London has some of the best bars in the world, with bartenders increasingly innovative with their use of local ingredients and sustainable approach to their craft. Most of the city’s top bars haven’t changed much with the times, and are honoured as ageless by the many who frequent them.
A lot of the hippest independent pubs are small in size and international in attitude, drawing generations of locals and sought out as tourist attractions, as do the long-standing bars in historic hotels. In London, the bartenders are often uninformed, and you’re encouraged to try at least one signature drink before leaving. Among the classics are forward-thinking wine bars showcasing carefully compiled wine lists and artisan beer. From wine and cocktail bars to under-the-radar spots for a quiet drink, and counters where the likes of Ernest Hemingway once frequented – there’s plenty of opportunity to say “Cheers to London”!
The BusinessClass.com guide to the ten Best Bars in London:
1. Red Room, The Connaught Hotel
The Red Room at The Connaught Hotel is discovered through a velvet-curtained doorway from the hotel’s Champagne Room. Newish to the London Mayfair hotel, it follows the Connaught Bar which is said to be one of the best in the world. At the Red Room, the focus is wine and the cellar features over 3,000 labels and 30,000 bottles carefully selected by the hotel’s director of wine, Daniel Manetti. The room houses a collection of red artworks by four female visionaries.
The striking interior is the work of Bryan O’Sullivan, whose soft-hued colours allow the art to be the hero. Hand-cut and laid by Italian craftsmen, a mosaic leads to the pink onyx bar and speckled marble fireplace, where the piece ‘I Am Rouge’ by Louise Bourgeois takes pride of place. Other art is by Jenny Holzer, Ti-a Thuy Nguyen and a single photographic piece by Trina McKillen. But the wide selection of rare vintages and first-growth wines that are available by the glass and served from marble trolleys will enchant. The menu is light and carefully curated to include fine charcuterie, British cheeses and small plates.
Where to stay: Read our full review and find the best rates for The Connaught Hotel
2. The Painter’s Room, Claridge’s Hotel
The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s is an iconic stylish, London art deco landmark. The work of BOS Studio, whose design is complemented by thoughtful reflections of the hotel’s golden age era and an ode to the artistic hangouts of Provence and Italy. Effortlessly elegant and reflecting the light from the rose-framed skylight, the centrepiece is a striking stained-glass mirror, created by London-based artist Annie Morris.
Cocktails here capture the shifting seasons of southern Europe, and there’s a focus on fresh flavours from small-batch labels. Original mixology distils the craft of Mediterranean climates, while a carefully curated wine list serves up the finest vintages by the glass. ‘A byword for luxury’ is how they refer to themselves here, and the delicate sharing plates served with the cocktails further endorses this.
Where to stay: View more images and find the best rates for The Claridge’s Hotel
3. Vesper Bar – Dorchester Hotel
The Vesper Bar at the Dorchester brings a new era of glamour while paying homage to James Bond, in all the best ways. Named after the cocktail that Bond ordered and named after his love interest, Vesper Lynd, in Casino Royale. Sir Ian Fleming is known to have stayed and dined at the Dorchester on multiple occasions, and the hotel is even mentioned in his books. Found in the space which formerly housed The Bar at The Dorchester, the Vesper Bar is curated by the award-winning head bartender Lucia Montanelli.
You’ll be able to sip on signature cocktails surrounded by Martin Brudnizki’s interpretation of the 1930s. Turn up for Martini hour, and stay. If you’re feeling brave tell the bartenders to surprise you – you won’t regret it with the mixologists here masters of their art. Seek out the Wine Vault, where the resident sommeliers eagerly recommend their favourite bottles from the 1,000-bin collection. A wine-tasting evening here is one you’ll never forget.
Where to stay: Read our full review and find the best rates for The Dorchester Hotel
4. Scarfes Bar – The Rosewood Hotel
Scarfes Bar at The Rosewood Hotel has a cosy fireplace and generous armchairs ideal for enjoying delicious cocktails. The gentleman’s club-style cocktail lounge displays a collection of works by namesake British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe, these include some of his satirical paintings. Over 1,000 antique books, velvet booths and sofas, high ceilings and plenty of old-school calm are alongside them. Add to that the musicians playing live jazz and the ambience is perfected. Scarfe's cocktail menu continues the playful theme and is dedicated to key icons from the past decades, including Amy Winehouse and David Attenborough.
There’s a collage of surprises, filled with post-it notes, postcards and trinkets to look through. The cocktail bar menu includes a list of interesting ingredients to appease the aficionados. The drinks are elegantly presented and delicious, the mixologists believing that given the right cocktail ingredients, the whisky’s complexity and the likes of Oloroso sherry in the infusion, you can’t go wrong.
Where to stay: Read our full review and find the best rates for The Rosewood Hotel
5. Berkeley Bar & Terrace – The Berkeley
The Berkeley Bar & Terrace exudes old-world glamour. A timeless yet contemporary addition to the London bar scene, it complements the hotel’s much-loved Blue Bar. Designed by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio, the bar has a half-moon marble counter, and a central fireplace and opens onto an intimate terrace with just four tables overlooking the neighbouring St Paul’s Church. At the centre, impressive walnut wooden walls and features carved from a 300-year-old tree felled from the Fulbeck Estate in the great storm of 2007.
