Cheers! 20 London bars you’ve gotta check out.

on 21 November, 2017 at 12:38

If there’s one thing I love, it’s London. And if there’s another, it’s having a cheeky holiday drink (or three). So on my recent trip to the UK, I set myself the noble task of finding 20 of the best places to get your London drink on. You’re welcome 😉

1. The Blind Pig

58 Poland St, Soho

Hidden on the top floor of Soho’s Social Eating House, The Blind Pig serves up storybook cocktails, including the Languid Caterpillar (inspired by Alice in Wonderland), Hunny Pot (Winnie the Pooh), and the Half a Pint o’Buttah (Harry Potter). Do it for your inner child.

Enjoying a Hunny Pot at The Blind Pig.

2. Venn Street Records

78 Venn St, Clapham

Venn Street Records promises cocktails, pizzas, and good times, and, boy, does it deliver. With two-for-one cocktails from 5pm to 8pm, and bands and DJs every day, it’s the go-to place for live music in South London.

3. Blues Kitchen Camden

111-113 Camden High St, Camden

Cajun food, craft beers, live blues – yeeessss. The Blues Kitchen is a little slice of Southern hospitality in North London, and you know you want a piece of that. It packs up fast, even on weeknights, so book ahead if you want to do dinner.

The Camden Blues Kitchen.

4. Flight Club

55 New Oxford St, Bloomsbury

Flight Club is all about darts, but not the kind your dad used to play. With its carousel bar, shredded wallpaper, and signature cocktail slushies, it’s like a carnival crossed with a speakeasy. You’ll need to book ahead if you want to play, and you’ll need a team of six or more during peak hour. Check the website for more info.

5. Trailer Happiness

177 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill

Trailer Happiness calls itself a tiki bar, but it’s really an underground lair of rum-soaked happiness. It’s on Portobello Rd and makes for a great pit stop if you’re checking out the markets (and making your Bedknobs and Broomsticks dreams come true). The steamed dumplings and potato + cauliflower fritters are pretty spesh too.

6. The Good Mixer

30 Inverness St, Camden

Amy Winehouse has become the patron saint of Camden, and that’s more than OK by me. The Good Mixer was her favourite pub, and if you’re a fan (or just want a pint without all the fuss), you should definitely check it out. It’s not fancy, but why should it be?

One of The Good Mixer’s friendly locals.

7. The Defectors Weld

170 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd’s Bush

A chilled-out local with an awesome gastropub menu. Check out their Roasts & Records – yummy Sunday roasts served up with potatoes, veg, Yorkshire puds, and fresh DJ beats. They also do delish Christmas feasts and platters, which are perfect for expat orphans.

8. The Last Tuesday Society

11 Mare St, Dalston

A creepy little cocktail bar with its own curiosity museum? Yes! Take me there now. The entry point for the Viktor Wynd Museum, The Last Tuesday Society do amazing cocktails and nibbles surrounded by taxidermy, skeletons, and weirdness. The Coconut Freak is one of the tastiest things I’ve had in ages; the gin-soaked scorpion, eh, I’d give it a C 😉

Viktor Wynd’s private function space – The Last Tuesday Society.

9. Ladies and Gentlemen

2 Highgate Rd, Kentish Town

Drinks and peeing go hand-in-(hopefully washed)-hand. So turning an old underground loo into a quirky bar makes total sense. Ladies and Gentleman’s creative seasonal cocktail list features fresh fruit gathered from local allotments and syrups made from Kentish Town honey. Try one of their homemade sausage rolls – it’ll change your life.

10. Borough Markets

8 Southwark St, Southwark

Yeah, I know Borough Markets are, you know, markets. But with indie vendors serving up French wines, local beers and ciders, handcrafted liquors, and, of course, Pimms, there’s no chance you’re going home thirsty. Plusthere’s plenty of fresh, organic produce to much on at the same time, so you’re totally being healthy 😉

11. Balham Bowls Club

7-9 Ramsden Rd, Balham

The Balham Bowls Club used to be my local (because Aussies and Kiwis doing their year in London must live in Balham or Clapham. It’s the law) and holds a special place in my beer-soaked heart. Once an actual bowls club, the BBC is now a sprawling pub and restaurant that still has many of its original clubhouse features (think leaderboards, old-school sports memorabilia, and random trinkets). It’s like Grandma’s house, but awesome.

