When I’m not hitting up London’s specialty coffee shops, brunch spots and eateries, one of my favourite things to do is to sip a well-crafted cocktail at one of the city's best bars. This guide to my favourite London cocktail bars has been 18 years in the making!
I'm definitely biased but I think London has one of the world’s best cocktail scenes. Way back when, most of the best bars were in Shoreditch or Soho. And while those neighbourhoods are still home to many of the city's top cocktail spots, there are superlative spots all over London these days.
Most of the bars on this list have the perfect blend of expertly mixed drinks, creative presentation and welcoming service in a beautiful space. But in some cases, other factors — like a cracking view — have bumped them up my ranking.
It was hard to narrow down my list to just 15 bars, so I’ve included 10 bonus venues that I love and visit often. I first created this guide in June 2026 but I will update it regularly.
The American Bar | Strand
A Bar with Shapes for a Name 🔶🟥🔵 | Haggerston
Technically just called 🔶🟥🔵, the Bar with Shapes for a Name occupies a multi-level Bauhaus-inspired space just off the Regent's Canal on Kingsland Road.The menu offers creative twists on classic cocktails and unique creations. It's also the sister bar of Bar Nouveau in Paris.
When I visited recently, the friendly bartender helped me choose a golden cocktail to mark my beloved Wolves' relegation. The Batā-wari (£14.50) is a delicious take on a whisky highball with palo santo, butter and golden syrup. Less golden but just as good was the Kazimir (vodka, peach yogurt and absinthe).
Cato | Covent Garden
I've been missing New York these past 18 months. But there's now a piece of the Big Apple in Covent Garden in the form of Cato, a bar inspired by legendary 18th century NYC bartender Cato Alexander. The décor is gorgeous and the staff are lovely too.
Juleps are the house speciality, but I've always been too distracted by the rest of the menu. The kimchi margarita (£16; pictured above) is my favourite, but the Mustard Sour is great too — if you don't mind a little nose tingle!
The Connaught Bar | Mayfair
If you are partial to a martini, you simply must make a pilgrimage to the bar at The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair. Non-residents can't book so go early to secure your table in the sleek, 1920s-style bar.
The Connaught Martini costs £30 but it's really a whole experience, not just a drink (plus, you get free-flowing olives and nibbles). The bartender wheels the trolley over to your table and you get to customise your drink before watching the true mixology magic.
I went for gin (obvs), lavender bitters and a lemon garnish and it was exceptional! You can't go wrong with the rest of the menu, either.
Frank's Cafe | Peckham
On sultry summer nights, there's no better place than Frank's to sip a fruity drink while watching the sun go down over the London skyline. The cocktails (£10) are good but it's all about the views and the vibes at this popular Peckham spot, located on the roof of a multi-storey car park (because Peckham).
Kwãnt | Mayfair
Pronounced 'quaint' ('attractively unusual or old-fashioned'), rather than 'quant', Kwañt occupies an attractive space just off Piccadilly. The best seat in the house is behind the large counter where you get the perfect view of the mixology in motion.
The cocktails (mostly ~£21) are named for flavour profiles. The Mineral, made with gin, olive oil, white chocolate and verjuis, was unusual but all-too-moreish. The Vegetal, with mezcal, Jerusalem artichoke, Mexican marigold, cocchi torino and campari was very different and indeed very vegetal!
They serve snacks and small plates too (go at the weekend for the biggest selection) and they even do a five-course Omakase cocktail tasting menu. Email them to book!
Lyaness | South Bank
Ryan Chetiyawardana — AKA Mr Lyan — has several bars in London and beyond, united by playful creativity and expert mixology. I was sad when Dandelyan at the Sea Containers Hotel closed its doors and was happy to see its reincarnation as Lyaness.
The themed menus feature unusual ingredients and unique flavour combinations, plus a strong element of storytelling. Take a seat at the elegant bar to watch the action, or watch the denizens of the South Bank through the large front windows.
Maison Assouline | Mayfair
If this blog was a Venn diagram, Maison Assouline would sit right at the centre. The self-proclaimed concept store for culture offers specialty coffee, top-notch cocktails and beautiful travel books in a stunning setting on Piccadilly.
During my visit, there was a travel cocktails menu and the charming bartender recommended the Bangkok Spirit (£25), mixed with Ámbar Claro rum, pandan liqueur, bitters, coffee, turmeric and smoke. The first sips are intense and potent, like the Thai capital by day, but as the smoke infuses, the drink mellows out like Bangkok after hours.
