THE COCKTAIL.
the 14 best experimental cocktail bars in london from secret speakeasies to the world’s best
● HOMEBOY
MODERN IRISH HOSPITALITY, REIMAGINED
Forget the sticky floors and Guinness mirrors, Homeboy is the ‘New Irish’ movement in liquid form. Located on Upper Street, it’s a masterclass in high-end drinks served with a side of Céad Míle Fáilte. They’ve perfected the Irish Coffee but their cocktail menu is where the real magic happens - playful, approachable, and technically flawless. It’s the kind of place where you come for a quick drink and end up staying for three rounds and a plate of Tayto crisps.
Islington
homeboybar.com
photos from @homeboybars
● A BAR WITH SHAPES FOR A NAME
BAUHAUS MAD SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
This isn't just a bar, it’s a minimalist manifesto. Inspired by the Bauhaus movement, Shapes (represented by a red triangle, yellow square, and blue circle) is where art school meets high-end mixology. There are no back-bars or cluttered shelves here, just ultra-chilled, pre-batched masterpieces that look like water but hit like a freight train. The Pastis Fly is a cult classic for a reason. It’s clean, functional, and effortlessly cool, proving that you don’t need a garnish the size of a shrub to make a statement.
Haggerston
clubbauhaus.com
photos from @a_bar_with_shapes_for_a_name_
● TAYĒR + ELEMENTARY
TWO BARS, ONE MASTERPIECE
This is the Jekyll & Hyde of the London drink scene. Up front at Elementary, it’s all seasonal draught cocktails and casual vibes. But step behind the partition to Tayēr, and you’re in a high-tech laboratory where the menu changes daily. It’s industrial, it’s scientific, and the 'One-Sip Martini' is a rite of passage.
NO RES
Old Street
tayer-elementary.com
photos from @tayer_elementary
● AMARO
NEIGHBOURHOOD VIBES, FIVE STAR DRINKS
Brought to you by an ex-Savoy mixologist, Amaro brings the polish of a hotel bar to the cozy streets of Kensington. It’s intimate, elegant, and focuses on perfectly executed classics with a creative twist. The service is warm, the room is glowing, and the drinks are world-class without the central London crowds.
Kensington
amarobar.co.uk
photos from @amarobarlondon
THE LONDON 100 WINNER / BEST COCKTAIL
● SWIFT
SOHO’S SHARPEST & QUICKEST POUR
Swift is a tale of two halves. Upstairs is for a quick, buzzy aperitivo (and maybe 3-4 Irish coffees), but you’re heading downstairs to the moody, wood-clad basement for the heavy hitters and live piano. It’s fast-paced, award-winning, and always feels like the start of a very long night. The Sgroppino is legendary, but the service is the real star.
Soho
barswift.com
photos from @amarobarlondon
● SUN TAVERN
ROCK ‘N ROLL ‘N POITÍN
If you like your cocktails served with a side of vinyl and Victorian brickwork, the Sun Tavern is your spiritual home. While it looks like a classic East End boozer, the menu is a sophisticated love letter to Irish whiskey and the once-illegal Poitín. It’s moody, copper-clad, and always buzzing with a crowd that knows their spirits. Whether you’re ordering a punchy house original or a refined classic, the execution is always sharp. It’s the best place in East London to feel like a local while drinking like a connoisseur.
Bethnal Green
thesuntavern.co.uk
photos from @thesuntavernbg
● SOMA
MINIMAL COOL, MAXIMUM FLAVOUR
Hidden behind a nondescript door just off Piccadilly Circus, SOMA is a basement sanctuary of dark wood and stainless steel. The drinks are inspired by the flavours of the Indian subcontinent, think curry leaf, ginger, and cardamom reimagined in sleek, modern ways. It’s dark, moody, and has the coolest communal bar in Central London.
Soho
soma.london
photos from @soma__ldn
● SCARFES BAR
ART, JAZZ & DECADENCE
Tucked inside the Rosewood Hotel, Scarfes feels like a billionaire's library… If that billionaire had a wicked sense of humoUr. Surrounded by Gerald Scarfe’s satirical caricatures and a roaring fire, you’ll find some of the most creative drinks in the city. It’s sophisticated, soulful, and features live jazz that makes every night feel like an event.
NO RES
Holborn
scarfesbar.com
photos from @scarfesbar
● THREE SHEETS
METICULOUS, CLEAN & COOL
The Venning brothers are the kings of "less is more". Their Dalston outpost is tiny, but the flavours are massive. They specialise in pre-batched, clarified masterpieces that look like water but taste like heaven. It’s a neighbourhood bar with a global reputation. Zero fuss. Maximum impact.
Dalston
threesheets-bar.com
photos from @threesheetsbars
● NIGHTJAR
THE ORIGINAL SPEAKEASY KING
Before ‘speakeasy’ was a buzzword, there was Nightjar. Head down the stairs into a candlelit underworld of 1920s glamour and live swing music. The garnishes here are practically sculptures. Expect dry ice, exotic fruits, and vessels you’ve never seen before. It’s theatrical, romantic, and perfect for a date you really REALLY want to impress.
Old Street
barnightjar.com
photos from @nightjar
● UMBRELLA WORKSHOP
CRAZY GOOD DRINKS IN A TEENY TINY PACKAGE
Housed in a tiny 19th-century workshop on Boundary Street, this is the intimate, experimental sibling to the Sun Tavern. With only about 12 seats, The Umbrella Workshop feels like drinking in a very stylish, very boozy apothecary. The focus here is on unique, artisanal spirits and seasonal ingredients that you won't find anywhere else. It’s a retail space by day and a cocktail hideout by night, making it the ultimate "if you know, you know" spot for a date or a deep-dive into rare gins and whiskies.
Shoreditch
theumbrellaproject.co.uk
photos from @umbrellaproject
● SATAN’S WHISKERS
KILLER VIBES, BETTER DRINKS
Don’t let the taxidermy and the dive-bar energy fool you, this is a world-class operation. With a legendary hip-hop soundtrack and a menu that pivots daily, their cocktails are the definition of sharp. It’s unpretentious excellence in a chilled coupe. If you want a perfect drink without the Mayfair price tag, this is your spot.
Bethnal Green
satanswhiskers.com
photos from @satans_whiskers
● HACHA
CRYSTAL CLEAR LIQUID MAGIC
Hacha is the UK’s only Agaveria, and it’s a temple to Tequila and Mezcal. Their signature 'Mirror Margarita' is crystal clear and dangerously smooth and feels like a real life embodiment of a liquid luck potion. And they must be doing something right as they have won more awards than we can count. The vibe is sleek and minimalist, focusing entirely on the quality of the spirit. It’s the kind of bar that makes you an instant agave convert.
Dalston
hachabar.com
photos from @hachabar
● CONNAUGHT BAR
THE UNDISPUTED GOLD STANDARD
If you want to see a masterclass in mixology, pull up a chair and wait for the trolley. The Connaught doesn’t just make a drink, they perform a ritual. White-gloved service, bespoke bitters, and a pour so high it defies gravity. It’s expensive, it’s sleek, and it’s consistently ranked the best bar on the planet.
Mayfair
maybourne.com
photos from @theconnaught