Introduction:
London is a city that is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, from underground clubs to high-end bars, there is something for everyone. But if you’re looking for something a little different, something off the beaten track, then you need to explore the quirky cocktail bars London has to offer.
These bars offer more than just great drinks, they are destinations in their own right. With eclectic decor, unique cocktails, and an atmosphere that’s anything but ordinary, they are the perfect place to escape the every day and let loose.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best quirky cocktail bars in London. From hidden speakeasies to rooftop bars, we’ll show you where to find the fun and unconventional side of the city.
1. The Blind Pig
Hidden behind a pig-shaped door knocker above Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House, The Blind Pig has a speakeasy feel. It’s always a buzzy spot, but there’s even more reason to go now thanks to a redesigned cocktail menu, which is themed around children’s literature and fairytales. Read through this nostalgic menu and pick your tipple from the selection of beautiful watercolour illustrations. Maybe it will be the Grandma Surprised (inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, of course), or the Hansel and Gretel Gingerbread Crush. Plus, they’re all paired with brilliant bar snacks.
Address: Social Eating House, 58 Poland St, London W1F 7NR, United Kingdom
Menu: socialeatinghouse.com
Rating: 4.3
“The bar upstairs is a chilled-out lovely place to sit and while away the night.
2. The Connaught Bar
The glamorous bar within Mayfair Hotel The Connaught is renowned for its faultless service and ceremoniously served martinis (quietly stirred, never shaken), prepared from a travelling trolley. If that’s not your bag, though, the new Impressions menu features interesting cocktails like the ‘Avant-Garde’, a tribute to the experimental spirit of the bar mixed with Konik’s Tail, raspberry vinegar, barberries and mulberries. The surroundings are equally chic, with textured walls in platinum silver leaf, a cool grey bar and David Collins-designed cubist decor. No surprise it has hosted an endless stream of A-listers and royals since its inception in 2008.
Address: The Connaught, Connaught, 16 Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL, United Kingdom
Menu: the-connaught.co.uk
Phone: +44 20 7314 3419
Rating: 4.7
“Perfect place to have a nice night but a bit overpriced yes.”
3. Bruno’s
Brothers Fin and Lorcan Spiteri have launched a new cocktail bar, housed in a newly renovated barge beside their floating restaurant, Caravel on Regent’s Canal. Named Bruno’s, the bar has a New York-inspired vibe and serves playful twists on classic cocktails, such as The Peach Drop, a blend of vodka, peach syrup and burnt sugar; and the Cookout, a smoky mix of mezcal and barbecued lemon juice. Alongside this, there is a selection of nostalgic snacks – a nod to the brothers’ childhoods.
Address: 172 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7JL, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7251 1155
Rating: 5.0
Amazing venue in a converted barge on the canal by the Holborn photo studios. Great cocktails esp the Negroni with Grapefruit Juice – wow – and the staff are super friendly
4. Martinez
One for serious mixology connoisseurs, the Martinez is a members cocktail lounge hidden away on Soho’s Greek Street which opened in the summer of 2021. Its admirable goal: to honour forgotten tipples that paved the way for modern cocktails. (Tellingly, it’s named after the Martinez, a dangerous concoction of gin, maraschino liqueur, orange bitters, and dry and sweet vermouth first created in the 1860s.) There are “post-prohibition” cocktails on the menu, too, of course, and the bar staff is happy to take off-the-menu requests, but why go off-piste when there are Tommy’s Margaritas and Breakfast Martinis to be had?
Address: 49 Greek St, London W1D 4EG, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 330 043 1884
Rating: 3.8
“Wonderful location, ambience, music and cocktails!”
5. Seed Library, Shoreditch
Come for the atmosphere, stay for the drinks. Saunter downstairs from an unsuspecting grey building in Shoreditch, where you’ll be met with what can best be described as the chic grotto for aesthetes, creatives, or anyone who has an appreciation for sultry but sophisticated atmospheres.
