Exuding prohibition era speakeasy in every detail – from the jazz to the cutesy diner-style staff uniforms – Barts is a priceless gem beneath the faceless glitz of South Kensington. Read more.
Knowingly kitsch, and hopefully tongue-in-cheek, Trailer Happiness serves impressively traditional rum cocktails committed to the Californian bartending scene of the 1960s. Read more.
Slightly over-priced drinks and stunning views abound, Vista is more an indulgent tourist destination than an after work hangout, but the wow factor keeps it on the London going out bucket list. Read more.
Perched on this Soho rooftop, Aqua bar, curated by the renowned Hong Kong-based restaurant group of the same name, offers a range of drinks and lighter bites in a stylish surrounding. Read more.
The word “exclusive” really does take on a whole new meaning with this one. Regular punters can however book a table in the early evening – just book at least a day in advance and arrive before 9pm. Read more.
You won't be let down by the quality of the drinks, which start from about £10 for regular cocktails and go up to £250 for vintage ones - how often do you get to drink gin from 1950? Read more.
By replacing sugar with fruit in their 'Skinnies' they've struck upon a winning formula. The Rhubarb and Rose with only 98 calories is our favourite. Read more.
WSWS offers hearty gin and whisky cocktails, “cockle-warmers” and some lovely stouts and ales – perfect for relaxing in a cosy armchair in their darkly Dickensian cellar room. Read more.
The cocktail menu pays attention to detail. Choose from four sections spanning “the glorious history of cocktails”. We’re talking pre-prohibition, prohibition, post-war and Nightjar signatures. Read more.
Hang around at the back long enough, with a sullen face and impatient pose, and you may be lucky enough to be led through the magic wardrobe (so very Lion, the Witch and the…) and into a second room. Read more.
An art deco masterpiece and one of the most decadent drinking holes in London. The new cocktail menu is a pop-up book featuring insanely delicious drinks. Live music nightly and cabaret on Sundays. Read more.
The bar is over 125 years old, and it is still THE place for a fancy tipple. Some of the best classic cocktails were created here, so indulge yourself. An elegant experience with a live pianist daily. Read more.
Don't worry about the UK's unpredictable weather ... sit in the glass-covered terrace and sip down vitamin-infused cocktails while you bask in the glow of the SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamps. Read more.
If you’re a whisky lover with cash to splash, then look no further than the Whisky Porn section of the menu (no joke). A dark intimate space with plenty of nooks and crannies to get to know your date. Read more.
This tapas joint is a beauty. Start with cocktails and then tuck in to the pan con tomate and the tortilla -- they're essentials.The ambience is completely Brixton: relaxed and almost underdone. Read more.
The bar flies the aeronautical theme. Try the signature Aviation Redirected – a blend of gin, maraschino, lemon and orange bitters, lightly floral with a fresh lingering taste. Read more.
A charming and colourful rooftop with odes to Italy in the form of finger-licking antipasti, fantastic rosticceria and an amazing selection of spritzes.They also have little huts for chilly nights. Read more.
An ideal spot for impressing clients, having a modern afternoon tea or catching up with chums over cocktails. The quirky graphic decor is done to a tee and definitely try the Black Margarita. Read more.
Some of London's best views and a menu of classic cocktails with a twist. It's swanky but unpretentious, and all insanely beautiful. Visit at night when the city is lit up (and be sure to book ahead). Read more.
Camp antics in an abandoned, underground Aldwych toilet – a trip here certainly offers light relief. It’s a surprise to find this down 'n dirty dive bar serving some of the best cocktails in the area. Read more.
This one's perfect for gin lovers with 305+ gins on the backbar (wowsers!). Enjoy the rotating graphic art installations whilst you sip back on those tasty cocktails with an after-work crew. Read more.
The place is small, the list is small, but the welcome is warm and the knowledge without bounds. This is perfect for late-night drinking: with reasonably priced cocktails and a cosy 20s feel. Read more.
A room of deep, rich purple velvet that evokes romance and intimacy. Come for bespoke drinks, vintage cocktails and classic creations in a place that's quite out of the ordinary. Read more.
Brazilian inspired pop-up bar in the heart of Soho with a short but inventive selection of exotic flavoured cocktails, Samba dancers, great singing staff and a real party atmosphere. Read more.
After a refreshing refurb, the pop-up is back (and better than ever). The cocktails are insanely amazing. Try the Young Cuban for a house specialty (rum, sherry, lemon, dill) then get Dewars or Don't. Read more.
The vertigo sufferers among you will certainly need a stiff drink to deal with the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows, so order one of the signature cocktails: a mix of classics and clever twists. Read more.
