London is one of the greatest drinking cities in the world. I know I’m biased, but after more than twenty years of drinking my way around it, I’m sticking to that statement.
What I love most is that there isn’t just one London drinking scene. Every part of the city has its own personality. Mayfair has its grand hotels, Soho has some of the most important cocktail bars in the city, Shoreditch and Dalston have always done things their own way, while some of my favourite drinking spots are scattered across neighbourhoods you might not immediately think of for cocktails.
These are the parts of London I know, drink in and return to again and again.
Soho
If I had to pick one part of London for a night out, Soho would be very difficult to beat. I’ve spent years drinking here and it is also home to my London Cocktail Tours, so I know its bars particularly well.
Mayfair
Come here for some of London’s grandest hotel bars, legendary institutions and, naturally, a very good Martini. Mayfair might be polished, but behind all those beautiful doors is some serious cocktail history.
See where I drink in Mayfair →
Covent Garden
The trick with Covent Garden is knowing where to go. Escape the crowds and you’ll find excellent cocktail bars, historic drinking spots and some very good reasons not to rush home after the theatre.
See where I drink in Covent Garden →
South Kensington & Chelsea
This is my patch, so these are bars I really do know. From grand hotels to neighbourhood favourites, there are far more good places for a drink around South Kensington and Chelsea than you might think.
See where I drink in South Kensington & Chelsea →
Notting Hill
Notting Hill has become increasingly interesting for cocktails, with neighbourhood bars sitting alongside some much more ambitious drinking destinations. It’s an area where you can quite happily make an entire evening of it.
See where I drink in Notting Hill →
The City of London
Don’t make the mistake of thinking drinking in the City is only about the post-work pint. Among all those offices you’ll find historic institutions, extraordinary buildings, rooftop views and some very serious cocktails.
See where I drink in the City of London →
Shoreditch
Shoreditch helped change the way London drinks and remains one of my favourite areas for a cocktail crawl. Independent bars, inventive menus and a completely different energy from the West End make it worth heading east.
See where I drink in Shoreditch →
Dalston
Keep heading east and things get even more interesting. Dalston is less polished, more unpredictable and home to bars that are very much worth the journey.
See where I drink in Dalston →
London Bridge
There is much more to drinking around London Bridge than Borough Market. Historic pubs, cocktail bars, restaurants and some spectacular views of the city make this an easy part of London in which to spend an evening.
See where I drink in London Bridge →
Brixton
Brixton has always had a personality entirely its own. Its bars reflect that, from neighbourhood institutions to places doing genuinely interesting things with cocktails.
See where I drink in Brixton →
Islington
Islington is one of those parts of London where it’s dangerously easy to stop for one drink and discover several hours have passed. Cocktail bars, pubs and neighbourhood favourites make it particularly good for a less frenetic London night out.
See where I drink in Islington →
London Hotel Bars
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love a hotel bar, and London has some of the greatest in the world.
For me, the room matters almost as much as what is in the glass. Some are wonderfully old-school, others have completely reimagined what a hotel bar can be, but the best have one thing in common: you sit down for one and somehow end up ordering another.
Discover my favourite London hotel bars →
What to Drink in London
Sometimes you don’t want to choose a neighbourhood. You want to choose the drink.
Espresso Martinis
Born in London and still one of the city’s most famous contributions to cocktail culture. Naturally, I’ve done the important research.
Find my favourite Espresso Martinis in London →
Have a Drink With Me
Of course, there is another way to discover where I drink in London. Come with me.
My London Cocktail Tours take you through Soho for an evening of cocktails, stories and introductions to some of the people behind the bars. We’ll visit four very different venues, drink cocktails made especially for us and discover some of the stories that made London one of the world’s great drinking cities.
Join me on a London Cocktail Tour →
London’s drinking scene never stands still, which is exactly why I love it. I’ll keep adding to these guides as I discover new favourites and revisit old ones. In the meantime, pick a neighbourhood, choose a bar and I’ll see you there.