Finest London cocktail bars
Viajante 87, Notting Hill
An formidable, continent-spanning menu, moody lighting and a chilled-out but buzzy really feel set the tone for this plush, Latin American impressed basement bar in Notting Hill.
Viajante means traveller in Spanish and the crew’s globe-trotting strategy to flavours and drinks is mirrored in a energetic menu that takes you from acquainted classics (palomas, pisco sours, spicy margaritas) to drinks made with sudden and lesser-known elements it’s possible you’ll not have come throughout earlier than. Teams may also order carafes of agave spirits or caipirinhas, and you may even work with the bar to create your personal customized cocktail.
Viajante87 excels in providing polished and progressive agave riffs on traditional drinks. The Mole Manhattan is a tribute to Mexico’s nationwide meals, mole, utilizing fig leaves and Criollo de Oaxaca mezcal infused with cacao and sesame together with vegetal Cynar for an evocatively earthy, smoky and nutty cocktail – it’s a should order. The Charanda Outdated Common is one other star, made with Mexican Uruapan rum, Patrón reposado and amburana seed, the latter of which provides wealthy vanilla and toffee notes for a luxurious and silky drink.
Elsewhere, martini followers ought to delve into the Martini Malcriado (savoury and herbaceous from brown butter sage mezcal) and the bracingly icy Glacier Martini. Or, for those who’re feeling adventurous, attempt the Leche de Bichos made with floral raicilla spirit, anise hyssop and jocoque, a Mexican fermented yogurt. Tangy and creamy with light anise notes, it’s an intriguing word to spherical off a go to to this west London gem. viajantebar.com
Kwãnt, Mayfair
Former American Bar head bartender Erik Lorincz is usually thought to be the most effective within the enterprise and his feted bar is the stage for an authentic new ingesting expertise. Kwãnt beforehand had digs on Heddon Avenue earlier than the pandemic compelled its closure. It reopened in 2023, and the brand new incarnation, minutes from Inexperienced Park station, is a refined tropical oasis with excessive ceilings and tall home windows, Polynesian-inspired artwork, leafy palms, an enormous glass cupboard full of classic spirits and a chic six-seater island bar round which white-jacketed bartenders work seamlessly.
Kwãnt’s new cocktail omakase is unique to this central counter, with one seating per night time happening at 6pm, Thursday to Saturday. Nikka is its first collaborator, with 5 mini cocktails showcasing the Japanese model’s spirits, paired with small bites from chef Joni Ketonen.
Daring flavour pairings pepper a easily paced, 90-minute session (suavely stewarded by Erik himself). Nikka Coffey gin is mixed with sea urchin and bonito, and matched with sake, champagne and verjus for a mineral, saline aperitif. Elsewhere, the flexibility of whisky is showcased in drinks just like the smoky, refreshing Tomato with Nikka Taketsuru single malt, pickle brine, tomato and Seedlip Backyard; and the earthy, savoury Beetroot that includes Nikka Miyagikyo single malt, beetroot, miso and aged sake (right here paired with a moreish one-bite beef tartare). The omakase ends with our favorite drink of the night, Oolong, a tackle an Irish espresso with Yoichi single malt, oolong tea combined with wasanbon sugar and a topping of soy meringue foam – a deliciously creamy, delicate digestif. Nikka’s collaboration runs till 31 March, after which the omakase continues with new manufacturers but to be introduced. 5coursedrinktastingmenu.sq..web site/
Muse at RSA Home, West Finish
Hidden away within the elegant Georgian environs of RSA Home, Muse affords a welcome respite from the busy close by Strand, with a tremendous line in sustainably minded cocktails.
In partnership with Idyll Drinks and Firm of Cooks, the bar is on a mission to highlight British elements, all served in a relaxed, subtly luxe setting. Drinks, designed by Marcis Dzelzainis (Sager + Wilde), are brimming with uncommon seasonal and botanical elements, from hawthorn and rosehip rum cocktails to a truffle vodka martini.
Significantly fascinating are a roster of traditional cocktails made with wild distillates. Our favourites included a pisco bitter made with pineapple weed liqueur – {smooth} and creamy with a fragile tropical forged – and a wild carrot margarita with a warming, earthy, herbaceous character. thersa.org/muse-at-rsa-house
KOL Mezcalería, Marylebone
Tucked away on the decrease floor ground of Santiago Lastra’s refined hymn to Mexican delicacies is that this slinky, subterranean bar. Impressed by the mezcalerias of Mexico, it’s decked out in soothing earthy tones and pure textures, with darkish wood furnishings, rattan lamps and conventional Mexican artifacts on the partitions.
The cocktails are masterminded by Matthias Ingelmann and echo the restaurant’s emphasis on British seasonal elements, with a number of selfmade infusions. The menu is a intelligent idea, the place 5 ingredient duos are spotlighted, with the choice to attempt the flavours paired in a cocktail with both an agave or a Mexican gin, rum or whisky. Take woodruff for instance. It is infused into Campari and served with a zero-waste espresso liqueur and Sierra Norte corn whisky within the Boulevardier, whereas additionally infused into white chocolate foam and combined with Harmful Don Café Mezcal within the ‘Scorching and Chilly’. Elsewhere, carrot is blitzed for juice to make a syrup with marigold flower to create two contrasting drinks – the earthy, floral, pisco-textured Mountain Principal and the recent, botanical White Americano.
