London’s Best Bars.
Whether you’re in the mood for a spy thriller, a posh retreat, or a quirky underground haven, we’ve got you covered.
Bar Kinky
Location: Charlotte St, Fitzrovia
Vibe: Snuggly nestled beneath the Georgian restaurant Kinkally, this little gem is the epitome of blink and you’ll miss it. The lights are dimmed, and at the heart of this moody haven is a stainless steel bar that’s sleeker than your average Bond villain. Picture a copper vault with red lighting and a central island bar. The drinks? Oh, they’re inventive alright—think porcini mushrooms and fat-washed goat's cheese.
Top Tipple:
Diva- East London Vodka, Beetroot, Walnut, and Blue Cheese. Yes, really.
Spy Bar
Location: Raffles London, White hall
Vibe: Spy Bar at Raffles is where you go when you want to feel like an extra in a spy movie. This subterranean cocktail den lurks beneath the depths of Raffles Hotel, hidden behind a door so unassuming it might as well have a Do Not Disturb sign. Once you stumble upon it, you’ll find a dark, delectable little basement where cocktails are so strong, they’d have James Bond spilling his martini secrets. Also, it’s got 2 PINs on The Pinnacle Guide, which is basically the Michelin stars of the bar world.
Top Tipple:
Vesper Martini- vodka, gin and dry vermouth.
Nipperkin
Location: Berkeley St, Mayfair
Vibe: Nipperkin is the lovechild of Downton Abbey and your local pub. This charming spot pays homage to English country manor houses, featuring an island bar station smack dab in the middle of the room. It’s got warm earthen tones and materials that scream, I’m posh but approachable. The cocktails are led by seasonal British produce, served up with a minimalist flair that says, I woke up like this.
Top Tipple:
Wild figs and Honey- Brugal 1888, Nipperkin’s fig brandy, fig leaves, fortified dry wine, spiced honey soda.
Fino at Fazenda
Location: Bishopsgate, Liverpool St
Vibe: Nestled on the ground floor of Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill, Fino at Fazenda is a paradise for South American flavour aficionados, a lively fiesta of Latin American zest, inspired by escapades through Argentina and Brazil. Their divine selection of South American-inspired cocktails is paired with a chic and cosy atmosphere, complete with walnut panelling and a lounge area boasting a plush sofa. One sip of their dazzling cocktails whisks you straight to the vibrant heart of Latin America.
Top Tipple:
Once in Cartagena - avocado- washed La Hechicera rum, yaguara, still strength, mango, pineapple and almond soda.
Rhum Tavern
Location: Margaret St, Fitzrovia
Vibe: A surprise pirate-themed paradise awaits you in the heart of Fitzrovia. Say ‘Ahoy’ to Rhum Tavern, where there’s more rum than you can shake a sugar cane at. The theatrically minded crew at Rhum Bar have reimagined the place as a ship's hull, so you can drink rum like a 17th-century pirate (minus the scurvy). The rum cocktail menu is as bonkers as the decor, with classics like the Mojito rubbing shoulders with original house creations.
Top Tipple:
The Inferno - 42 Below, Creamed Coconut, Hazelnut Liqueur, Tobacco Sugar, Spices.
Amano Rooftop Bar
Location: Amano Hotel, Covent Garden
Vibe: As far as rooftop locations go, Amano with its jaw-dropping 7th floor perch atop the Amano Hotel is a tough act to follow. The views are so stunning, you might just forget to sip your cocktail. Gaze out past the London Eye, across dramatic views of the Shard, and everything in between. The 1930s splendour is dialled up to eleven with mirrored walls, blue banquettes, and grey velvet chairs.
Top Tipple:
Chai This - Chairman's Spiced Rum, Chai Tea, Velvet Falernum, Mango, Cranberry, and Almond Syrup.
Smith & Whistle
Location: Sheraton Grand, London Park Lane
Vibe: Tucked inside the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Mayfair, Smith & Whistle is your go-to if you fancy a bit of vintage glam without needing a time machine. Imagine if Gatsby popped over to London for a cheeky tipple—yep, he'd be here. The best part? It’s like the hotel bar that doesn’t want to be a hotel bar, complete with plush leather armchairs that practically beg you to slouch. Go on, you know you want to.
Top Tipple:
Mayfair Confidential - Truffle-infused Rivington gin, passion fruit, earl grey syrup, Vetiver.
K- Bar
Location: Queen's Gate, South Kensington
Vibe: The K Bar at The Kensington Hotel is where Gatsby meets good taste — all oak-panelled swagger, mirrored mischief, and martinis smoother than a BBC voiceover. Slide into a velvet throne, let the brass fittings wink at you, and surrender to cocktails that arrive dressed better than most dinner guests. It’s the sort of place where time politely removes its watch, and you half-expect to see Noel Coward gossiping in the corner. A suave little temple to the dark art of good drinking.
Top Tipple:
Émeraude - Gunpowder Irish Gin, Pandan, Citrus, Soda.
The Cocktail Bar
Location: 108 Brasserie, Marylebone Lane
Vibe: Tucked away like a debonair secret on the corner of Welbeck and Bulstrode, The Cocktail Bar at 108 Brasserie is Marylebone’s velvet-lined whisper of old-school New York. Picture martinis smoother than Sinatra, banquettes that practically purr, and a clientele who seem to have been curated by Vogue. One minute you’re clinking glasses on the sun-kissed terrace, the next you’re lounging fireside, plotting mischief. It’s less a bar, more a time machine for the effortlessly glamorous and mildly tipsy.
Top Tipple:
Conservatoire - Hayman’s Old Tom Gin Beefeater 24 Antica Formula Apricot Maraschino Maple Orange Bitters.
UBA Bar
Location: Great Eastern St, London
Vibe: UBA’s Bar feels like the lovechild of a Tokyo nightspot and a Shoreditch co-working space that moonlights as a flirt. You saunter in for “one quick drink” and somehow emerge, hours later, philosophising over bao buns and cocktails that wink at you with citrusy mischief. The staff glide about like silk-clad diplomats of good taste, and even the lighting seems to flirt. It’s less “hotel bar” and more “cool friend’s living room with better bartenders.”
Top Tipple:
Shiso spritz: shochu, gin, yuzushu, apple, shiso syrup, cucumber, lemon, soda.
