Top 20 Best Cocktail Bars in London 2026
London is one of the world’s most influential cocktail capitals, a city where historic hotel bars sit comfortably alongside boundary-pushing neighbourhood venues, and where technique, theatre and hospitality converge at the highest level. From Mayfair and Soho to East London and Canary Wharf, the capital’s bar scene continues to set global standards, attracting international acclaim from awards such as The World’s 50 Best Bars and Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK.
At Balance Journal, we believe the best cocktail bars are about far more than what’s in the glass. Atmosphere, intention, service and storytelling all matter. Whether you’re seeking an elegant martini in a grand hotel, experimental flavour combinations from world-class bartenders, or a late-night destination that feels effortlessly cool, London delivers in abundance.
Here are our definitive picks for the 20 Best Cocktail Bars in London, including Greater London, selected for craftsmanship, consistency, ambience and international recognition.
Top 5 Best Cocktail Bars in London - Editor’s Choice
| No. | Bar | Location | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
EDITOR'S CHOICE Tayēr + Elementary |
Old Street | World-class innovation & award-winning cocktails |
| 2 | The Connaught Bar | Mayfair | Luxury martinis & timeless glamour |
| 3 | Satan’s Whiskers | Bethnal Green | Perfectly executed classic cocktails |
| 4 | Scarfes Bar | Holborn | Live jazz & refined hotel-bar elegance |
| 5 | Lyaness | South Bank | Creative flavour-led cocktail experiences |
Top 10 Best Cocktail Bars in London
1. Tayēr + Elementary — Old Street
Tayēr + Elementary is widely regarded as London’s most important cocktail bar of the modern era. Founded by Alex Kratena and Monica Berg, the bar is split into two distinct spaces: Elementary, a casual front bar focused on precision-made drinks served with ease, and Tayēr, a more immersive experience where cocktails are treated as culinary creations.
What sets Tayēr apart is its obsessive attention to flavour development. Ingredients are often fermented, distilled or clarified in-house, resulting in drinks that feel both effortless and deeply complex. The menu changes frequently, guided by produce, technique and seasonality rather than trends.
Recognition has followed accordingly. Ranked #5 in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2025, Tayēr + Elementary is consistently cited as one of the best cocktail bars on the planet. Despite its accolades, the atmosphere remains refreshingly unpretentious, making it a must-visit for serious cocktail lovers and first-timers alike.
2. The Connaught Bar — Mayfair
The Connaught Bar is the gold standard for luxury cocktail experiences. Located within the iconic Connaught Hotel, this Mayfair institution is famous for its flawless martini service, where drinks are prepared tableside with bespoke garnishes and an almost ceremonial grace.
The room itself is understated yet opulent, with soft lighting, silver accents and impeccable service that feels personal rather than formal. Beyond martinis, the cocktail list showcases refined flavour pairings and classic inspirations executed with modern finesse.
Regularly ranked among the world’s best bars, including #6 in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2025, The Connaught Bar has achieved a rare feat: timeless relevance. It is as perfect for milestone celebrations as it is for quiet, late-evening indulgence.
3. Satan’s Whiskers — Bethnal Green
Satan’s Whiskers proves that perfection doesn’t require polish. This East London favourite has built its reputation on doing the classics better than almost anyone else. The menu changes daily, handwritten and focused entirely on balance, restraint and technique.
There’s no gimmickry here, just exceptionally well-made drinks served in a relaxed, neighbourhood setting. Bartenders are knowledgeable without being showy, and the atmosphere feels welcoming rather than exclusive.
Ranked #21 in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2025 and named UK’s Best Bar, Satan’s Whiskers is a masterclass in consistency and integrity. It’s a reminder that great cocktails don’t need spectacle to be unforgettable.
4. Scarfes Bar — Holborn
Scarfes Bar blends the charm of a traditional English drawing room with world-class cocktail craftsmanship. Located inside the Rosewood London, the bar is known for its live jazz, plush seating and a menu that leans into storytelling and seasonal inspiration.
Cocktails are elegant yet approachable, often drawing on British ingredients and literary references. The service strikes a perfect balance between polished and warm, making it ideal for both romantic evenings and business meetings.
Regularly featured in the World’s 50 Best Bars, Scarfes remains one of London’s most atmospheric destinations for high-end drinking without stiffness.