The ’antojito’ meals menu is as robust as you’d count on from Santiago Lastra’s Michelin-starred kitchen. The one non-British elements used are chilli, corn and occasional, so courgette is used as an alternative of avocado within the guacamole and seagrass replaces coriander, whereas quesadillas are full of Kentish Oaxacan-style cheese. End with a churro-esque swirl sprinkled with anco chilli for a contact of warmth, served with earthy mezcal chocolate mousse and savoury pork crackling. kolrestaurant.com
The Bloomsbury Membership Bar, Bloomsbury
Tucked beneath the Bloomsbury Lodge is that this cosy artwork deco den that may transport you again to Nineteen Twenties excessive society that was liked by the writers and artists of the time. The low-lit inside options luxurious leather-based armchairs, wall-to-wall bookshelves and a formidable, curved bar that serves historical Egypt impressed cocktails which you can take pleasure in alongside bar bites and reside music. The names, flavours and elements of the cocktails are impressed by hieroglyphs discovered carved in stone close to the pyramids. Se Shen, which implies lotus flower, pairs gin with the refreshing flavours of hibiscus, rose soda and provides sweetness of strawberry and raspberry. Should you like a little bit of a kick to your drink, Wadjet (goddess of serpents) blends tequila, vermouth and strawberry, ending off with a rim of chilli salt for added fireplace. Get pleasure from your drinks with a number of bar snacks that embody pea and gorgonzola arancini, and beef and cheddar sliders. thebloomsburyclub.com
Three Sheets, Soho
Max and Noel Venning want no introduction within the cocktail world. The unique Three Sheets in Dalston is a bartenders’ establishment, because of its stripped-back interiors, late-night vibes and progressive. The brothers have been pre-batching cocktails earlier than it grew to become a pattern, setting requirements excessive with their floral glowing French 75 served in a champagne bottle. This iconic cocktail remains to be on the menu on the new spot within the coronary heart of Soho, joined by many new stand-out contenders. A sublime model of a grimy martini has a fragile floral end because of Ethiopian Koseret tea-infused Belvedere and a silkiness courtesy of an olive oil fats wash. Mezcal Dawn is a juicy, lengthy drink with smoky depth and floral bergamot notes from earl grey-infused mezcal, vivid and citrussy freshly squeezed mandarin juice and a contact of marigold powder for delicate earthiness. Sazzaquack makes a brief, {smooth} whisky quantity with notes of black treacle and a delicate spice end because of selfmade 5 spice tincture. The vibe is somewhat sleeker than the unique, with marble tables, teal blue cubicles and black and white pictures of Soho’s characters reminding punters that they’re within the hearty of London’s ingesting district. threesheets-bar.com
Silverleaf, Bishopsgate
This refined bar combines sultry Tom Dixon-designed interiors with exactly executed, intriguing cocktails. Inside, interiors have moody metallic and muted tones, plus luxe textures and types – suppose mid-century furnishings, curved marble tables, sweeping banquettes, charred timber, blackened metal and low lighting.
The cocktails, that are smooth and minimalist in presentation, ship shocking marriages of elements and flavours. The present Beneath The Lens menu is designed to include science (with an ingredient from every cocktail put underneath the microscope to create gorgeous kaleidoscopic photos) and break up into sections that cowl highballs (Apricot|Anko twists the traditional whisky highball with apricot water and anko pink bean paste), home ferments (equivalent to a focus of black limes, lime leaves and lime zest in a cordial for the floral Lime|Rosewood concoction), traditional serve cocktails and signatures from menus previous, together with the colourful, tart and spicy Hibiscus|Guajillo, that includes mezcal, selfmade sorrel vermouth, guajillo chilli tincture, hibiscus, cacao nibs and mole bitters. panpacific.com/silverleaf
Equal Elements, Hackney
Michael Sager has partnered with Matteo Vaccargiu to open an Italian aperitivo bar in a inexperienced tiled-fronted nook spot, a couple of doorways down from the unique Sager + Wilde wine bar. It’s a chic but unfussy area, with loads of wooden panelling, flickering candles and vinyl twirling on the decks. Perch on the window ledge to observe stylish passers-by or bag a spot on the bar to see the crew shake and stir signature cocktails in entrance of a formidable line-up of amaros, aperitivo and bitters. The Flor cocktail combines fino sherry and olive oil vodka with Matteo’s elevated clarification of recent tomato, basil, chilli and a tiny contact of garlic for a vivid, recent end, alla liquid bruschetta to evoke the Sardinian coast. The Orange is a gluggable concoction of orange wine, Meletti amaro and pear and elderflower syrup, whereas the ACE makes a refreshing twist on the garibaldi combining carrot cordial, recent orange juice, Campari and soda. A seasonal infusion makes its manner right into a trio of classics; on our go to a strawberry and fig leaf martini combo that brightened the negroni, sbagliato and americano. equalpartslondon.com
Swift, Soho
This award-winning Soho bar comes from husband-and-wife crew Bobby Hiddleston (Useless Rabbit, Callooh Callay) and Mia Johansson (Milk & Honey), and the crew behind Nightjar and Oriole. It is a two-part affair, with a buzzy, informal area on the bottom ground – finest for walk-ins – and darker, intimate underground lounge with smooth crescent cubicles, inky black tables and moody lighting. The upstairs serves lighter aperitif cocktails (attempt the signature sgroppino, with lemon sorbet, prosecco and Italicus), whereas beneath focuses on extra sultry cocktails, in addition to whisky, of which they’ve a 300-strong assortment.
Their outpost in Shoreditch, has smooth black and white artwork deco-style interiors making a cultured setting for ingesting characteristically artistic cocktails – attempt the Carmen with Olmeca Altos plata tequila, toasted blue corn and lime sherbet for a zingy twist on a margarita.
