An Industry Guide to London’s Best Bars
For us, bar-hopping is more than a pleasant hobby. We do a lot of design work for the hospitality industry, from brand identity and interior design to menus and packaging. So, call it “research.” Beyond great design, the best bars offer a comfortable place for guests to decompress and congregate with friends or strangers. They provide a little slice of delight, in both their offering and their service. Yet it’s all on a spectrum, and there’s happily something for everyone out there.
Since we don’t want to hoard all the fun, the following is a guide to some of the best bars we’ve recently come across in London, totally corroborated by industry pros. Enjoy!
The Tavern: To Ease Your Pain & Suffering
It was recently pointed out to us that Hospital & Hospitality are etymological cousins. Both derive from the Latin hospes which means both “host” and “guest/stranger” and patior meaning “pain/suffering.” Together, these words signify a place or a philosophy which provides shelter and care for those who suffer. (That, or they both signify a place or philosophy where one suffers guests or strangers, and while that may at times seem to be the case to those on the front lines, it is unlikely the original intent.)
The tavern has long been a place of community care, and today’s bars continue the tradition. There is perhaps no city more famous for their taverns and bars than London. Although the city streets are lately quieter than usual, and the bars a bit less lively, London has endured crises before. “Keep Calm and Carry On” is not just a poster slogan for this town. We recently visited and were thrilled to see the city coming back to life, as resilient as ever, and the famed bars, those places that provide care to all who suffer — and have we suffered — are buzzing with a new creative energy.
London’s Best Bars
The following bar guide started as a list of respected bars in London, known and recommended by our hospitality-industry friends in Detroit and NYC during this sliver of time. As we travelled to each bar and chatted, as we often do, with the bartenders, we learned of other insider-approved bars, led by creative collaborators who are pushing boundaries and experimenting in the face of some uniquely challenging circumstances. This list grew longer. Beyond the PR chatter of the latest hot spots, these places have staying power and are remarkable for their all-around pleasantness, from the environments they’ve created, to the creativity of their offering, to the general good-guy vibes of their crews. They are passionate about quality and about customer experience; they are as welcoming as they are brilliant. No matter what industry you come from, to get to know them and watch them work is to be inspired.
Like a domino effect, one bartender’s recommendation begets another handful, and now we’re going to have to return to London for a more thorough visit of each.
We recommend that you do, too.
So, in a general order from the more swanky at the top, to the more casual towards the bottom — a great organizing structure and the way the original list started — here are our favorite London bars, as recommended by the fine folks in the hospitality industry. Let us know if you have additions!
01
American Bar at The Savoy is the oldest surviving cocktail bar in the UK, founded in 1893, and most cocktail bartenders own a frayed copy of their bar book. For the first time in its legendary history, the bar made famous for serving “American style cocktails” is now helmed by an actual American bartender. And an American woman bartender, at that! While Shannon Tebay is the first American, she’s the second woman to get the top job, the first being Ada Coleman, inventor of the Hanky Panky, 100 years ago. Coming from a role as Head Bartender at NYC’s Death & Co., Shannon assumed her new post during the Covid pandemic with a teaser menu of 15 elegant cocktails, available during reduced hours. The reviews have been positive. American Bar has been deemed one of the world’s top 50 bars 125 times, which is almost every year of its existence, because of its exceptional service and its balanced attention to classic detail AND progressive taste. To take a seat at this bar is to claim your own moment in history.
02
This is the first of several on our list from bar master Tony Conigliaro, whose imagination for creating watering holes is topped only by his imagination for creating the actual “water” served therein. Here, you’ll be invited to sit in the garden or at a communal table in a warehouse-style environment inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory. It’s a bit of a scene, as you’d expect, but the Asian-inspired food and bevs stand up. The drinks are on constant rotation, simple but sculptural in flavor profile and description, and the menu itself is a work of art. Be prepared for surprise and delight.
03
The second from Tony Conigliaro, this “little guy” of a bar is inspired by Italy, from the name and the logo, to the espresso machine and meat slicer on the counter, to the range of bottle-aged house negronis of which there are at least 6 varieties, to their flair for the dramatic: witness the white jackets over black ties and the always-suave haircuts of the staff. This really does feel like stepping briefly out of London and into Milano for an authentic aperitivo. Buon viaggio!
04
From Rosie Stimpson and Edmund Weil, the founders of Oriole and Swift, Nightjar is a New Orleans-inspired speakeasy-themed establishment set down a flight of stairs and back in time. The cocktail list provides a history of the cocktail’s evolution from the 1600s to today, along with some originals from the bar crew. Each cocktail is its own art project, so it’s a multi-sensory experience whether you’re sitting at the bar (always recommended for the BTS view) or at a table, taking in the live music.