Think stacked records in wood-clad shelving (with a live DJ in tow, obviously), think 70s mushroom lamps giving a lowly lit orangey haze, and elegantly curated abstract paintings and pots strewn around. This place is the ultimate hipster’s catnip. Sink into a low plush red cocooning armchair and order a whiskey sour (or if you’re feeling sweet, there’s plenty of options that feature elderflowers, blackberries, all the good stuff).
Address: 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7613 9803
Rating: 4.8
“Even the waiters can’t hear you give your drinks order, it’s that loud!”
6. American Bar at The Savoy
Once bagging the title of ‘Best Bar in the World’, the Savoy’s American Bar has long been a go-to for London’s most refined drinkers. The 1930s-inspired bar combines flawless service with an energetic atmosphere and whispers of a bygone era. Take a perch at the bar to watch some of the world’s top bartenders expertly craft cocktails from the superlative menu unless, of course, you prefer something rather more bespoke, in which case they are always delighted to create something that perfectly matches your tastes. The bar has just reopened to the public for the first time in a year, with a brand new Re:Invented cocktail menu created by the American Bar’s talented team, under the direction of Anna Sebastian.
Address: The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, United Kingdom
Menu: thesavoylondon.com
Phone: +44 20 7420 2117
Rating: 4.6
“Great spot for pre-theatre cocktail and a bit of people watching!!”
7. GŎNG Bar at The Shard
Cocktails taste better with a view – particularly when the vantage point is from the top of London’s highest hotel bar. Perched on the 52nd floor of London’s Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, the ever-glamorous GŎNG offers unparalleled panoramas of the city skyline from all angles.
The name derives from ‘dougong’, a traditional Chinese architectural element of interlocking wooden brackets, with Asian-inspired décor seen throughout. The star of the show, however, is the cocktail menu. The new Interlocking Cocktail Menu centres around flavors like yuzu, guava, mango, coconut, pineapple, raspberry and Thai basil, giving guests the chance to dive between sweet and punchy flavor combinations throughout the evening.
Address: Level 52, Shangri-La The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7234 8208
Rating: 3.8
“Great selection of tasty cocktails with Asian vibe.”
8. The Painter’s Room
The recently opened bar at Claridge’s is an Art Deco dream. Created by interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan, the space is influenced by 1930s photos from the hotel archives, bedecked with pale pink onyx and features an eye-catching skylight in peach-and-cream-coloured glass.
Guests can enjoy a new drinks menu inspired by the culture and art of Europe, divided into four chapters: Light, Interpretations, Complex and Clean. As well as innovative cocktails, a selection of small plates also feature on the menu (including crispy scampi and beetroot tartar), presented by waiters wearing traditional painters’ jackets in a shade of blue inspired by American photographer Bill Cunningham.
Address: Claridge’s, Brook St, London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7107 8835
Rating: 5.0
“Macallan whisky selection 👌🏼”
9. The Last Talisman
Located on Southwark’s bustling Bermondsey Street, The Last Talisman serves up eclectic cocktails and British-Asian cuisine. Founded by restaurateur Eric Yu, mixologist Dré Masso and culinary expert Tim Ross-Watson, the exciting new drink-and-dine destination boasts exotic, art-deco interiors featuring an array of compelling artworks (rotated every 90 days).
Also situated within the drinking house is ‘Mala Madre’, a separate tropical-themed cocktail bar (with room for up to 70 guests) inspired by Masso’s time spent in Bali and his Colombian roots. Private party, anyone? Expect live DJ sets every week, plus an inviting brunch menu every weekend (11am-4pm) – bottomless cocktails are also available. It’s all happening at The Last Talisman.
Address: 171-173 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW, United Kingdom
Menu: thelasttalisman.com
Reservations: thelasttalisman.com, thefork.co.uk
Phone: +44 20 8189 9546
Rating: 4.1
“The staff were clueless and not really sure how to run a busy restaurant.”
