Best Bars In Islington

• Address: 119 St Peters Street, N1 8PZ
• Best for: riverside views

The Narrow Boat is a real hidden gem, situated directly on Regent's Canal and away from the hustle and bustle of the high street. It's outdoor terrace has got a great view over the water, while the blue and white interiors make for a relaxed drinking or dining haunt.

They specialise in cask ales and local craft beers, with a top choice of cocktails available too. As for the food menu, think classics like fish and chips, bavette steak or mushroom gnocchi.

• Address: 108 Essex Road, N1 8LX
• Best for: Irish vibes and killer concoctions

Bringing a dose of warm Irish hospitality to London, Homeboy Islington is a multi-award-winning bar where everyone is always welcome. Voted Top 4 Best New International Cocktail Bar in the Spirited Awards 2019 and 11th in the Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2019, it's clear that the drinks are pretty special here as well.

The laid-back interiors feature dark wooden furniture and exposed brick walls, with a soundtrack of Hip-Hop and R'n'B. Their tasty tipples range from a frozen Irish coffee to the boozy Shamrock Shake, while the food menu features plates like beef and Guinness stew or hearty burgers.

• Address: 56 Upper Street, N1 0NY
• Best for: cocktail-fuelled, competitive fun

When drinks and dinner simply won't cut it, head to Flight Club for non-stop fun. This fairground-themed bar is known for its social darts experience up and down the country, boasting electronic dartboards that add up your scores for you as you play. These come equipped with quirky multiplayer games, starting from £11 per person for an hour.

They don't skimp on drinks either, with a cracking variety of beer, wine and cocktails on offer - paired with scrumptious eats like sourdough pizza paddles or peri-peri chicken burgers. On weekends, you can also try out their boozy brunch socials, complete with 60 minutes of darts, two hours of unlimited pizza and a whole bottle of prosecco or four beers per person.

• Address: 54 Islington Park Street, N1 1PX
• Best for: creative cocktails at a widely celebrated bar

Created by the team behind Callooh Callay, Little Bat is an Islington bar that attracts visitors from all over London and beyond. This space features both a cocktail bar at the front and a dining room at the back, with a design inspired by the decor of museums and libraries.

This undoubtedly cool spot has got an enticing drinks menu to match, with cocktails starting from £13.50. From the devil's Water, made with multiple whiskies and clarified with milk, to the rum and orange liqueur-based Loosen Mai Tai, there's so much to choose from. Hungry? Then tuck into the likes of slow-braised shoulder of jerk pork, curried cauliflower and Devon white crab.

• Address: 489 Liverpool Road, N7 8NS
• Best for: authentic Italian eats with your cocktails

A cool cocktail bar with an Italian twist, Islington Blend is an inviting local gem that's home to skilled mixologists handcrafting their tipples. Cosy up on one of their velvet sofas, surrounded by pretty foliage and a deep blue colour scheme.

The food is just as important as the drinks here, with an authentic Italian menu to get stuck into. We're talking ricotta ravioli, mushroom and truffle pizzas or a Sardinian pork ragu gnocchi, to name just a few options.

• Address: 181 Upper Street, N1 1RQ
• Best for: hearty gastro fare in charming surrounds

Sat inside a beautifully restored Victorian townhouse, The Hare & Hounds is a three-storey gastropub-slash-cocktail bar that's always got a lively atmosphere. Expect traditional, pared-back interiors, with a regular lineup of live music in their candlelit bar.

Peruse their carefully curated wine list, or opt for a freshly poured pint instead. Hungry? Their kitchen is cooking up the likes of wild garlic risotto, milk-poached cod fillets or 35 day dry-aged ribeye steaks.

Situated on Essex Road, Godet is a charming wine bar and listening venue, housed in the former Seveney pub. Brought to you by Sylvain Bertozzi, best known for the acclaimed Hackney wine bar Binch, this intimate space combines the charm of a classic boozer with a modern, music-heavy twist.

Expect to hear live DJs playing the best of funk, soul, disco, house and Afrobeats. As for the wines, enjoy a mix of French and other European bottles - either inside or out in the relaxed beer garden.

• Address: 153 Upper Street, N1 1RA
• Best for: food and drink in a quaint, colourful setting

Located just off of the buzzing Upper Street, Hoxley and Porter is an opulent bar that combines a jungle-inspired aesthetic with the glamour of Victorian gentleman's clubs. Expect decadent turquoise furnishings and lots of gold touches, with cosy booths tucked away among the bold colours and dark wooden panelling.

Their short but sweet cocktail menu features tipples from £11, our favourite being the gin and elderflower-based Lychee Wine. During their daily happy hour from 4 to 7pm you can nab two cocktails for just £12, and they also offer a top selection of wine and beer. They serve an a la carte and Sunday roast menu as well - with everything from grilled tuna steak to halloumi burgers up for grabs.

• Address: 11-13 Theberton Street, N1 0QY
• Best for: wine lovers

Quite possibly the best wine bar in Islington, Humble Grape is a gorgeous location that's filled with natural light. The relaxed, bright interiors feature a comfy blue velvet booth along one wall and an emerald-tiled bar on the other, with plenty of space to relax with a glass in hand.

They offer 30 wines by the glass and more than 400 biodynamic, natural and sustainable bottles. And to round of your visit, there's a menu of grilled harissa chicken, seared sea bass, crispy cauliflower and so much more.

From the family group behind The Princess of Shoreditch and The Lady Ottoline, The Pig and Butcher serves up meatilicious dishes and great beer in the heart of Islington. You best believe, this place takes its cuts as seriously as its pints.

All hogs are butchered on site and it's the only pub in England with Iron Age Pig on the menu. When you're not nibbling on prize pork, you can taste your way across 20 craft bottled beers, along with rustic wines and hand pulled ales. 

• Address: 69 Colebrooke Row, N1 8AA
• Best for: an intimate speakeasy vibe

69 Colebrooke Row, also known as the Bar with No Name, is a real hidden gem. This intimate venue is designed like a speakeasy, and it just so happens to be one of best cocktail bars in Islington too. Expect interiors inspired by 1950s Italian cafés, with a film noir feel and regular live jazz, blues, and rock 'n' roll performances.

Choose between a classic house martini or something more unusual, such as the Blackberry Pie bellini. You can even learn to make these yourself in their cocktail masterclasses. They also serve a small selection of bar snacks, ranging from anchovies on focaccia to burrata with sun-dried tomatoes.