Bermondsey and Borough have become essential Southeast London drinking destinations. Bermondsey Street hosts some of the capital's best craft cocktail bars, while the Beer Mile around Borough Market and Maltby Street is unquestionably one of Europe's best craft beer concentrations. Add wine bars that care genuinely about their selection and neighbourhood pubs that have retained character, and you have two neighbourhoods that reward deep exploration. These are our picks. To extend the evening north across the river, our guide to the best bars on the South Bank covers the SE1 riverside mile in full.
The Bermondsey Cocktail Bars Worth the Journey
Bermondsey Street has developed into a genuine cocktail destination. Multiple bars practice serious craft without pretension. These are places where the bartender's attention matters, technique is visible, and the list rewards study.
01
Black Axe Mangal
Bermondsey Street
$$$
Cocktail / Food
A bar and restaurant where the cocktail and food programmes receive equal attention. The drinks are creative without being difficult, the food is serious and excellent, and the space balances bar seating with proper dining. The crowd is mixed but everyone is there with intention. Service is attentive and moves with the meal's pace, never rushed.
Order: The house cocktail and whatever meat is being cooked that night
02
Sager and Wilde
Bermondsey Street
$$$
Wine / Cocktail
A wine-focused bar with serious cocktails using wine-based spirits. The wine list balances approachable bottles with serious selections, the cocktails show real creativity, and the space is designed for lingering and conversation. Food is minimal but well-chosen, the staff are genuinely knowledgeable, and repeat visits reveal new bottles regularly.
Order: A glass of their current orange wine and a wine-based cocktail
03
José Pizarro
Bermondsey Street
$$$
Spanish / Sherry
A Spanish restaurant and bar where Sherry is the focus and the food is genuinely excellent. The Sherry selection covers dry to rich styles, the bartenders understand pairing with food, and the overall focus is traditional Spain rather than modern interpretation. The bar area is smaller than the restaurant but welcome, the service is knowledgeable, and the experience feels imported directly from southern Spain.
Order: A glass of Fino Sherry and the jamón ibérico
London's best craft beer bars
From taprooms to neighbourhood pubs with upgraded selections, our complete guide to the best beer venues in the city.
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The Borough Beer Mile — Europe's Best Craft Beer Concentration
The stretch between Borough Market, Maltby Street, and Shad Thames contains the highest concentration of quality craft beer bars in Europe. Multiple breweries run taprooms here, multiple bars dedicate everything to beer, and the knowledge level across venues is genuinely high. Walking this route means you're never more than a few minutes from excellent beer.
04
Partizan Brewery Taproom
Bermondsey
$$
Craft Beer / Brewery
A dedicated brewery taproom serving only their own production. The beers range from session-strength to imperial, the interior is industrial brewery authentic, and the knowledge of their process is deep. Food is limited to what pairs with beer, the crowd is beer-focused, and repeat visits reveal seasonal specials. Quiet weekdays, busy weekends.
Order: A flight of three beers across their range
05
The Bottle Garden
Shad Thames
$$
Beer / Food
A craft beer bar focused on food and beer pairing. The draught selection rotates, bottle selection is extensive, and staff can articulate why each pairing works. The food programme is taken as seriously as the beer, menu changes seasonally, and the dining area is properly set up. Works as well for a serious meal as for casual beer and snacks.
Order: Ask for the current beer and food pairing menu
06
Maltby Street Drinkers
Maltby Street
$$
Beer Selection
A devoted craft beer bar with one of London's best bottle selections and quality draught rotation. The space is casual, the staff enthusiastic, and the focus purely on beer without the need for food programming. Cask ales are treated with care, temperature-controlled fridges display bottles properly, and the crowd ranges from tourists to serious collectors.
Order: Whatever rare bottle interests you from the fridge
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The Wine Bars and Neighbourhood Pubs Worth Time
Bermondsey has more than just cocktails and beer. Several wine bars focus on selection and service equally, while neighbourhood pubs have kept their character while upgrading their standards. These complete the drinking picture.
07
Borough Wine House
Borough
$$$
Wine / Dining
A wine bar in the shadow of Borough Market, with a list that uses market proximity as inspiration. Wine selection is serious and European-heavy, food is sourced from the market itself, and the focus is genuine wine education. The crowd is knowledgeable but unpretentious, the space is warm and intimate, and repeat visits teach you the list's depth.
Order: A glass of Loire Valley white and whatever market produce is being featured
08
The Old Operating Theatre
Borough High Street
$$
Historic Pub
A pub in an actual historic building with proper character and serious beer selection. The interior is genuinely old, the crowd is mixed, and service is casual and friendly. Draught selection includes both cask and contemporary craft, prices are fair, and the food is simple pub fare. The history adds atmosphere without requiring it to be performed.
Order: A pint of cask ale and a meat pie
09
Anchor & Hope
Southwark Street
$$
Gastropub
A gastropub that pioneered the category in this area and continues to execute at high level. The bar portion is proper, the restaurant portion is serious, and the kitchen skill is evident throughout. Beers are well-chosen, wines are edited properly, and the food programme changes based on market availability. The crowd skews foodie but the bar itself is genuinely welcoming.
Order: A beer and the daily special menu
10
Cote Brasserie Bermondsey
Bermondsey Street
$$$
Brasserie
A French brasserie with bar seating and a wine-focused programme. The focus is Burgundy and Loire, service understands wine pairings, and the food is bistro classic. The bar itself is elegant without being formal, regulars are evident, and service moves at meal pace rather than rushing drinks. Evening aperitif hour brings serious drinkers, dinner keeps the crowd dining-focused.
Order: A glass of white Burgundy and the steak frites
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