It's true - the term 'legend' is banded around way too much, but not in the case of Nightjar. Perfecting an irresistible set-up of innovative and beautiful cocktails tied in with a dazzling programme of live music, this wonderful cocktail bar in Shoreditch and Soho continues to win awards on the world stage. A must feature on any discerning drinker's bucket list.
Best Bars In London 2023
Think of this list as something of a love letter to some of the very best bars, watering holes and hidden cocktail haunts in the city. With amazing new drinking dens opening across London on a weekly basis, we’ve drawn up this shortlist of only the biggest and best places in town, from the weird and wonderful to the world renowned. Read on for DesignMyNight’s complete guide to the best bars in London and get to know the city on an epic, liquid level.
Last updated on 1st February 2023
After live music, food and cocktails in Shoreditch? Old Street Records throws its hat into the ring with a cutting-edge approach to live music across its two floors. Take in EP launches, new bands and established acts alike in a record-store setting, or make for the intimate basement below where jazz nights and DJ sessions are usually held.
It's all things leisure and pleasure at this Central London favourite (found in the iconic Bloomsbury Hotel). When you're not taking in the sparkling lights, the plush velvet armchairs and the premium date night vibes, you'll be head first in a menu of global spirits and premium cocktails that deserve your attention.
This late-night cocktail bar in King's Cross and Holborn whips up unbeatable cocktails served in mismatched teacups. With old-styled decor mixed with a glittery skull head disco ball, this place has fun-house vibes aplenty and is the perfect venue for a feel-good fun night out.
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One for all you rum aficionados, Laki Kane is the Upper Street spot transporting you to warmer climes. Along with a stunning interior and energetic bartenders, you can expect pan-Asian bites, a buzzing atmosphere and all things rum.
London has no shortage of cool cocktail venues and eccentric mixologists, but perhaps none more so than those at Purl who take experimental cocktails to a whole new level. This quirky, underground hotspot, complete with cosy alcoves and even a piano, transports you back to a time gone by, into a world filled with different tastes and fragrances, to give you a cocktail experience like no other.
The second Bounce site in London brings more of the same playful ping-pong antics to a buzzing location close to Old Street. With 17 tables (including one used for the World Championships Final in Tokyo), there's no better place to get down to some serious competitive socialising with your mates, with cocktails and delicious Italian food to keep you on top form.
Aviary is yet another hit from the ETM group, only this time they've gone sky high. Expect all the deliciousness of their previous venues, with sumptuous cocktails and British seasonal plates, only this time they come with a healthy dose of City views and chilled-out-terrace vibes as their rooftop overlooks one and all.
Nestled in the heart of Shoreditch, Callooh Callay is a quirky, cocktail favourite, where talented bartenders mix up some of the most imaginative cocktails in London. Filled with plush furnitures, decadent colourways and moody lighting this bar packs a punchy atmosphere with plenty of bar areas to mooch around and even some secrets to discover... shh.
There's quite simply nothing else like Aeronaut in London. Backed up by a consistent stream of 5* reviews (seriously, there's loads of 'em), as well as the DMN public's 'Best All In One Venue' of 2015, this Acton venue turns your standard pub experience upside down. Go for wholesome pub grub and beers brewed on site, with scintillating circus shows that break out into DJ and dancing sessions at the weekend.
Seek out this hidden gem in the East End and you'll immediately reap your rewards. Apples & Pears serves up fantastic and innovative cocktails in an energetic setting, evoking an infectious atmosphere that rivals some of London's top Prohibition plots. The eclectic music programme ensures there's always something to keep your toes tapping.
So bear with us a little here; darts is actually really, really fun. Flight Club have breathed a completely fresh lease of life into this age-old classic of a pub game, welcoming you to their super-stylish oches to play interactive games with live-scoring and lots of impressive technology. You game? Good, bring your squad along to Shoreditch or Bloomsbury for lots of competitive socialising, pizzas and drinks!
The Cocktail Club venues are powerhouses of quirky drinks and rowdy nights across London. One of the best bars if you're looking for unadulterated, cocktail-fuelled mayhem, check out this dive bar for off-kilter concoctions and a playlist of nothin' but feel-good, sing-along classics. More suited to lively all-nighters than cosy date nights, don't be surprised to find yourself up on the bartop dancing the night away.
The Piano Works is a warehouse space of jazz inspired jubilance where the piano takes centre stage and the entertainment comes from requests made by yours truly. Set in a Victorian listed building, this place is a fusion of industrial underground and classic music. Sit down, stand up, sing, dance and drink at this place.
This hidden gem is a chic cocktail bar and dim sum parlour in the heart of Chinatown. If you're lucky enough to find the inconspicuous green door and get in then you'll be able to experience three floors of delicious Asian cocktails and food. With a cool, trendy following this bar is sure to impress and make for a big night out with their late night opening hours.
Brought to you by the same minds that own Callooh Callay, Little Bar are all about bringing premium drinks to Highbury and Islington. A staple with cocktails in the front and a dining room at the back, their master mixologists are putting together high-end blends, with wine and beer to boot, all made for a casual date night in the city.
Iconic and renowned for its dossier of awards, Swift Soho is the perfect example of what makes London's cocktail scene so impressive. Tucked away in Soho, and now with a second site in Shoreditch, experience ground breaking flavours here.
@ Alcotraz Penitentiary: London on Various dates from Tuesday 7th February 2023
When it comes to the colliding worlds of experience and bar in London, few do it quite like Alcotraz. A locked-up, libation-led immersive night where wardens and smuggled booze are both as important as the other, these guys have excelled at creating an unforgettable night of drinks in the city.
If you're looking for something a little different from your London bar, Prohibition-style speakeasy Evans & Peel Detective Agency has your back. Head behind the hidden door to find this secret spot, where you'll be rewarded with American bar snacks and plenty of cocktails that were first whipped up from bootlegged liquor.