London is without a doubt home to some of the most beautiful bars in the world. From rooftop bars with magnificent views to quirky venues with wildly original interior designs and crazy inventive cocktails; there's no shortage of spots to see (and visit). So what are you waiting for? Scroll on down to discover some of London's wow factor bars and get yourself a little short of breath. Solving that with a cocktail, of course.
Last edited by Kiera Chapman
Last updated on 29th August 2024
As the night falls, ascend to great heights, specifically up to Kaso Rooftop Bar and Kitchen at the top of One Hundred Shoreditch. Watch the overground rumble past and see the city light up while a Latin soundtrack keeps your toe topping and a scrumptious Californian menu satisfies your hunger pangs. Tuck into the likes of falafel, grilled mackerel and flatbreads and wash them down margaritas or wine.
Savage Garden can be found 12 floors up offering dramatic decor in the form of striking, contemporary light fixtures paired with plush velvet furnishings. You can bag some great views of The Shard here at one of London's best-kept secret haunts and sip on delicious concoctions like a Caipora made with pisco aba and mango and passionfruit wine, or an Aphrodite's Garden, featuring tequila and tomato water.
Famous for being one of the best speakeasies in East London and Soho, Nightjar serves its customers amazing cocktails paired with wonderful live music. Based just off Old Street roundabout, the exclusivity and 1920s revelry of the bar will undoubtedly make you feel special. Grab a whisky cocktail, sink into a cosy armchair and watch as the talented live band fill the venue with quavering notes and a carefree vibe.
A magical, mystical cocktail bar with an unmistakable speakeasy-vibe; the Looking Glass Cocktail Club pays homage to the works of Lewis Carroll. You can enjoy a meticulously made cocktail in a tea cup, or stride through the looking glass (quite literally) to discover a lively private room filled with yet more tantalising tipples.
14 Hills is nicknamed 'the forest in the sky' and with good reason as it's evident upon entry that this restaurant and bar is a tropical delight. In every corner of the room, you'll find trees bursting with leafy foliage, floor-to-ceiling windows and intimate seating arrangements by candlelight. The menu features refreshing sips like Aperol spritzes alongside signature concoctions, such as the tequila-based My Muse, made with oat milk and lychee puree.
Sky Gardens Bars are one of the most iconic places to drink in London; spread across three floors boasting stunning views of the city, it offers a spectacular setting high above the ground atop the 20 Fenchurch Street skyscraper. The gardens are designed by multi-award-winning architects Gillespies and are home to two bars and two restaurants. Venture here for a date night with a difference and soak up live music on Thursdays, or secure a pod platform for up to 15 of your friends for a memorable evening with bespoke cocktails.
Lost Property Hotel is home to the stylish FOUND restaurant which features high ceilings, glass chandeliers (the central one is made up of 100 pieces of glass in the shape of birds) and cosy leather seating. It's a great destination for a drink in the City of London - select your poison from an extensive wine list and tuck into bar bites like fried halloumi sticks with sweet chilli, or truffle chicken on a brioche roll.
Expect your jaw to drop upon entry to Florattica, a rooftop bar eleven stories up in Aldgate, with stunning city views (including a cheeky peek at The Gherkin). Decked out with a floral ceiling, tropical-patterned chairs and rich, green and gold accents, this is the place to dine when you're in the East. Sip on cocktails inspired by flowers and enjoy a range of small plates like chicken gyozas and octopus takoyaki.
Oozing 1920s elegance, The Coral Room in Bloomsbury is a salon bar that's picture-perfect thanks to its peachy walls, leafy foliage and rich velvet furnishings. The space was designed by the acclaimed Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and features 56 bespoke illustrations by English artist Luke Edward Hall. Visit for some delicious drinks like The Full Bloomer, made with strawberries and violet bitters, or the Garden Party, which is a sweet affair, with cream caramel and tonka bean bitters.
