Vinoteca City
With an extensive wine list that pairs perfectly with a selection of European plates, Vinoteca is a great choice for food and drinks in the City. Expect breakfast, lunch and dinner washed down with vino by the glass or bottle.
Planning a night out in the heart of London’s bustling City district? Well, we should think so; it is a haven for exclusive members' haunts and secretive basement bars. An area perfect for some after-work tomfoolery and packed with enough quality venues that you'll be staying out to make a night of it, check out our shortlist of the best bars in Bank.
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With an extensive wine list that pairs perfectly with a selection of European plates, Vinoteca is a great choice for food and drinks in the City. Expect breakfast, lunch and dinner washed down with vino by the glass or bottle.
A kitsch-inspired bar with exposed brickwork and neon blue letting peeking out from leafy green walls, The Saint is a cute hangout found at the rear of the large churchyard of Bow Bells. You'll find a fabulous selection of drinks here like Pepsi on tap, Asahi beer and pints of Guinness, as well as refreshing cocktails mixed up by a talented team. Hit this haunt up for after-work tipples and enjoy a mojito, rum punch or cosmopolitan to name a few.
Break free from the office and head straight to Forge, where the City's work weary come to let their hair down. Peckish? Good - there's a plethora of grilled goodies from the kitchen to sort you out. Treat yourself to a few cocktails, then wind up for a foray on to the dance floor.
For top-notch boozers in the City of London, Goldwood Sports Pub & Kitchen ia a classic place to catch all the latest sports fixtures all while sipping on freshly pulled pints. With 20 different HD screens, it's the perfect plot come game days.
Located along Gresham Street, The Anthologist is your one-stop shop for delicious drinks and tasty food in the City. What's on the menu? A range of classic and signature cocktails, plus an impressive selection of wines and beers. What's more, there's also some tasty food if you should get hungry.
You can count on All Bar One Cannon Street for a good time, thanks to its cheap and cheerful range of drinks and fabulous happy hour. A lively spot with pretty pastel pink, velvet sofas, shiny black tiled walls and chandeliers, it's ideal for meeting a bunch of friends and having a few to drink. From Sunday 'til Wednesday at 5pm onwards you can snap up two tipples for £15 - the cocktail menu includes tempting concotions such as the strawberry sbagliato, pineapple mezcalita and a conscious cosmo, that's sexy and sustainable.
60 minute masterclass - 2 Cocktails (£35PP) and 1 other offer
Just a short stroll from Bank Station, The Wren Tavern is an elevated drinking destination offering whiskey, craft beer, and exceptional cocktails.
Whether you're catching up over a Tomahawk steak upstairs or unwinding with a signature cocktail at the basement bar, 5CC, this stylish yet approachable venue is ideal for both after-work drinks and weekend revelry.
Head on over Simmons Bank for cocktails in a teapot, neon signs and quirky interiors (as well as one of the best happy hours in London). With DJs blasting all your favourite 80s, 90s, 00s and current hits, including pop, funk, soul, RnB, house and hip hop, you can be sure of a fun night out or after work drinks in the City.
Whether you're after a quick tipple in sultry surrounds or prefer a slap-up steak, The Factory House has got it. The basement bar is serving up industrial style, along with excellent wines and grill dishes, all moments from Bank.
The Folly is a bar inspired by the fairytales and fables of Aesop and part of the Drake & Morgan Collection. It's spread across three floors and looks out onto the Holborn Viaduct, in the heart of the city. Decorated with enchanting, botanical features and serving seasonal plates from its kitchen, it also has a spectacular cocktail lineup, with a wide range of martinis and tipples like a strawberry and vanilla negroni or a Pacific margarita available to sip.
Located near Bank Station, The Libertine is a fantastic watering hole and restaurant to check out. Settle in for a few bar snacks and cocktails or enjoy a stunning dinner featuring the likes of fresh oysters, blackened chicken and plant-based burgers.
Pitcher & Piano is a name you can count on when it comes to grabbing a drink in the Bank area. A UK-wide chain complete with happy hours daily (including 2-4-1 cocktails), it's great for all hours, all tastes, with an easy to mull over food menu to boot.
You're bound to get a bargain at Slug and Lettuce St Mary Axe. Located in the heart of the City, it's the ideal place to swing by after work for a cheap and cheerful drink or hang out at the weekend for a boozy bottomless brunch. Decorated with pink neon light fixtures and bold furnishings, it's far from a minimal setting. Revel in 2-4-1 cocktails during the evening and sip on the likes of Beach! Please, made with Bacardi Caribbean Spiced rum and pineapple syrup, or the Gold Digger, which features notes of sweet vanilla.
Right in the heart of the city, The Lucky Goat is perched perfectly between Bank and St Paul's. This is the place to be for ice cold pints, cracking cocktails, pub grub and all kinds of brilliant bar games.
Fancy a little friendly competition? Try your hand at everything from pool and tech darts to electric shuffleboard and air hockey.
Head over to Eastcheap where this new bar and live music venue is bringing you stunning performances every night of the week. Alongside epic tunes, you'll be treated to great cocktails whipped up by their fun-loving bar staff and some delicious pizzas to wash it down with.
