The 13 best bars in London

From the oldest of traditional pubs to the most modern of bars, London’s bar scene is diverse, impressive and most of all, always a good time. Selected for their sensational social atmosphere and most sensational drinks, these are the best places to drink in the British capital.

Sager + Wilde Wine Bar, Hackney Road

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+44 20 8127 7330

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In London’s cool corner, Hoxton is Sager + Wilde, a well-priced wine bar with a diverse list of wines from around the world. More modern than showy, this is the ideal place to try something you’ve never had before, and the wine experts will guide you every step of the way. Choose a bottle of deep white from Lebanon’s Chateau Musar or a sweet little step wine from the little-known Sicilian island of Pantelleria. Artisanal bar snacks like cheese and charcuterie boards and gourmet tostadas (grilled cheese sandwiches) are also offered.

Trailer happiness

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+44 20 7041 9833

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This basement tiki bar in artsy Notting Hill has a ‘wild night’ written on its faux wood paneled walls. With retro tropical drinks like banana and zombie daiquiris served with coconuts topped with cocktail umbrellas, Trailer Happiness draws a huge crowd, especially on the weekends. There’s also a massive roster of rums to break through and playful ’60s music that will have you dancing the night away. It’s easy to forget you’re in London at this neighborhood cult favorite.

Gordon’s Wine Bar

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+44 20 7930 1408

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Gordon is an underground lair of time-forgotten delicacies. Dating back to 1890, the rustic, damp cave by candlelight has a long history: Rudyard Kipling (author of “The Jungle Book”) lived in Gordon’s upstairs building and the wine bar walls are lined with old newspapers and empty bottles. Serving only wine (including fortified wines like sherry and port), this ancient miniature grotto is a must for anyone wanting to sample or savor historic London.

Bar Termini

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+44 7860 945018

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This tiny little Italian cafe and bar in London’s Soho is famous for its strong espressos and amazing Negronis house, which are priced for London at £ 2.50 and £ 7 respectively. Though full of retro flair in the form of marble countertops and en-suite waiters, the list of bars is short and simple and almost exclusively Italian – in other words, it’s just gorgeous . After filling Negronis (available in Classico, Superiore, Rosato, or Robusto builds), try the Garibaldi, which is elevated to something sublime with freshly squeezed orange juice, bergamot, and Campari. Saluti !

Princess luisa

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+44 20 7405 8816

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To find out how Victorian Londoners like to drink, head to Princess Louise in Holborn. Designed in 1872, Princess Louise has stunning interiors with stained glass panels, gleaming leather booths, and dark wood with chocolate tones. Popular with the after-work crowd, this lively and unpretentious spot is a haven for a proper beer or a frozen G&T (made with classic British gin, of course).

American bar

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+44 20 7836 4343

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As popular today as it was in the 1920s, The Savoy’s American Bar (named after the American-style cocktails it first served) is not only a London institution, but also one of the best bars in the world. The American bar is responsible for inventing some of the most iconic classic cocktails, such as the Dry Martini, Hanky ​​Panky, and the hangover-curing Prairie Oyster, made with a raw egg cracked in tomato juice, plus Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and salt and pepper.

Today you won’t find the Prairie Oyster on the menu (thankfully), but you will find pages and pages of cutting edge drinks and vintage sips, as well as a litany of luxury wines and spirits. Try something from the newly introduced menu called ‘Every Moment Tells A Story,’ featuring cocktails inspired by famous photographer Terry O’Neill, whose portraits of celebrities decorate the bar’s walls.

City of London Distillery

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+44 20 7936 3636

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London has had a long and tumultuous love affair with gin, and these days it is more passionate than ever. There’s a trend in town to serve and drink gin at small-batch distilleries, and even well-known artisans are releasing adventurous new recipes for their botanical gins. For a gin-geek’s perspective, head to the City of London Distillery (COLD) in Smithfield, which is part distillery and part bar. Taste a flight of gin and find a new favorite.

