Best For After Work Drinks

Discover our recommended bars and pubs for after work drinks in London! Long day at the office? Let’s get you to the pub pronto. With plenty of great venues offering happy hour deals and chilled-out vibes perfect for kicking back and reflecting on the day that was, we’ve drawn up a collection of our favourites. From the heart of the West End to the centre of the city, here are the best places to get a drink after work in London.

Last edited by Scarlett Welch

Last updated on 21st October 2024




Barrio - Bars In London

Please note: we can't be held accountable if after work drinks at Barrio quickly get out of hand, and you suddenly find yourself hitting the dancefloor hard on a school night. Amigo Hour is sometimes just too difficult to resist. Head along to this buzzing hub of South American culture where explosive cocktails and authentic street food await.

The Grocer

Beautifully decorated with vintage signs, quaint antiques and vibrant furniture, The Grocer offer Londoners in the City a great place to escape the office and grab a drink after work. The bar is of course stocked full of all your favourite beers, fine wines and international spirits, but pleasing everyone, the chefs have curated a menu of traditional British recipes and classic dishes. Grab a burger, grab a pint, and leave the rigours of daily life at the door. 

The Vineyard, Islington

If you're looking for somewhere to blow off some steam after work and have a cheeky bevvy in a laid-back setting then The Vineyard in Islington is just the ticket. This contemporary, chic styled boozer is an urban wonderland of exposed brick, lounging and funky décor so you can enjoy all manner of tipples in this pocket friendly pub where the grub is glorious too. 

Lamb Tavern

There's no shortage of decent pubs in the city, but we've always had a soft spot for the Lamb Tavern. Part of the fabric of this part of town since back in 1780, it's still a popular boozer of choice for those in the city, packing the punters in right beside the iconic Leadenhall Market. There's ales, wines and spirts galore, and if you track down one of the #ThirstAiders, you might just save yourself from queuing at the bar.

The Victoria

Forget the stresses and strains of a long day at the office at this familiar Dalston pub. Oozing with a relaxed ambience, there's a healthy mix of classic cocktails, locally brewed craft beers and old world wines to keep you feeling fresh. There's a heady selection of premium rum cocktails if you'd like to stretch the night out a little longer, and a vibrant programme of live music to tap your toes to.

Dirty Martini St Paul's

Happy Hour 2024 and 2 other offers

Tough day? Things can only get better at Dirty Martini St Paul's, where there's a chilled cocktail with your name on it waiting at the bar. The venue offers a sleek and sophisticated décor at the same time, which understandably draws a radiant after-work crowd. Careful though, with late night DJs taking centre stage that mythical "swift half" could soon escalate.

Forge, London

Smack bang in the middle of the city and overflowing with charisma, Forge is a great choice for a few chilled ones after a tough day. The cocktail list is quite something - it stretches to include 100 different tipples – and there's ample wines, beers and spirits to climb into depending on your mood. Everything is served by expert bartenders, and the venue's late licence means no one's going to blame you if you end up stumbling out at 3am.

Vagabond - Various Sites

With venues in Fulham, Battersea, Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and Clapham, there's no better wine bar to get your post-work drink on than one of Vagabond's unique watering holes.

The Britannia

If you're looking for somewhere to unwind after a long week at work, The Britannia is a favourite in Kensington for laid-back boozing and lovely gastronomy. Decked out with some traditional charm dating back to the 1800s, you'll find a pub mixed with vintage character and contemporary leanings making for a perfect after work drinks in London setting. 

Humble Grape - Wine Bars in London

If you love wine, there's one place to go for after work drinks, and that's Humble Grape. With locations across London, they boast 30 glasses of wine and over 400 bottles – and a lot of them are biodynamic, organic or from sustainable vineyards.

Tequila Mockingbird - Various Sites

Looking for a place to sink a drink after work? We know just the spot. Tequila Mockingbird's bars, which you can find all across the capital, are slick little cocktail dens offering the perfect atmosphere for a few post-office tipples. Head in for quaffable concoctions and DJs every weekend.

Munich Cricket Club Victoria

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 3-Course Festive Discount and 4 other offers

We've been looking for a decent after-work joint in the Victoria area for an age, and we just may have found it in the Munich Cricket Club. A vast party space with a traditional Bavarian party atmosphere to it, slip into your lederhosen (or don't, whatever) and come by to sample beer from Munich breweries, a good choice of wines and cocktails.

Dirty Martini Monument

Happy Hour 2024 and 2 other offers

A few breezy strides away from Monument, Dirty Martini offers a killer combination of fantastic martinis and generous happy hour deals. Come when that clock strikes 5 and enjoy half price martinis and bottles of wine, as well as £2.95 bottles of beer, until well into the evening. There's sharing platters to kick hunger to the curb, and DJs on 'til late.

Quaglino's

If you have that Friday feeling all too early on in the week and the after work tipple is calling then Quaglino's are more than prepared to cater to you. Swan through this most decadent of restaurant bars and perch at the opulent bar area that overlooks the dining quarters where you can take in the fragrance of exquisite eats whilst you enjoy your liquor craving. 