The room is decorated in soft corals, creams and pinks, with a plasterwork frieze, sensitive lighting – and a totem pole. For a more secluded visit, The Snug is set away from the main bar and seats up to nine guests. It features a spectacular mural painted by New York-based artist TM Davy and has its own sound system and call-for-service button. The Berkeley Bar offers rare wines and dark spirits, vintage champagne served from the French cellar and single malt served down through generations, each crafted drink with a story to tell.
Where to stay: View more images and find the best rates for The Berkeley
6. The American Bar – Savoy Hotel
The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel is the longest-surviving cocktail bar in London and one of the most renowned in the world. Over the years, the talented bartenders at the Covent Garden bar have included Ada Coleman, a female bartending icon of the early 20th century; Harry Craddock, author of The Savoy Cocktail Book; and Peter Dorelli, head barman for two decades. First opened in 1893, it has served countless famous patrons, from Winston Churchill to Ernest Hemingway.
It remains at the forefront of the industry and is the perfect spot for a sophisticated drink. Serving classics with a twist, new and vintage creations – know that you’ll like have more than a couple of cocktails. A jazz pianist playing covers adds to the atmosphere, as do the cosy velvet chairs and sofas. The impeccable service from one of the most talented teams of mixologists in the capital means it holds its position as one of the best.
Where to stay: View more images and find the best rates for The Savoy Hotel
7. Dukes Bar – St James’s
Dukes Bar – St James’s is a small bar with a big imagination and has been an exclusive retreat for writers, musicians, politicians and royalty since King Henry 8th built his palace here in the 16th Century. The quiet, warmly decorated old-school hotel bar may have remained popular with the locals, but worldwide it is renowned for its smashing Martini invented in 1987 by bartender extraordinaire - the Maestro - Salvatore Calabrese. Frozen and undiluted, it is prepared tableside and the order is limited to two guests.
Dukes Bar embraces true English chic with Champagne afternoon tea, spirits and glasses stored in the freezer and drinks individually prepared to order with a flourish. The lush carpets, dark blue armchairs, and paintings of nobility on the walls further endorse it as a true classic on the London bar scene.
Where to stay: View more images and find the best rates for Dukes
8. Satan’s Whiskers – Bethnal Green
Satan’s Whiskers is Bethnal Green’s original neighbourhood cocktail bar and first opened its doors in late 2013. The menu changes daily, which means that even if you live in the neighbourhood, there’s always something new to discover. The focus remains on delivering exceptional cocktails, using a line-up of spirits and ingredients that they are proud of, all to their now infamous hip-hop soundtrack.
Launched by alumni of the former two-time World’s Best Bar, Milk & Honey, and breaking down the bar experience into great drinks, good service and a warm atmosphere, Satan’s Whiskers is often referred to as the bartenders’ bar. Set away from the glamour of central London in Bethnal Green, inside it’s all exposed bricks, vintage posters, and unassuming cocktails served in elegant glassware. As a head’s up, the Manhattans are unrivalled. Now in its tenth year, Satan’s Whiskers has become an institution.
Where to stay: Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch
9. Tabac – Kentish Town
Tabac Bar brings a vibrant energy to the Kentish Town neighbourhood and complements Fortress Roads' bohemian spirit.
The old original shop front embodies the spirit of the Tabacs in France, with its glowing sign inviting you in. Run by the same French-English couple behind Patron Cave à Manger on the same road, this narrow space is slick but rustic, with mid-century- furniture set among the flowers, trinkets and French memorabilia. Bookshelves are piled with old tobacco tins, and a heavy, sliding ladder hugs a booth for two.
This is a good bar to visit alone and share with the charming bartender about your day over a drink. Or slip into a corner booth with friends. Francophiles will love the small, curated list of fine wines – all available by the glass thanks to their Enomatic system, and you can even buy French cigarettes – should you wish. There’s a high-end charcuterie bar for snacks and beautifully executed cocktails, all the while French 50’s music floats in the candlelight air.
Where to stay: COMO Metropolitan
10. Fitz’s Bar – Bloomsbury
Fitz's Bar sits inside the exquisite Kimpton Fitzroy London hotel, on the corner of Russel Square. A glamorous drinking den where guests can sip on considered cocktails beneath an iconic, Jazz Age Mirrorball, and original 18th-century stained-glass windows. The bar has two decadent drinking spaces. The Mural Room is the main entry point to Fitz's and is situated at the front of the bar – a glamorous destination to indulge in an aperitif, glass of wine, or nightcap.
The Mirrorball Room is the reservations-only bar featuring a menu of conceptual drinks that celebrate the cocktail culture and drips in decadence – Ostrich feathers, Victorian curios and a roaring fireplace. Inside you can order off the bar’s menu of original cocktails that explore the ideas of 'Colour Theory'. Fitz's Bar is an intimate space where there’s regular live music and special events. Expect original cocktails, crisply chilled champagne, a huge range of fine spirits, and high-end snacks.
Where to stay: View more images and find the best rates for The Kimpton Fitzroy London hotel
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