Sometimes you have a thirst that can only be quenched by one thing: cocktails. So while in one of the most bustling centres of nightlife in London, why not indulge on the best, handcrafted drinks the capital has to offer? Whether you want experimental cocktails down Wardour Street that you'd never thought to try before or simply fancy kicking back with a classic G&T, there's certainly a place for you in the cocktail bars in Soho.
Last edited by katie kirwan
Last updated on 18th March 2024
Found in the centre of all the action, Rupert Street is one of the most popular Soho cocktail bars going. Not only is it a fun and friendly LGBTQ+ space, but it also boasts seriously stylish interiors and a stellar lineup of sips, including a delish salted caramel old fashioned.
Simmons, which you can find in Soho and Greek Street, has built its reputation on kitsch interiors and cute cocktails, but it sweetens the deal by being affordable as well. With their famous Happy Hour thrown into the mix, this is a must-see place to visit for fun cocktails with friends and after-work antics.
London's fabulous dim sum parlour is also a top-notch cocktail bar. Decked out with Chinese decor and quirky furniture, Opium has signature sips such as the coconut negroni and the Heavenly Hibiscus - a heady mix of gin, hibiscus, honey, lychee and prosecco.
The Arts Theatre Club is a Soho cocktail bar and members club that revels in a Prohibition era style. Scattered around are private, candle lit tables and there's even a vintage piano that doubles as a DJ booth. The creative cocktails are served in vintage China-cum-Prohibition teapots, making the experience extra-special.
Freedom is a fun time bar in Soho with delicious cocktails to boot. Upstairs is a designated cocktail bar where you're served a whole host of different flavours - including playful choices like Lady Marmalade - and downstairs is a club area, for when the cocktails get a bit agreeable.
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Nestled in a basement in Greek Street sits one of the big fun time party bars in Soho, Be At One. With a license until 3am and an extensive cocktail menu - including some ice cream infused delights - means you can spend all day partying and drinking cocktails in one place.
Love your cocktails with an extra dose of live music and late-night partying? Then The Lower Third is just the place. Not only is there a lounge and The Forge (The Grade-II listed site of the iconic 12 Bar) for tailored programming, but also a club room to finish your night in.
This basement hideaway is known for its extensive selection of cocktails, served from the gorgeous copper bar. Mele E Pere specialises in vermouth concoctions, including signature blends like their Winter Island or the Smashed Pumpkins.
Scarlett Green aren't just one of the best brunch spots in Soho (though we definitely recommend checking them out on a weekend), they also have a fantastic range of delicious cocktails. Not your thing? Check out the craft beer and incredible Australian wine list, plus there's DJ sets to boot.
Serving up kooky cocktails in Soho is The Little Scarlet Door, a cool bar fronting New York loft vibes and an Andy Warhol-inspired vault. Better yet? This secret spot has DJs keeping you on the dancefloor come the weekend.
Combining traditional Chinese elements with contemporary twists, Lucy Wong is a totally unique Fitzrovia cocktail bar. Grab yourself a table to guzzle a quirky selection of creative drinks, including the Cherry Blossom Manhattan, or simply dive into to the droolworthy Cantonese cuisine.
The refined Archer Street bar is a refined experience in Soho. Their policy is sophistication with a hint of playfulness, and that is reflected in their cocktail menu with names like Honey For Nothing or Do Ya Pink I'm Sexy? Their bar staff are also famous for singing the odd tune, if you fancy it.
Aqua Nueva is a stunning central London bar, located just a stone's throw from Soho on nearby Regent Street. Head here for a Spanish-inspired feast complete with traditional surroundings, tapas-style dishes and hand crafted cocktails.
Bringing together all those classic Soho characteristics, this new cocktail bar offers a stunning range of drinks named for the area's most famous residents. When the weekend rolls in? The drag queens descend, the music gets turned up and the fizz starts flowing with delicious brunch plates.
For slick cocktail-sipping in Soho? It has to be The Dilly. Found beneath a hotel of the same name, this speakeasy-style bar offers a range of marvellous mixes, including a gimlet served with flavoured smoked bubbles. And if that wasn't enough, there's live jazz and soul music on regularly.
Japanese cocktail bars in Soho or Chinatown don't get much better than Zoku, where you'll uncover recording studio styling and sake-laced concoctions across the underground space. As for entertainment? Expect a resident DJ and a unique sound.
If you need a fun cocktail bar in Soho, Barrio Soho is the place for you. With music covering samba, rock, pop and others from around the world and tantalising platters of food, it's their 'Amigo Hour' that saves the day with offers on a range of drinks, including cocktails!
Located on Old Compton Street, Swift Soho is bound to impress. Head upstairs, where you'll be met with a fast-moving and elegant setting, making it ideal for those glamorous affairs or, pop downstairs to enjoy some sultry sips in the laid-back space.
Basement Sate is a cocktail bar in Soho with a difference: while it's interior of dark wood and exposed brick, coupled with its drinks menu plays on a traditional cocktail bar ambience, they also serve a range of delicious pastries. If either the drinks or food impress you, there's classes available to take in both.
For a secret cocktail bar in Soho, look no further than Nightjar Carnaby. Serving up the same stellar speakeasy vibes as its famous Shoreditch sister, this swish spot is the place to head if you're looking for quirky concoctions and smooth live jazz.
A relatively new addition to the West End's cocktail scene, Soho Residence is the Wardour Street spot specialising in botanical sips, swoon-worthy interiors and late-night parties aplenty. Head here on the weekend to much on handmade pizzas before taking to the dance floor 'til 3am.
Disrepute is the place to be in Soho for those that love delicious cocktails and fabulous interiors that are begging to be shared on Insta. Enter this lavish den and flick through their poetry-filled menu, with a night of sophisticated conversation guaranteed to occur.
Searching for places to drink in London? Fronting leather booths, gold tables and other beaut decor, Covent Garden Social Club is is located in the basement of the Arts Theatre. Enjoy sipping on everything from the Picante to the Reggae Rum Punch and everything in between.
