{"id":43812,"date":"2017-11-21T12:38:43","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T02:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=43812"},"modified":"2018-05-02T05:13:35","modified_gmt":"2018-05-01T19:13:35","slug":"london-bars-to-check-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/london-bars-to-check-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheers! 20 London bars you\u2019ve gotta check out."},"content":{"rendered":"

If there\u2019s one thing I love, it\u2019s London<\/a>. And if there\u2019s another, it\u2019s 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\u2019re welcome \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

1. The Blind Pig<\/strong><\/h2>\n

58 Poland St, Soho<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Hidden on the top floor of Soho\u2019s Social Eating House, The Blind Pig serves up storybook cocktails, including the Languid Caterpillar (inspired by Alice in Wonderland<\/em>), Hunny Pot (Winnie the Pooh<\/em>), and the Half a Pint o\u2019Buttah (Harry Potter<\/em>). Do it for your inner child.<\/p>\n

Enjoying a Hunny Pot at The Blind Pig.<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Venn Street Records<\/strong><\/h2>\n

78 Venn St, Clapham<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\u2019s the go-to place for live music in South\u00a0London.<\/p>\n

3. Blues Kitchen Camden<\/strong><\/h2>\n

111-113 Camden High St, Camden<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cajun food, craft beers, live blues \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

The Camden Blues Kitchen.<\/p><\/div>\n

4. Flight Club<\/strong><\/h2>\n

55 New Oxford St, Bloomsbury<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\u2019s like a carnival crossed with a speakeasy. You\u2019ll need to book ahead if you want to play, and you\u2019ll need a team of six or more during peak hour. Check the website<\/a> for more info.<\/p>\n

5. Trailer Happiness <\/strong><\/h2>\n

177 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Trailer Happiness calls itself a tiki bar, but it\u2019s really an underground lair of rum-soaked happiness. It\u2019s on Portobello Rd and makes for a great pit stop if you\u2019re checking out the markets (and making your Bedknobs and Broomsticks<\/em> dreams come true). The steamed dumplings and potato + cauliflower fritters are pretty spesh too.<\/p>\n

6. The Good Mixer <\/strong><\/h2>\n

30 Inverness St, Camden<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Amy Winehouse has become the patron saint of Camden, and that\u2019s more than OK by me. The Good Mixer was her favourite pub, and if you\u2019re a fan (or just want a pint without all the fuss), you should definitely check it out. It\u2019s not fancy, but why should it be?<\/p>\n

One of The Good Mixer\u2019s friendly locals.<\/p><\/div>\n

7. The Defectors Weld<\/strong><\/h2>\n

170 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd\u2019s Bush<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A chilled-out local with an awesome gastropub menu. Check out their Roasts & Records \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

8. The Last Tuesday Society<\/strong><\/h2>\n

11 Mare St, Dalston<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A creepy little cocktail bar with its own curiosity museum? Yes! Take me there now<\/em><\/strong>. 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\u2019ve had in ages; the gin-soaked scorpion, eh, I\u2019d give it a C \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Viktor Wynd\u2019s private function space \u2013 The Last Tuesday Society.<\/p><\/div>\n

9. Ladies and Gentlemen<\/strong><\/h2>\n

2 Highgate Rd, Kentish Town<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\u2019s 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 \u2013 it\u2019ll change your life.<\/p>\n

10. Borough Markets<\/strong><\/h2>\n

8 Southwark St, Southwark<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yeah, I know Borough Markets are, you know, markets<\/strong>. But with indie vendors serving up French wines, local beers and ciders, handcrafted liquors, and, of course, Pimms, there\u2019s no chance you\u2019re going home thirsty. Plusthere\u2019s plenty of fresh, organic produce to much on at the same time, so you\u2019re totally being\u00a0healthy \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

11. Balham Bowls Club<\/strong><\/h2>\n

7-9 Ramsden Rd, Balham<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s like Grandma\u2019s house, but awesome.<\/p>\n

