West End Bars

Ping Pong isn't just the place in the West End to feast on Dim Sum. They also boast a wonderful array of drinks, including some truly great cocktails – making it the perfect place to dine and drink.

Missing the 18.04 to Clapham Junction could work in your favour when you consider there's a cracking boozer right around the corner. Pop in and get comfy, there's a blend of fresh British classics, real ales and top-notch wines to get up close and personal with.

Thirst Bar, modestly tucked away in the less hectic Tottenham Court Road side of the West End, is a fun and independently owned cocktail bar in the heart of Soho. In its 10th year, the late night cocktail bar is split over two floors with a cocktail bar on each. Al fresco drinking on the ground floor and a snug VIP booth area provides the drinker with a number of varying environments to choose from. Making choices on which West End Bar you will be gracing is always a daunting endeavour. But if a place offers a 'stupid hour' everyday, where cocktails are almost half price, the choice is made somewhat easier.

International food, killer cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere makes Zebrano's a great shout for those heading out in Soho. Happy hour deals and food that comes from all corners of the globe are sweet perks, and there's some singing and dancing to be had in the club area later.

Despite the plethora of West End Bars to chose from, Blame Gloria stands out as one of the best. If you are in the Covent Garden / West End Area, want a lively drinking vibe all week long, want to be served by attentive and always unpretentious bartenders, love a blend of exciting music and expertly made cocktails, Blame Gloria may just be the place for you. 

Being open since 1999 under the same owners, The Social has made it's mark on the West End attracting crowds of young people for kicking nights out! Providing a care-free venue to meet up and have a few drinks with mates, while enjoying any of their regular gigs is the definition of a good time.

Hidden away in a historic courtyard and with elegant interiors throughout, Mews of Mayfair is a picture of elegance on New Bond Street. Featuring four stylish floors each offering a different vibe, head to the ground floor cocktail bar for fresh-fruit libations and vintage champers; with a cobbled courtyard providing an alfresco spot come the summer-time.

Located in the heart of central London, this sexy number is all about the music. Make your way through a distinctive decor, filled with rich mahogany, a cigar terrace and even a shellfish bar, where you'll find live jazz, powerful soul and R&B tunes.

Moments from Oxford Circus, The Phoenix is a welcoming and fun pub that boasts all sorts of goodies. From big-name comedy nights and lively quizzes through to whopping burgers, this is quickly going to become a central London favourite.

Propping up the cool style of an old Americana saloon bar, Cartizze adds a bit of contemporary edge to its watering hole physique where you'll find classic leanings against a stylish demeanor. Take a seat at the opulent bar and watch as world class bartenders knock up some of the best cocktails in the biz. 

Wonderfully relaxed yet suave and sophisticated, The Den is a flexible lounge bar well-suited to everything from Afternoon Tea to curling up with a book and a bespoke G&T. Discover this hidden hotel bar and take a break from the bustling streets of Covent Garden with leather sofas, warm lighting and eccentric artwork that'll help you get comfy in no time.

Glowing dim and red, Simmons Fitzrovia tempts thirsty passers by into its only slightly seedy depths to feed them tantalising tinctures. A skull shaped disco ball rotates overhead, and a heated outdoor lounging area invites comfort at all times. All in all the experience is quirky, slick and memorable; the sort of place you'd mention to friends weeks after as 'this great little place' before launching into unrepeatable stories. 

Inspired by the golden age of travel, Aviator bar at Hush is bringing fancy '60s vibes. The spot is full of velvet furniture, neon signs and a talented array of bartenders to knock you up one of their award-winning drinks. 

Perched in St James', Quaglino's is a space of truly decadent drinking and dining dressed in opulent interiors, sweeping staircases and bartenders with showmanship. This restaurant bar knows no boundaries when it comes to indulgent and luxuriant partying at its best. Think theatrical, think exquisite mixology and think late licence come the weekends. 

The Long Acre serves a delicious menu of classics and sharing boards, with a broad range of classic, Champagne and signature cocktails to wash it all down with. It's open until 3am so there's every reason to stay and let the night escalate.

