Exploring the British city? Put the best bars in London on your list of must-visits.
We’ve got a bucket list of travel locations that seems never-ending. Next stop: London. Full of world-class museums, lush green parks, and attractions galore, it offers tons to explore. Once you’ve settled down in your hotel and paid a visit to Big Ben, it’s time to take the city’s nightlife by storm! You’ll find some of the swankiest watering holes that glitter with energy. Are you ready to bar hop through the best bars in London?
Our guide to the best bars in London
1. American Bar
As one of the longest-surviving cocktail bars in London, we had to include American Bar on this list. It’s served countless personalities since 1893, including names like Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway. Once you settle into your seats with a welcome snack of rice crisps and olives, browse the menu for a beverage. Cocktails here are classics done with playful twists. The King’s Cobbler is an ode to King Charles and adds a fruity twist to the regular gin martini. And the Last Call cocktail will cost you a pretty penny, but the moreish drink is meant for you to sip and savour all night long.
American Bar, The Savoy, The Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, United Kingdom
2. Cahoots London
The team behind Cahoots London breathes new life into this old World War II air raid shelter. The 1940s bar within the heart of London’s Soho takes on the guise of an abandoned train station. You’ll step back in time with its newspaper menus and three unique spaces. It’s quirky, fun, and so friendly. What else is there to love? The drinks, of course. If you can’t decide what cocktail to get from the vast menu, just ask the staff who are more than happy to help you out.
Cahoots London, 13 Kingly Court, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW, United Kingdom
3. Lyaness
This trendy bar is the brainchild of Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known around the industry as Mr Lyan. The award-winning bartender is a pioneer in the world of mixology, so if you’re a fan of complex cocktails, this is the place to be. Lyaness is all about cutting-edge creativity and exemplary service. You’ll find a slew of unique ingredients the team adds and uses to classic cocktails in its menu. We’re talking tree caramel, burnt pea pods, and even bugs. Don’t knock it till you try it.
Lyaness, Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD, United Kingdom
4. A Bar with Shapes for a Name
We’ll admit, we were incredibly intrigued by the name of this English watering hole. You can distinguish this mysterious nook by its signboard featuring a yellow triangle, red square, and blue circle. A Bar with Shapes for a Name (or Shapes for short) is an ode to the Bauhaus movement. The interior screams elements of functionality and minimalism. You can see it in its bar tools as well, where the bar backstocks a handful of spirits the team picks via blind tastings. The drink program is incredibly intentional, using few ingredients in each cocktail. Pre-batched and served to you in seconds, that’ll be an experience you’ll talk about for a long time.
A Bar with Shapes for a Name, 232 Kingsland Road, Whitmore Estate, London E2 8AX, United Kingdom
5. Scarfes Bar
British artist Gerald Scarfe has graciously lent both his name and keen artistic eye to the creation of this cocktail bar. It’s inspired by the atmosphere of a drawing room and the sophistication of a gentlemen’s club, evident by shelves of antique books, velvet armchairs, and a fireplace that roars in the winter. Top that off with live music playing six nights a week and you’ve got the perfect evening out.
Scarfes Bar, Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, United Kingdom
6. Connaught Bar
The Connaught Hotel is synonymous with five-star luxury. It’s a world full of elegance and famous service, with hidden gems littering its corners. And we’re spotlighting the award-winning Connaught Bar. Its team of mixologists are ready to conjure up delectable concoctions for your night out. You can spot the marriage of classicism and modernity in its interior design and killer cocktail menu. The Synergia menu is a journey of feelings, intuitions, and thoughts of the dynamics of human encounters. Drinks tell stories of the team’s experiences through hospitality.
Connaught Bar, The Connaught, Connaught, 16 Carlos Place, London W1K 2AL, United Kingdom
7. Bar Soho
This funky late-night hangout comes with some of the quirkiest decor. Baths for seats, mirrored walls, and plenty of floor space to dance? Count us in. There are a number of cocktails available on the drinks menu, so take your pick. You’ve got classics like margaritas, cosmopolitans, and variations of martinis. But for something extra special, opt for drinks served with prosecco like a mango bellini or French 75. It’s pretty popular thanks to its happy hour deals, so expect the space to get packed with throngs of people even on weekdays. Be sure to make your reservation!
Bar Soho, 23-25 Old Compton Street, London W1D 5JL, United Kingdom
8. Tayer + Elementary
You get two bars in one when you visit this hotspot that made second place on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 list. Elementary is full of industrial charm – perfect for a casual drink with friends. There are classic cocktails available on tap, given some pizzazz with seasonal ingredients. Or go fuss-free with house label wine and beers. But enter through the partition and you’ll find Tayer. Drinks here are perceived through a more forensic culinary lens, focusing on produce. Using modern techniques and traditional practices, cocktails are simple but absolutely delicious. The menu rotates often so you’ll be surprised with every visit.