Nestled within the City courtyard, Andrea Adams Court is an eclectic, modern European bar spread over multiple floors. Back-lit and adorned with hanging plants, the amber bar is at the heart of the venue, surrounded by dark blue seating and tall trees. You'll be pleased to discover that you can pre-book drinks packages should you opt to throw a party or dine as a group, and enjoy a mix of classic cocktails like daiquiris (£10), bloody marys (£12) and Aperol spritzes (£11).
A bright spot with white panelling and low-hanging light fixtures, Balfour at Bow Wine Vaults has been serving tipples and bistro-style food since 1987. Situated right behind the famous Mary-le-Bow Church, the venue has an incredible reputation for high-quality wines and even owns an award-winning vineyard. Behind the bar, you'll find expert mixologists putting together creative drinks and pouring glasses of sparkling, white, red and rose. Swing by to devour three oysters for £12 and add on a glass of Leslie's Reserve Gold for £20.50 as part of its oysters and Balfour bubbles deal.
For high-tech mini golf in the heart of the City, Puttshack's Bank venue is sorting you for all that and more. Sat directly next to the tube station in the area's main thoroughfare, you'll find a souped-up take on the classic game, alongside cocktails and loads of tasty food to tuck into.
The Tokenhouse offers a flexible, unpretentious space, perfect for lunch or drinks. This exciting city bar near Bank is a glittering example of Square Mile style, and ideal for intimate gatherings or large parties with its stylish interiors and cosy feel.
Patch East is a cocktail bar based in the City of London that captures the creative and quirky character of Shoreditch. With a number of different seating areas, all decorated with a particular quirky theme, the cocktail menu complements the venue's overall charm.
Regularly drawing a handsome crowd of dapper chaps and glamorous girls, Dirty Martini is your perfect haven from the hustle and bustle of the city above. Dip down to the basement to unveil this cavern of cool, where the martinis always hit the spot and the DJ plays till late.
Cabotte Wine Bar & Restaurant was founded by two master sommeliers, Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney, and whips up delicious French cuisine paired meticulously with wine. Located on Gresham Street, you'll find exclusive dining rooms decorated with distressed walls, low-hanging lights and full-stocked liqueur cabinets. Treat yourself to bites from head chef Elliot Miller, like trout gravadlax, rabbit saddle with stuffed morels and Skrei cod alongside Hasselback potatoes.
London Cocktail Club have become legends in the city's mixology circles. Their Monument bar, based just a stone's throw away from Bank, is inspired by Britain's most prestigious names from the 70s and features a number of subtle references to artists like Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood.
This stylish restaurant and bar in Bank is known for its expert mixologists and innovative Indian cuisine. With over 500 spirits behind the bar, there's plenty of scope for experimenting, and the delicious Asian fare coupled with modern interiors make for a strong all-round package.
Situated smack bang in the middle of the city is Core: a fresh, fun-loving hangout that like nothing more than leaving inhibitions at the door and eating, drinking and dancing into the early hours. An absolute winner for quirky cocktails and delicious craft beers.
🥂 Free Bellini Bumps with Your 1st Round of Drinks 🥂 and 5 other offers
Be at One Monument was the first to venture into the square mile. It was also the first split-level of its kind with two bars; a bright, airy bar at ground level and an intimate basement bar, both designed with classic wood panelling with the old-school city in mind.
In the middle of the famous Leadenhall Market is Old Tom's Bar, a cheese and whiskey bar offering 30 tipples ranging from the Highlands to Japan and delicious charcuterie boards. The intimate and authentic haunt has tiles that date back to the 19th century as well as exposed brick walls and cosy corners to tuck yourself away in to enjoy a famous old fashioned or some sausage rolls and scotch eggs.
Flaunting views of the Gherkin from its floor-to-ceiling windows, Leafi Kitchen Bar is a great shout for after-work drinks or dinner, as well as fresh lunches. They serve a great choice of craft beer, premium spirits and cocktails, alongside a hearty all-day menu.
The interiors feature natural wooden furniture and lots of pretty greenery, creating a relaxed dining environment. While you're here, tuck into the likes of pan-fried prawns, steak and ale pies or plant-based burgers.
DesignMyNight's guide covers over 20 of the best bars in Bank, from cocktail bars and wine bars to lively after-work spots and hidden basement venues. Featured options include The Libertine, The Wren Tavern, Cabotte Wine Bar, Pitcher & Piano, Forge on Cornhill, and Puttshack — all within easy walking distance of Bank station.
Yes — Bank is one of London's best areas for after-work drinks, with a dense concentration of bars and cocktail spots within a short walk of the station. Highlights from the DesignMyNight guide include Forge on Cornhill (great for cocktails and dancing), The Wren Tavern (whiskey, craft beer and signature cocktails), and Pitcher & Piano (daily happy hour with 2-for-1 cocktails).
Bank has a strong mix: sleek cocktail bars, serious wine bars (like Cabotte, founded by two master sommeliers), lively after-work venues, basement bars with a more intimate feel, and even experiential spots like Puttshack's high-tech mini golf bar.