11. The Sun Tavern
A little rustic charm goes a long way with this quirky neighbourhood bar. Think deliciously eccentric cocktails – from the Rocket Pisco and Hard Cider Sherbet-infused ‘Farm Boy’ to the whiskey-based ‘Blunderbuss’ – craft beers, plenty of poitin, Irish coffee and of course, good vibes. Keep an eye out for upcoming DJ sets and live music.
Address: 441 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 0AN, United Kingdom
Menu: thesuntavern.co.uk
Reservations: thesuntavern.co.uk
Phone: +44 20 7739 4097
Rating: 4.6
“Excellent selection of Irish whiskies, great staff, brilliant service.”
11. Waeska Bar at The Mandrake
It’s all about surrealism at Waeska Bar, found within the endlessly cool Mandrake Hotel in Fitzrovia. Since opening in 2017 it has become the go-to destination for London’s fashion elite, and it’s easy to see why. Named after a medicinal plant – as are all areas of the hotel – Waeska Bar is a beautifully bizarre mish-mash of patterns, colours and textures. Leather bar stools sit beside tropical-print armchairs and mirror-topped tables, while a flower-bedecked courtyard houses bamboo tables.
The most striking aspect of all is the fantastical creature which leaps above the bar: a half-kangaroo, half-gazelle with scales made from harvested beetle wings, designed by renowned artist Enrique Gomez de Molina. Drinks are equally exotic, particularly since the launch of their new cocktail menu, which is rooted in ethnobotany: the study of a region’s plants and their practical uses through traditional knowledge of local cultures. The Sarsaparilla, for instance, is a twist on the classic Pina Colada, made using the root of the Sarsaparilla plant – which indigenous people in South America have been using to treat joint and skin problems for centuries. Another cocktail on the menu, meanwhile, is mixed with native Indian plant vetiver, said to have anti-anxiety abilities.
Address: Talkback Productions Ltd, 20-21 Newman St, London W1T 1PG, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 3146 7770
Rating: 3.7
“Cosy bar with a dark but ambient atmosphere and feeling.”
12. Discount Suit Company
This compellingly covert cocktail bar is not one you might think to come across when trawling the streets of Spitalfields. The sophisticated speakeasy – once a suit tailor’s store room – is in fact concealed behind an unmarked black door; an exclusive establishment serving up an array of tasty alternative cocktails, from the whisky and sherry-suffused ‘Cockney Touch’ to the ‘Whipping Boy’ which features Ocho Blanco Tequila and Lillet Rose.
Address: 29A Wentworth St, London E1 7TB, United Kingdom
Menu: discountsuitcompany.co.uk
Phone: +44 20 7247 8755
Rating: 4.8
“Food and wine were well received, decently priced, and decimated accordingly.”
13. Laki Kane
Take your date to the tropics without stepping foot on a plane – just venture to Islington, to Laki Kane. Everything from the interior design to the drinks is designed to make the cocktail bar a realistic escape to a tropical island, whilst sitting on Islington’s Upper Street.
Address: 144-145 Upper St, London N1 1QY, United Kingdom
Menu: lakikane.com
Phone: +44 20 7607 0766
Rating: 4.2
“Yummy food and drinks Lovely staff and service.”
14. Lyaness
Autumn 2019 was a bittersweet month for Sea Containers London’s Dandelyan. Ryan Chetiyawardana’s famed bar was voted number one in the World’s 50 Best Bars awards, but just a couple of months after announced it was closing its doors. In 2021, however, the bar reopened as Lyaness – still under the ownership of cocktail guru Chetiyawardana, also known as Mr Lyan. Lyaness has a slightly different vibe to Dandelyan, but the aesthetics are equally pretty.
Powder blue and gray shades replace millennial pinks, and the green marble bar remains, alongside brass tables and plush velvet sofas. The drinks menu remains every bit as innovative as Dandelyan’s, sectioned around ingredients rather than cocktails. There are seven specialist ingredients, from Infinite Banana to Tat-tie Milk Punch, each of which is used to create a trio of exciting and unique cocktails. Can’t decide? Use the dedicated drinks map, a guide to taste (light vs rich) and suggested drinking times (daytime to late evening) – clever or what?