Book your table online at Scarfes Bar
5. Lyaness — South Bank
Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Lyaness is one of London’s most creative cocktail destinations. Known for its bold colours, playful design and conceptual menus, the bar approaches flavour development as a form of culinary research.
Each menu focuses on a series of bespoke ingredients created exclusively for the bar, resulting in drinks that feel entirely original. Despite the innovation, cocktails remain balanced, approachable and deeply satisfying.
Lyaness has received multiple international accolades and remains a benchmark for creativity in modern mixology.
6. Nightjar — Shoreditch
Nightjar is one of London’s original destination cocktail bars, renowned for its speakeasy atmosphere and immersive approach to drinking. Hidden beneath Shoreditch streets, the bar evokes a Prohibition-era lounge, complete with live jazz and blues performances that elevate the entire experience.
The cocktail menu is encyclopaedic, spanning pre-Prohibition classics, contemporary signatures and house innovations that often incorporate rare spirits and elaborate garnishes. Presentation is theatrical without being gimmicky, and each drink is delivered with a sense of occasion.
Frequently ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars, Nightjar remains a benchmark for experiential cocktail culture in London, ideal for special nights and serious cocktail enthusiasts alike.
7. American Bar at The Savoy — Strand
The American Bar at The Savoy is cocktail history incarnate. Operating since 1893, it is widely regarded as the most influential bar in the world, having shaped modern cocktail culture across generations.
Despite its heritage, the bar feels anything but dated. Menus are inventive, often themed around cultural moments or abstract ideas, while maintaining a strong technical foundation. Service is flawless, polished yet warm, with live piano music adding to the sense of timeless glamour.
A regular award-winner and former World’s Best Bar, the American Bar is essential for anyone seeking the pinnacle of classic luxury in London.
Book your table at The Savoy
8. Artesian — Knightsbridge
Located within The Langham, Artesian was once crowned World’s Best Bar four consecutive times, cementing its reputation as a global leader in cocktail innovation. While the style has evolved, its commitment to creativity remains unchanged.
Menus are conceptual and flavour-driven, often inspired by travel, philosophy or sensory exploration. The room itself is intimate and serene, providing a refined setting that allows the drinks to take centre stage.
Artesian continues to attract a discerning international crowd and remains one of London’s most intellectually ambitious cocktail destinations.
Book your table at Artesian
9. Dukes Bar — St James’s
Dukes Bar is synonymous with the perfect martini. Famously favoured by Ian Fleming, and said to inspire James Bond, this discreet St James’s institution serves martinis with ceremony, restraint and absolute precision.
There is no cocktail list. Instead, bartenders tailor each drink to the guest’s preference, mixing tableside and pouring directly into chilled glasses. The atmosphere is intimate and club-like, reinforcing its status as a connoisseur’s bar.
For purists and romantics alike, Dukes is one of London’s most iconic drinking experiences.
Book your table online.
10. Swift — Soho & Borough
Swift combines accessibility with excellence, offering impeccably executed cocktails in relaxed yet stylish surroundings. With venues in Soho and Borough, it caters to both pre-theatre crowds and late-night drinkers.
The menus celebrate classic cocktails, seasonal signatures and a strong low-ABV offering, making Swift an ideal choice for longer, more leisurely evenings. Service is knowledgeable and genuinely welcoming.
Consistently ranked among the UK’s best bars, Swift proves that quality and approachability can coexist beautifully together.
Book your table at Swift.
Top 20 Best Cocktail Bars in London
11. Bar Termini — Soho
Bar Termini is small, focused and exceptionally refined. Specialising in Italian-style cocktails, it champions simplicity, balance and flawless execution over excess.
Negronis, Spritzes and house bitters are the stars here, served quickly and precisely in a space that feels effortlessly chic. The atmosphere encourages standing, conversation and repeat rounds.
For those who appreciate elegance without fuss, Bar Termini remains one of Soho’s finest drinking spots and a failsafe for a night out.
Book your table online at Bar Termini
12. Connaught’s Red Room — Mayfair
The Red Room offers a darker, more intimate counterpart to The Connaught Bar. Designed for lingering evenings, it focuses on rare spirits, refined cocktails and elevated bar snacks.