Pimms at the Balham Bowls Club.

12. Drink, Shop & Do

9 Caledonian Rd, Kings Cross

Cute café by day, cool bar by night, seriously awesome 24/7. Drink, Shop & Do is a crafty babe’s dream come true, with fun workshops like Pimp Your Flask, American Doughnut Decorating, and Cut It Out paper craft classes. Don’t miss Happy Hour cocktails every Friday (two for £12, 6-9pm), or Bottomless Bagel Brunch (with board games!) every weekend.

13. Yuu Kitchen

29 Commerical St, Spitalfields

OK, so this one’s technically a restaurant. But with zingy cocktails like the Feng Shui (lychee, red pepper, vodka, shochu, star anise, and lemon) and the Ginger Ninja (gin, yuzushu sake, sugar syrup, and ginger beer), I have to recommend it. Food-wise, it’s Pan Asian fusion all the way, served tapas-style. You HAVE to try the sweet and sticky eggplant. It’s magic.

Typical Wednesday night at Yuu Kitchen.

14. The Aeronaut

264 High St, Acton

There’s no better combo than alcohol and circus tricks. You know, so long as you’re not the one doing them (please don’t drink and trapeze). The Aeronaut has got you covered for both, as well as some solid pub-munch faves. It’s re-opening in December after being AWOL for almost a year. Grab your tix ASAP if you want to be there for the relaunch.

15. Tooting Tram & Social

46-48 Mitcham Rd, Tooting Broadway

One of the UK’s coolest new venues, The Tooting Tram & Social is a massive old tram shed that’s been refurbed with glittering chandeliers, plush leather sofas, and an excellently stocked bar. Get there early to bag a table on the upper mezzanine – it’s adorably homey and perfect for people watching. There’s stuff happening most nights, so make sure you check the website.

16. The Doodle Bar

60 Druid St, Bermondsey

Foosball, ping pong, walls you can write on… The Doodle Bar is just fun. It’s tucked away in an old tunnel near Tower Bridge and hosts heaps of crafty events (in case you like your booze with a side of creativity). Vegie pals, make sure you try the Le Champion mushroom burger. Yum!

17. God’s Own Junkyard

Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Walthamstow

OK, so this is another sneaky addition to this so-called “bar” list, but I promise you’ll thank me for it. God’s Own Junkyard is a warehouse jam-packed with giant, glowing neon signs. It’s in an industrial estate that’s also home to microbreweries, pop-up bars, and food trucks, which is great cos you’re gonna need a drink to cool down from the lights (God’s Own Junkyard is hot).

Sooooshiiiiny. God’s Own Junkyard.

18. Swingers

8 Brown’s Buildings, Aldgate

Everyone’s nuts for crazy golf at the moment and Londonis no exception. There are heaps of pop-up places, but Swingers is London’s first permanent crazy golf bar, and that permanence allows for some seriously wild holes. Think loop-de-loops, working lighthouses, and even a ramp forcing you to shoot your ball into the sky.

The only downside? Googling “London swingers bar” brings up some… interesting results. You probably shouldn’t do it at work.

19. London Cocktail Club

108 Essex Rd, Islington

With its black studded leather seats, moody candle lighting, and sneaky hidden entrance (look for the NHS pharmacy sign), London Cocktail Club feels like a dirty little secret.

Drop in for an expertly mixed cocktail (hey, they’re in the name, after all), or sign up for a mixology masterclass. Either way, you’re in for a good time.

20. The Exhibit

12 Balham Station Rd, Balham

Dinner and a movie is a classic date-night combo and this Balham institution has got you covered for both. They call themselves a “youth club for adults” and back it up with wholesome weekly events like life drawing, yoga, and Bounce dance fitness classes. But if you’re feeling less virtuous, check out Connect Four every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – four drinks for four quid for four hours. Yum!