05
Another from Rosie Stimpson and Edmund Weil, the founders of Nightjar and Swift, Oriole maintains the theatrics of Nightjar and the story behind the menu - although this one is based more on geography of origin than the timing of origin. Again, set in a speakeasy style down a flight of stairs hidden under a rail overpass in an industrial neighborhood, the entrance is unsuspecting and ultimately thrilling, the live music is engaging but not intrusive, and the interior sets the mood of a living curio cabinet showcasing treasures from around the world. This place feels transcendental. The menu is designed like a field guide for a treasure map, with sketches and miniature stories that make it a suitable substitute for a conversation with your date, and each cocktail arrives at the table like a sculptural vignette where the flavor is matched by visual creativity. Try the jazz brunch on Sundays.
06
From booze industry veteran Carl Stephenson, who’s worked as a brand manager and consultant for luxury wine and spirits brands and rum distillers, and has his own line of spirits and now a non-alcoholic aperitif line (does he sleep?), you know Bloomsbury Club is going to have the selection and guest experience on lock. Happily, the cocktails match the brand’s street cred. The menu is brilliantly crafted around 14 tarot cards designed in 1910 by a “Bohemian occultist,” each of which depicts a state of mind. The role of the 14 corresponding cocktails is to remedy the negative traits of that state of mind. The interior has a delightful Hogwarts-meets-Gatsby vibe: a little magic, a little Hollywood glam.
07
Oriole and Nightjar founders Rosie Stimpson and Edmund Weil broke from their period-drama narrative, but kept some of their familiar speakeasy design vibes and brought in another cocktail couple, Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston, formerly of NYC’s Dead Rabbit and London’s Milk + Honey, to launch Swift in Soho with a standing-style aperitivo bar upstairs with light cocktails and snacky bits, and a brilliant cocktail bar with a whisky focus downstairs. The environment is dark and sexy, and as chic and thoughtful as the other bars, but straightforward without the thematic references; the menus have been designed to evoke emotions or honor legendary drinkers, but are untethered to a time and place that’s not right here, right now. The drinks are expertly made and approachable, and the service is excellent whether you’re alone or in a group, from the industry or not. The feeling of the place is decidedly befitting of the name. They opened a second location in Shoreditch during the pandemic, so you know they’re on to something.
08
When you’re looking for expertly crafted cocktails in an approachable environment — pretentious drinks without the pretention or theater — you’ll hit the mark with Coupette. French-inspired in technique, this place humble-brags craft cocktails made from fewer ingredients with a focus on quality, rare spirits and regional produce, and served without the pomp in traditional glassware. Most of the fancy prep happens behind the scenes and without the show, no extra flair or storytelling required. Coupette is also obsessed with Calvados, an apple or pear brandy most reputedly produced in Normandy, France. Brandy itself, being boozy macerated fruit, is produced all over the world, making it a democratic equalizer. It’s interesting and wonderful to experience a bar with such a specific knowledge in Calvados. Coupette won the respect of the industry right away for getting right to the heart of quality cocktails: great ingredients, reverence for origins, and great service that gets straight to the point. Two of creator Chris Moore’s original cocktails have won Cocktail of the Year at the Class Bar Awards, and are universally recommended among London’s hospitality industry: Apples and Champagne Piña Colada.
09
A tiny but mighty corner bar in Shoreditch, The Gibson is an approachable sensory delight that’s designed like a “choose your own adventure” bar in the truest sense of the saying. The brainchild of Marian Beke, the former manager of Nightjar, The Gibson’s menu is divided into seasons. Upon choosing the season you want to experience through drink, you’ll identify a month, and then set your coordinates based on the cocktail selections. The garnishes are ingenious and playful, but also natural. You’re more likely to see a bouquet of mushrooms or sesame leaves atop your cocktail than an umbrella or sprig of mint. Ice is often replaced by a flavorful sorbet. The decor is littered with drawings of Gibson girls and among the jars of pickled-everything and the various mismatched glassware there’s a bit of a speakeasy vibe, but you’ll feel right at home today. Since the pandemic, The Gibson has also created a really interesting to-go program for locals, featuring rare vintage spirits and liqueurs. So if you wanted to get weird outside of the cocktail list and travel back in time for a vintage tasting, these would be your Goodwill Ambassadors to the time machine.
10
Tony Conigliaro is at it again. This decade-old bar continues to shine at the top of the world’s bar ranks, and no additional name was necessary. Fans are happy to go by the address, and so is the owner, based on the sheer size of 69 at the entrance. But it’s not all fun and games! The white-coat team is versed in exceptional service and classic bartending, and they’re obsessive with flavor profiles and modern extraction techniques. But don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re in any way unapproachable. They are very open to sharing their love of the craft with anyone who wants to learn, and offer masterclasses that we’re dying to attend. They also spent years perfecting the ultimate Bloody Mary recipe. It’s in one of their books. This feels like a bar for foodies with a penchant for liquid lunches. Try the Prairie Oyster. It’s life affirming.
