Best Cocktail Bars in London

Fancy rubbing shoulders with the super-rich? The Connaught Bar is the place to indulge your fantasy. Theatrical touches such as Martinis made from a trolley add to the grandness, as do the impossibly chic interiors.  

Unapologetically old-school, Dukes Bar is the place for cocktail purists. The birthplace of Ian Fleming’s Vesper Martini, it’s an obvious choice for James Bond fans, while the candlelit cigar garden gives it extra 007 edge.

Whether you think it is pretentious or a masterpiece, Untitled is certainly a conversation starter. Curious, complex drinks are designed to taste how they sound (names include ‘Snow’) and are served alongside Japanese small plates.

Found at the bottom of a glorious Gaudí-esque corkscrew staircase, Below is Hide restaurant’s cripplingly cool basement bar. Expect seasonal cocktails and an enviable wine selection from Hedonism Wines that is accessed through a walk-in cellar.

Overlooking the Thames, Skylon’s bar is a smart and sophisticated affair, often added to by pretty seasonal installations. It also helps that the restaurant is just across the room, should you feel peckish post cocktails.

Tayer + Elementary may have quickly gained cult status thanks to its much talked about Iberian pork katsu sando, but the drinks are the main focus here. Expect pioneering cocktails which make use of waste ingredients.

The gazelle/peacock hybrid that hangs over the bar at Waeska sets the tone for a bar full of magic and mystique. Herbaceous cocktails are draw, served alongside upmarket snacks such as smoked salmon with caviar.

The follow-up to Nightjar, Oriole benefits from glamorous interiors and live jazz – it’s not a case of style over substance though, thanks to alluring cocktails that are made using ingredients sourced from around the globe. 

Tapping into the hot topic of sustainability, Matt Whiley’s Scout follows a zero-waste approach, with much of the ever-changing cocktail list made from foraged ingredients. Wooded booth seating and hanging plants add to the outdoorsy vibe. 

Serving up a slice of Tiki paradise in Notting Hill, Trailer Happiness ticks plenty of boxes – rum lovers can explore the expansive list of bottles, while kitsch décor and colourful cocktails add to the fun.

As the name suggests, this stylish bar is inspired by New Orleans, serving old faithfuls like a classic Hurricane or the retro Grasshopper. A fun atmosphere adds to NOLA’s appeal, as does the Cajun-spiced popcorn. 

Great for pre-dinner drinks, we’re happy to report the cocktails at Discount Suit Company measure up nicely, serving the classics and sharing cocktails. Prices are pocket-friendly too, which is always a plus in London town.

Tucked behind Cecconi’s, the Library Bar seats just 18 and offers a welcome reprieve from The Ned’s chaotic ground floor. Breakfast at Emily’s, which tastes exactly like marmalade on toast, is the must-order signature cocktail.

Camp as Christmas, Cocktail Trading Co’s sips are more often than not accompanied by joke shop garnishes. There’s substance underneath the gimmicks though, while the low-lit 1920’s inspired interiors make it a cosy date spot.

A members’ club that lets regular folk in if they make a reservation, Milk & Honey has proved enduringly popular (it first opened in 2002). Expertly mixed old-school sips such as Boulevardiers explain its success.

Only Ryan Chetiyawardana (AKA Mr Lyan) would close down a bar right after it was crowned the world’s best. In Dandelyan’s place comes Lyaness, which serves an epic ingredient-led cocktail menu and a boozy afternoon tea.

Serving up a slice of modern Irish hospitality, intimate Homeboy welcomes lovers of whisky and Irish coffees to worship at its Islington altar. Snacks are fun too, including curry chips and a Tayto crisp sarnie.

Having been around since 1996, Avenue has earned its place as a London stalwart. The cocktail bar at the front of the space serves seasonal tipples and a strong selection of G&Ts, alongside seafood-focused snacks.  

This small but mighty basement bar in Hoxton has won heaps of awards and plenty of critical praise. The reason why? Well, that would be the ever-evolving list of delicious cocktails and the superb service.

This minimalist Dalston bar features a short cocktail list full of innovative ideas, which is refreshed every month to reflect the season. Tipples include an Almond Flower Sour, or a Cosmo made with fermented cranberry.

Below drinks-led restaurant Cub sits Super Lyan, from Ryan Chetiyawardana. A departure from his previous projects, Super Lyan is intentionally extra, featuring stripper poles and a drinks menu that includes booze-spiked milkshakes and ice cream floats.

40 floors high, Duck & Waffle’s bar is one of few 24/7 drinking destinations in London. That fact, coupled with jaw-dropping views and inventive riffs on classic cocktails mean its popularity comes as no surprise.

With the kind of interiors that Jay Gatsby would fanboy over, this glam bar at the Kimpton Fitzroy hotel is a seductive spot for date night cocktails, which might include Modern Manhattans and complex Martinis.

A glamorous setting gives way to a pared-back menu at perennially popular Artesian. The drinks offering here is dubbed ‘A Minimalist Menu’ and features combinations such as Champagne and cream or Monkey Shoulder and Yuzu.

Above Michelin-starred Social Eating House, Jason Atherton’s Blind Pig is a prohibition-inspired joint with a playful, seasonally changing menu which draws on a wide range of inspiration, such as popular childhood tales or summer picnics.

Part of Jason Atherton’s City Social, this sky-high bar is beloved by Square Milers. Expect a buzzy atmosphere and pun-tastic menu of chic cocktails, alongside boujis bar snacks including truffle arancini and goats cheese churros.

Founded by a former Mahiki mixologist, this tropical bar is bags of fun. The rum-based sips are the best of the bunch, while sharing cocktails crowned with sparklers get the party started come the weekend.

This two-floor Soho bar (opposite La Bodega Negra) serves complex and unconventional cocktails, without any gimmicks or fuss. The moody basement is the hot ticket and is a shrewd choice for a first date too.

The stuffed animals might be off-putting, but Satan’s Whiskers is a must visit. Come for the snacks which are split between ‘four fingers’ and ‘two fingers’, and stay for the fun twists on classic cocktails.

Dripping with urban edge, Bethnal Green’s Coupette features bare brick walls and a hip hop soundtrack. Its cocktail menu majors in gentle updates on the classics, including a Truffled White Negroni and Champagne Pina Colada.

A speakeasy hidden moments from Old Street roundabout, Nightjar has been wowing the Shoreditch crowds for a few years now with its off kilter creations. Live music inspired by the Jazz Age seals the deal.

Looking to avoid the masses on your next Shoreditch outing? Head to Callooh Callay, where you’ll find mismatched décor and fun cocktails with deliciously silly names such as Jabberwocky Milk and Taming of the Shark. 

Harking back to a golden age of cocktails, the American Bar pairs flawless service with sophisticated tipples that don’t grow stale (the drinks list changes each year). We’re also fans of the tinkling background piano.

Understated is not the word for Beaufort – black and gold interiors, bar snacks that make use of luxe ingredients, and a menu paying homage to famous former guests tells you everything you need to know.