Nordic Bar

Happy Hour

You can't go wrong with a few drinks at this Scandinavian themed cocktail bar if you work close to Oxford Street. Nordic is a buzzing after work haunt where you can get £10 bottles of wine and 2-4-1 cocktails between 5 and 7 on weekdays (and all night Monday and Thursday). Sample their specialty beers and refreshing cocktails and just watch out for that shot wheel - things are only gonna go one way if you find yourself spinning that on a school night...

Pavilion End

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Close to many of London's hot tourist spots and set in the shadows of St. Paul's cathedral, Pavilion End is a beautiful city pub, great for cosy after work drinks, with big screens to watch various sports events on and a pool table for those wanting some entertainment. Their outdoor beer garden is perfect for catching some rays in central London and escaping the bustle of other city bars.

The Coborn

Local to Bow or Mile End? There's a gem of a local pub nestled somewhere among the Victorian terraces of Coborn Road that you really ought to seek out. The Coborn is a characterful place to reflect on the day that was, with Young's award-winning cask ales, a great range of craft beers and vintage wines from across the globe to whet your whistle before calling it a day.

Albert's Schloss London

Every night of the week you can catch some live entertainment in the form of Aprés Work Musik at Albert's Schloss in Central London. Tickets are free so you can head on down to the Bavarian bier hall from 4pm 'til 7pm to enjoy the live band, with a pint of Pilsner or a themed cocktail in hand. Their beers are imported from all over Europe, and you can munch on a menu of German eats while you're at it.

Old Tom's Bar

Nestled somewhere in the heart of Leadenhall Market is Old Tom's - a snug retreat from city life that's just perfect for a post-5pm tipple or two. Topple down the stairs and into an old-fashioned retreat complete with 19th century tiles and warm service, the bar specialises in an extensive range of craft beer as well as a more than handy choice of gin and whisky. There's cheese and charcuterie boards made for sharing if you're peckish.

Found

Located in Shoreditch, Found is the perfect spot for an intimate and relaxed after-work drink. The hush hush bar has been designed by Oskar Klimaszewski and it is his magic touch that has made the cocktail menu quite so delicious, from Tommy Goes to Thailand through to Corpse Maker.

Core Bar, London

For after-work drinks, head to Core Bar which is only a short walk from Bank (and hopefully your office). On the menu you'll find all your favourite classic cocktails like Aperol spritzes and espresso martinis that can be enjoyed in cylindrical red booths. Happy hour starts at 4pm and ends at 9pm throughout the week too, so you can bag a cosmopolitan for around £6 which is such a steal. 

Lost & Found

Work in South London? Wanting to sup on something sumptuous before the commute home? Lost & Found is a match made in heaven; serving up a vast range of cocktails each as delicious as the last, with live music and a fun time atmosphere chucked in to the bargain for good measure. Land two cocktails for the price of one between 5 and 8pm, and enjoy a complimentary sharing cocktail for all table bookings over 8 guests.

The Refinery CityPoint

Thanksgiving

The Refinery in the City of London is an all-day restaurant and bar that draws in guests with its fun, laid back atmosphere. Fitting in with its sister venues in the Drake and Morgan family, the venue serves its guests a range of seasonal and freshly produced dishes. From breakfast in the morning to after work drinks late at night, this jack-of-all-trades will cater to whatever mood you might find yourself in.

Be At One Covent Garden Lyceum

Fancy Extra Long Happy Hour? (Requires an app Download) and 1 other offer

Work in the Covent Garden area? Sometimes you just can't beat a few drinks with the team at Be At One. Renowned throughout the city for their friendly bartenders and catalogue (quite literally) of amazing cocktails, there's not a day that goes by where happy hour doesn't last until 7pm and there's great tunes overhead.

Vintry

An easy walk from any of Monument, Cannon Street and Bank stations, you'll find a buzzing scene after work on any given weekday at The Vintry. With full table service offered throughout the day you can kick back and clock off in style, with more than 170 wines on the bar alongside a refreshing range of craft beer, lager and cask ales. There's even a cool cocktail lounge where talented mixologists work their magic in the basement.

Blind Spot

Nestled in the beating heart of London's Leicester Square, Blind Spot is a smooth, sultry cocktail bar that offers guests a serene location to sit back and unwind with their favourite cocktail. Serving a range of exquisite concoctions and with a well-trained bar staff capable of mixing and flairing together an array of ingredients, the dim lighting and cosy armchairs create the perfect, laid back ambience to lose yourself in. 

The Cocktail Club - Various Sites

The Cocktail Club is famed for its party vibe and luscious libations. Sip with your colleagues on kooky tipples and let your hair down as the night goes on and light-swigging shenanigans kick off, all aided by the Negroni fountain of youth. 

The Jugged Hare

Express Lunch

Right in the heart of the City, The Jugged Hare is an ideal stop on your way home from work. You'll find this charming gastro pub close to the Barbican Centre, fronting traditional, dark wooden interiors and a range of fantastic British cask ales and fine wines.

Be sure to check out their tasty menu too, which features the likes of sirloin steaks, cream of celeriac soup, wild venison with mashed potatoes and more.