11
On the banks of the River Thames, within the Shipping Containers Hotel, this blue-on-blue-on-gold bar is somehow even more than meets the eye. This Top 50 bar is owned by Ryan Chetiyawardana AKA Mr Lyan, who has a penchant for creating bars with his assumed moniker. Lyaness is the phoenix that has risen to fame from the ashes of the former top bar in the world, Dandelyan, which Mr. Lyan himself metaphorically but no less shockingly burned to the ground at the height of its success, converting the cutting edge, sustainability-focused but highfalutin intellectual bar into a far more approachable venue. Described as a hunter for flavor, Lyaness presents their cocktail list as a food menu, making even the most experimental drinks intelligible to the uninitiated. The bar is designed like a Wes Anderson set and staffed with the most welcoming and gregarious cocktail craftsmen and women, and the people-watching is unsurpassed.
12
Where science and creativity collide! You’re really getting a two-for-one (squared) with this pairing of concept bars from two brilliant industry futurists, Alex Kratina and Monica Berg. Their focus is on teamwork, collaboration, and the guest experience. And they’ve nailed it. All the (massive) creative work happens behind the scenes, freeing up staff to riff with guests and chefs-in-residence.
Elementary greets the street with bright windows, opens early, and serves coffee, snacks, and cocktails that appear to be minimalist, but which are, as the bar name might indicate, approachable study cards for anyone trying to understand the world through flavor. No garnishes, no theatrics. Just taste. And some very thoughtful design — the menu changes seasonally, and uses hyper-local ingredients, which is convenient in this era of supply-chain challenges. Start with the One Sip Martini, served in a shot glass, or the frozen coffee.
Then in the back you’ve got Tayēr, which means “workshop” in Spanish. It’s a collaborative hub featuring chefs-in-residence and a regular rotation of pop-up chefs, with a temporary bar menu to go along with the flavor of the week. Wildly talented team. Since the pandemic, they’ve also launched a dreamy collection of RTD cocktails including calming, spa-like flavors like the Palo Santo Gin Gimlet, among other wood-flavored concoctions. Very Nordic. Very good.
13
We rarely do anything to deserve a place this fun. Just reading the menu is a joy. The bartenders are #Industry4Lyf, but could easily — EASILY — gig in standup comedy. But it’s not gimmicky, at least not outside of the context where the cocktails serve as puns and metaphors and social commentary. Okay, it’s gimmicky but WITH A POINT. And that point is to not take it all so seriously. Witness the One In A Million, an “experience” as much as a drink, and one that pokes fun at those wolves of Wall Street and the Gamestop astronauts. The point is, the drinks are thoughtful and terrific — they’re even “award-winning” — but they’re also packed with humor. This is not a place for whispered reverence, although the quality of their offering might warrant it. All cocktails are a tenner, except the half-priced Instant Slushie that’s a recommended companion to your (extensive) menu reading.
14
This one is a great low-key industry hang. It’s a neighborhood bar — very casual and approachable — with exceptionally made classics and originals, prepared with fresh juice and quality ingredients. The menu changes daily (!!!) with a rotation of drink specials from the classic, contemporary, and modern classic categories. That ain’t easy to do! But it means guests get to discover some obscure classics and more modern ones that haven’t yet reached espresso-martini levels of popularity. It also means that the bartenders are starting over each day, building cocktails from scratch — not batch, and they have a massive knowledge of drink history. Human encyclopedias, these guys! You can still order anything off-menu, so just consider this a constantly-refreshed discovery guide. Another cool point about the daily menu is that it tells you who’s working, and introduces you to their chummy atmosphere. Packed with cheeky vintage drink posters and taxidermy, it’s got a down-home vibe to it. Okay, maybe not your home, unless your home is a hunter’s lodge with a sense of humor. Try the Miami Vice.
15
This Notting Hill bar is often at the center of the world’s largest Carnival celebration outside of Rio, and that’s a huge credit to the local rum aficionado, Sly Augustin, who rescued it from closure in 2012 and rebuilt it into one of the world’s best bars. Modelled after the original Tiki Bar, Don’s The Beachcomber in Hollywood (where good rum is immortalized and drinking is an art), Trailer Happiness is London’s best tiki experience, and they have an outstanding rum list to prove it. However, their expertise goes far beyond rum, and the cocktail selection puts a tiki spin on even the most British classics, like a Mother’s Ruin metamorphosed with champagne into the Paper Dragon, or a Boulevardier transformed into the Bananavadier with a dash of banana and salted caramel liqueur. The snack menu is also on-point and ready to transport you to a tropical holiday destination, if only in your mind. Do try the Polynesian Princess and sample the rums.
