Best Cocktail Bars in London

Named the world's best bar on multiple occasions, The Connaught Bar operates at a level that justifies every superlative applied to it. The Martini trolley is the attraction, the classics are flawless, and the room is among the most beautiful in London. Reserve well in advance; the bar accepts reservations from non-hotel guests.

Four consecutive years as the world's best bar cemented Artesian's reputation. The current team continues to produce some of the most inventive cocktails in London with a technical precision that separates them from their imitators. The room is extraordinary on a Tuesday afternoon in January.

Tony Conigliaro's 22-seat room on a quiet Islington street remains the most influential cocktail bar in London. The flavour experiments that began here have shaped bars around the world. The cocktail list is unlike anything available elsewhere and changes frequently. Reserve weeks ahead.

A speakeasy basement with live jazz and a cocktail menu divided by historical era. Nightjar has been among London's finest cocktail bars since 2010 and shows no signs of decline. The atmosphere is singular, the bar staff are performers as much as technicians, and the menu rewards careful reading.

Named for the cocktail, The Gibson is a neighbourhood bar that operates at a level far above its surroundings. The signature list focuses on savoury, umami-driven cocktails that you will not find elsewhere in London. A quiet Tuesday visit will reveal more than a busy Friday.

A Soho basement that takes technique seriously without taking itself seriously. The menu rotates quarterly with genuine creativity, the atmosphere is warm, and the service is confident without being performative. An ideal introduction to London's cocktail scene for visitors.

Downstairs at Swift is among London's finest bar rooms: low-lit, leather-seated, and operating a vintage spirits list that runs to hundreds of entries. Upstairs is more accessible. The cocktail programme across both floors is excellent and reliably consistent.

Ryan Chetiyawardana's bar at Sea Containers continues to produce some of London's most technically accomplished cocktails. Lyaness organises its menu around ingredients rather than spirits, and the river views are among the best available from any bar in the city.

Modelled on an Italian railway bar, the Soho location of Bar Termini offers a cocktail menu of focused clarity: Negronis, espresso cocktails, and spritz variations executed with a precision that makes every other bar's versions feel approximate.

The Hoxton successor to Ryan Chetiyawardana's original bar continues the spirit of rigorous experimentation. Pre-batched cocktails, a rotating seasonal menu, and a philosophy that prizes flavour over spectacle. One of London's most consistently interesting destinations.

The darker, more dramatic sibling of the American Bar at The Savoy. Art Deco interiors, live music most evenings, and a cocktail programme that matches the historic setting. Prices reflect the postcode and the history, and the experience justifies both.

The most accessible high-quality cocktail bar in east London, Three Sheets operates a neighbourhood bar with serious technique. The menu is concise, the prices are reasonable for the quality, and the crowd is unpretentious. A template for what a neighbourhood cocktail bar should be.

Disrepute hides in a 100-seat basement at 4 Kingly Court in Soho, on the former site of the 60s Pinstripe Club. DesignMyNight rates the members-and-walk-ins cocktail list and the late 3am close. Non-members get in subject to space.

HIDE Ground is the middle floor of Ollie Dabbous and Hedonism Wines' Michelin-starred 85 Piccadilly, with the cocktail bar Below and fine dining Above. The Good Food Guide rates the all-day room and the wine list. Order off the Hedonism pages.

Knowhere Special seats around thirty in a Kentish Town basement at 296 Kentish Town Road, table service only, with food bites matched to each house cocktail. Time Out flags the booking-by-email policy. Reserve ahead for the small room.

Mr Fogg's Gin Parlour pours a long list of gins at 1 New Row in Covent Garden, the Victorian-themed sibling in the Mr Fogg's group. The official site lists the afternoon gin tea. Book the parlour for a group.

The Refinery Bankside is Drake and Morgan's first venue, open since 2008 in the Blue Fin Building at 110 Southwark Street with all-day dining and cocktails. The group site lists the seasonal menu. Good for an after-work round near Tate Modern.