Bar entertainment in London
-
A
Galvin at Windows
This swish bar on the edge of Hyde Park opens onto stunning views, especially at dusk. Cocktail prices reach similar heights (£13.50 to £15.25) but the leather seats are comfortable and the marble bar is gorgeous.
reviewed
-
B
Gordon’s Wine Bar
Gordon’s is somewhat a victim of its popularity; it is relentlessly busy and unless you arrive before the office crowd does (generally around 6pm), you can forget getting a table. It’s cavernous and dark, and the French and New World wines are heady and reasonably priced. You can nibble on bread, cheese and olives.
reviewed
-
C
Village
The Village is always up for a party, whatever the night of the week. There are karaoke nights, disco nights, go-go dancer nights, take your pick. And if you can’t wait to strut your stuff until the clubs open, there is a dancefloor downstairs, complete with dancing pole, of course.
reviewed
-
D
Beach Blanket Babylon
This truly fabulous bar, decorated in baroque and rococo styles, is the place to come for a decadent night out. It’s a favourite of Princes William and Harry and the moneyed set of the royal boroughs so come with your wallet at the ready and your very best attire.
reviewed
-
E
Freud Bar
Make this the first stop on your crawl because there’s no way you’ll make it down the stairs (not much more than a ladder) after a few drinks. It’s a small basement bar–cafe–gallery with regular artworks from up and coming artists featured on the walls. The decor and punters are suitably scruffy, the cocktails are fancy, but beer is – sadly – only by the bottle.
reviewed
-
F
Green Room
Originally a milk bottling factory, this large, warehouse-like venue offers a fresh take on nights out in Shepherd’s Bush, with regular live music (ranging from jazz to DJ sets), six American pool tables and a kitchen churning out juicy burgers.
reviewed
-
G
Loop Bar
Right off Oxford Circus, Loop has three floors of fun: a street-level bar, a sleek basement bar with leather booths and chandeliers and, on the level below, Groovy Wonderland, a disco-styled club with flashing dancefloors, platform shoes on the walls and disco balls everywhere.
reviewed
-
H
Mason & Taylor
On a corner where Banglatown grinds up against Shoreditch, this designer beer bar offers an extraordinary range of cask and bottled beers. The selection is sourced from some interesting breweries, with welcome support for London’s new breed of craft brewers, such as Kernel and Camden Town. A tasting ‘flight’ of three or six one-third pints allows you to sample a real variety. Staff are keen, knowledgeable and helpful, and there’s tasty food on offer too.
reviewed
-
I
Old Brewery
Handily situated within the grounds of the old Royal Naval College, the brickwork bar at the Old Brewery is run by the Meantime Brewery, selling its own brew draught Imperial Pale Ale (brewed on site), along with a heady range of over 50 beers, from Belgian Trappist ales to fruity and flavoured brews, smoked beers and a wide-ranging menu of much more, with tables outside in the courtyard.
reviewed
-
J
Public House
This handsome bar adds a lovely splash of boudoir/burlesque to an area better known for its rowdy pubs than sophisticated drinking dens. Everything is obviously fabulous at Public House, from the carefully prepared cocktails (all seasonal) to the exquisite menu and long list of after-dinner drinks (brandies, whiskies, dessert wines).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Queen of Hoxton
Industrial-chic bar with a games room, basement and varied music nights, though the real drawcard is the vast rooftop bar, decked out with flowers, fairy lights and even a fish pond, with fantastic views across the city and a popular outdoor film club.
reviewed
-
Sports Cafe
For those keen to watch the latest ice hockey, American football, baseball or even soccer fixtures, the Sports Cafe is the place to be. It’s a huge place, with four bars over two floors, giant screens everywhere and sports posters and memorabilia on the walls. The late licence means it’s often raucous in the evenings, although it tends to be pretty quiet during the day.
reviewed
-
L
Swan at the Globe
At Shakespeare’s Globe this fine pub-bar at the piazza level, with brasserie, is open for lunch and dinner (lunch only on Sunday) and has simply glorious views of the Thames and St Paul’s from the 1st floor.
reviewed
-
M
Tempus Bar
Nestled behind the awesome Victorian Gothic facade of the Hotel Russell, Tempus is a nice change from traditional pubs. With grand Edwardian decor, huge leather armchairs and table service, prices are a little inflated but there is a good selection of cocktails and wines, and you’re generally guaranteed a seat.
reviewed
-
N
Lab
Staffed by graduates from the London Academy of Bartending, this pocket-sized cocktail bar offers cool and colourful drinks mixed to perfection.
reviewed
-
O
Lab
Staffed by graduates from the London Academy of Bartending, this pocket-sized cocktail bar offers cool and colourful drinks mixed to perfection.
reviewed
-
P
Devigne
Designer Stephen Ryan has filled the bar at the Mandeville Hotel with etched glass, Perspex and day-glo Regency upholstery. The result is simply outrageous, as are the prices.
reviewed
-
Q
Botanist
Named for the botanist Sir Hans Sloane, whose private collection formed the basis for the British Museum, this sleek bar and restaurant exudes a chic, sexy, early 1950s elegance.
reviewed
-
R
Montgomery Place
A sleek tribute to the glory days of the lounge bar, Montgomery Place combines savvy mixology with Rat Pack cool. The 1950’s vibe extends to the cocktail list and the playlist.
reviewed
-
S
Salt Whisky Bar
Two hundred whiskies and bourbons and a sleek, dark-wood interior make this friendly bar and comfortable lounge a fab place for drinking. Staff are knowledgeable and keen to share their tips with customers.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Drunken Monkey
What could go better with hip-hop DJs and bottled beers than dumplings? Red-cloth lanterns light the way at this throbbing Shoreditch bar and food lounge, where dim-sum favourites are served as an all-day bar snack.
reviewed
-
U
White Horse
This mixed bag of a pub-bar-club might seem to house some people for the weekend. It consists of just one big room decorated with modern art against the long bar, but it’s lots of fun. We usually play pool here.
reviewed
-
V
Annexe 3
This West End bar is an explosion of camp, like a dance party in a 1960’s chandelier warehouse. Every available surface is covered in chintz and the cocktail menu is probably the most imaginative this side of Malibu.
reviewed
-
W
Bar 23
Film stars bedeck the walls of this, at first, unremarkable Turkish-run bar on Dalston’s coolest stretch. But, come the evenings, the place is always full, DJs play and drinks are served up to the friendly crowd late into the evening.
reviewed
-
X
Spice Island
What this enormous place lacks in history it surely makes up for with views. Just opposite the flagship YHA hostel in Rotherhithe, it has a large bar on the ground floor, a restaurant above and a large heated terrace overlooking the river.
reviewed