Another good option for gin lovers is The Distillery in Notting Hill. This four-story gin sanctuary includes a working distillery, several bars, and even The Ginstitute, a private room where you can mix your own gin and learn more about this spirit.

Searcys St Pancras Champagne Bar

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+44 20 7870 9900

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There are plenty of bubbly drinking spots in London, but there’s something especially decadent about ordering a glass of champagne at St Pancras Champagne Bar by Searcys in the stunningly beautiful St Pancras train station. Sure, it’s a bit dangerous to drink in a glamorous old-fashioned train station – you could end up on the Eurostar to Paris after all – but the old-world vibe is half the fun. (The other half is the endless list of champagne.)

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary in terms of sparkling wine, check out the sparkling wine list in English at The Coral Room. They are champions of English small-batch vineyards, and their offerings by the glass rotate among six British vineyards and sparkling wine-producing wineries. Plus, the elegant setting, courtesy of Art Deco touches dressed in rich, vibrant coral, is simply enchanting.

The blind pig

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+44 161 707 0004

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Perched above celebrity chef Jason Atherton’s laid-back (but Michelin-starred) Social Eating House is the much-lauded Blind Pig. The long cocktail menu at this speakeasy-style bar changes seasonally. As for menu selections, the Blind Pig offers a Sunday lunch, dinner and menu ranging from small plates to Sunday roasts. An indulgent dessert menu offers hard ice cream (with alcoholic ice cream), apple cinnamon tarts, and sticky caramel pudding.

Mr. Fogg’s residence

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+44 20 7036 0608

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Mayfair’s Mr Fogg’s Residence is a wonderfully creative bar inspired by Phileas J. Fogg, the hero of Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days.” The walls are covered in Victorian-style bric-a-bracs from Mr. Fogg’s travels around the world, and the eclectic cocktails are named after curious characters he meets along the way. Mr. Fogg’s residence also hosts fantastic and drunken experiences like a gin safari (gin tasting), drunken afternoon tea, and extravagant lunches. In addition to the Residence, there are several other outposts of this establishment, including Mr. Fogg’s Gin Parlor in Covent Garden and Mr. Fogg’s Exploration Society on The Strand.

The queen of hoxton

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+44 20 7422 0958

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The Queen of Hoxton, in perpetually trendy Shoreditch, is one of the hippest bars in town. Though it’s a summer favorite thanks to the rooftop, this hotspot is open year-round and hosts live music and theme parties like hip hop karaoke and disco nights. The rooftop is open daily and often changes the decor and themes with pop-up accessories like wigwams and Bedouin tents. Summer also brings rooftop barbecues and other seasonal special events.

The Draft House, Queen Charlotte

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+44 20 7323 9361

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Fans of craft beer can’t skip the Draft House. There are locations all over London, although the Fitzrovia location is an iconic little boozer stocked with unusual craft beers from around the world. The list of draft beers has over twenty beers, and the list of beer cans and bottles is even longer than that. New beers are introduced all the time, and the relaxed, casual atmosphere always makes you feel welcome. With other venues dotted around the city (including Tower Bridge, Old Street, and Paddington), you’ll never be far from carefully curated craft beer and a small but delicious menu of bar food.

El bar Connaught

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+44 20 7314 3419

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For one of the best martinis in the capital, head to the impressive Connaught Bar at Mayfair’s upscale Connaught Hotel. This mirrored jewelry box bar is a magnificent treat, and rare, as the prices are so delicious. But that’s the price you literally pay for perfection. Expert custom martinis are served tableside on silver rolling carts by award-winning mixologists to add a little more glamor to an already glamorous drink at the most elegant bar in town.

The other place for martinis in London is DUKES Bar, also in Mayfair. Once the enemy of James Bond creator Sir Ian Fleming, he was thought to have invented his famous ‘shaken not shaken’ line here. Today, you can still order a killer martini, many of which are named after famous and infamous Bond characters.

Craft beer in London