London is a wonderful city for any lover of a good cocktail.
A glance at the annual World's 50 Best Bars awards is ample confirmation of this fact: a full 8 of the top 100 bars spots (as of 2024) are held by establishments in the British capital.
And while every single one of those bars is deserving of their spot on the elevated list, we think that there are many other purveyors of a fine tipple in London that are also worth adding to the cocktail conversation.
And so as enthusiastic cocktail imbibers ourselves, here are a few more of London's bars which we've visited, sampled, reviewed and are happily recommending, for a classy night out sipping some of the best drinks the city has to offer.
Dukes
What better place to start our list of London bars than with a classic: the immortal martini.
And the pinnacle of martini making establishments in London is found at the Dukes hotel in swish St James's.
Deservedly popular, there's no better place to appreciate this iconic drink. So head to posh Dukes bar for a taste of London's best martini, you won't be disappointed!
Manetta's
Around the corner from Dukes (and perfect for anyone who is struggling to get in or simply can't be bothered with the long wait) is the utterly civilised Manetta's Bar.
Situated just off Piccadilly in the fancy Flemings Mayfair hotel is this glamorous drinking hole, all plush fabrics and an ambience redolent of the roaring 20s - this bar is moody and romantic.
The barmen are some of the best, and the bar snacks doled out with the delicious drinks are decidedly yummy themselves.
The list of cocktails at Manetta's is extensive, including a lengthy list of signature cocktails well worth sampling.
One of the best reasons to wander into Manetta's though is to sit down to one of their unique custom Negronis. All are uniformly exquisite - we recommend the Oaxacan Negroni if you're having trouble deciding.
Hacha Bar
The Margarita is a drink ubiquitous on cocktail menus all over the the UK's capital. From the classic version to the ever-popular Tommy's margarita, finding a good example of this time-honoured cocktail in London is not hard.
However, for London's best margarita, look no further than Hacha Bar in Dalston, East London.
Holder of multiple specialist bar awards, Hacha is also the creator of the world's first ever clear margarita: The Mirror Margarita. Voted the best margarita in the world by Time Out, this crystal-clear beverage remains the most ordered drink at Hacha Bar.
For our part we loved it! What's more, you can even grab a bottle of this delicious drink to go, for more margarita perfection in the comfort of your own home, it's a nice way to impress your guests.
Le Magritte
Our next recommendation, for London's best Old Fashioned cocktail, is possibly a little more controversial.
It is undoubtedly true that many a venue in the city serves a superb version of this classic cocktail. Our favourite London version of the Old Fashioned though, is served up by the glamorous - and yes, wonderfully old-fashioned - Le Magritte Bar, situated in Mayfair's swanky The Beaumont Hotel.
Wander past the liveried doorman and into the quintessential American-style bar, to lounge in one of the plush armchairs or grab a seat on the red leather bar stools. And pretty soon the impeccable barmen will be serving you up a flawlessly prepared and ultimately satisfying Old Fashioned.
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At all the bars we've listed above you'll find some of the top cocktails available across London, bar none!
Most of them are classic bars, ranging from the pared-back all the way to the glitzy, however they all share one thing in common: A laser-like focus on making the best quality cocktails. No gimmicks.
That being said, sometimes - in addition to a delicious drink - you also want a bit of a wow factor. And that is where the following bars come in: London has no shortage of cocktail bars that also provide an experience to go with their tasty tipples, and here are some of our favourites.
Mr Fogg's
The number of Mr Fogg's locations in London has been expanding, and these days counts a dozen bars across the city. We've sampled a good few of them, and each one has its charm.
For a start, the interiors of the Mr Fogg's venues are all creatively designed and eye-catching. Excellent places for those instagram-ready snaps. And each of the individual cocktail bars has its own particular novelty, which makes the experience unique.
These aren't cookie-cutter copies - every one of these bars is worth a visit in its own right.
For example, behind an unassuming door in Mayfair is the Mr Fogg's Residence, where you'll be swept into an old-school drawing room, and follow intrepid explorer Phileas J. Fogg around the world on his adventures as you sample the drinks.
Inside the Mr Fogg's Botanical Tavern in Fitzrovia on the other hand, as the name implies, is a colourful flora-filled Treehouse tea room on the upper floor.
Or the Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration in Covent Garden, which is a haven of curiosities - you'll be surrounded by a cornucopia of fascinating gadgets to peruse as you sip on your signature libation.
Each of the Mr Fogg's venues is a fun escapade, where you can have a great cocktail together with a quirky bar experience.
The Alchemist
Another cool cocktail bar chain that has a half-dozen locations dotted around the British capital is The Alchemist.
The drinks menu at The Alchemist does include all the classics, but that's not what you're here for. Self-styled 'molecular cocktail madness', the lengthy menu of bespoke creations here are all one-of-a-kind, and as far as we could tell, all sublime.
Whichever libation you choose, each comes with something uniquely its own.
Drinks that are bubbly or smokey (dry ice is a firm favourite here); beverages trickling from cold-as-ice hip-flasks or cloudy chemistry flasks. Syringes appear, as do pipettes. Bunsen burners are a thing; flames ignite behind the mixology bar. Drinks are topped with all manner of fandangles - foams and creams, fruits, leaves and exotic flowers, you name it.
The Alchemist bars are venues of cocktail wizardry, and who doesn't like a bit of magic during a night out on the town? Personally, we're fans.
Cahoots Underground
Is this London's best concept bar? Quite possibly.
Situated just off Regent Street in Soho's Kingly Court is this hidden speakeasy style bar that is packed solid with character.
If you're looking to get into Cahoots during the popular early-evening periods though, then booking in advance is essential - this is one popular bar.
Venture down the stairs and you'll be transported into a 1940's ambience that is perfectly executed. Cahoots Underground has 2 separate areas, called Northbound and Southbound, in what was formerly a World War 2 bomb shelter. We've had the pleasure of trying both, and they're equally good.
The decor is on point, the servers are perfectly in character, and it's all a bit fun and flirty. Cahoots is just the place for a cocktail experience full of charm and that Forties post-war party feeling.
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We hope we've gotten you into the mood for a top-notch tipple with our list of the best cocktail bars in London. Let us know if you also love any of our suggestions, or if there are any other amazing cocktail bars in the capital city that we have to try out!
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