Calling all cocktail lovers! Today my themed itinerary series continues with a guide to the best cocktail bars in London. If you love a good martini or a classic gin and tonic, this blog post will help you find the top tipples in the city.
Best Cocktail Bars in London
This London itinerary will bring you to the best cocktail bars in London and allow you to sample some of the best drinks in the UK capital.
From heritage bars with long histories and celebrity patrons to secret speakeasies with inventive mixologists, it covers a range of places that will give you a feel for London’s bar scene.
The itinerary covers 2 afternoons and evenings, but you can mix and match to tailor it to how long you’ll be in London. As always, remember to check opening hours before you go.
Cocktail Bars in London: Day 1 – Afternoon
If it’s a warm day, start the first afternoon of your itinerary in hipster Peckham. There are two neighboring rooftop bars here that have great views of London.
There’s no better place to spend an afternoon with a cocktail than at Frank’s Cafe or the Bussey Rooftop Bar.
Frank’s Cafe sits at the top of a former multi-story parking structure that has been transformed into an arts space.
The building has site-specific sculpture, architecture, and music throughout the year, so there’s always something fun to explore on the roof while you’re at the bar.
Frank’s itself has chairs lining the perimeter, so you can get a front-row seat for the London skyline. It’s a great place to watch the sunset, too.
The Bussey Rooftop Bar has equally good views, including a view of Frank’s Cafe across the way. This colorful space has the added bonus of being next to the Rooftop Film Club, which screens movies outdoors on summer nights.
Cocktail Bars in London: Day 1 – Evening
In the evening, change out of your hipster attire and into your finery to head to Dukes bar in St James’s.
This establishment is one of the best cocktail bars in London for good reason. Dukes is famous for its martinis, which are both lethal and delicious.
Head barman Alessandro Palazzi has been serving Dukes martinis with panache from the hotel bar’s famous trolley for decades. The theater that accompanies the making of these classic British cocktails is almost as good as the feeling of having had one.
The martinis at Dukes are so celebrated they’re said to have inspired James Bond’s signature drink. Whether true or not, they’re still a London institution in their own right.
Cocktail Bars in London: Day 2 – Afternoon
Start the second day of your itinerary in edgy Camden. The markets here are a big draw, and there are great places to drink with a canal-side view of the bustle.
West Yard in Camden Lock Market has street food stalls galore, and bars like Lockside Camden on the upper floor of the open courtyard have great atmosphere.
There’s no better place than Camden Market for a cocktail with ambiance on a sunny afternoon in London.
Elsewhere in West Yard, you can do tastings and make your own flavored gin at HALF HITCH Gin Micro-Distillery. It’s a great way to bring a bit of London’s cocktail bar scene home with you.
Cocktail Bars in London: Day 2 – Evening
When evening sets in, continue your tour of the best cocktail bars in London with a trip to hip Shoreditch. This area has some of the most exciting nightlife in London, and there are a lot of good bars to choose from.
My favorite is Happiness Forgets in Hoxton Square. Not only do I love the name, but I’ve enjoyed many a night drinking good cocktails in its intimate basement setting.
The bartenders know what they’re doing, and they come up with creative drinks on a consistent basis.
There are plenty of other good cocktail bars in Shoreditch, so it’s easy to make a night of it.
Whether you head to Nightjar for a forgotten cocktail made with vintage spirits, or the Queen of Hoxton for their famous rooftop scene (or both), you’ll have a great night out.
London Cocktail Bars
I hope you’ve enjoyed this itinerary for cocktail bars in London. There are a lot more places to enjoy a tipple in the UK capital, too.
If you want to explore additional watering holes, head over to my blog posts about the top travel-themed bars in London and the best rooftop bars in south London.
As always, you can find all my themed London itineraries here if you want to see more.
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