In a city of swanky rooftop spots, award-winning watering holes and boozers boasting in-house distilleries, it can sometimes feel like you're burning through your paycheck. But that doesn't have to be the case. We've searched high and low to find the crème de la crème of cheap cocktail bars in London that'll let you blow off steam while saving some money.
Last edited by Izzah Kazi
Last updated on 16th August 2024
Cocktails are being churned out from as little as £9 at Bermondsey cocktail spot Two One Four. A date night appropriate location with bare brick and leather, catch them every day from 5pm to 6pm where their aperitivi happy hour brings things down to just £7 and grab selected double G&Ts for £6.
Happy Hour 4pm till 7pm Wednesday - Saturday🍹 and 1 other offer
Keep your diary free from 4pm to 6pm Tuesday 'til Saturday for a visit to the affordable cocktail spot, FAM. Celebrating music and hits on vinyl, it's a fun and retro homage to drinking, where you can grab £8 cocktails. Count us in.
When it comes to cheap cocktails in London, a Simmons bar is arguably the best. Check out any of the 15 sites around the city and you'll find kitsch interiors, a buzzy atmosphere and a menu of delicious drinks at budget prices. To top it all off, it also boasts an unrivalled weekday happy hour at different times across its venues in Soho, Putney, Tower Bridge and more.
A trendy apericena bar in Brixton, Il Maremmano is a great shout for cocktails and small plates. The creative concoctions here start from as little as £10, with blends like the chilli cherry negroni or a classic Aperol spritz. While you sip in the terracotta surrounds, grab delicious bites like home-marinated olives, Italian cheese boards and wild boar.
Looking for the best cheap cocktails in London? You'll certainly want to venture to All Bar One. These crackin' venues offer a range of fabulous booze-fuelled deals, from Fizz Fridays where bottles of prosecco are £25 a pop to Five O'Clocktails which includes two of the same tipple for £15.
Boasting sites in Shoreditch, Covent Garden, Clapham and beyond, The Cocktail Club are putting on an impressive happy hour London-wide. Head to one of their quirky, themed locations to snap up two cocktails, like the house mojito or the Bramley apple smash, for £12.
When it comes to affordable drinks in North London, Homeboy should be at the top of your list. Nestled on Essex Road, this award-winning bar is serving up a dose of Irish hospitality with its signature cocktails and proper ales, accompanied by a chilled playlist of R&B and hip hop. Tipples start from £12, so treat yourself to a negroni.
OTT? A little. A sure-fire great night out? Hells yes. Meet Tonight Josephine: a cocktail bar that'll have you feeling all kinds of fierce. Decked out in neon signs, glitter walls and metallic furnishings, the Waterloo boozer will have you sipping on a steady flow of lemongrass collins' while bopping to a soundtrack of pop tunes.
Mrs Riot is a fun Covent Garden party bar that loves drag antics come the weekend, but for when you're in the mood to catch a drink at a reasonable price? Head down from Tuesday to Friday for 2-4-1 on their creative and colourful cocktails all-day long. On the hunt for an Aperol spritz? Why not try something new like this bar's limoncello or raspberry offering?
For a fun night with happy hour cocktails, Tequila Mockingbird is the place for you. As well as fabulous interiors and exotic drinks, you and your friends can expect a resident DJ playing tunes 'til 2am on the weekends, whether you head to Shoreditch, Putney or any of their other branches.
Happy hour deals in London can be found at Burlock, the 1920s Havana-inspired rum den that's delving out potent numbers. There are 2 for £12 cocktails Wednesday 'til Saturday and 50% off all drinks, all night on Tuesdays, including house fave 'the painkiller', which is certainly something to get excited about.
Zebrano hosts a range of club nights which all have one thing in common - cheap cocktails in Soho. During their 'zappy hour' you can get your hands on them for just £5.50, alongside DJ sets and a whole load of other affordable drinks too.
How could we not include Be At One on our list of London's best bars for cheap cocktails? The party pros have garnered acclaim around the country for their cheeky bartenders, fun sips and tunes that'll keep you on your feet after the sun goes down.
On the hunt for affordable cocktails in Clapham Junction? Bar Social Battersea is absolutely killing it with its happy hour offers that change daily. To top it all off, this joint also rustles up tasty grub, plus hosts live DJs come the weekend.
Hop on over to Nordic Bar for some of London's cheapest cocktails. Located by Oxford Circus, the Scandi-themed sports and party haunt is bound to be full of revellers making the most of their beer pong tables, potent mixes and pitchers, all at a wallet-friendly price.
If you're looking for cheap cocktails, like 2 for £10 from 9pm 'til 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, head to Ohana in South Woodford. It boasts elegant, chic interiors with a vibrant atmosphere, bespoke drinks, plus a second room where music reigns supreme.
An activity bar with a twist, Four Quarters Peckham aren't just serving up impressive arcade games and consoles in South London. Enjoy their creative cocktail list at just £8.50 a pop, or 2 for £15, where you can try the likes of their Yoshi sour with watermelon liquor, vodka and egg white.
The Cocktail Bar South Norwood offers affordable drinks without compromising on quality. Expect classics like an old fashioned for £7.50 and a strawberry cosmopolitan for £6.95. Have a go at the wordsearch on the menu to win a prize or drink on the house.
SW16 Bar & Kitchen is a welcome escape from the bustling streets of Streatham, with its laid-back and modern decor and all-day menu. Its drinks offering is superb too, with a happy hour running between 5pm and 7pm from Tuesday to Sunday, serving some of the best 2-for-1 cocktails in London.
Known as one of the most affordable places to drink in the City, Pitcher & Piano is a great shout for after-work tipples with mates. Spend your time sampling blackberry and coconut spritzes, chocolate orange espresso martinis and giant pornstar rumtinis at a great price.
If you're a fan of cheap bars in London then you're going to love Patch St. Paul's. You'll find this sleek hangout next to the iconic cathedral serving up a wicked happy hour between Tuesday and Friday from 4pm 'til 7pm. Bag 50% off bottles of wine and house spirits, plus 2-4-1 on cocktails.
Balham beaut and all-rounder The Exhibit are promising a daily happy hour, where their drinks favourites go on sale at 2-4-1. What to have? Try their lychee martini, porn star martini, or give a glass of prosecco a go outside on their stunning terrace.
Mondays- Frozen Margarita and marg pizza for £12 on Mondays and 2 other offers
Three Colts Tavern is found just shy of Bethnal Green's tube station and is a super cool place to drink. They've a wide range of IPAs and cask ales from the best breweries around the country, and a drinks menu boasting frozen margaritas and daiquiris. Expect Wednesday quiz nights, weekly DJs and live music, and pizza to fill up on too.
This gem offers delicious cocktails and small plates at a reasonable price, proving you don't need to break the bank for a high-quality food and drink experience. Its chic decor paired with chilled-out vibes make Three Eight Four a top spot for any group to hang out in.
