27 Best cocktail bars in London

Located on the riverside of the Vauxhall’s south bank, this venue brings the Caribbean vibe to life.

The rum shack bar helps bring the boogie to the party. The cocktails served are mostly rum-based with some great Cottons originals to try. Their Sorrell Sling consists of beefeater gin, homemade sorrel squash, fresh lemon, créme de cassis and soda water, which definitely warrants a taste.

You can sit down and enjoy with 79 other guests or have a standing party and enjoy the music with 299 others.

Only a short 9 minute walk away from London Bridge Station, The Last Talisman is a cocktail bar that has an asian-inspired style which brings a nice change of pace to your typical London pub.

Grab a drink at the bar to enjoy what the heart of Bermondsey Street has to offer: beautiful artwork, natural lighting and a wide variety of drinks. If you’re looking to try one of the Talisman signatures, we’d opt for their peach, raspberry and vanilla infusion. Topped with prosecco and goji berries, the Talisman #1 Bellini is a pretty decent version of the Italian classic.

With a standing capacity of 300 people, there’s enough space for you and, well, 299 others.

Nestled in the heart of Fitzrovia, The Huxley is a three in one. Satisfy your mouth, ears and eyes at the cocktail dining lounge which boasts a bar, restaurant and art gallery all under one roof.

This quirky spot is filled with neon signs and offers an extensive range of cocktails to match the mood. Peckish? A seasonal menu explores the cuisine of Southern Europe with the chef inspired by the Mediterranean coastline and Brazil.

Want more? The Huxley hosts events such as Bottomless Brunch and 420 Happy Hours for great deals and a fun experience.

Although Rika Moon primarily offers a fine dining experience, we thought their cocktails deserved a place on this list.

Combining the subtlety of Japanese cuisine with locally sourced ingredients, Rika Moon is glitzy with a relaxed atmosphere. It's on the prestigious Kensington Park Road just meters down from Clare Smyths' Core' and offers sashimi, nigiri and specials such as miso black cod.

The cocktails are innovative and an ode to Japanese flavours. How about a Kinoko Negroni with black truffle and shiitake-infused gin or a sesame Old Fashioned? And of course, a range of Japanese whiskeys, wines and other tipples are available.

And finally, to accompany those drinks, the loo has a button labelled disco so you can have your own miniature bathroom rave.

Swift is a cocktail bar located in Shoreditch. Walk inside and be struck with a spacious, cosy atmosphere surrounded by refined decor. The bar features sleek marble counters, warm lighting, and plush leather seating.

Enjoy the venue’s three cheese toastie alongside some refreshing cocktails. Can’t go wrong with a toastie….

Bar Termini is a coffee and aperitivo bar that brings the traditional bar culture of 1950s Italy to the heart of Soho. With vintage Italian posters, checkered flooring, and a brick wall, you’ll feel like you’re at a 1980s diner.

In true Italian style, small plates of hams and cheeses, paninis, and carpaccios are offered. There are six authentic Italian coffees to choose from, plus even more cocktails. Try the Marsala Martini, a delicate blend of beefeater gin, marsala dolce, dry vermouth, and almond bitters.

This modern compact bar in Dalston is a popular cocktail bar. Three Sheets features a polished interior with a minimalist design that focuses on clean lines and a neutral colour palette.

The cocktail menu at this bar is impressive. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic martini or something more adventurous, like the “Peaches” (a mix of peaches, cloud tea, bourbon, and soda), there is a variety for everyone.

Lyaness is a swanky cocktail bar with a marble bar and river views. As you step inside, you'll be immediately struck by the luxurious and elegant interior design, which features a striking colour palette of deep blue and rich gold tones.

The cocktail menu at Lyaness is truly exceptional, and it's no surprise that the venue is recognised as one of the top cocktail bars. The drinks are expertly crafted by a team of highly skilled mixologists, using a combination of innovative techniques and high-quality ingredients. One standout drink on the menu is the Comma Chameleon cocktail.

The award-winning Connaught Bar was named the no.8 best bar in the world by The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022. That’s right… no.8. Situated in the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, the bar features Cubist-inspired wood panelling and grand mirrors.

Try any of the masterpiece cocktails, the ones that have made this bar legendary. Faraway Collins, Good Fellas, and Wayfarer are just a few examples of such cocktails.

If a wine cellar is not your vibe, you may prefer TT Liquor’s Cellar Bar filled with spirits and highly inventive cocktails. Enjoy their greatest hits of their seasonal cocktail menus, including the Groglet from their ‘British Culture’ menu — mixing tea, lime marmalade and gin never sounded so right.

