Pinnacle Guide Bars In London

Swift Soho is an award-winning bar serving gorgeous cocktails and over 300 types of whisky. It features intimately lit interiors, spotlights fixed to silver beams and glossy walls across two floors. The downstairs bar offers a more seductive environment, operating on a reservations-only basis, and serving more complex tipples. Here you can look forward to getting your lips around an Irish Coffee, made with Jameson Stout Edition Irish Whiskey and a nutty Praline Flip. 

If you don't book at this one Pin bar, then you may miss out on walking through its unsuspecting door, just off Old Street, and entering a world full of 1920s allure. Nightjar Shoreditch offers an escape from the bustle of the city, fronting exposed brick walls, a dark wooden bar and a piano which features in its sort after jazz nights, where swing bands soundtrack your evening. The menu changes on a regular basis with featured spirits, with past inclusions having been the innovative Forrest Floor, made with Brugal 1888 Rum and Scarpa sweet vermouth. 

• Where: 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ
• Best for: agave spirits
• What to order: spicy margarita (you can choose your chilli)

Venture down into this subterranean den next to Notting Hill Gate and you'll find that Viajante87 is where the spirit of Latin America thrives. This West From the first sip of an Açai Ramos - with its smoky mezcal and banana-laced magic - to the fiery kick of the Blood Moon, every drink is delightful. You'll also find that its menu is split into various categories, ranging from 'be courageous' to 'be curious', as well as featuring some of its signature sips.

Whether you're raising a glass for a birthday, vibing with friends, or dancing 'til late under the glow of weekend DJs spinning the best in global beats, Viajante87 brings the heat.

Kwānt is a gorgeous concept bar located within the heart of Mayfair, from the marvellous mind of Erik Lorincz and Momo's Mourad Mazouz. It's a swish spot at its core, featuring elements of 1940s classic Casablanca with tropical trees and notes of tiki, thanks to its bamboo-styled ceilings. The drinks list combines classic flavours with modern twists, such as the signature bloody mary, made with Marmite Grey Goose Vodka and mustard air, and there's an indulgent seven-course tasting menu (£120) ready for you to indulge in, too.

With a Michelin star to its name, Kol is a popular Mexican restaurant found within the quaint streets of Marylebone, with Santiago Lastra at its helm. Upon entrance, you'll be met with gorgeous stone walls and shelves scattered with clay pots, surrounding a bustling open kitchen. The cocktail list is a thing of beauty, particularly when its Antojitos menu (translated as little cravings) can be enjoyed in the venue's own Mezcaleria. Specialising in seasonal ingredients and homemade sloe mezcal, drinks include a Blackcurrant Leaf Negroni and Corn Old Fashioned, made with mole bitters.

Sexy Fish is a celebrity magnet and it's not hard to see why: sporting stunning fish sculptures hanging above a golden, glowing bar, it's truly a beautiful sight to behold. It's the brainchild of Richard Caring and Caprice, the group behind The Ivy, J Sheekey's and Rivington Grill, and has Ben Orpwood in the kitchen whipping up East Asian-inspired eats. Drinks-wise, you can expect to be charmed by Trinity, a cocktail list offering three dimensions of flavour, aroma and texture. Look forward to the Coconut & Lemongrass Delicate, the Marshmallow & Raspberry Unctuous and more. 

Having been voted 'World's Best Bar' consecutively, Artesian at The Langham is a breathtaking spot to enjoy a signature sip; it's no wonder it's made the Pinnacle Guide too. Inside, you'll find elegant interiors by David Collins Studio: think rich, purple leather sofas and high ceilings. If you're hungry, you'll find curated menus by Michelin star chefs to enjoy with your cocktails. From whiskey sours garnished with insects, to a herbal margarita-style Moringa, there's something for everyone. 

