London's hottest hotel bars right now
- 1/11
London's hottest hotel bars right now
For when a pint and some peanuts won’t do, enter the most stylish hotel bars in London, serving up classic cocktails, creative new ones and everything in between (usually with some delicious snack potential, too).
Luckily for visitors from out of town staying overnight, there are plenty of hotel bars in London where you can enjoy some of the best cocktails in the capital.
At Sea Containers's Lyaness on the South Bank, for example, the mixology has won multiple awards, thanks to the creative genius of its acclaimed barman Ryan Chetiyawardana.
For drinks with a view, head up the Shard to Gong at the Shangri-La – the 52nd-floor setting means one of the best skyline panoramas in town accompanying your aperitifs.
Prefer something a little more old school? Summon the martini trolley at legendary hotel bar Dukes and try to remember if it should be shaken or stirred as beloved barman Alessandro works his magic. More potent (and equally iconic) martinis await in the mirrored bar at The Connaught.
There are of course plenty of brilliant old pubs in the city, but for something a little more upscale, you need our edit of the best hotel bars in London – read on for our favourites.
The Bloomsbury Hotel - 2/11
1) The Connaught
Officially the best bar in the world (according to the most recent ranking of ‘The World’s 50 Best Bars), the mirrored bar at The Connaught is undoubtedly one of the capital’s prime cocktail spots.
The theatrical mixologists always put on a good show, so try to secure a table close to the bar counter, though they will of course wheel over the martini trolley to every dimly lit, decadent corner. Fancy flourishes include celery foam topping the Bloody Marys.Courtesy of the hotel - 3/11
2) The American Bar at The Savoy
The art deco American Bar at The Savoy should need no introduction, having been serving stiff drinks to the people of London since 1893. This officially makes it the oldest cocktail bar in London. Famous patrons over the years have included Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway.
Signature cocktails include the Hanky Panky, which has been on the menu for decades – other recipes were immortalised in The Savoy Cocktail Book in the Thirties.Courtesy of the hotel - 4/11
3) Lyaness at Sea Containers
Fittingly for somewhere on the South Bank, much of London’s Sea Containers hotel could pass for a luxury cruise liner – and Lyaness, on the ground floor and with a view of the river, is no different. The decor includes octagonal mirrors, plump petrol blue seats and a green marble bar.
It was created by one of the most celebrated bartenders in the world: Ryan Chetiyawardana, AKA Mr Lyan. As well as cutting-edge cocktails, you can expect house DJs at weekends. And champagne is swapped for cocktails at afternoon tea, naturally.James McDonald - 5/11
4) Red loves: Dukes
A hotel bar in London with history, Dukes was Ian Fleming’s preferred drinking den. Alessandro, the hotel’s chief martini maker, is in demand all over the world to impart his wisdom on perfecting 007’s favourite drink. Here in Mayfair, they’re served in old-school, V-shaped glasses with ice-cold spirits and a dash of Amalfi Coast lemon oil – created tableside on the most famous trolley in town.
The hotel limits the number of martinis to two per guest – if you manage that many, you’ll understand why.Courtesy of the hotel - 6/11
5) Gong at Shangri-La London
All the way up the Shard in Southwark, Gong is on the 52nd floor of Shangri-La London. This hotel bar is not only within one of the most recognisable landmarks of the capital, but it gives patrons a spectacular view of the river, Tower Bridge and the City (as well as the trainspotter-pleasing London Bridge railway tracks) to enjoy with their drinks.
The backdrop could easily have stolen the thunder, but the performing bartenders put on a show to rival the skyline. Luckily Borough Market is just downstairs for emergency carbs to soak up the alcohol…Courtesy of the hotel - 7/11
6) The Coral Room at The Bloomsbury Hotel
As the name suggests, this bar at the Bloomsbury Hotel just behind Tottenham Court Road station is painted an unmissable bold shade (revellers are encouraged to paint the town coral, not red). The timeless salon was designed by acclaimed interior designer Martin Brudnizki. Cocktails are crafted with ingredients from all over the land, including cobnuts from Kent, rhubarb, rosehips and Bramley apples.
The fun can spill out into the Coral Garden, which has heaters, a gazebo and a fireplace to ensure that even terrible weather won’t deter hardcore drinkers.Courtesy of the hotel - 8/11
7) Common Decency at NoMad London
The newly launched Common Decency at NoMad London imports more than a little Manhattan magic to the capital. The hotel, set in what was once the Bow Street police station (housing a regularly imprisoned Oscar Wilde), is encouraging of mischief – as well as the new underground bar, cocktails can be enjoyed in the leafy atrium and with a dash of agave at Side Hustle.
At Common Decency, expect glasses with artfully arranged cucumber slices and equally attractive bar snacks.Courtesy of the hotel - 9/11
8) Sweeties at The Standard, London
As if riding up to the 10th floor of this Brutalist building in King’s Cross in a red-pill-shaped lift wasn’t exciting enough, things only get better once you’ve reached Sweeties, The Standard’s playful cocktail bar. True to form, the cocktails are indeed candy-coloured, there are DJs providing the soundtrack and floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the spires of St Pancras.
The late-night lounge encourages revelry into the wee hours with a discotheque – and if you’ve had one too many, you can book the Sweetest Stay sleepover package.The Standard, London - 10/11
9) Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London
One of the cosiest spots in London, Scarfes Bar in Holborn is so-called for the cartoons by Gerald Scarfe that grace the walls. There’s regular live jazz and a fireplace for peak hygge during the winter.
The vibe is somewhere between a convivial drawing-room and gentlemen’s club. Its cocktails are so potent, the bar has garnered its own verb: to get scarfed. There are more than a thousand antique books lining the shelves, to read before the alcohol takes hold.Courtesy of the hotel - 11/11
10) Le Magritte at The Beaumont
The Beaumont is one of Mayfair’s best-kept secrets, tucked away in Brown Hart Gardens. Those in the know, however, flock here for its Antony Gormley artwork, Colony Grill Room (which serves signature sundaes for grown-ups) and Le Magritte, its cocktail bar that’s inspired by 1920s New York.
Keeping with the theme, the menu has a strong selection of bourbons and whiskies, along with classic American cocktails – and you’ll be able to enjoy them out on the terrace, too. Decadent bar snacks can be ordered from the oyster and caviar menu.Helen Cathcart