The venue boasts a roof terrace and vintage-style cinema as well. Able to host up to 150 guests, this event space is perfect for taking the whole company out to celebrate.

Want to cross the English Channel this weekend without the lengthy train ride or nausea inducing ferry? Coupette, situated in the heart of Bethnal Green, promises to drop you in the streets of Paris with its French-inspired tapas and artisanal cocktail offerings.

If you’ve ever thought “boy, this drink needs more squid ink,” Coupette’s Ombre is the tipple for you — combining malt whiskey, vermouth, carob, balsamic and squid ink to give your glass that moody, goth aesthetic.

Fit for your 90 closest friends, test out the whole drink menu for an unforgettable, alcohol-filled journey.

Feel like you’ve been dropped into a bygone era with a beautiful drink (tailored to your vibe and mood) in your hand? You ended up at Fitz’s Bar in Russell Square. With their Mirrorball and Mural rooms, soak in the 18th century stained-glass window and incredible artwork.

Their cocktail menu promises concoctions inspired by ‘the enigmatic world of colours’ with a multi-sensory experience. One such adventure is Monk by the Sea, a chartreuse libation with tequila, toasted rice and sugar snap spirit. A perfect refreshment for all the veggies and tequila lovers.

This swanky central London locale curates an eclectic and cosy vibe. With a vinyl wall, a jukebox and a ‘fam’ photo wall, this homey bar is perfect for catching up with a friend and making some new ones at the bar.

FAM does not keep it casual with their cocktails however, one of their signature drinks, Operation Neptune, combines cider brandy, ginger liqueur, peach bitters and more with an absinthe mist to send you out of this world. There are also FAM classics to please the less adventurous.

Available for private hire, the bar fits 50 guests, perfect for an intimate gathering with friends.

Situated beneath Happy Face Pizza in King’s Cross is the not-so-secret haven of cocktails and music, SUPERMAX. Their aperitivo hour boasts £7 cocktails until 7pm, so start your night early (we won’t judge, we love a deal).

The SUPERMAX main cocktail menu features vermouth-forward creations, but are guaranteed to please all.

Enjoy DJs spinning disco tracks till you’re blue in the face from getting down with up to 100 of your favourite people if you want to hire the whole venue!

Move over Negroni Sbagliato, Little Mercies house cocktails includes a new take on the classic — their Black Beet Negroni features beetroot gin and beetroot & blackberry vermouth.

When your drinks are this good, you don’t need all the bells and whistles in the bar itself. Nothing embodies that like Littles Mercies in Crouch End, with understated dark blue walls. There is also a selection of takeaway cocktails if you want to continue the fun at your flat.

Full hire of the venue fits up to 80 guests, perfect for an intimate celebration!

Trailer Happiness is the Notting Hill bar with Polynesian and Caribbean influences. Check out their refreshing array of rum-forward cocktails with an extensive selection of daiquiris, citrus tipples and sharing cocktails to split between up 2-5 friends (close friends, hopefully).

The whole venue is available for private hire for up to 110 guests, so the next time the unrelenting grey of London gets you down, throw an unforgettable party in this retro paradise.

The Cocktail Trading Company is the creation of three friends and life-long bartenders who wanted to go into the business of running killer bars. Their rotating cocktail menus ensure that innovative creations are always at your fingertips.

The current menu — which revolves around the concept of laziness — features the Navigator, smoked salmon gin, sesame & black pepper, lemon and cream cheese (a combination of alcohol and breakfast components we couldn’t have dreamed up in any world, but who knows).

Don’t be fooled by their cheeky descriptions, this bar is serious about their craft and is a cocktail enthusiast’s dream. Take some friends down Brick Lane to this spot and see who can down the oddest concoction.

This basement bar creates top-floor-level cocktails. In Happiness Forgets, you’d be remiss not to savour every drop. The underground, grungy interiors let the drinks do all the talking in this lively environment.

One standout on their menu is the Racketeer with Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, umeshu and amaro. Feel at home in the comforting atmosphere of Happiness Forgets, and cosy up in a candle-lit booth to forget whatever you need to.

You’re not tripping, there is a half-gazelle, half-peacock above Waeska’s bar. Between the three bars at The Mandrake Hotel, Waeska is the most eccentric. Their menu is based on ethnobotany (the study of a region’s plants and their uses, I didn’t know either).

One of their cocktails, Poison Rain, combines vodka, mezcal, amaretto, espresso and maple syrup (an apt name for those with weak stomachs and livers). The menu is full of drinks with new innovations, including elements like a passion fruit sphere or allspice, ancho and chipotle peppers combined in one tipple.