• Where: 1 Mount Street, W1K 3NA
• Best for: grand interiors inspired by Greek mythology
• What to order: Apollo's Martini 

Tucked behind the opulent façade of Bacchanalia in Mayfair, Apollo's Muse is no ordinary cocktail lounge. Step into a world where ancient antiquities whisper stories of gods and grandeur, while bartenders conjure modern elixirs worthy of Olympus. From creative concoctions like the eucalyptus-kissed Eucalyptus to the smoky, spiced layers of Meteora, every cocktail is crafted with mythic flair. 

Lush lounge seating, candlelit corners, and an ever-enchanting soundtrack spun by resident DJs Thursday through Saturday make Apollo's Muse the ideal spot to unwind, indulge, and maybe even dance. 

• Where: 28 Bow Street, WC2E 7AW
• Best for: Latin American flavours and pours
• What to order: Tōmasu Collins

Side Hustle is a renegade rendezvous where Latin American soul meets London swagger, tucked inside the storied walls of what was once Bow Street Magistrates' Court. Now part of the globally acclaimed NoMad Hotel in Covent Garden, this late-night haunt shakes up the scene with tequila-forward cocktails, spicy attitude, and a setting steeped in cheeky rebellion. Think tropical heat, neon dreams, and a drinks menu as bold as the bartenders slinging it.

Whether you're vibing with a smoky Oaxacan Old Fashioned, chasing heat with the Sergeant Pepper, or cooling off with a zesty Tomatoes R' Us, Side Hustle's got your mood bottled and beautifully served. 

• Where: 109-113, Queen's Gate, SW7 5LR
• Best for: a sophisticated hotel bar
• What to order: Parca

The K Bar at The Kensington is where timeless elegance meets modern mixology, wrapped in the warm glow of polished brass and oak-panelled charm. Nestled in the refined heart of South Kensington, this intimate hideaway feels like a secret whispered between velvet sofas and leather wingbacks. It's a bar built for both whispered tête-à-têtes and sharp-suited business chats, where every drink feels like an invitation to slow down and indulge.

Sip and discover the smoky intrigue of the Parca or the floral finesse of Pluvio; every cocktail here is a masterclass in craftsmanship and creativity. With impeccable service and a soundtrack of soft lounge beats and clinking glasses, it's a space that hums with quiet sophistication.

• Where: 57 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX
• Best for: James Bond enthusiasts
• What to order: Vesper Martini

Tucked deep within the historic Old War Office - the very building where MI5 and MI6 were born and where Ian Fleming first dreamed up James Bond - The Spy Bar at Raffles is 100% unforgettable. Slip down a hidden corridor, push through an unmarked wall, and you'll be greeted by atmospheric music and the jaw-dropping sight of a real Aston Martin embedded in the wall - yes, that Aston Martin, straight from the Bond films.

Inside, it's all moody lighting, exposed brick, and industrial-chic details that nod to its espionage roots. The drinks menu reads like a dossier of liquid legends, inspired by spies, double agents, and covert missions. Their signature Vesper Martini - finished with a house-made London honey distillate and bespoke vermouth - is equal parts elegant and daring, just like its namesake. With lab-crafted elements, vintage spirits, and a strict no-phone policy (polaroids only), The Spy Bar turns a night out into a mission worth accepting.

• Where: 20 Upper Ground, SE1 9PD
• Best for: cocktail officiandos 
• What to order: Hitchhiker's Negroni

Lyaness at Sea Containers London is a flavour lab wrapped in velvet and duck-egg blue. The brainchild of the legendary Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan), this award-winning cocktail haven flips the script on traditional mixology. Each cocktail is born from six months of deep research and wild experimentation, using techniques you're more likely to find in a Michelin kitchen than behind a bar. Think electrolysis, cryogenic vinegar, even mushroom-fermented milk. 

Inside, it's bright, chic, and beautifully surreal - like someone gave Wes Anderson a distillery. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Thames and St Paul's, golden shelves gleam with rare spirits, and the vibe shifts from elegant day lounge to glittering nighttime sanctuary. The menu is ever changing and features the likes of a Cosmo Salad or a No Spoon Old Fashioned, made up of Del Maguey mezcal, walnut honey and purple bitters.