too. In short, the locals are lucky.

cheap date

full menu

bar food

craft cocktails

Trailer Happiness

This brilliant little tiki den has kept Notting Hill's drinkers happy for over a decade. An oddball world filled with psychedelic kitsch, Tretchikoff prints, shag piles and beanbags, the rum-focused bar delivers drinks with theatrics verging on absurd. At any moment a flaming cocktail served in a sombrero or a skull might be slid across the bar. Trailer's dim sum service is equally as delightful with rum cocktails in place of tea service.

bar food

craft cocktails

tiki

lots of rum

White Lyan

Truly radical, White Lyan pushes the boundaries of what we've come to expect from a cocktail bar. There’s not a shaker or an ice cube in sight. In fact, there are no perishables—including juices—or spirit brands. The brilliant Ryan Chetiyawardana and his team make everything in-house, including their own Mr. Lyan spirits. An enormous amount of preparation goes into each drink, which is entirely pre-batched. There is also no backbar to speak of, just rows of Mr Lyan’s branded bottles frosting in the refrigerator. The rest of the space is equally minimal: black walls, illuminated panels, chrome furniture and, a bit .

Cocktail bars london

Open: Mon - Fri: 7am - 1am, Sat: 8am-1am,

EVENING WALK INS WELCOME (Last Entry: Sun-Mon: 11:45pm, Tues-Sat: 12:45am)

Sky Pod Rooftop Bar is an all-day drinking and dining rooftop space, live music venue and evening destination situated amongst the impressive gardens and offering the best views from Sky Garden.

To visit Sky Pod in the evening we recommend booking a table or a spot in the bar using our our online booking service. If you cannot book online please visit as a walk-in guest.

Groups of up to 8 people can be booked online with no minimum spend, just scroll up and click "BOOK A TABLE".

For bookings of 9+ guests from 6:15pm (weekdays) and 9:15pm (Saturdays), please book via phone or via email, 020 3819 7723 or groups@skygarden.london and we will respond the same day during office hours.

For information about events in Sky Pod Bar please visit our news section: http://skygarden.london/news-events

We encourage style and operate a smart/casual dress code for evening bookings. During these times guests aged 16-17 are welcome in our bar and lounge areas accompanied by an adult (aged 21+).

Please note that Sky Garden is a naturally-ventilated space, therefore guests are encouraged to wear appropriately warm clothing when visiting City Garden Bar in winter months.

We are excited to announce the arrival of Sky Garden's Winter Bar pop-up inspired by the seasons and the joy of wrapping up warm! As part of our festive takeover, Sky Pod's Winter Bar Pop-Up will be taking over the space every evening from 24th November, offering the perfect seasonal surroundings. Think alpine-inspired dishes, hot cocktails, vin chaud, decadent Moët & Chandon Champagne, faux furs and highland tartans - a Christmas haven, 35 floors up.

Open: Mon - Fri: 7am - 1am, Sat: 8am-1am,

EVENING WALK INS WELCOME (Last Entry: Sun-Mon: 11:45pm, Tues-Sat: 12:45am)

Hire this Venue

The Sky Pod Bar at the Sky Garden is available for private hire for parties, corporate events, boutique business launches and celebrations.

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latest news & Events

Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve at Sky Garden

Christmas Music Nights This December

19 Dec 2017 - 20 Dec 2017

Christmas Party Sky High - Let's Get Festive

SKY GARDEN BAR & RESTAURANTS OPENING TIMES