The Best After Work Bars in London

A converted Victorian building with a central table carved from a single black tree trunk, which conceals the bar's ageing cocktail barrels. Black Rock pitches itself as a whisky bar, but the cocktail programme is what brings people back. The Rotary Old Fashioned — served from a tap on the tree — is the one to order. Fills up fast after 6pm with City workers who know what they're doing.

Order: The Rotary Old Fashioned or any single barrel Scotch neat

One of London's most atmospheric basement bars, styled around a 1920s cabaret venue. You descend a narrow staircase and the outside world disappears. The cocktail list is organised by era — Prohibition, Post-War, Contemporary — and the bartenders are precise. It books up fast for evenings but walk-ins at 5:30pm usually get seated without trouble.

Order: Anything from the Prohibition section — the original punches are exceptional

Callooh Callay has won more awards than most bars in London and still manages to feel like a neighbourhood local. Entry to the back Jabberwock bar is through a wardrobe — the Alice in Wonderland reference is intentional and charming rather than gimmicky. The seasonal menu changes completely every few months, which means returning regulars always find something new. Prices are fair for the quality.

Order: Ask the bartender what's new on the seasonal menu — they'll have a recommendation

Swift is purpose-built for after-work drinks — the ground floor operates as a casual standing bar with wine, beer, and simple cocktails, while the basement runs a more serious cocktail programme. Both work well depending on your intention. The Irish coffee is the best in London; the whisky list is genuinely considered. Gets loud by 7pm on weekdays but that's part of it.

Order: The house Irish coffee, or a Highball from the basement menu

An Art Deco basement bar off Regent Street that consistently punches above its price point. The restored 1930s room — all gold and cream and mirrored panelling — creates the feeling that you're in Paris rather than central London. Classic cocktails are made without fuss. The Martini comes cold and correct. This is the best-value glamorous bar in Zone 1 by a significant margin.

Order: The Martini or a Sidecar — both are immaculate

London's original members' bar with a serious cocktail brief, Milk and Honey opened the door for the city's modern cocktail scene. Non-members can get in before 11pm with a reservation, and the early evening slots are quieter and more pleasant than the late-night rush. The New York Sour made here is different from anywhere else — ask why.

Order: New York Sour or a bartender-led request

Tony Conigliaro's small Islington bar — known simply as "the bar with no name" — is the most intellectually rigorous cocktail experience in London. The room holds maybe thirty people. The cocktails involve distillates, ferments, and flavour pairings that take weeks to develop. The Ginger Sling is a house classic that other bars have tried and failed to replicate. Book ahead for a Friday.

Order: The Ginger Sling, or ask what's new on the specials board

Satan's Whiskers is what a cocktail bar looks like when it's not trying to be anything other than a great local. Small, unpretentious, with a rotating menu written on a blackboard. The bartenders know their craft and the prices are fair. It draws the East London creative crowd after 7pm, but the 5-6pm window is genuinely calm. One of the best bars in London that doesn't require a reservation.

Order: Whatever's new on the board — it changes weekly

A basement bar near the Barbican that takes the global bar concept seriously — three menus organised by the Americas, the Orient, and the Old World, each with a house philosophy and ingredients sourced to match. The live jazz most evenings lifts the room without overpowering conversation. The Clover Club variation here is the editors' standing order.

Order: Clover Club variation or anything from the Orient menu

Themed as the fictional home of Phileas Fogg, Mr Fogg's Residence in Mayfair is theatrical without being embarrassing. The room is crammed with Victorian expedition artefacts and the cocktail list follows an around-the-world conceit. The Pisco Sour and the Singapore Sling are both outstanding. The bar team runs several locations across London; the Mayfair original remains the strongest.

Order: The Pisco Sour or the rum-forward house punch