Pimms at the Balham Bowls Club.<\/p><\/div>\n

12. Drink, Shop & Do<\/strong><\/h2>\n

9 Caledonian Rd, Kings Cross<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cute caf\u00e9 by day, cool bar by night, seriously awesome 24\/7. Drink, Shop & Do is a crafty babe\u2019s dream come true, with fun workshops like Pimp Your Flask, American Doughnut Decorating, and Cut It Out paper craft classes. Don\u2019t miss Happy Hour cocktails every Friday (two for \u00a312, 6-9pm), or Bottomless Bagel Brunch (with board games!) every weekend.<\/p>\n

13. Yuu Kitchen<\/strong><\/h2>\n

29 Commerical St, Spitalfields<\/strong><\/h4>\n

OK, so this one\u2019s 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\u2019s Pan Asian fusion all the way, served tapas-style. You HAVE to try the sweet and sticky eggplant. It\u2019s magic.<\/p>\n

Typical Wednesday night at Yuu Kitchen.<\/p><\/div>\n

14. The Aeronaut <\/strong><\/h2>\n

264 High St, Acton<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s no better combo than alcohol and circus tricks. You know, so long as you\u2019re not the one doing them (please<\/em><\/strong> don\u2019t drink and trapeze). The Aeronaut has got you covered for both, as well as some solid pub-munch faves. It\u2019s re-opening in December after being AWOL for almost a year. Grab your tix ASAP<\/a> if you want to be there for the relaunch.<\/p>\n

15. Tooting Tram & Social<\/strong><\/h2>\n

46-48 Mitcham Rd, Tooting Broadway<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One of the UK\u2019s coolest new venues, The Tooting Tram & Social is a massive old tram shed that\u2019s been refurbed with glittering chandeliers, plush leather sofas, and an excellently stocked bar. Get there early to bag a table on the upper mezzanine \u2013 it\u2019s adorably homey and perfect for people watching. There\u2019s stuff happening most nights, so make sure you check the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

16. The Doodle Bar<\/strong><\/h2>\n

60 Druid St, Bermondsey<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Foosball, ping pong, walls you can write on\u2026 The Doodle Bar is just fun. It\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n

17. God\u2019s Own Junkyard<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Walthamstow<\/strong><\/h4>\n

OK, so this is another sneaky addition to this so-called \u201cbar\u201d list, but I promise you\u2019ll thank me for it. God\u2019s Own Junkyard is a warehouse jam-packed with giant, glowing neon signs. It\u2019s in an industrial estate that\u2019s also home to microbreweries, pop-up bars, and food trucks, which is great cos you\u2019re gonna need a drink to cool down from the lights (God\u2019s Own Junkyard is hot<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Sooooshiiiiny. God\u2019s Own Junkyard.<\/p><\/div>\n

18. Swingers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

8 Brown\u2019s Buildings, Aldgate<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Everyone\u2019s nuts for crazy golf at the moment and Londonis no exception. There are heaps of pop-up places, but Swingers is London\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The only downside? Googling \u201cLondon swingers bar\u201d brings up some\u2026 interesting results. You probably shouldn\u2019t do it at work.<\/p>\n

19. London Cocktail Club<\/strong><\/h2>\n

108 Essex Rd, Islington<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Drop in for an expertly mixed cocktail (hey, they\u2019re in the name, after all), or sign up for a mixology masterclass. Either way, you\u2019re in for a good time.<\/p>\n

20. The Exhibit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

12 Balham Station Rd, Balham<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Dinner and a movie is a classic date-night combo and this Balham institution has got you covered for both. They call themselves a \u201cyouth club for adults\u201d and back it up with wholesome weekly events like life drawing, yoga, and Bounce dance fitness classes. But if you\u2019re feeling less virtuous, check out Connect Four every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday \u2013 four drinks for four quid for four hours. Yum!<\/p>\n

Beer and a flick at The Exhibit.<\/p><\/div>\n

Book your next trip to London<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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