The newest addition to the Swift flock landed in Borough in autumn 2022, and it’s each bit as charismatic as its siblings. Tucked away like a hidden gem, the speakeasy-style bar downstairs affords an intimate, effortlessly cool vibe. The newest cocktail menu, South of the River, options 14 creative creations, every one a tribute to the landmarks, individuals, and wealthy historical past of South London, including a recent twist to the town’s cocktail scene. barswift.com
Coupette, Bethnal Inexperienced
This can be a tremendous cool ingesting den, the place banter over the bar (comprised of French centimes) is inspired and employees greet you with smiles and a taster of the slushie of the day as a welcome refresher. The showstopping champagne piña colada is a must-try – a mixture of Bacardi Heritage, French-Caribbean agricole rum, pineapple and coconut sorbet, topped up with Moët & Chandon brut. The house owners let their creativity unfastened on the rotating menu, the present iteration, “Barely Authorized”, taking inspiration from East London’s road artwork. Every web page showcases a novel fee from an area muralist to enrich the cocktail in query, with a useful abstract ‘compass’ of flavours on the primary web page, categorising the menu into candy, bitter, boozy dry and refreshing citrus. Begin with the Paper Airplane Cobbler, an extended, refreshing tackle a negroni, the bitter Aperol and bitter Tamarillo Amaro balanced by candy sauternes and guava gel. On the candy facet, Nuts For Nuts makes a really perfect night time cap, a wealthy, candy and fluffy liquid comprised of peanut butter distilled gin, nut cream and blitzed pistachios, walnuts and cashews, with oloroso sherry giving a recent edge. coupette.co.uk
Hacha, Dalston
London’s authentic agaveria provides a splash of latest sunshine to Kingsland Highway, with peach and mustard tiles, loads of palms and an array of artwork to whisk you away to hotter climes. Perch on the bar and glide your eyes over the agave record, numbered in value order that will help you select. Every of the mezcals and tequilas comes with a complementary pairing, be {that a} thimble of vermouth, sq. of chocolate or one thing salty. Award-winning agave cocktails embody the enduring mirror margaritas, made with a home bitter combine to maintain issues clear, each in color and style, permitting the spirit to shine in a clear and vivid no-nonsense serve. The honey bee margarita is one other stand out, the chipotle-infused honey giving a delicate, salty sweetness with a touch of warmth.
Present meals residency is dealt with by Mexican road meals wizards, Tigre Tacos. Crisp coated chunks of soppy fish topped with zingy cabbage and pico de gallo make the baja fish tacos a should order. Portobello mushrooms, pickled carrots and crispy soy lime kale take vegetarian tacos to new heights, whereas tuna tostadas blanketed in crisp frilly chives make a silky, crisp, crunchy contender to combine up the textures a bit. hachabar.com
Dram, Soho
You’d be forgiven for strolling previous this low-key and unassuming Soho frontage of sanded wood shutters on Denmark Avenue, however head in and this Grade II listed constructing begins to slowly unfold with surprises. There’s a basement bar, an open backyard terrace, upstairs pool desk room, non-public occasions room and a hidden drinks improvement “lab”. The extra you uncover, the extra you respect the artistic imaginative and prescient of the founders – Chris Tanner, Martyn ‘Simo’ Simpson and Jack Wallis – as they’ve skilfully dissected and reassembled the ideas of what a bar is. The lab is the place seasonal elements are fermented or “cordialised” and discover their manner into a brief however succinct cocktail menu. Many are on faucet and so obtainable swiftly within the bar areas. Strive one of many decrease ABV highball serves such because the Mezcal & Coconut, or a stirred-down cocktail like Beetroot and Raspberry Wine, with a delicate earthiness from the beetroot that balances effectively with the candy sharpness of the wine. Control their occasions web page for weekly rotating chef takeovers from September – excellently paired with specifically crafted drinks. drambar.co.uk
Lowcountry, Shoreditch
Head right down to this intimate basement bar, whether or not you’re awaiting your tasting menu at Counter71 upstairs or simply fancy a night of smooth, American South-style drinks and hospitality from head bartender Ryan Sheehan.
Signatures embody a transparent, delicate tomato water and jalapeño-infused tequila cocktail. Basic creations characteristic the likes of the vieux carré, a fancy and silky New Orleans stalwart that mixes rye, cognac, candy vermouth and Benedictine with bitters, and the London negroni, which makes use of spirits from Highgate’s Sacred distillery. Southern-inspired snacks absorb the booze – fried rooster clusters and tater tots are served with ranch sauce and tacky dip for dunking. counter71.co.uk
Freddles, London Fields
In a comfy, glittery room beneath energetic neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar, Papi, Freddles is an intimate spot to fulfill associates over progressive drinks. Bartender Thomas Auger was born in Paris to French and Vietnamese dad and mom and has picked up strategies from a few of London’s high cocktail bars (NOLA, Low cost Go well with Firm, Milk & Honey) to develop his personal eclectic type. The 12-strong menu is break up into two halves, the primary a ‘playground’ through which Thomas experiments with a seasonal quaint, milk punch, lengthy drink, and carbonised cocktail, plus two wild playing cards within the combine. The quaint is perhaps incorporate marmite for an umami hit or coconut and pandan syrup in a tropical twist. Or the milk punch may very well be a spring tackle a piña colada made with a clarified concoction of carrot juice and pumpkin purée. The weekly highlight provides area for traditional cocktails with Thomas’s contact. Suppose elegant glowing elderflower and vodka twinkles, a punchy rye sazerac or a hanky panky made utilizing bitter Fernet-Branca. Bar snacks embody pillowy slabs of toasted milk bread to dip into treacle butter, and ex-dairy beef tartare with deep-fried waffles. papirestaurant.com/freddles
Bar Lina, Soho
Beneath the enduring pastel-hued Italian deli, a Soho stalwart since 1944, you’ll discover this elegant basement bar hidden in true speakeasy trend. The small area is adorned in 60s-style furnishings full with deep pink velvet banquettes, delicate chrome lighting and a speckled pink marble bar that boasts a backdrop of aperitif bottles. The menu focuses on revisitations of traditional Italian cocktails, with an entire part devoted to the negroni (together with the La Voglia La Pazzia fatwashed in espresso butter) and the spritz (attempt the Mambo Italiano that makes use of Campari infused with rosemary and honey topped up with citrusy clarified grapefruit). The signature figlet is a brief, bittersweet quantity combining two fig liqueurs (one selfmade and one bottled in Seven Sisters utilizing Italian fig leaves) with a contact of vanilla syrup. barlina.co.uk
Alma, Soho
Head downstairs at Soho’s decadent Argentinian restaurant, Sucre, to this sultry cocktail lounge. A cool disco soul soundtrack provides to the Nineteen Seventies revamp of the 18th century constructing. Unique brickwork is accentuated with mustard bar stools, black and gold tiles, banquettes that sweep beneath panelled mirrors and a delicate glow from particular person desk lamps. Tony Pescatori, of Nightjar fame, has curated a progressive menu that focusses on distinctive world elements. A spotlight is the bittersweet Murano, a lighter, brighter tackle a negroni, made with floral Malfy Rosa Gin and Electrical Velvet liqueur for further zing. Mama Quilla, served in a placing brass moon vessel, has the floral foaminess of a pisco bitter with earthy mezcal, funky home fermented cassava wine and a touch of warmth from Ancho Reyes Verde chilli liqueur. Get a style of chef Fernando Trocca’s fare in bar snacks equivalent to empanada parcels full of creamy aged cheddar, chilli and caramelised onions. Should you’re hungry, go for the chorizo choripan, the Argentinian reply to a sizzling canine, laced with chimichurri and topped with crispy onions. almabysucre.com
The Decrease Third, Soho
Consider the Decrease Third as a neighbourhood bar with ambition. Positioned on Denmark Avenue, it is unpretentious but sensible sufficient to really feel particular, the place it’s simply as straightforward to order a beer and a shot as it’s a deftly combined cocktail.