Located in the heart of Leicester Square, The Empire Casino has plenty to get stuck into. Head to one of its bars, whether it be the VIP terrace bar Icon or the renowned Carlsberg sports bar, there's sure to be something for whatever your needs. 

Find your way over to Wardour Street where a pretty damn special basement bar is waiting for you. No less than 80 bottles of 100% agave tequila line the shelves, a lively crowd chatter away on quirky swinging basket chairs while others get to the serious business of a friendly game of foosball. Popping in at the weekend? DJs take the floor until midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The team at All Bar One on Villiers Street are no strangers to hosting fun nights out in London. Armed with a fully stocked bar and having created a number of signature and classic cocktails, the many seating areas and private rooms make the bar an ideal spot for your next big private party. Grab your mates, head down and enjoy a booze-fueled night out in London's West End. 

Not only is Cabana the place to go for a delicious array of Brazil's most famous cocktails (including Frozen Caipirinhas), they also serve up a variety of delicious Brazilian street food dishes, such as their delicious marinated skewers cooked on their custom-made grill.

Get familiar with the sights and sounds of Latin America at one of the coolest bars in the West End. Not only a wonderland of happy hours and South American fare, Barrio Soho promise a plethora of liquor strong cocktails that will keep you going until the early hours of the morning. 

For those wanting a friendly cocktail bar to relax in after a long day spent admiring the West End sights or the shops, then head to Be At On Covent Garden. With delicious cocktails and a cool bar to discuss the days events in, you'll be up for staying longer than you expected (probably all night) with the buzzing atmosphere egging you on. For those pre-Theatre drinks, nothing beats a classic mojito to get your juices flowing for the show.

Looking out onto New Street Square with all its gracious greenery, Corney and Barrow boasts one of the best outdoor spaces of any bar in the West End. Plonk yourself down at a table and get ready for some outdoor sessioning! Work your way through the extensive (yet affordable) selection of cocktails and beers with your boozing buddies; or for something a little more subtle, spend the day with bae soaking up nature's beauty over a bottle wine of red.

Sultry in every way with dim lighting and softer-than-soft armchairs, Blind Spot in the West End draws in London's cocktail lovers with its elegant ambience and distinctive attitude. With a flavoursome arsenal of spices, fresh fruits and international spirits to play with, and a stunning line-up of resident DJs filling the air with thudding bass and trembling melodies, you'll struggle to find a better Central London venue to dance the night away in.

Ruby Blue brings a luxurious drinking, dining and dancing experience to a spot that overlooks Leicester Square. Offering everything from hearty comfort plates to some of the best happy hour discounts in central London, there's something to satisfy all tastes here. Swing by for up to 50% off drinks between 5 and 8pm, catch up over an early-evening meal or party deep into the night at this versatile (and wallet-friendly) venue.

One of the West End's more secret bars, The Light Lounge is nestled in-between Covent Garden and Soho and showcases a certain edge of exclusivity inside its silky sleek space. Glitzy lighting and a glam crowd, this cocktail bar offers style, as well as dance music faves, and with a fruity fun drinking menu mix, you are sure to find a cocktail tailored just for you.

Smartly placed between St Chrisopher's Place and Marylebone High Street, Levant offers a sensuous taste of Lebanese dining. Mix and match between a neatly formed mezze menu washed down with innovative cocktails; there's belly-dancers for afterwards and lively DJ sets come the weekend.

Three industry heavyweights have joined forces to unveil 68 & Boston, a wine and cocktail bar found at the heart of Greek Street's burgeoning late-night scene. With a focus on quality wines plucked from across the globe, the focus here is encouraging people to be bold and choose a grape variety they haven't had before. 

If there was a contest for "London's most central pub", nobody could compete with The Admiralty. It's within 50 yards of the city's centre point plaque, for goodness sake, and provides great hospitality for those exhausted after a day of sightseeing. Head this way for a melt-in-the-mouth signature pie, handily washed down with something from the exceptional list of Fuller's ales.