Some of the punniest cocktails around (and seriously tasty too). This subtly lit speakeasy is perfect to impress a date or get some Atherton bar bites without a booking. Try the Szechuan chipirones. Read more.
Cutting-edge cocktails transport you to another world with Martinis served at -50°C and luscious libations created using food, smoke and foam. Head there on a Wednesday night for live jazz. Read more.
The place looks like an Asian-inspired Prohibition bar, perhaps a touch confusing but it really works: Chinese lanterns and small plates of dumplings mix with evenings of live blues and swing dancing. Read more.
This City haunt solidifies the barrel-ageing trend with a whole programme of bottle-, barrel-, metal- and leather-aged cocktails. Try the smooth bottle-aged Cosmopolitan. Food is classic and done well Read more.
Drinking here is about frills and fun, so don’t be shy. Grab some crazy cocktails, sing-a-long to the piano man, and cheer on the flaring bartenders. This party bar is as good as it gets. Read more.
It’s speakeasy vibes through and through here, with just a pinch of après-ski. And the amber lighting, exposed beams and wood interiors will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Read more.
An industrial-yet-airy bar with copper touches and it's biggest treat: an in-house distillery where they are crafting their own gins, vodkas and whiskies. The cocktails look simple, but taste amazing. Read more.
Don't be put off by the twisted taxidermy, this is one solid boozer. The daily-changing cocktail and food menus have an emphasis on fresh produce, while the hip-hop tunes are always buzzing. Read more.
Stepping into this gilded art deco jewel box of a bar is like entering another world. The soundtrack is classy jazz and the cocktails are superb. Try the Ramos Gin Fizz (served in a golden goose egg). Read more.
There's a long list of cocktails, one more original and enticing than the next, plus banging food and that south of the river cosiness. Before 10pm, get two takeaway cocktails in hip flasks for £20. Read more.
It’s a charming, unpretentious candlelit space with robust and affordable wines, as well as some delightful bites (try the grilled cheese!) Also a few sherry cocktails. Read more.
Expect an upscale yet eclectic approach with refined food and twists on classic cocktails. If you like your spirits big and punchy, go for the signature Martini No. 11 with 11 secret ingredients ... Read more.
Cocktails to suit the stunning Thames-side views. Champagne flows as do the classics, but try originals like the Southbank Cocktail. A crowd-pleasing European menu in this special occasion destination Read more.
A 60s-style den in Soho that'll make you feel like you're in an episode of Mad Men. There are glam-yet-cosy booths, bang on bar bites and tasty cocktails. Definitely get the chips! Read more.
With beautifully intricate wallpaper, dim lighting and dark wood — you’ll feel like you’re hanging in the hippest spot in Shanghai. Drinks are crafty with a dose of Asian influence. Get the dim sum! Read more.
Head down to late-night Ling Ling for post-dinner tipples in the form of boozy cocktails or one of the many champagnes. It's very Sex and the City, with media and Mayfair types rubbing elbows. Read more.
A chilled out cocktail haven. This treasure of a bar is the product of one seriously talented team. So whatever your tipple of choice, it will be perfectly executed and utterly delicious. Read more.
Yes the bunnies are amazing, but so are the cocktails -- courtesy of the maestro Salvatore himself. Expect a world of dazzling indulgence in this sleek and sexy piano bar. Read more.
A neighbourhood cocktail bar with impressive drinks that all come alongside nibbles. It feels like being in a giant terrarium – with plants, flickering candles and metal cans decorating the shelves. Read more.
Because desserts and cocktails are a match made in bar heaven. So whatever your late-night craving, this is bound to satisfy. Plus the dimly lit sexy interiors are perfect for a date or a night out. Read more.
An elegant Italian-styled cocktail spot. Drinks are premixed in Tony C’s lab, so expect perfection. Order all the Negronis (at £6.50 a pop) and sample the tasty variations on this bitter sipper. Read more.
Try the standout drink Mezcal Fix: a fresh and gently smoky mix with mezcal, roasted pineapple syrup, Cynar and saltwater spray. And don't miss the Arroz Con, Mexican rice with sundried tomato sauce. Read more.
One of Fitzrovia's sexiest basement bars, it's also the insider’s way to experience acclaimed dishes from upstairs restaurant Roka. Dark and sexy with slick beats from the DJ and shochu drinks. Read more.
The talented team from White Lyan have brought their magic touch to the Mondrian, creating botanical-heavy cocktails that taste as beautiful as they look. A sleek sexy space with views of the Thames. Read more.
A gin and rum bar that treats both spirits with passion and respect. The underground space is elegant yet inviting, perfect for a romantic date or a few quiet after-work drinks. Damn tasty cocktails. Read more.