The bar is the primary of a number of areas that department out, warren-like, into the constructing, a mixture of smaller efficiency areas and bigger capability venues. Eager to pay tribute to the legendary musical heritage of Denmark Avenue in addition to the location’s former incarnation, music venue The 12 Bar Membership, there’s a dedication to showcasing new and native expertise, in addition to extra well-known bands and artists.
Again within the bar, Shannon Tebay, beforehand of the American Bar on the Savoy and Dying & Co in New York, has created a roster of twists on traditional cocktails, with names taken from albums by main artists which have recorded on Denmark Avenue. Hits on our go to included By no means Thoughts the Bollocks – a savoury, vegetal margarita with St George Inexperienced Chile vodka, blanco tequila, Haitian clairin rum and banana; and Band of Gypsys, a seductively smoky, negroni-style drink with mezcal, Campari, vermouth, espresso and tropical notes from ardour fruit. Should you’ve ever puzzled what a piña colada made with scotch tastes like, then attempt the Schoolboys in Shame, the place Monkey Shoulder and Talisker 10 12 months Outdated make a surprisingly profitable match with coconut cream and melon liqueur – the whisky including a heat, boozy spine to the drink. thelowerthird.co.uk
Little Blue, Peninsula Lodge, Hyde Park Nook
The principle lodge faces Hyde Park Nook however you’ll discover Little Blue – with its dynamic décor and welcoming service – nestled on the quieter Grosvenor Crescent. You’ll immediately escape the busyness of central London.
Impressed by tremendous wine, the cocktails are assured, stuffed with depth and aroma, and don’t depend on fussy garnishes. The menu is grouped into areas related to a Chinese language imperial tour however they’re all rooted in recognisable, conventional cocktails. Go for the Terra cocktail, that includes a mix of tequila and mezcal, saffron cordial and amontillado sherry, completed with a couple of delicate drops of a habanero tincture. Or attempt the a sazerac-style Baxter cocktail with agave, Peychaud’s bitters and a coconut fats washed cognac infused with apricot. Don’t miss out on the dim sum on provide, both. We loved the scallop and asparagus dumplings, and the crispy prawn wontons with fermented chilli. peninsula.com
Dover Yard, Mayfair
This smooth bar is hidden away in eco stylish oasis, 1 Lodge Mayfair. Pure aesthetics embody low gnarled wooden tables with sofas and throws in delicate, muted tones. A placing bar showcases delicate racing pigeon feathers labored into a delicate wave beneath the glass. Repurposed elements take the limelight within the eclectic vary of refined cocktails. Rum-based falernum liqueur is fat-washed with left-over breakfast pastries and shaken with the bar’s personal lemon bitter mash, comprised of squeezing surplus lemon and lime husks, to create the distinctive Pan Brioche cocktail, harking back to a whisky bitter and topped with a tiny croissant. Rotating seasonal classics embody the colourful Purple Carrot Garibaldi that infuses vodka with English purple carrots, whereas the lower-ABV Palomito is an extended, bittersweet and refreshing concoction of Campari, Mancino Chinato vermouth and pink grapefruit. 1hotels.com
The Shibeen at Bóha, Chelsea
Beneath the principle restaurant of Bóha on the King’s Highway in Chelsea is a slick and vibrant speakeasy and cocktail bar. The eye to element is what you’d count on from a high-end Chelsea institution with pleasant and well-informed bartenders. The proprietor of Bóha has launched in London and has plans to department out globally with Dubai, Miami and New York on its hit record.
The mixologists are enthusiastic about cocktails and usually shake up the menu. Alongside the classics you’d count on, equivalent to martinis and margaritas, are Bóha creations such because the Mon Cheri made utilizing Le Portier cognac, a saffron vermouth and flavours of cherry and vanilla, or My Little Pricey, with gin delicately infused with peach stones, topped up with English glowing wine. Should you’re celebrating an important day otherwise you’re a fan of spirits then the classic spirit menu is one to attempt – costs differ however yow will discover a classic yr of just about each spirit you may consider. A favorite was the Cointreau from the mid-1900s which was much more floral than it’s present day counterpart. bohalondon.com
Bruno’s, Regent’s Canal
Islington Brothers Fin and Lorcan Spiteri have opened up a canalside ingesting den subsequent to their floating restaurant Caravel on Regent’s Canal. Like its neighbour, Bruno’s is hidden away in a transformed barge, and the bar has an appealingly cosy, retro lounge really feel with velvet armchairs and dim lighting.