16
Two brothers behind Three Sheets, Max and Noel Venning, both worked in the bar industry (at other top bars on this list) and after putting a fluke offer on a bar property that fell through and then came back around, decided it was, in fact, their destiny to open a locale in the very same Dalston neighborhood where they grew up. The build-out was a family affair that we’re all benefitting from now. Three Sheets is a super-minimal bar in appearance, but don’t let that fool you. The drinks are unfussy but very sophisticated twists on the classics. They’ve even created a stunning upgrade on that SATC classic, the Cosmo: it includes neroli and earl grey, for the love. If you’re feeling snacky, you’ve got options of artisanal sammies and cold cuts, pop-up pork buns, and the must have: crispy fried potatoes. Serving coffee all day, this place somehow maintains a pub vibe with its welcoming personality, but is 100% a craft cocktail bar.
17
Set in the basement of a former tailor’s stock room, you’ll probably ask yourself, “Am I in the right place?” when you see the busted building exterior. Yes, yes, you are. It’s part of the charm. Descending the unmarked stairs into the basement, you’ll immediately be comforted by the warm wood and Edison bulbs surrounding you, the old tailor’s hooks and furnishings, and the pewter mugs hung overhead on the exposed beams. It has a vibe of New York’s McSorley’s, which is never a bad thing. While the owners Andy Kerr, Stephen Thompson and Ally Tatton of the group The Umbrella Project are focused on an exceptional customer experience — design layout, music and light levels, service — being one of the top 30 bars in the world, the drinks will not disappoint. The menu features eight signature cocktails that are dialed-in to average three perfect ingredients plus a garnish, and encourage off-menu riffing. They also stick to exceptional music from Soul to Motown, R&B and Country. Live DJs squeeze in on the weekends. The locally-sourced cheese board and giant jars of nuts and olives on the bar will keep you satisfied.
18
The second bar from The Umbrella Project presents as another cozy industrial-style tavern, and while it maintains the Discount Suit Company’s ethos of simplicity, it’s much more Irish-inspired in the offerings (though not what most think of as an “Irish bar”). This East London den claims an enormous selection of Poitîn, which is Irish moonshine, if you dare. And if you aren’t sure you dare, they have masterclasses and tastings to coach you along. They also have loads of Irish Whisky, riffs on classic cocktails, local brews, plus live music and DJ sets. Expect excellent service and those charcuterie boards with local offerings.
19
For 50 years, this was the sherry cellar for the whisky specialist haunt called Milroy’s of Soho, and then it was converted into a candlelit cocktail bar serving exceptional yet unpretentious drinks. When you’re upstairs, you’ll push through the “bookcase” and make your way down the hidden stairs for this buried treasure (yes, it’s a little Scooby Doo, but nonetheless fun). They have a great range of original cocktails with just about every liquor base imaginable, and yet the menu is very approachable and surprisingly laid back. Be on the lookout for their live jazz nights.
20
If you like bartenders who are mad-scientist geniuses but not at all up their own asses, this must be the place. Dressed as a rainbow of David Byrne lookalikes in multicolored jumpsuits, the team here is building a concept from creative legends and industry nice-guys, Remy Savage, Paul Lougrat and Maria Kontorravdis that’s based on the Bauhaus philosophy of experimentation and design for the people (the shapes used for the name are known in every language). They built this concept around 3 core rules: they stock only 20 bottles, they share every recipe publicly, they maintain a 3 month-long “exchange student” program to collaborate and share knowledge. Although their concoctions are outlets for them to explore all sorts of esoteric ideas, the laboratory is behind the scenes, and they have a super-approachable menu with fast drinks (they actually have five ice cases with glasses pre-loaded with perfect ice) and excellent service. If you don’t care about any of the craft-behind-the-craft cocktails, just know that this place serves some of the highest quality, most thoughtful drinks you’re likely to have, and they will arrive to your table within 60 seconds of ordering, with minimal garnishes and fuss. Emphasis on minimal. They don’t even have a website. Respect. (Try the rhubarb drink, if it’s on.)
21
If you’re looking to explore the darlings of the moment (mezcal has been here and tequila is making a comeback), you can go straight to the source at Hacha. It’s London’s only Agaveria. They have a curated rotation of the most interesting 25 agave-based spirits and a selection of Mexican dishes. The food is outstanding and their Mirror Margarita keeps winning award after award.
22
“High end cocktails in a low rent basement” is a recurring theme that this reliable Shoreditch haunt has nailed. A candlelit cave, it seats 50. And you have to be seated. This is a chill watering hole for grownups, or for nights when you want to feel grownup but don’t want to make it a thing. After training for years at several NYC cocktail bars, owner Alastair Burgess planned this humble gem as a spot he’d personally like to drink in: not too loud, not too crowded, with a small friendly team who knows the regulars, and a selection of cocktails that are riffs on the classics. His Perfect Storm is an updated Dark and Stormy. Try the Tokyo Collins while you’re at it.