Tayer + Elementary, 152 Old Street, London EC1V 9BW, United Kingdom
9. Purl London
A chandelier in your booth? Now, that’s fancy. Transport yourself to a whole new multi-sensory world as you enter this covert speakeasy. You’ll be blown away by the creativity the team possesses. Like artists, the mixologists will shake and stir cocktails that have both innovation and balance. Expect to engage all five senses with the use of aroma, fog, air, foam, and bespoke serviceware. For the less adventurous amongst us, have no fear. There are plenty of wines and beers available to keep things straightforward. Pop by on Friday night and you’ll catch the live jazz band playing some tunes.
Purl London, 50-54 Blandford Street, London W1U 7HX, United Kingdom
10. The Loop Bar
Grand party station is situated right here in The Loop Bar. The menu features well-loved cocktails, but you can go to the next level with top-tier drinks. The Gold Fashioned uses deluxe Bacardi Carribbean spiced rum with a squeeze of fresh orange juice. Or get the primadonna martini swirled with the tartness of passion fruit.
Besides great drinks, there are some heart-pumping parties. Every Saturday, you’ll be treated to the ultimate party experience with Europe’s longest-running pop and disco club, Carwash. Music runs from 70s anthems to 2000s beats and even nu-disco. If that’s not quite your speed, pop by the second room Boom for commercial classics, R&B, house, afro beats, and reggaeton.
The Loop Bar, 19 Dering Street, London W1S 1AH, United Kingdom
11. Satan’s Whiskers
Satan’s Whiskers is one of the quirkiest bars around Bethnal Green. The taxidermy decorations will tell you that. Its staff are knowledgeable and offer impeccable service, so if you can’t figure out what you should try, they’re more than happy to recommend something. We hear the dry martini here is one of the finest. The menu changes every day (yes, every day), so even if you visit this spot twice in one visit, you’ll be treated to something fresh.
Satan’s Whiskers, 343 Cambridge Health Road, London E2 9RA, United Kingdom
12. Callooh Callay
Callooh Callay is credited as one of the trailblazers in the resurgence of London’s cocktail scene. Alice in Wonderland fans might find the name familiar. It comes from Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem, Jabberwocky. This cocktail bar draws inspiration from the author’s titular story, with the location hidden almost literally through a looking glass. It’s all about high quality drinks without any of the pretentiousness. The latest menu is Pokemon-themed with each drink named after a different Pokemon from the series.
Callooh Callay, 65 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3QQ, United Kingdom
13. Thirst Bar
It may not be the biggest bar in the city, but the vibes are immaculate. Thirst Bar is one of the original cocktail bars around Soho. The ground floor is quiet and intimate with plenty of seating for your drink after a day out touring London. If you’re early enough, you can enjoy drinks during its signature Stupid Hour at incredibly affordable prices. But if you’re in the mood for some dancing, wait till a little later in the night and head to the basement. The DJs will take the decks and you can bust a move on the dance floor after a shot or two.
Thirst Bar, 53 Greek Street, London W1D 3DR, United Kingdom
14. Donovan Bar
Velvet seats, a beautiful bar, and stained glass windows. Donovan Bar carries itself with sophistication and decadence. It’s the go-to cocktail bar for the most discerning of imbibers. And with Salvatore Calabrese at the helm, you know your drink is gonna be good. He’s one of the world’s leading bartenders and the former president of the United Kingdom Bartender’s Guild. The master mixologist has prepared drinks for movie stars, royalty, and presidents. This bar is also home to the oldest and most expensive drink in the world – Salvatore’s Legacy – featuring rare spirits and liqueurs. With a bar this swanky, it’s the perfect excuse to get dressed up for a night of elegance.
Donovan Bar, Brown’s Hotel, 33 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP, United Kingdom
15. Side Hustle
Set in a former police station, this lively spot offers a casual dining and drinks experience with the flavours of Latin America. You can’t go wrong with the seasonal margaritas or palomas here. There’s an extensive list of spirits made with agave on the menu too, with various choices of tequila and mezcal. If you’re with a group of friends, the cocktail explosions come in serving sizes fit for six to eight people. Just remember to fill up on food and you’ll be good to go.
Side Hustle, NoMad London, 28 Bow Street, London WC2E 7AW, United Kingdom
16. Three Sheets
During the day, you’ll find this little store taking on the role of a coffee shop by the name of Dead Good Coffee. There are buttery pastries to go with piping hot cups of joe that are great for an early afternoon pick-me-up. When night falls, discover its alter ego, Three Sheets. The unassuming establishment serves cocktails so good you’ll find yourself ordering three more before the night is over. The menu is kept small with select ingredients that vary in strength and concentration of alcohol.
Three Sheets, 510b Kingsland Road, London E8 4AB, United Kingdom
17. Swift Soho
If you ask for a bar recommendation in London, it’ll be no surprise if Swift Soho pops up as one of them. These cocktails are the stuff of dreams. Its signature sgroppino is a must-try. It’s a scoop of lemon sorbet doused in St. Germaine with a dash of prosecco for a refreshing boozy treat. Or opt for a warm cocktail with the Swift Irish coffee. Psst: if you aren’t in the Soho area, keep a lookout for the Shoreditch and Borough locations. You’ll get all the same vibes and have so much fun, you won’t wanna leave.
Swift Soho, 12 Old Compton Street, London W1D 4TQ, United Kingdom
How many of London’s best bars made it to your must-visit list?