In 2026, the best hotel bars in London make you feel as comfortable as if you were in your room, have barkeeps that keep you going past an apéritif, and often let you stay up way beyond your bedtime (after all, sleep is only a few steps away). Unsurprisingly, they’re often attached to London hotels with amazing restaurants, keeping the wining and then dining gourmands happy.
Seductive, sophisticated — often both — with DJs and photo booths, legendary cocktails or some of London’s best scenery, these are the hotel bars where you’ll happily spend the night…
FOR LOW-LIT DATE NIGHTS…
Kettner’s
Soho
This 1867 party pad has lived many lives: a French restaurant, Pizza Express, and now a Soho House with an ardent wink. Kettner’s Vinyl Bar, which has DJ decks, is more sociable; but if you’re hoping to put the vintage romance of the upstairs bedrooms to good use, sit up at the Champagne Bar and get good and giddy. (NB you’ll need to be a Soho House member or a staying guest to visit the Vinyl Bar, but the Champagne Bar is open to all)
Make ours a… It simply must be something sparkling.
Open till midnight Monday to Wednesday, 1am Thursday to Saturday, 11pm on Sundays
Dean Street Townhouse
Soho
Just around the corner from Kettner’s is Dean Street Townhouse, another Soho House den with a come-in-and-make-yourself-at-home informality. Cuddle up in a corner, where velvet armchairs invite and candlelight encourages soft-lit lean-ins. Or, if you and your sweetheart aren’t quite there yet, pick a sunny day and revel in London-best people-watching on the terrace. (NB you’ll need to be a Soho House member or a staying guest to visit the bar.)
Make ours a… one of the colourful, fruity-herby-botanical spritzes, or classic Pimm’s, please.
Open till midnight, Monday to Thursday, 1am Friday to Saturday, 11pm on Sundays
Gambit at The Newman
Fitzrovia
Your dating moves may well pay off at this seductively low-lit, art-deco-styled space in one of London’s latest hangouts. The Newman is a hotel of hush-hush elegance, but it gets a little louder in its Gambit bar, where DJs and live bands keep the ambience as suave as the decor, which nods to some of the neighbourhood’s characters through subtle design touches. Things are slightly less subtle in the nook, however: a separate, catnip-for-couples space hung with a huge chandelier.
Make ours a… fiery Dazed and Confused, with chilli-infused tequila, blood peach, açaí and lime.
Open till midnight Tuesday to Friday, till 1am on Saturday
The Zetter Clerkenwell
We’re not sure what’s in the water at the Zetter: there’s a taxidermied cat in a dress and boxing kangaroo, a portrait of the very real, how dare you even ask, Aunt Wilhelmina… But the drinks menu has a reliable list of stone-cold classics: French 75, Margarita, Whisky Sour, Negroni — the whole club.
Make ours an… Espresso Martini or just a regular Martini, which is equally good. And if you need something stiffer, peruse the absinthe section of the drinks list.
Open till 10.30pm Monday to Saturday, 10pm on Sunday
At Sloane Bar
Chelsea
You need to be at an expert level of loved-up-ness to handle At Sloane bar’s romance: hush-hush entrance, Valentine’s-card-hued banquettes, candlelight, spoonfuls of caviar, pictures of kissing couples by photographer James D. Kelly and a duo of private rooms to abscond to. It might be in London’s chi-chi Chelsea, but it sweeps you off to Paris without a pesky Eurostar journey (even if the fondant After Eight dessert is a fast fave), thanks to rare champagnes and small-batch wines from across the Channel.
Make ours a… Martini with three olives, spicy marg or flute of Billecart-Salmon.
Open till midnight Sunday to Tuesday, 1am Wednesday to Saturday
The Coral Room at The Bloomsbury
In The Bloomsbury Hotel’s Coral Room bar, designer Martin Brudnizki has created a headily romantic, artist-luring hang-out worthy of Woolf, Forster et al, elegantly dressed with shell chandeliers strung from soaring ceilings, sink-into sofas and seductive lighting. Drinks have a story-book quality too, currently the menu pays homage to Richard Crosbie, the first Irishman to make a manned balloon flight, with wild and wonderful creations inspired by far-off lands.