In addition to being a really perfect staging level for a meal at Caravel – begin with a pre-dinner aperitif, finish the night time with a creamy brandy alexander, or do each – it additionally works effectively as a stand-alone venue, slinky and classy, with a drinks record stuffed with nostalgic classics and peppy new creations.
Fin – beforehand at Quo Vadis and 69 Colebrooke Row – is behind the menu, which options home cocktails, forgotten classics and after-dinner creations showcasing candy and creamy tipples. Standout drinks embody the earthy, smoky and citrussy Chido with mezcal, smoked lime juice and orgeat; and a Depend Pomelo Negroni with grapefruit syrup – a pleasingly mild, zesty tackle a traditional. End with one of many bar’s pudding cocktails: their lusciously nutty hazelnut bitter with Frangelico and vanilla vodka was pleasant. brunosbar.co.uk
Lyaness, Southbank
On the bottom ground of the Sea Containers Lodge by Blackfriars, this cocktail bar has a sensible and welcoming inside with wonderful views over the Thames, particularly because the night attracts in. The area feels elegant sufficient for an important day with out being fussy. Award-winning Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, has constructed a crew of expert bartenders who’ve labored collaboratively to create their newest menu – The Lyaness 3.0 Cookbook. This new menu takes inspiration from flavour and the tales it evokes. Strive the Vampire Fizz made with tequila, enriched chicha and persimmon, or the extremely refreshing and leafy Security Frappe made with a shisho absinthe. The Fake Fruit Bitter was developed to style like a tropical fruit whisky bitter however as an alternative is made with parsnips. It’s impressed by a story from the Second World Struggle, when dad and mom would make a mix of softly mashed parsnips with banana essence to imitate banana sandwiches for his or her kids whereas the fruit was unavailable. Should you want a snack, don’t miss out on the burned peppers and welsh rarebit, or attempt the venison sausage rolls with damson ketchup. lyaness.com
Stereo, Covent Backyard
Beneath the depths of Covent Backyard’s cobblestones sits Stereo, a cocktail bar that harks again to the analogue period with its 70s-esque brown wooden panelled décor, classic cocktails, vinyl-only DJ units and reside bands.
From the point of interest bar surrounded by orb-shaped lamps, disco punch bowls are combined with STEREO home vodka and Thames Distillers gin in addition to 70s- and 80s-inspired cocktails utilizing classic vermouth and different aged spirits. Negroni and espresso martini are on draft or select from the likes of Flying Paper’s black sesame seed-encrusted tumbler with Buffalo Hint bourbon hibiscus, amaro Montenegro and lemon, or Sundown in Oaxaca’s night pick-me-up with Tapatio tequila blanco, mezcal, rhubarb cordial, Aperol, lemon and orange blossom.
Kick off the night time with à la carte American-inspired dishes of dredged fried rooster sandos and macaroni cheese with a brioche crumb – chef-restaurateur Andrew Clarke of Acme Hearth Cult consulted on the menu – accompanied by the sleek home band. Then dance till the early hours with their rotating line-up of DJs. Should you get peckish, late-night bar snacks and nibbles will maintain you going with the likes of heat popcorn with espelette salt and STEREO sizzling wings. stereocoventgarden.com
Mayahuel, Marylebone
Mexican chef Adriana Cavita has partnered with bartender Manuel Lema to open an atmospheric mezcaleria within the basement of her buzzing Marylebone restaurant. Mayahuel specialises in regional tequilas, mezcals and different distinctive agave spirits, served in refreshing, balanced cocktails. Twists on classics embody the Jalisco tequila bitter with recent jalapeños, an Agüita margarita sweetened with hibiscus syrup and balanced with Mexican bitter beer, and a Tepatío tequila quaint infused with applewood smoke and served with a twist of grapefruit. For one thing a bit completely different, the Citali combines Mexican corn-based liqueurs, Pox and Nixta, with bitters and agave syrup in a silky-smooth concoction. Tasting flights embody the Amatatin, in which you’ll style how tequilas change as they change into extra aged, and the Misplaced Explorer flight paired with darkish chocolate, orange, grasshopper salt, and inexperienced olives to deliver out the nuances within the agave spirits. Profit from the Cavita kitchen upstairs and order tuna tostadas with jalapeño avocado salsa, deconstructed corn esquites and crispy, comforting beef shin and cheddar quesabirria to dip into veal bone consommé.
9 Lives, London Bridge
This vibrant subterranean bar brings loads of tiki-inspired enjoyable and on-point cocktails to London Bridge, simply minutes from the station. Hip interiors of rattan lampshades, lush hanging crops and upcycled bamboo furnishings, are paired with pulsing beats and feel-good vibes. The brand new cocktail menu from award-winning bartender William Campbell-Rowntree (ex-Artesian Guards bar) stays true to 9 Lives’ Tropicalifornication roots with Don Julio Blanco tequila, Gray Goose vodka and fino sherry, combined with an array of sunshine flavours together with watermelon, hibiscus and kiwi. To assist pique your curiosity and inform your choice, every cocktail is expounded with three key tasting notes. The Internal Metropolis 75 – a twist on the traditional French 75 and topped up with crémant – is “velvet, floral and stylish”, whereas sipping on their Plum ‘n’ Bass, you may count on to take pleasure in a “spherical, ripe and fiery” cocktail made with Martell VS cognac, plum, lemon and ginger beer. No- and low-alcohol choices can be found, in addition to taco and bar meals pairings for a number of the serves. Should you get hungry, impeccably made guacamole and flavoured-packed seasonal seafood tacos – together with a vegan no-fish Baja – can be found to order from Tigre Tacos’ now everlasting kitchen. ninelivesbar.com
3’6 at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly
Fortnum’s third-floor bar has been revamped right into a smooth, plush cocktail den, with inky blue partitions, jewel-coloured velvet sofas and a placing 3D-printed bar full with an undulating wood wave set up that flows throughout the ceiling.
