London
The top two floors of the iconic Gherkin skyscraper were once reserved as a private members' club, but now anyone dressed to impress is invited up…
Must-see nightlife in London
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Housed in a building from 1720, this tiny, atmospheric pub covered in wood panelling, delft tiles and scuffed paintwork is the only London dispensary of…
North London
The dictionary definition of a beautiful backstreet boozer, the Engineer is all dark wood, cosy booths and unvarnished tables, and has a hidden garden…
East London
London's most curious cocktail bar and Wunderkabinett of taxidermy, tribal masks and ephemera from across the globe, with experimental drinks starting…
London
Settle into the sleek mod furniture at this hotel bar, where floor-to-double-height-ceiling bookcases and pop-art portraits of the Queen overlook the…
The West End
With a fine array of real ales and some stunning Victorian glazed tiling and pressed-tin ceilings adorning its intimate interior, the Dog & Duck has…
Greenwich
This elegant tavern, with crystal chandeliers, nautical decor and big windows overlooking the Thames, is steeped in history. Dickens apparently knocked…
The West End
This chilled Soho spot has managed to stay off the lager-lout radar screen by eschewing outdoor signage. The Pacific bar on the main floor has a long zinc…
East London
Once known as the Devil’s Tavern due to its unsavoury clientele, the Prospect first opened its doors in 1520, although the only part of the original pub…
East London
One of Limehouse’s renowned historic pubs, the Grapes dates from 1583 and has insinuated its way into the writing of Pepys, Dickens, Wilde, Arthur Conan…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This small bar is a craft-beer aficionado's paradise, with BrewDog's usuals on tap, including Punk IPA and Dead Pony Club, plus some of the brewery's…
Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden
South Bank
Climb up the bright yellow stairs to find this unexpectedly verdant summer-only rooftop oasis hidden amid the concrete jungle of the Queen Elizabeth Hall…
The West End
Sitting at the northwestern entrance to the marble-enriched Edwardian pedestrian arcade Sicilian Ave, the Whippet is a snug modern pub with an emphasis on…
North London
One of eight Craft Beer Co locations in London, this lovely pub is riding the wave of the craft-beer craze, pushing the envelope by giving its drinkers a…
Kensington & Hyde Park
This vast Victorian corner boozer is delightful inside and out, with some bijou art-nouveau features, contemporary art on the walls, a fabulous coffered…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
A veteran of London's club scene, the Ministry of Sound put four bars, three dance floors and more than 60 speakers to pump in trance, house, electro and…
The West End
Its curved mahogany bar topped with etched-glass ‘snob screens’ (swivelling panels concealing genteel Victorian drinkers from bar staff and other workers)…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
A creative vibe animates this fantastic one-time Victorian warehouse. Book Club hosts DJs and oddball events (neon naked life drawing, speed dating, …
South Bank
This riverside bar at the National Theatre is no imitator, and it really comes into the limelight when scores of tables are set out on the huge waterfront…
East London
Tucked away in a basement, this artfully dishevelled, candlelit cocktail bar delivers a speakeasy vibe, although you're more likely to hear hair metal…
North London
At the bottom of Hampstead Heath hides this gem housed in a 19th-century cottage with a gorgeous beer garden. The interior is wonderfully cosy, with dark…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
This former cricket-bat factory was saved from demolition and turned into an eclectic cultural space spanning several floors that encourage exploration…
South Bank
Named the best local coffee shop in SE1 in 2018, this cafe–cocktail bar can do anything with espresso, and it's so dedicated to coffee that it even runs…
The West End
This cheery local favourite takes its name from Queen Charlotte, who previously stored food here for her husband George III, during his nearby treatment…
East London
If Dr Jekyll was a louche Hackney hipster, this is where he'd hang out – sipping on gin made by Nicola, the bar's own shiny copper still. A steampunky…
North London
This little cafe just before the entrance to the British Library piazza scores highly on design but even more on its coffee. One of just three London…
The West End
Cool, assured, and expertly staffed, this tiny Soho cafe-bar is perfect for a Negroni (the speciality), house cocktail (mostly £12) or top-notch coffee,…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This simply styled, cosy coffee shop serves top-notch brews that are roasted across the street. Along with the usual options, Nude has rotating single…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
The newest kid on the block along Bermondsey's beer mile, this microbrewery is a hangar-like space kitted out with big tables and sofas. You're welcome to…
London
Workers in London's concrete jungle flock to this two-level garden-style cafe-bar for a restorative dose of greenery (both real and faux) and picnic-table…
North London
Once one of the best places to see unsigned but promising talent, the legendary Bull & Gate’s old-school music venue has metamorphosed into an elegant…
South Bank
Something of a speakeasy but with none of the pretentiousness, this bar hidden below the Flour & Grape restaurant lists more than 100 gins, served…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
As its name subtly indicates, Ballie Ballerson is themed on balls. And alcohol, which comes in the form of cocktails. But back to the balls: there are two…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This landmark Victorian pub with large windows and beautiful tiles is perfectly positioned for a pint after exploring Spitalfields Market. The most famous…
South Bank
On the 12th floor of luxe Sea Containers hotel, 12th Knot is a showstopper, with knockout views of the city and a table-width outdoor roof terrace to boot…
Notting Hill & West London
London wouldn’t be what it is without places like NHAC, which mixes underground and retro-music club nights with the odd big pop name. The small basement…
The West End
Ever since opening its doors in 1991, the Village has been up for a party any night of the week. There are karaoke nights, go-go-dancers and DJs on the…
North London
A Camden institution, the black-clad Lock Tavern rocks: it's cosy inside, and it has a rear beer garden and a great roof terrace from where you can watch…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
This wood and brick secret basement bar is a refreshingly tongue-in-cheek alternative to a downstairs cocktail-bar scene that can take itself too…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Set atop the Grade II–listed Courthouse Hotel in the centre of Shoreditch, this rooftop bar has fantastic views of London’s skyline. During the week it’s…
