The West End
Perpetually busy, the pint-sized Lamb & Flag is full of charm and history: there's been a public house here since at least 1772, when it was known as the…
Must-see nightlife in The West End
The West End
Home of the Lonely Street, Concrete Jungle and other house cocktails named after iconic songs collected in the 'Savoy Songbook', the seriously dishy…
The West End
For a dose of colonial glamour with a touch of Oriental elegance, the sumptuous (often crowded) bar at the Langham hits many marks. Its cocktails (from …
The West End
Sip a bourbon or a classic cocktail in the 1920s art-deco ambience of this stylish bar at the hallmark Beaumont hotel. It's central, glam and like a…
The West End
Merrily undefinable, Sketch has all at once a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, a millennial-pink dining room lined with nonsensical cartoons by British…
The West End
This legendary, twin-storied bohemian boozer has quite a history: it was the meeting place of the Free French Forces during WWII and de Gaulle is said to…
The West End
From the 28th floor of the Park Lane Hilton, this swish bar boasts delightful views, especially during the golden sunset hour to which '10°' refers…
The West End
The Grade II–listed Punchbowl, one of Mayfair's oldest pubs, is split between the public bar, a more formal dining room, and a reservations-only club…
The West End
Drinkers who know their stuff single out the travelling martini trolley for particular praise, but almost everything mixed at the silver-and-platinum…
The West End
Purl is a fabulous underground drinking den – decked out in overstuffed vintage furniture in intimate nooks, and adorned with antique wood, stripped…
The West End
You may not quite need a diamond as big as the Ritz to drink at this art-deco marvel, but it might help. All camphor wood, illuminated Lalique glass,…
The West End
Superb martinis and a gentlemen’s-club-like ambience are the ingredients of this classic bar, where white-jacketed masters mix up perfect preparations…
The West End
Despite this 1602 coaching inn's Lilliputian dimensions, swarms of lawyers from nearby Lincoln's Inn congregate here after each day's business. Expect to…
The West End
A favourite Soho drinking spot, Swift has a sleek, candlelit upstairs bar for walk-ins seeking a superior cocktail before dinner or the theatre, and a…
The West End
This intimate basement bar has DJs, comedy, drag-king cabaret, burlesque, live music and party nights, all in addition to a generally friendly and…
The West End
Pendant bar lights, bright clutter, graffitied walls and raucous atmosphere give a New York vibe to this snug basement saloon just north of Oxford St. If…
The West End
Encouraging hedonism since 1979, when it opened on the site of a former roller disco, this perennially popular mixed/gay bar under the Charing Cross…
The West End
Inaugurated in 1723, this storied pub has refreshed scholars from the British Museum's Reading Room including Karl Marx, George Orwell, Sir Arthur Conan…
The West End
This stunner of an art-deco bar (cocktails £17) offers gorgeous views, especially of the Thames, South Bank and Trafalgar Sq, from the open-air terrace on…
The West End
Make this the first stop on your crawl because there’s no way you’ll make it down (or up) the stairs (not much more than a ladder) after a few drinks. It…
The West End
Tricked up to look like a disused Underground station, Cahoots is a retro cocktail bar channelling the spirit of London during WWII and its aftermath…
Experimental Cocktail Club Chinatown
The West End
Deliberately obscure in its nondescript location, the ECC is a sensational cocktail bar behind an unmarked, faded-grey door in Chinatown. Soft lighting,…
The West End
The gorgeous ground-floor saloon of this Sam Smith's pub, dating from 1872, boasts pressed-tin ceilings, handsome tiling, etched mirrors and 'snob screens…
The West End
This plush, tropical-themed cocktail bar is tucked into the decadent surroundings of The Waldorf Hilton. The luxury extends to the menu which is packed…
The West End
An unexpected oasis for the weary Covent Garden visitor, Mr Fogg's is a themed throwback to the drinking dens of yore. Taking its name and inspiration…
The West End
This food-friendly wine bar near Charing Cross has a fantastic selection of Old and New World wines, with plenty by the glass and available for takeaway…
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…
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…
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…
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)…
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…
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,…
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…
The West End
Incongruously carved out of a corner of a leisure centre, this branch of a nine-strong chain boasts 15 cask pumps from UK microbreweries, as well as 30…
The West End
If you are seriously into singalongs, head for this attractive free house in Marylebone, where the keys of the old 'goanna' (piano) get tickled by Tony …
The West End
This Soho favourite attracts a cross-section of the good, the bad and the beautiful. Fairly attitude-free, it's perfect for pre-club drinks or just an…
The West End
This abandoned Victorian public toilet got a flush of new life when this coffee shop opened here in 2013. The restroom has been sensitively restored (and…
The West End
With around 60 different Polish spirits on offer – from hazelnut- and wheat-flavoured vodkas to slivowica (plum brandy) – every devotee of strong liquor…
The West End
Quite possibly the oldest wine bar in London (it opened in 1890), cavernous, candlelit and atmospheric Gordon’s is a victim of its own success – it's…
The West End
In the years before and after WWII, the Fitzroy was a hangout of literary giants like George Orwell and Dylan Thomas and the sculptor Jacob Epstein. Since…