The lounge environment is perfect for blending into the darkness of Waeska, while admiring their collection of unique artefacts and artworks, as well as the impressive labradorite bar.

The younger sister of their original Dalston location, Hacha in Brixton offers a Mirror Margarita bar and bottle shop and an upstairs agaveria (as the name suggests, there are a plethora of agave-forward cocktails) lounge and kitchen.

The concept of a ‘mirror’ margarita was foreign to us, before gazing into the crystal-clear liquid that looks nothing like the classic, foggy tipple (a grown-up, naughtier version, it seems). Another Hacha brainchild is their award-winning Reforma, a tequila cocktail with toasted rice syrup, sherry and rhubarb bitters.

Hacha is available for full hire, and offers interactive events like a tasting session or margarita workshop (maybe indulge the office in some tequila-centric fun for the next social event).

Inside an old tailor’s shop, the Discount Suit Company has reinvented the space in favour of a speakeasy style bar with brick and wooden interiors. The dimly-lit space creates an intimate atmosphere, but the soundtrack of soul and old-school rock & roll keeps the bar lively.

Cocktails here are far more reasonably priced than what a suit will run you these days, so drink up! The Shing-a-ling features two types of rum, sweet potato shochu, chestnut and ube soda which to us, sounds curious but also delectable.

Next time you think you’ve stumbled across an abandoned suit shop, don’t go crazy because you’ve actually just found a chic cocktail bar.

Having opened in 2008, Callooh Callay has seen cocktail trends and bars come and go in Shoreditch, but they have perfected their space and craft to deliver consistently good times. Their two cocktail menu categories are ‘pokemenu’ and ‘legendary.’

From the Pokemenu, we are keen on the Charmander which combines tequila, funky liqueurs, salted grapefruit juice, olive and rosemary tonic and prosecco. It sounds like our type of kitchen sink drink and is wildly unique.

Callooh Callay is available for private hire and can accommodate groups of up to 160 guests. Keep this historic Shoreditch bar scene fixture in mind for future parties and other events.

Tucked away somewhere in the London Bridge area is Nine Lives, a quaint bar set in a Victorian basement. They care as much about their music as they do about their cocktails, with a custom sound system for top-quality playback.

The drinks menu is just as curated as we’re sure the Nine Lives playlist is, with shareables, classics, and classes of ‘newbies’ and ‘idols.’ If you feel so inclined to give one of the newbies a sip, may we suggest the Diabla: with reposado tequila, blackcurrant, ginger, lime and prosecco (not your average sparkling spritz drink).

Nine Lives is the type of bar that makes you feel good just being there, the vast open concept and dim, moody lamps make this bar worth crossing London Bridge.

Funkidory lives up to its name, as a swanky bar with natural wine and vinyl records in addition to great cocktails. Their drink menu includes local ingredients and twists on classics — like a paloma transformed into a frozen delight with the addition of rosé wine for a refreshing sip.

Recently, Funkidory expanded their bar venture into a bottle store where you can grab some of their famous drinks or a bottle of natural wine to bring home.

Its retro and cosy atmosphere is welcoming for those elevating their after-work pint or for friends getting together on a weekend. Funkidory is the type of bar where the regulars know the regulars, and creates a great environment as a neighbourhood bar.

Laki Kane has taken two delicious elements, Thai food and alcohol, and combined them harmoniously in their tropical Islington bar. The Mission Impossible tipple features Hennessy, peach brandy, mint, lemon and pineapple all topped with an Absinthe-soaked flaming sugar cube (alcohol and fire famously get along).

The flashy tiki glasses and intricate bowls for shared drinks enhance the experience and ambience. Having so many theatrical elements to their incredible cocktail menu sets Laki Lane above your average cocktail bar.

The entire venue is available for private bookings of up to 160 guests, and is a perfect place to ignore the cold, dark, damp streets of London.

Aptly named after the intellectual supergroup, The Bloomsbury Club Bar defies all rules of what a bar should be. There are overgrown vines, twinkle lights and cushy booths to curate a whimsical, somewhat magical vibe.

With drinks inspired by a special tarot deck, The Bloomsbury Club’s 14 cocktails correspond to 14 states of mind or body. For those feeling particularly guilty (maybe this is drink three, after you swore you would leave after one), try the Fallen Angel which mixes gin, pineapple vodka, vermouth, orange zest extract and grapefruit tincture. Their menu assures this tipple will clear your mind of all negativity (just be careful you don’t clear out your address while you’re at it).

This is the perfect place to escape from the real world, and delve into a bit of old-world whimsy. The Bloomsbury Club fits up to 35 people, a great venue for hire for any celebrations of any sort.