Design your personal cocktail, mixing and matching spirits, cocktail types, flavours and bitters. A negroni-style drink with tequila, strawberries and rose is herbaceous, floral and delicate. Different highlights embody highballs made with house-fermented sodas – attempt pomegranate and rosemary. fortnumandmason.com
Bar Daskal, London Bridge
This heat and intimate Iberian-inspired wine bar comes from Harts Group, the brains behind Barrafina and Parrillan, bringing Spanish wines, sherries and cocktails to Borough Yards in London Bridge. Creamy partitions, stone chequered flooring, cheerful Mallorcan materials and objects, and a bar coated in terracotta-hued tiles deliver relaxed Med vibes to the area.
Spanish fortified wines and spirits take centre stage within the pithy cocktail record – attempt the Eduardo, that includes dry sherry, vermut and bitters for a toasty, savoury tackle a manhattan. The sherry record additionally shines: we tried a cool unfiltered manzanilla and a fancy, nutty palo cortado. bardaskal.co.uk
Eve Bar, Covent Backyard
Hidden away in one in every of central London’s busiest neighbourhoods, Eve Bar is a slinky, neon-lit ingesting den with zero-waste cocktails and superior bar snacks. Sister bar to the Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Dealing with upstairs, Eve leans into its biblical moniker with illuminated stained-glass home windows and ornate branches, apples and foliage snaking across the area.
Its cocktail providing is intimately linked with the restaurant – elements that may’t be used upstairs within the kitchen are repurposed within the drinks downstairs. The newest menu, Method, showcases this in drinks such because the Rooster Butter OF, which mixes the eponymous butter (a signature of chef Adam’s) with Michter’s Bitter Mash whisky and porcini – the top result’s a supercharged quaint with opulent butterscotch notes. One other winner, Rocket Gasoline, is an elevated spicy margarita, with chilli and kimchi including tangy, funky warmth.
Non-alcoholic drinks additionally impress – the Olive Backyard with Everleaf Forest, apple and olive brine is subtly saline and flavourful. Don’t miss out on the next-level bar snacks courtesy of Frog. Dainty and refined, favourites included decadent duck egg and parmesan custards served in a billowing flourish of dry ice, and springy sourdough with extra of that luscious rooster butter. evebar.co.uk
Swift, Borough
Acclaimed London bar Swift has introduced its trademark artwork deco type and speakeasy vibes to Borough. The 2-storey area is modelled after the unique Soho web site (there’s additionally one in Shoreditch), with a lighter, ethereal bar on the bottom ground, with a no-reservation coverage and an aperitivo drinks providing – excellent for post-work drinks.
Downstairs, uncover an intimate, shiny and dimly lit subterranean set-up. Named the Again Pocket, it’s a seated-only space with a brand new menu of authentic cocktails (though you may nonetheless discover Swift classics together with its impeccable Irish espresso) impressed by the historical past and other people of the encircling Borough space.
Drinks are freed from fussy garnishes but advanced and nuanced. Highlights embody the Biscuit City – malted milk scotch, cacao, demerara, chocolate and vanilla bitters – and stuffed with comforting creamy chocolate and biscuit notes. The Golden Hinde, that includes mead, anejo tequila and brown butter, is completely balanced: toasty, wealthy and layered. The Pilgrim marries peaty, smoky scotch and spicy bourbon with juicy, fruity notes from cherry to make a superb fruity whisky cocktail. barswift.com
The Lowback, Canary Wharf
This Hawksmoor bar – the primary bar launch from the group in additional than 11 years – is ready on a floating pavilion in Canary Wharf. Inside, interiors are heavy on darkish wooden fittings, dim lighting and mid-century-style fixtures – the type of bar that Don Draper would drink in. On the menu, there’s loads to love, together with bottled champagne cocktails and many traditional Hawksmoor creations (together with a stellar bitter cherry negroni), nevertheless it’s the artistic martini record – all chilled to 11C in flasks to make sure a superbly frosty serve – that deserves shut consideration. Lovers of a savoury tipple ought to make a beeline for the turbo-charged Pink Gibson. That includes Audemus Umami Gin (flavoured with wacky botanicals together with capers and parmesan) and a pink pickled onion, it delivers plenty of savoury briny notes, underpinned by delicate floral hints. Those that favor a cleaner martini ought to attempt the Douglas Fir Silver Bullet, icy and aniseed natural with its marriage of Hepple vodka, douglas fir and dill oil. Do additionally discover the bar snacks, which embody decadent salt beef nuggets full of melted Ogleshield cheese, and bone marrow oysters, in addition to bigger steak and burger dishes. thehawksmoor.com
Cellar at Kindred, Hammersmith
The hectic roundabout at Hammersmith Broadway is an sudden setting for cocktails, however members’ membership Kindred, within the elegant Grade-II listed Bradmore Home, has launched Cellar, a laidback café and bar open to the general public. In relaxed and informal environment, cocktails come courtesy of resident mixologist Julian de Feral (Milk & Honey, Lutyens and Hawksmoor) and provide loads of accessible, crowd-pleasing twists on classics.
Strive the Brambl-ita – Curado Cupreata smoked tequila with lime, spiced chocolate bitters and blackberry liqueur – for a vibrantly fruity, satisfyingly zingy twist on a margarita. These in search of a lighter tipple ought to go for the Kindred Spritz, utilizing flavour-packed non-alcoholic aperitif Everleaf so as to add further oomph alongside cherry aperitif, peach and jasmine soda and glowing wine for a fragile, floral drink. On the other finish of the spectrum, Cellar takes a traditional espresso martini and injects it with tropical character with the addition of Aluna coconut and occasional liqueur, Cargo Cult banana spiced rum and spices for an opulent serve. wearekindred.com
Sweeties, King’s Cross
Step into the Customary lodge’s smooth pink tablet raise and zoom as much as the tenth ground for this luxe bar that mixes retro interiors with playful, off-beat cocktails and unrivalled views of King’s Cross and St Pancras. Consistent with its residence, a restored Nineteen Seventies Brutalist workplace block, Sweeties takes its cue from the identical decade, with opulent interiors together with velvet sofas, mirrored tables, gold accents, wooden panelling and patterned carpets.