Address: 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD, United Kingdom
Menu: lyaness.com
Phone: +44 20 3747 1063
Rating: 4.6
“Beautiful place where spent a night drink high quality cocktail.”
15. Oriole
Priding itself on providing an escape from the outside world, Oriole is an underground cocktail bar serving intricate drinks and rare spirits in a plush and flamboyant space. A far cry from the other business-like watering holes of Farringdon, Oriole offers creative respite from the mundanities of everyday life in the city – much aided by a fascinating cocktail menu that it’s a pleasure to drink your way through. The cocktails explore the Old World, New World and the Orient, beautifully presented in a series of unique vessels with specially-created garnishes. A real experience.
Address: Smithfield Markets, E Poultry Ave, London EC1A 9LH, United Kingdom
Menu: oriolebar.com
Phone: +44 20 3457 8099
Rating: 4.5
“Love love love this place, great quality meat at great prices
16. Bar 190 at The Gore
It may not seem like it from the row of stuccoed white South Kensington townhouses which The Gore finds itself, but the hotel’s bar is one of the most rock ‘n’ roll spots in town. Bar 190 was the location for The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album launch and photoshoot – and the bar has rolled with this theme ever since.
All original wooden panelling, lavish upholstery, deep velvets and aged leather armchairs, there’s a real sense of occasion that comes with your Negroni, even more so if you bag the plush ‘Cinderella’s Carriage’ hideaway at the back of the bar.
Address: 190 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5EX, United Kingdom
Menu: starhotelscollezione.com
Phone: +44 20 7584 6601
Rating: 4.4
“Quality of the food was very good and the service was excellent.”
17. Viajante 87
One of the hottest new openings in the capital? This Mexican-Japanese gem, hidden underneath bustling Notting Hill Gate, comes from the team behind the nearby fusion restaurant Los Mochis. With moody lighting, plush banquettes and artwork courtesy of the Mexico City-born Oms Rocha, the intimate space exudes understated glamor, while its dedicated mixology lab whips up innovative cocktails.
Try the Frida, a heady concoction of champagne, tequila, citrus sherbet, chamomile-oregano syrup, rosemary bitters and plum liqueur, or the signature Viajante Martini, made with tequila reposado, bell peppers, fermented mead and green tea sherry. Stay late and you could very well be rewarded with an electrifying DJ set (the bar has a 2am license), where you can dance into the night fuelled by moreish bar snacks like sashimi and an irresistible wagyu sando.
Address: 87 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JZ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 7497 772353
Rating: 4.9
“Excellent and polite service with great ambiance.
FAQs:
Are these bars expensive?
Some of these bars can be a bit pricey, but they offer a unique experience that is worth the extra cost.
Do I need to make a reservation?
It’s always best to check with the bar beforehand, as some may require reservations.
Are these bars suitable for groups?
Yes, many of these bars can accommodate groups, but it’s always best to check beforehand, as some may have limited space.
Are these bars family-friendly?
Most of these bars have age restrictions and are geared towards adults, so it’s not recommended to bring children along.
Do these bars offer food?
Some of these bars offer small plates or snacks, but they are primarily focused on cocktails.
Are these bars accessible to those with disabilities?
It’s best to check with the individual bars for their accessibility information.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a night out that’s anything but ordinary, then you need to explore the quirky cocktail bars London has to offer. From Cahoots’ vintage 1940s decor to Lounge Bohemia’s molecular mixology, each bar offers a unique experience that’s not to be missed.
The Gibson’s celebration of art and mixology, the pink and playful vibe of Tonight Josephine, and the Victorian-inspired decor of The Last Tuesday Society all add to the eclectic mix of bars on offer.
Original Sin’s hidden location in Stoke Newington and Little Bat’s Alice in Wonderland-inspired decor round out the list of must-visit bars. So why not grab some friends and start exploring the fun and unconventional side of London’s nightlife scene?