Make ours a… The Quixote is a spicy tale in a glass, with gin, melon cordial, Fino sherry, grapefruit and Padrón peppers. Or take your tastebuds to Calcutta with the Amber Palace, a lassi-like muddle of whisky, yoghurt, mango, oat milk, cardamom, honey, curry leaf, pistachio and lime.
Open till midnight Sunday to Thursday, 1am on Friday and Saturday
Claridge’s Fumoir
Mayfair
We can’t condone cigarettes, but this art deco drinkery in Claridge’s hallowed halls feels as chic and timeless as Le Smoking. It has served since 1929, and wears its vintage as well as the pricier wines. Amid black-and-white William Klein portraits, there’s rarefied people-watching and the ritziest comfort food around (Claridge’s fried chicken, anyone?)
Make ours a… A gin-slugged Martini or bowl of Chianti Classico to nurse.
Open till midnight on Sundays, otherwise 1am
FOR DESIGN-LED DRINKING…
Sweeties at The Standard, London
King’s Cross
You could drink your way from top to bottom in this seductive outpost of the Standard. Ground-floor Double Standard has its lavish bottomless brunches and beer-and-shot pairings; and sexy penthouse spot Decimo has deadly tequila flights. But we’ve a soft spot for Sweeties, the naughty 10th-floor bar that sparkles under a massive disco ball and has a little sugar, a lot of spice and all drinks nice — with views that make even King’s Cross look spectacular, dahling.
Make ours a… sweet in sentiment and taste, Be Mine, with peach liqueur and champagne; or pucker up for a citrusy Kiss Me, with gin, sour cherry and lime.
Closed Sunday till Tuesday, open till 11pm Wednesday; cocktails served till 10.30pm and other drinks till 2.30am from Thursday to Saturday
Sir Frank’s Bar at Beaverbrook Townhouse
Chelsea
Sir Frank Lowe had an eye for rare treasures: from paintings and etchings to woodblock prints and matchboxes. He collected and curated for both Beaverbrook’s country estate in the Surrey Hills and London townhouse, and the bar in the latter honours his antique-spotting expertise in the art deco flourishes, vitrines filled with ceramic vases, stained glasses and tables overlaid with those aforementioned Japanese matchbox covers. In line with the decor’s delicate artworks and the hotel’s Fuji Grill omakase restaurant, drinks have an Eastern flavour, too.
Make ours a… Saitama Spritz with vermouth, shochu, coconut and prosecco.
Open till late daily
Lyaness at Sea Containers
South Bank
Biologist and bar-stormer Ryan Chetiyawardana has a very full awards cabinet, thanks to his mixology mastery and knack for nailing a concept. Formerly ‘best bar in the world’ Dandelyan, Lyaness is a worthy successor, with a scientific approach to drinks, speedy bartenders and avant-garde ingredients: hummingbird nectar, smoked camel milk, jellyfish…
Make ours a… science-led sipper: a Robo Ramos, for which olive oil has been broken down and remodelled; or a Hitchhiker’s Negroni, which uses a vermouth infused with disrupted flower cells.
Open till midnight Sunday to Thursday, 1am Friday and Saturday, and 11pm Sunday
Thirteen LDN at Chateau Denmark
Soho
As bold as Bowie, flamboyant as Elton and punky enough for the Pistols. Tear it up in iconic rock ‘n’ roll hangout Chateau Denmark’s Thirteen LDN bar, which has backlit gilding, graffitied curtains and a ceiling as studded as Johnny Rotten’s leather jacket. Naturally the DJs are top of their game, the signature drinks are storied, and the sushi (especially the inside-out rolls) and Japanese snacks are perfect to pick at.
Make ours a… Lady Stardust (vodka, vermouth, Cointreau, passionfruit, lychee and sparkling wine), which is really quite out of sight… The Soho is a deep, potent pick, and the Morning Fury is a mouthy blend of tequila, apricot liqueur, Aperol and lime.