The cocktail menu options ‘feel-good elements and mood-enhancing mixes’ designed to be energising and uplifting. We’re undecided if we felt these results however regardless the drinks are excellent. Choose Me Up – made with eight adaptogens (elements that assist the physique take care of stress) mushrooms, vodka, rum, caramel and burnt butter drank like an elevated espresso martini, layered and earthy, with rounded depth. Roots Manuva – riesling vermouth, golden beet caramel, turmeric, ginseng, ginger, orange and mead – is vibrant, honeyed and recent, with a vegetal edge.
No Whey Jose, blanco tequila with strawberry, pink rice, rose and a salted sizzling coconut foam, was the pleasant cocktail equal of a Campino strawberry sweet. Purple Rain – Johnny Walker whisky, amazake, salted plum, cherry bark and blossom wine – was like an additional fruity quaint, bursting with berry flavours, smoky and subtly savoury. standardhotels.com/sweeties
Seed Library, Shoreditch
Ryan Chetiyawardana’s newest enterprise is a slinky ingesting den within the basement of the One Hundred Shoreditch lodge.
Whereas his flagship bar – Lyaness at Sea Containers in Southbank – showcases a high-concept strategy to mixology, Seed Library is intentionally extra informal and low key. Stroll-ins are inspired and the area, with its sultry lighting, wood-panelled partitions, pink velvet chairs and heat palette, feels retro and barely louche, but very welcoming.
Anticipate elevated riffs on cocktail classics. Sansho Leaf Martini with Belvedere vodka, Cocchi dry vermouth and inexperienced sansho oil is clear and delicate, and subtly savoury. A Coriander Seed Gimlet is gorgeously executed, clear and citrussy with a spine of light, warming spice. Summer time Whisky Sourz, with Dewar’s 12-year-old scotch, Fierfield Birch botanical Irish whiskey, woodruff, meadowsweet and lemon is advanced and layered, with herbaceous and cereal notes. Galangal Pencillin swaps the normal peated whisky for tequila and mezcal, and provides fragrant galangal for a vibrant, smoky cocktail.
Bar snacks are winningly hearty, and moreish – count on the likes of deep-fried rooster hearts, beef brief rib croquettes and potato smileys. onehundredshoreditch.com/seed-library
Doña, Stoke Newington
There’s one thing soothingly womb-like and seductive about descending into Doña, with its basement setting and luxurious, lavishly trimmed décor of wall-to-wall wealthy reds and pinks scattered with prickly cacti, velvet seating and a superb pink-fringed bar.
It’s an all-female affair – based by associates Thea Cumming and Lucia Massey, and capabilities as each mezcal bar and neighborhood arts platform – there’s music and efficiency most nights, with an emphasis on feminine and queer artists, and a energetic cultural programme. There’s additionally tacos on faucet, because of Tigre Tacos upstairs.
Thea has her personal mezcal model, Harmful Don, and based London Mezcal Week, so it’s no shock Doña is a treasure trove of uncommon and small-batch mezcals. Should you’re new to mezcal then we advocate beginning with the brief however hard-working cocktail record, which explores the flexibility of this smoky agave spirit. Take the Fiorella: made with Quiquiriqui mezcal, dry vermouth, Italicus and Empirical Ayuuk, it has the clear, crystalline really feel of a martini however with a herbaceous, earthy spine. Or attempt the Monika, with Harmful Don Café, chocolate, crème de cacao, Cocchi Americano and amaretto, which tastes like a refined, elevated espresso martini, replete with espresso, chocolate and nutty notes.
Doña additionally makes a cracking home margarita – we requested for a spicy model and the top outcome was very good, poky and zesty with a savoury, briny twang on the finish. bardonalondon.com
Connaught Bar, Mayfair
Low-lit, slinky, plush luxurious is the secret at this acclaimed lodge bar, whose tastefully decadent surrounds – metallic accents, mirrors, a mutedly wealthy palate and loads of seating to sink into – is matched by impeccable service and much more spectacular cocktails.
Should you solely order one drink let it’s the martini – made at a trolley by your desk with theatrical, professional aplomb (watching them pour the martini in a excessive, silvery stream into your glass is a sight to behold). Tanqueray No Ten is the beneficial serve, together with a mix of vermouths and your selection of selfmade bitters (starting from tonka bean and lavender to cardamom, on our go to). The tip result’s spot on, silky textured and really beneficiant in measurement – don’t drink one on an empty abdomen.
Their newest menu, Formae, additionally has a lot to discover, drawing inspiration from the shapes and types of the encircling bar. We tried the Voronoi – a fruitier, lighter tackle a margarita with Tapatio tequila, Michoacan mezcal, vetiver liqueur, lime and timur sherbet, vermouth, grapefruit hops bitters and agave water. Thought has gone into the zero-alcohol providing, too – we loved the sprightly Pietra with ginseng and bergamot kombucha, osmanthus honey syrup and sauvignon blanc juice.
Complimentary buttery olives and crackers are constantly refilled by meticulously attentive employees, and successful canapés embody ultra-light and crispy tempura made with seasonal veg, crispy salmon sashimi with chipotle mayo and velvety guacamole. the-connaught.co.uk/connaught-bar
Three Sheets, Dalston
A stripped-back cocktail bar with a succinct record of drinks, Three Sheets has raked within the plaudits over time however nonetheless retains a buzzy neighbourhood haunt vibe.
It was the primary enterprise from the Venning brothers, initially from Manchester, who’ve labored in main cocktail bars for years, most notably Max’s expertise with Tony Conigliaro’s Drinks Manufacturing facility and 69 Colebrooke Row and Noel’s time in Manchester at tequila bar Loopy Pedro’s. Extra just lately, they’ve additionally helped discovered Crouch Finish’s Little Mercies (see beneath) and Highbury wine bar High Cuvée – in addition to its roaringly profitable store, Store Cuvée.