The young professional crowd sips on cocktails made with house-infused spirits – mustard vodka anyone? Happy hour is amazing, with 2-for-1 cocktails from 8pm-10pm on weekdays and all day Saturday. Read more.
Go for something different - order the Terroir, made with vodka which has been distilled in clay, flint and lichen, has wine-like depth and flavour. The Prairie Oysters are also worth slurping. Read more.
One of London's teeniest charms, where you intend to just pop in but end up staying the whole night. When the tequila con verditas are flowing, who can blame you? Read more.
The recent revamp has seen a few cosy booths crop up in this inviting underground space. Cocktails are ace as always (as is the service). Perfect for a date night or for catching up with mates. Read more.
This tribute to New Orleans is a tasty jivin' time warp. Perfect cocktails and Hurricanes, live music and a cigar terrace – all night long. Try the Ramos Gin Fizz (as long as you'll help to shake it). Read more.
Sitting on Hoxton Square, look out for a leafy alfresco terrace and head in to the double-decker space for botanical loving. There are over 160 gins, masterclasses and supper clubs. It's G&T time. Read more.
5CC Hoxton is the fourth offering from these underground speakeasy cocktail dens. And with a disco dance floor and boozy barrel punches to share, this one's all about the fun. Read more.
A Saigon-inspired secret below ever-popular eatery Viet Grill, Little Red Staircase serves original tipples with an Asian twist. Ingredients from out east are balanced with on-trend cocktail bases. Read more.
Looking for a secret subterranean drinking hole? Want some killer cocktails? You do? Then step right this way. Read more.
The science of bartending gets flipped on its head: no ice, no citrus and all home-brand spirits in this sleek space. Think speedy service, tasty pre-batched cocktails and a stripper's pole downstairs Read more.
This basement bar is all dim lighting, cosy booths, free pool and there's one seriously long bar that begs for you to come perch on. We are partial to the long, refreshing and lightly smoky Sea City. Read more.
Indulge in bubbles (it’s only apropos in this setting) — and as champers is a heavy-fixture on the cocktail menu, you can have the best of both. Try the Mayfair Gold with actual edible gold, yum. Read more.
If you're down in Mark's Bar (and feel peckish), get the gigantic Yorkshire puds with whipped chicken livers for dipping. Sexy Sunday roasts and a 10pm happy hour with £5 cocktails downstairs, BOOM! Read more.
From the wine-loving duo, Sager + Wilde, comes this atmospheric restaurant-cum-wine bar. Affordable bottles, pre-batched classic cocktails and seasonal food. Alfresco or mezzanine? Take your pick. Read more.
A bright and airy all-day brasserie with a greenhouse you'll be happy to while away the hours in. Try the fresh and floral cocktails and tuck into the British fare (with tasty twists). Read more.
When your cocktails arrive your waitress breaks into “I need a hero”, throwing lyrics back and forth with a fellow colleague. Thought she was a bit cocky when you were ordering? Read more.
Take a group of friends and hide away in one of the red velvet curtained caves, which are perfect for a little late night mischief – try one of their Champagne cocktails served in vintage Coupes. Read more.
There are both classic & modern takes on the famous martini drink here. Try the Northern Monkey (Monkey Shoulder whisky, fresh mint, lemon juice & creme de gingembre). Read more.
There’s a menu of small British bites to ward off scurvy that include ‘preserves’, ‘soldiers’ and ‘sticks’ with the trademark LCC hot barmen to keep you entertained. Read more.
Go downstairs - when we visited it was a Benedictine Monastery,with old school desks for you to sit at, next month, who knows what it’ll be but we were promised a big change. Read more.
A new restaurant you have to try. Think classics such as soft-shell crab with Tabasco aioli & meatball sliders, all washed down with prohibition cocktails such as the Sazerac & the Bronx. Read more.
Victorian styled drinking den with a cocktail menu of 5 great tasting drinks served in tin cups and milk bottles! Read more.
Tucked away in a corner of the City, this cabaret outpost from the Proud stable is one of the lushest dinner-cabaret spaces in town. Read more.
Take a former Chinatown gambling den, add an all-star bar cast and some legendary dim sum, et voila, you have Opium Cocktail Bar and Dim Sum Parlour. This place is epic with three floors... Read more.
Tell the bartender which ingredients you like and he will make you a bespoke cocktail. Read more.
The drinks are listed on a board above the bar, you can get cans of Red Stripe or they have a few basic cocktails ("fancy drinks") on offer... simple yet effective. Read more.
The 'savoury' cocktails on the bar menu are a real delight - we recommend the truffle martini. Read more.