Drinks are served with complimentary olives and nibbles, which makes it easier to order a second cocktail! It's a delightful place to while away an hour or two.
Nightjar | Old Street
Satan's Whiskers | Bethnal Green
Every neighbourhood should have a neighbourhood bar like Satan's Whiskers. When sitting at the counter, chatting to the friendly, knowledgeable bartenders, I could almost be in NYC. Book a table if you're in a group as it gets busy (watch out for the taxidermy!).
There are over 900 cocktails in their repertoire, so you'll always have something new to try. I'm a sucker for pineapple, so the Hawaiian Stone Sour (£13.50), with freshly squeezed pineapple, lemon, honey and whisky, went down a treat, as did the Clover Club (pictured), one of my all-time favourite cocktails.
Scarfes Bar | Holborn
Step into Scarfes Bar, inside the luxurious Rosewood Hotel, and you'll feel a world away from the hustle of High Holborn. The bar (and menu) feature illustrations by the titular Gerald Scarfe, legendary cartoonist. The bar staff are welcoming and happy to offer recommendations, and cocktails are served with complimentary nibbles.
The Heroes & Villains menu is inspired by Scarfe's book of the same name. Each of 10 icons have inspired both a 'hero' and a 'villain' cocktail.
My favourite was the Strawberry Fields Forever (£24), inspired by Sir Paul McCartney: tart and playful with tequila, strawberry, lemon verbena and sweet pepper. The Evilution (inspired by Darwin's naughty alter ego) was just as enjoyable: smooth and sweet with a fruity kick.
Side Hustle | Covent Garden
As I mentioned, I love pineapple. I could probably have done a top 15 just featuring pineapple cocktails but I restrained myself. The Cantarito Al Pastor (£19), at the NoMad Hotel's Side Hustle Bar might just be my favourite: sweet, tart, spicy, herbaceous and very, very drinkable. Best served with a portion of tacos!
Swift | London Bridge, Old Street and Soho
Swift's trio of bars might be the most visited venues on this list. Especially my local, on Borough High Street — ideal for drink before dinner at Borough Market or a nightcap.
The menus change seasonally, but I'm always drawn to the Carmen (£16), mixed with tequila, lime sherbet and toasted blue corn. My brother and I managed to drink them out of pisco one night too!
Tayēr & Elementary | Old Street
Tayēr and Elementary is (are?) a bar in two parts on Old Street. You can't book, so go early and be prepared to wait at Elementary before getting a spot at Tayēr, where the real magic happens. The One-Sip Martini (£4) is a great amuse bouche!
Tayēr at the back is a real temple of cocktail worship. It feels like a Michelin-starred fine dining experience, as you take a seat at the U-shaped metal counter where you can watch the talented bar staff at work.
Everything I've tried here has been superb, from the Bergamot Margarita (£14.50) to the eucalyptus resin and green apple. The service is impeccable too: when I went to the bathroom, my drink was gone but the bartender had just put it in the fridge to keep it cool!
NB: Unfortunately, both Tayẽr and Elementary are currently closed due to a fire in the building. Hopefully, they will be up and running again soon.
Three Sheets | Dalston and Soho
If you know me well, you'll know I can't resist a good pun, or even a bad one. And the Sazzaquack (£16.50) at Three Sheets delivers not just a good pun and an outstanding cocktail, but also a cute duck glass to really hammer the point home.
The drink is, of course, a twist on the Sazerac, with brandy, rye, five spice, Rooibos tea, lemon absinthe and soy. It's hard not to order it every time I go, but the Strawberry Boulevardier I had last time was just as tasty. The Soho location — tucked away in a small alley off Greek Street — is a wonderful spot for an apéritif.
10 more fab London cocktail spots
It was way too hard to narrow down my favourite London cocktail spots to just 15. With that in mind, I'm sharing 10 more bars that I rate highly, from tiny Bar Termini with its top-notch negronis to quirky fun at Callooh Callay and sustainability-centricity at Nine Lives.
- Bar Américain | Soho
- Bar Termini | Soho
- The Bar with No Name | Islington
- Callooh Callay | Shoreditch (one of my first tastes of whimsical cocktail fun)
- Dante at Claridge's | Mayfair (opening permanently in summer 2026; one of my NYC faves made it to London!)
- Happiness Forgets | Shoreditch
- Hawksmoor Bar | Soho (a long-term family favourite)
- Nine Lives | London Bridge
- Royal Automobile Club Bar | Mayfair
- Trailer Happiness | Notting Hill (featured in my Notting Hill guide)
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