Open till 11.30pm Monday to Wednesday, till 1am Thursday to Saturday, closed on Sundays
FOR LONDON’S BEST VIEWS
Ham Yard Hotel
Soho
Soho may be more cottaging than cottagecore (historically, at least), but, four floors up in village-cum-hideaway Ham Yard Hotel, there’s a leafy terrace with a kitchen garden, apiary, wicker sofas and plant pots. This Elysian vision is guests-only, but we suggest checking in for city respite. Or admire Kit Kemp’s design nous in the open-to-all bar downstairs.
Make ours a… house martini with garden-gathered bitters or a herbaceous, non-alcoholic Rose Garden Spritz, which both feel fitting.
Open till midnight Monday to Saturday, till 11pm Sunday and bank holidays
Flute at Broadwick Soho
Named for a 19th-century flute-maker who lived on Broadwick Street, Broadwick Soho‘s maximalist bar is as busy as a jazz solo, with its magpie’s thirst for shiny things, palm-frond carpet and colour here, there and everywhere. But it’s the dual-aspect wraparound terrace that draws gasps, with views that roll out city-wide. A super-central spot that can rightfully toot its own, uh, flute.
Make ours a… Postcard from London — the elegant mix of Hennessy VSOP, elderflower and mint will make them wish they were there.
Open till midnight Sunday to Thursday, till 12.30am Friday and Saturday
FOR CULT CLASSICS
Rivoli Bar at the Ritz
Mayfair
The opulent Rivoli Bar looks like King Midas had a few too many £140-a-pop Sazeracs and stumbled into everything. But don’t let the shininess distract you from a drinks list befitting an institution. The current menu is themed around ‘biodynamic forces’ and the planets, with signatures that aim to surprise, while classics hold their own — and you can even ask the bartenders for a custom concoction.
Make ours a… There are few more historic sips than the Negroni, with 1960s gin, 1970s Campari and 1980s Martini.
Open till 11.30pm Monday to Saturday, 10.30pm Sunday and bank holidays
K Bar at The Kensington
West London
The K Bar at The Kensington feels comfortably classic — the en-masse chandeliers, retro oak-wood panelling, velvet wingbacks and bottles backlit with a warm amber glow find the balance between ‘make yourself at home’ and ‘meet the dress code’. Cocktails are sometimes themed around exhibitions at Kensington’s venerable museums, but are also sweetly playful, garnished with candy-floss or popping candy.
Make ours a… Pangea, with rum, banana, pandan and coconut, for sweet sorts; or skew savoury with Me Myself & I, where bourbon meets basil, truffle and absinthe.
Open till 11pm Sunday to Tuesday, till midnight Wednesday to Saturday
The Connaught Bar
Mayfair
The Connaught Bar is a class-act all round, from its silver and racing-green David Collins Studio decor, to the smoothness of the service, to its Masterpieces menu of favourites that built the bar’s rep. This is hospitality as tightly tailored as the staff’s suits, bolstered by an impressive amount of behind-the-scenes work.
Make ours a… screw-the-budget cocktail made with decades-aged spirits, elevated Martini pairing (served with caviar or Gillardeau oysters), or something new: we like Stem, with Courvoisier, osmanthus cordial and cardamom and tonka bitters.
Open till 1am Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays
CLUBBY BARS FOR CARD- AND KEY-HOLDERS
The Twenty Two
Mayfair
Guests staying at The Twenty Two should secure their spot at the hotel’s discreet downstairs nightclub early to avoid disappointment. It’s usually members only, but some guests can enter while there’s space. When there’s a chance to — allegedly — see celebs take to the decks and other starry goings-on (no phones allowed, of course), it’s worth the wangle.
Make ours an… exotic concoction — yes, you’re in Mayfair, but the cocktail list really flies, with sips inspired by the Caribbean, Spain and Japan. The latter is our destination, with the flavour-bomb One Night in Tokyo (sesame-infused whisky, kumquat, yuzu sake and ginger).
