Our selection of the best Earl’s Court bars

The Troubadour is an Earl’s Court bar with a deep passion for live music. It's London's last standing independent live music venue from the coffee-house era. It has hosted musical acts from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, and even Adele and Ed Sheeran – totally not a brag at all.

Its interior is nothing short of unique, with its arrangement of colourful kettles in the front window, multiple instruments hanging from the ceiling, and its old-world rustic decor.

As if being an intimate live music venue steeped in history wasn’t enough, The Troubadour’s ground level is a restaurant, and downstairs is where you will find the cocktail bar and the stage graced by musical greats. If you’ve never had reason to visit Earl’s Court before, you have one now.

Evans & Peel Detective Agency is a one-of-a-kind cocktail bar with a private investigator theme. Book your “meeting” with the detectives and while you wait, check out the 1920s-inspired speakeasy with “bootlegged” alcohol and live swing, jazz, and blues music.

Their cocktails are named after notable criminals from that era like the very real Al Capone and the fictional Thomas ‘Tommy’ Shelby – one of our favourites, by the way, made with tequila agave, Campari, sweet Vermouth, and lemon juice.

This Earl’s Court bar is also available for private hire for up to 100 guests, accommodating 25 in the bar area, 65 in the main dining room, and 10 in the private library.

Open as a wine bar since 1918, one of London’s oldest wine bars is now part and parcel of Cave Kitchen, a Sri Lankan bistro.

This Earl’s Court bar has a cosy atmosphere and an interior with exposed ceiling beams, brick walls, and wooden furniture. Rumour has it that this spot was frequented by Freddie Mercury and Slash, not that we’re gossips or anything.

Cave Kitchen has an extensive list of white, rosé, red, and other fine wines that all pair well with its curries, rice, and meat dishes. The wine bar is open later than the restaurant – which is how it should be, in our opinion. Make a reservation for two and enjoy a three-course meal and a bottle of wine for £75.

The Pembroke is on the border of Earl’s Court, just a short walk away from West Brompton station. Its vibe is industrial meets traditional with its classic pub facade, exposed brick walls inside, and furniture that isn’t entirely old-fashioned.

The pub runs a Quiz Night every Thursday and has Happy Hour from 5 to 8 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. When the weather is half-decent, do check out the rooftop beer garden – it’s the reason we visit The Pembroke.

The Pembroke is also available for private hire for up to 100 seated guests. The private room comes with its own bar, rooftop garden terrace, and custom drinks for your event.

The Atlas is a historic gastropub that has been in the West Brompton/Earl’s Court area since the late 19th century. This Earl’s Court bar is hard to miss with its bright red, ivy-covered exterior and more flower baskets than we can count.

The traditional interior with its wood panelling and fireplaces creates an atmosphere that is reminiscent of an era long gone. Cosy up with a glass of wine, a pint of beer, or a classic cocktail for that much-desired comfort feeling. And on the rare occasion the weather is pleasant, take your drinks outside to the garden terrace to soak in the sun.

The Atlas is also available for private hire. It has two rooms upstairs that can hold up to 60 guests for drinks and 40 guests for lunches and dinners.

Down the road from West Brompton station is The Lillie Langtry, a gastropub serving classic British dishes alongside some great cocktails. The dining area has a soft, elegant charm with touches of pink, floral wallpaper, and traditional chandeliers.

We could do without the abundance of floral patterns, but we love The Lillie Langtry for its long list of signature cocktails, wines, spirits, and whiskey – all of our favourite beverages. The Maple Pecan Old Fashioned is a standout.

The Lillie Langtry has three rooms available for private hire – a private dining room, an outdoor space, and the entire second-floor lounge – that can seat anywhere from 8 to 60 people.

The Blackbird, previously a bank until 1994, is now a Fuller's Ale & Pie house kind of pub. It’s a staple for locals and is also a boutique hotel with nine quaint rooms.

Its dark exterior is continued inside with green and black painted walls. The Blackbird still retains elements of its past life as a bank with its marble columns. The pub has a wide range of ales, as well as red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines.

While The Blackbird is just a good, casual pub, it’s on our list because of its penchant for live music, and its scrumptious pies – there’s no other word for them.

We know this list is for Earl’s Court bars, but this one is also on the border of Earl’s Court and West Brompton. Consisting of three bars and four restaurants, The Prince is West London’s biggest beer garden. It's an open space filled with tables under canopies of plants, and come nighttime, it turns into one of London’s biggest party venues.

You can’t go wrong with the Chilli Mango Margarita and Melon Cooler – our personal favourites. Friday and Saturday nights transform the rooftop into a music oasis with live DJ sets and, as expected of a decent rooftop bar, it offers bottomless brunch on Saturday mornings.

Earl’s Court Tavern is your classic British pub serving the expected traditional favourites from the drinks to the food. It caters to all your football needs – stop by for pre-match meet-ups, post-match analysis, and, oh yeah, the match itself.

Pints, pies, sport, and traditional pub interior. Sure, it’s not all fancy like these young upstart pubs, but there’s a place for no-nonsense pubs and Greene King has made it their mission to make sure Londoners are not without this breed of public house.

There’s nothing particularly standout about this Earl’s Court bar – technically, it’s on Earl’s Court Road, bordering Kensington. It has a traditional facade and pots of hanging flowers that so many old-school pubs prefer. Inside, the decor is equally modest and traditional.

So, how’s it on the list, then? Standard traditional interiors aside, the Hansom Cab does hearty modern food well. It’s the pub you go to when all you want is a cold pint and a pizza or a cold pint with a burger and chips. That’s it, they keep it simple, but they do it well. It’s the epitome of a casual spot.

We’d save this one for a nice sunny summer day when you can enjoy your drinks on the terrace. Alternatively, if you’re looking for that classic pub vibe for a party, the Hansom Cab has you covered with private hire options.