The ambience is moody and sophisticated, ideal for late-night conversations and discreet meetings. The cocktail programme leans towards spirit-forward drinks with impeccable balance.
It’s one of Mayfair’s most exclusive-feeling spaces without tipping into formality and also one of our favourites here at Balance Journal.
Book your table online.
13. Three Sheets — Dalston & Soho
Three Sheets is known for stripping cocktails back to their essence. Drinks are short, balanced and often served on tap, allowing flavour to take precedence over performance.
The atmosphere is relaxed yet design-forward, appealing to those who appreciate craft without ceremony. Menus change frequently, responding to seasonality and experimentation. In addition, multiple awards and critical acclaim have positioned Three Sheets as one of London’s most influential modern bars.
Book your table online.
14. Kwānt — Mayfair
Founded by former Savoy head bartender Erik Lorincz, Kwānt blends old-world glamour with modern mixology. The interior evokes a private members’ club, elegant and intimate.
The cocktails here are refined, spirit-led and technically impeccable, often showcasing rare ingredients and bespoke infusions. Service is polished and attentive. Kwānt is ideal for those seeking understated luxury and serious cocktail craftsmanship.
Book your table online.
15. SOMA — Soho
SOMA offers a minimalist, almost meditative drinking experience. The space is calm and pared-back, allowing guests to focus entirely on flavour and texture.
Cocktails are short, experimental and meticulously crafted, often featuring unconventional ingredients. Despite the innovation, drinks remain deeply drinkable.
Its inclusion in the World’s 50 Best Bars reflects its quiet influence on London’s avant-garde cocktail scene.
Book your table at Soma
16. Coupette — Bethnal Green
Calvados-Focused Cocktail Bar
Coupette celebrates Normandy spirits with creativity and charm. Known for its apple-centric menu, it reimagines Calvados in playful yet refined ways.
The atmosphere is relaxed and neighbourhood-focused, making it an easy favourite for locals and destination drinkers alike. Award recognition and consistent quality have secured Coupette’s place among London’s best bars.
Book your table at Coupette online.
17. Oriole — Covent Garden
Oriole’s menu reads like a travel journal, drawing inspiration from global flavours, history and exploration. Each drink is layered with narrative and craftsmanship.
The space feels intimate and theatrical, encouraging guests to engage with bartenders and the stories behind each cocktail. It’s a bar for those who enjoy discovery as much as the cocktails themselves.
18. A Bar with Shapes for a Name — Hackney
This unassuming Hackney bar pushes boundaries quietly. Menus are experimental, minimalist and often challenging, appealing to adventurous drinkers.
Cocktails frequently feature fermentation, unusual textures and unconventional ingredients. The atmosphere is informal, creative and community-driven. A cult favourite among industry professionals.
Book your table online.
19. Happiness Forgets — Hoxton
Basement-level and unpretentious, Happiness Forgets is revered for its consistency and hospitality. Cocktails are classic-led with subtle twists.
The intimate setting fosters conversation, making it ideal for dates or long evenings with friends. Often cited by bartenders as one of London’s best bars.
Book your table online.
20. Seed Library — Shoreditch
Mr Lyan’s Intimate Bar
Seed Library is Ryan Chetiyawardana’s stripped-back, late-night concept. The menu is concise, focusing on technique and flavour clarity. The atmosphere is relaxed and music-led, appealing to a younger, creative crowd.
This bar is one of our favourites as it has a refined yet accessible take on experimental cocktails.
Book your table online.
Summary
From world-famous hotel bars to boundary-pushing neighbourhood gems, London’s cocktail scene remains unmatched in depth, diversity and quality. Whether you’re seeking historic glamour, experimental mixology or relaxed excellence, these 25 bars represent the very best the capital — and Greater London — has to offer.
FAQs
Which London cocktail bars are in the World’s 50 Best Bars?
Tayēr + Elementary, The Connaught Bar, Satan’s Whiskers, Scarfes Bar, SOMA and Nightjar.
What is the most luxurious cocktail bar in London?
The Connaught Bar, Artesian and the American Bar at The Savoy are considered the most luxurious.
Are there great cocktail bars outside central London?
Yes, Dalston, Hackney, Canary Wharf and Crouch End are home to some of London’s most exciting bars, proving you don’t need to stay in central London to experience some of London’s best bars.