10 must-try cocktail bars in Borough Market

Located just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Shard in London Bridge, this laidback, urban rooftop bar is a great venue to enjoy some after-work drinks and yummy Spanish food while taking in the stunning views of the city skyline.

The fully heated venue usually has a DJ to set the mood and it’s tough to go wrong with their fantastic cocktails and delicious burgers! The LBC (a special pina colada with no cream) and the Mai Tai are the crowd favourites on the cocktail menu.

Available for private hire and with a capacity to host up to 220 people, this rooftop bar is right next to the London Bridge tube station, so getting there will be as relaxed as the evening that awaits.

At the Casa do Frango in London Bridge, if you make your way to the restaurant and look carefully, you will discover an unmarked door. And if you like cocktails, you’re advised to open this mysterious door and head in.

Hidden inside is the Green Room, a speakeasy-styled cocktail bar that serves a variety of classic cocktails, all with a small Portuguese twist. The cocktails at Green Room pay homage to traditional Portuguese drinks like Ginjinha and are definitely worth trying.

The venue is available for private hire and can accommodate up to 45 guests. Just minutes from London Bridge station, it should be easy to find the cocktail bar now that its secret location has been revealed.

As the name suggests, The Cocktail Club takes their cocktails very seriously. The popular chain which has bars across the country is known for its sexy cocktails, entertaining bartenders and spectacular parties.

The location at Monument is supposed to be the chain’s sexiest location yet. The sultry basement bar’s gold-leafed windows and revolving animal mannequins, give it a distinctive look.

It’s not difficult to be confused about what cocktail to get, given the variety of choices available which is why the Trademark section of the menu is the way to. After all, it’s hard to go wrong with the classics.

The venue can host 120 guests and is right next door to Monument tube station.

A couple of minutes walk from London Bridge station, right at the edge of Borough Market, stands BAO Borough.

This quirky, Taiwanese venue consists of two distinct spaces. The large, brightly lit ground floor with its mirror-adorned walls and a long table for drinking and dining. And then the KTV room on the lower ground floor with disco lighting and a large screen, where you can sing to your heart’s content.

The fruitY BAO-HIs made using fresh Borough Market produce are the most popular drinks on the menu and you can pair them with BAO’s signature grilled skewers.

The venue is available for private hire and can accommodate up to 120 people.

The Northbank Restaurant and Bar near Borough Market offers stunning views of The River Thames and cocktails to match.

The venue consists of a simple but classy outdoor space and a luxurious indoor restaurant. The Chilli Beef Fritters and the Seafood Platter are delicious while the venue’s Cornish Mead, a honey-based alcoholic beverage first brewed during King Henry VIII’s time, is another crowd favourite.

Available for private hire and with a capacity to host a 100 people, Northbank Restaurant is just a short walk from Mansion House station.

The popular Belushi’s chain’s newly refurbished venue at London Bridge is set across two levels and has an American feel with a Rock & Roll décor.

Belushi’s has an extensive cocktail menu with everything from the classics to their specials like Belushi’s Tea Party, Sugar Mama and Galway Gal. The food menu is filled with global comfort food classics and there’s also a dedicated pizza menu.

Besides the day’s sports matches on the screens, there is always some live entertainment too. Depending on the day you could be in for some rocking music, a DJ, open mics or even a game of beer pong.

The venue which is just a short walk from Borough station can host 250 people and is available for private hire.

Situated right next to Borough Market, Hixter is considered to be one of the most unique venues in the area. Originally built as a metal box factory in Bankside, the venue still retains an industrial feel but in the most homely way now with the carpets on the polished wooden floors, bookshelves, paintings and comfy leather couches.

Mark’s Bar, which is a floor below is an interesting venue in itself. The sunken bar has cinema-style seating (a rare sight today) and then there’s the bar’s signature billiards table.

If you like your cocktails, then Mark’s Bar is the place for you. Not only do they serve a great selection of drinks, but there’s also a cocktail-making masterclass that you can attend. So you could very well soon be making their famous Hanky Panky and Hix Fix at home.

Arabica Bar and Kitchen is a Lebanese restaurant in the heart of Borough Market. The interiors have a chic, contemporary design combined with the unmistakable middle-eastern style arches.

Arabica’s delish cocktail menu is inspired by flavours from across the Levant, with the Turkish Delight and Levant-Cello Fizz being a few of their signature drinks.

So if you’re ready to embark on a Levantine adventure, start your journey by taking the tube to London Bridge station. Arabica is just a short walk away.

The Walbrook Club has long been one of London’s most exclusive clubs and while it continues to be members-only, the venue is slowly opening its carefully guarded doors to more of the city and is now available for private hire.

The club’s discreet bar, simply called “The Bar” is known not just for its legendary cocktails but the strict rules it adheres to while making the drinks. Cocktails with umbrellas, on fire or in funny-shaped glasses are steered clear of, and instead, barrel-aged Negronis and mixes of 1½ Martinis are The Bar’s signature drinks. You can even learn a trick or two from the mixologist with the club now offering cocktail-making lessons.

The Bar which can host up to 50 guests, is dimly lit and its red walls are covered with vintage photographs, memorabilia and paintings.

Inspired by the clandestine bars of 1920s New York, Do Not Disturb [DND], at, Vintry and Mercer is a sophisticated underground speakeasy-style bar. Images of Ziegfeld Follies girls line the walls and welcome guests as they make their way through the secret entrance tucked back on Garlick Hill.

Guests can choose from speciality barrel-aged and house cocktails served with a menu of small plates.

Available for private hire and with a capacity to host 100 people, this cocktail bar is within walking distance from Mansion House but make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the hidden entrance.