When it comes to one of the most unusual and impressive bars in London, Viktor Wynd has all bases covered. Not only toting rich cocktails and stunning mixes, The Last Tuesday Society is a haven for taxidermy, unusual objects, antiquity and a basement museum.
Head up to the 14th floor of Hotel Saint in Aldgate to find a bustling rooftop bar filled with live music and boasting fantastic views of Towe Bridge. Jin Bo Law is particularly lively come nighttime thanks to its 2am closing time on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as its DJ sets. You'll find a contemporary bar, black marble flooring and a cocktail list to die for. Get your lips around a vodka-based Melon Baby or a WFH (Work From Home), featuring pink sweet potato extract.
Stunning vies over the City of London, a sleek decor and even better cocktails served by the bar, Aviary Rooftop Bar & Restaurant has a special place in our hearts here at DesignMyNight. Based in the ever-buzzing Finsbury Square, this rooftop bar has been drawing in crowds from all over the capital and is the perfect place to watch the sun slowly sink behind London's beautiful skyline.
You won't be so quick to leave this joint, as Swift Soho is as good-looking as your dream date. Take a seat at the shiny bar or find comfort on an Art Deco sofa and peruse a cocktail list to the soundtrack of a live piano. Handle the heat with the spicy Chameleon, featuring a green chilli and bell pepper. More of a fan of good Bourbon? There's a refined Whisky Libary for that, boasting an interesting yet affordable selection.
At Disrepute, it's always the 60s thanks to its soundtrack and interiors. It's inspired by 'The Pinstripe Club', the haunt of which it took its place, and can be found below Kingly Court, fronting printed rugs, teal seating and vaulted ceilings. You can expect top-tier hospitality here in a space inspired by the hedonism and artistic expression of one of the most famous decades in history. It's ideal for a date night that's bound to impress, especially if you're looking to go to a bar that's got its music on point.
You'll find Wagtail in the city's heart fronting a stunning restaurant space with rich green furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows. It offers fantastic views and great entertainment 'til the early hours, thanks to DJ sets and its late-night license. Check out Tower Bridge from its rooftop, as well as The Shard, Gherkin and Walkie Talkie Building, and delight in bubbles, classic martinis, margaritas and small plates of burrata and aged beef tartare.
Sabine is a very pretty bar in the City of London with a terrace that boasts a front-row seat to St Paul's views. The garden is a tranquil oasis offering a refreshing break from the bustle of the capital - it's a great place to enjoy an afternoon tea or a signature tipple. Our favourites? Pickle My Ginger, featuring notes of rhubarb and lemon, and Coco Breeze, made using coconut syrup and Fever Tree White Grape and Apricot Soda.
Located in the ever-so-luxe Kimpton Fitzroy London, Fitz is a glamorous Russell Square haunt adorned with original 18th-century stained-glass windows and a striking Jazz Age mirrorball that sets the perfect mood to sip on their carefully crafted tipples. The venue drips in opulence with bougie ostrich feathers, crocodile-skin wallpaper and bits of Victorian curio decorating its dimly lit halls. Epic.
If you're looking for a bar in London that's more than going to impress, look no further than Searcy's at The Gherkin. Get set for stunning, 360 degree views of the city set alongside stunning cocktails, high-end champers and a romantic environment.
You'll need to keep your eyes peeled to track down this elusive cocktail bar and Dim Sum eatery in China Town. Opium is located behind an innocent-looking green door and found at the end of a long dark stairway, but we promise it's worth rooting out. For concoctions and flavours that speak of their own accord, this is a cocktail-lovers ultimate haven.
Joia is a Battersea beauty with a lot to be excited about - you'll find it on the 14th floor of the Art'otel with pretty pastel interiors and stunning views across the city. The cocktails are refreshing and innovative, with the likes of Esmeralda made with basil-infused Plymouth gin up for sipping, plus Perola, with peach shrub and liqueur. To eat, get your chops around plates of tuna tartare, pan con tomate and Spanish tortillas filled with Iberico ham or oyster caviar.