Max and Noel aren’t huge on the showy facet of cocktail making – behind the bar is a straightforward shelf of bottles containing solely what the mixologists want for the brief cocktail record. This no-frills strategy permits the brothers’ northern appeal to shine by; they chat away and advocate native haunts whereas shaking up drinks as if internet hosting you in their very own residence.
The pithy drinks record modifications seasonally, however often options their well-known fizzy pre-bottled French 75, made with gin, verjus, clarified lemon juice, moscato and orange flower. Poured straight into your glass like champagne, it’s dangerously straightforward to drink (you should buy it purchase the glass, or, even higher, by the bottle).threesheets-bar.com
Homeboy, Battersea
Aaron Wall and Ciarán Smith’s second Irish boozer-cum-contemporary cocktail bar continues the Gaelic enjoyable south of the river, in Battersea. The bar crew actually make this place, warming up the big area with top-notch suggestions, enjoyable anecdotes and swift-yet-dramatic cocktail mixing towards a glimmering backdrop of Irish whiskies. The in depth catalogue of spirits is used to create the likes of the Wogan, mixing small-batch Irish whiskey aged in rum barrels with apricot brandy to enrich the sweetness.
Champagne paloma is a pre-batched quantity, combining and carbonating Patrón silver tequila, grapefruit sherbet and Moët within the bottle for a gluggable, refreshing end. Boulevardier followers ought to select the elegant Taoiseach, incorporating chocolaty Redbreast Irish whiskey into the combo with Cointreau, Martini Rosso and pomegranate syrup. Order the Canine Home Punch to sip from tiki-style glasses modelled on Aaron’s canines again in Dublin. Different must-orders are the velvety Irish espresso with a silky espresso cream end, and a superbly poured Guinness. Bar snacks embody buttermilk-fried buffalo rooster nuggets, smoked salmon served on selfmade soda bread with Kerrygold butter and the extra substantial tender lamb Irish stew. homeboybar.com
SOMA, Soho
This understated bar occupies subterranean premises on Soho’s Denman Avenue, subsequent door to sister restaurant Kricket. Inside, count on pared-back but polished cocktails served in low-lit, slinkily minimalist surrounds – suppose a stainless-steel bar, indigo partitions and walnut furnishings.
SOMA – like Kricket – takes inspiration from the Indian subcontinent, serving snappily executed riffs on traditional cocktails that showcase intelligent spicing and an eclectic strategy to elements. Begin with the mooli, a crystalline affair of vodka with curry leaf-infused vermouth served ice-cold from the freezer and garnished with a sliver of pickled mooli. Savoury and peppery, delicate and clear, it could be a Marmite drink for some, however followers of a gibson martini ought to make a beeline for it. The chaat – mezcal, tequila, chaat masala, kumquat and a moreish gooseberry salt – is winningly clear, zesty and saline, whereas the oak is a silky, nutty, opulent marriage of cardamom, aged gin, amaro, vermouth and amontillado sherry. It is the proper nightcap to finish the night. somasoho.com
Little Mercies, Crouch Finish
Fashionable, easy-drinking cocktails are the main focus at Alan Sherwood’s (Peg + Patriot, Scout) laidback institution.
Inside, it is calm and composed – count on a minimalist inside of uncovered brick, a concrete bar, pendant lamps and inky blue partitions. The cocktails listed below are elegant, with loads of selfmade elements – most just lately, a negroni made with the bar’s personal passionfruit vermouth. There’s additionally a enjoyable but progressive strategy to traditional drinks, suppose bellinis made with lacto-fermented peach, kiwi gimlets and ‘Snickers’ outdated fashioneds. littlemercies.co.uk
Nightjar, Shoreditch
The busy Metropolis Highway in Shoreditch appears an unlikely setting for a trendy, subterranean speakeasy bar however that’s precisely the place you’ll discover Nightjar. On the skin, a tall wood door sandwiched between two cafés is the one proof of its existence, however go inside and uncover a luxurious area replete with candlelit tables, leather-based banquette seating and flatteringly dim lighting.
The bar’s characteristically detailed drinks menu riffs on outdated cocktail recipes (starting from the pre-prohibition to post-war durations) however provides its personal twist.
Strive the Honeymoon – a brief, recent but punchy mix of Glenfiddich 21-year-old whisky, Nightjar’s ‘forbidden fruit liqueur’ (a mixture of citrussy pomelo, sherry and dry vermouth), Cynar, mead, lemon and geranium leaf. It is a advanced drink, dry and delicately smoky, with delicate honey and aniseed notes.
Drink nerds ought to examine the bar’s classic spirits menu, which is filled with uncommon, aged spirits courting from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. barnightjar.com
Bandra Bhai, Pali Hill
Should you’re in search of a secret late-night bar in central London to impress associates, then that is the place to go to. Hidden away within the basement of Pali Hill is secluded cocktail bar Bandra Bhai, with interiors impressed by Nineteen Seventies India and outdated smuggling dens. Head bartender (and drinks wizard) Dav Eames explains to us that he just lately sourced the unique 70s glassware from classic outlets – a touch of the fervour that lies behind the menu.
The 70s inspiration continues with drinks such because the Disco Inferno, made with cardamom gin. Indian historical past can be a touchstone, which is why the tequila, ginger, lemon and grapefruit cocktail Bangbang Bandstand will get its title from the joyful miscreants that used to build up on bandstands. Every drink has a narrative linked to it and three important flavours, which is clear in our favorite, the Gaba Singh Aspect-Hustle which has pineapple, celery and cognac and comes served in what can solely be described as pure opulence, a golden pineapple glass. bandrabhai.co.uk
Pictures: Laura Aziz (Muse at RSA Home)