Open till late
Shoreditch House
East London
We’d pay good money to spend an evening as a shutterbug in a photo booth at Shoreditch House’s fifth-floor bar. But we wouldn’t want to miss the fun — phones down, glasses up, tune into the DJ and challenge creative sorts to ping-pong. Sneak up to the rooftop for serious cityscape lust or see what gig or masterclass is happening in the Library.
Make ours a… Paloma in the club bar. But book dinner in izakaya-style eatery Pen Yen to sample the list of sakes.
Open till midnight Sunday to Tuesday, 1am Wednesday, 3am Thursday to Saturday
FOR GATHERING WITH FRIENDS
Templeton Garden
Earl’s Court
At Templeton Garden, Bar Director Will Meredith has thought of a fun way for you to get your ‘five a day’ (well, sort of). His savoury-leaning cocktails include a Tomato Collins, Celeriac Milk Punch, Red Onion Martini and more earthy libations, depending what’s growing at that time. A fitting theme, considering the hotel’s rare patch of green space for alfresco meet-ups.
Make ours a… divisive Marmitini. Love or hate the yeasty spread, you can’t deny this mix with vermouth, vodka and manuka tea is one of London’s most unique orders.
Open till 11pm Monday to Sunday
Henri at Henrietta Experimental
Covent Garden
Chef Jackson Boxer‘s French-accented restaurant Henri is part of Henrietta Experimental, a hotel owned by the group behind Paris’s Experimental Cocktail Club, so — naturellement — the drinks are glamorous with Gallic swagger. Rather sweetly, the ‘reading list’s cocktails are all named in homage to famed French chefs: Alexis Gauthier (a bourbon and pear belnd); Eugénie Brazier (a vegetal tequila with olive-leaf-infused vermouth); Adeline Grattard (a sweet, vodka, fig and pineapple concoction). Honour them further by lining your stomach with duck-fat fries dipped in caviar, or jambon de Paris with celeriac remoulade.
Make ours a… Cognac, the bar’s signature spirit, of which they have many.
Open till midnight daily
FOR PUBS WITH PULLING POWER
The Bull & Last
Hampstead
Most come to The Bull & Last to tear into buttermilk-fried chicken, Béarnaise-slathered sirloin or the naughtiest of puds after a stroll on Hampstead Heath. But you could easily lose an afternoon here nursing pints of So Solid Brew (an exclusive clink-able collab with London’s Five Points Brewery). It’s informal, friendly and has a great range of seasonal cocktails.
Make ours a… Bellini or gin sour, flavoured with the current seasonal fruit.
Open 11pm Monday to Thursday, midnight at weekends, 10pm Sunday
THE LEGENDARY HOTEL BAR COCKTAIL CRAWL
For a Negroni
Cecconi’s at the The Ned in Bank has ray-of-sunshine Negronis in buzzy surrounds. Or check-in at Kettner’s and you’ll be a stone’s throw from Bar Termini, where cocktail god Tony Conigliaro has cornered the Negroni market.
For a Vesper Martini
Without the Vesper Martini at Duke’s Bar, James Bond might have been a lager guy… Writer Ian Fleming was a regular, and the iconic drink may have inspired the ‘shaken, not stirred’ line.
For a G&T
Prop up the marble counter at Rosewood London’s Holborn Dining Room for a lengthy selection of seasonal and fruity gins, before retiring to Scarfe’s Bar for a cocktail.
For a White Lady or Corpse Reviver
Since 1893, the Savoy’s American Bar has served stiff drinks to Churchill, Hemingway and other strong constitutions, popularising the White Lady (gin, Cointreau, lemon, egg white) and inventing the Corpse Reviver (gin, triple sec, vermouth, lemon and absinthe).
And for more suave bars and good cheers check out our pick of the best hotel bars in Paris and New York. Or check out (and check in to) the rest of our hotels in London.
Zetter Townhouse image by Jonathan Sharp, Kettner’s image by Hannah Dace, Lyaness image by Roman Shabodalov, and Thirteen LDN image by Mel Yates.