Just up the road from the original Sager + Wilde is Michael Sager’s latest cocktail bar Equal Parts. The distinctive, green-tiled corner building on Hackney Road showcases European Aperitif and Amaro culture, with some mezcal and records thrown in too. The bar has been decked out with a Hi-Fi sound system, with the help of north London specialists Audio Gold, so they can play a selection of vinyl. The interior design has been carefully considered (as you’d expect by the looks of the outside), with a bespoke zinc bar top, bronze mirrored back bar, Venetian blinds, Japanese wood panelling and vintage reclaimed 1960s Czech lighting all on the ground floor. Downstairs, a large hand-carved oak table takes centre stage with space for private events of up to 30 people.
"Equal Parts is co-owner Carina Soto’s only London outpost, all her other venues are in Paris and well worth a look up next time you’re there. Equal Parts is the perfect neighbourhood bar, with a brilliant team, a vinyl soundtrack and cocktails that are so delicious you’ll name check them on your next visit."
Underneath modern Georgian restaurant Kinkally, which specialises in khinkali dumplings, you’ll find the minimalist subterranean Bar Kinky. It’s an intimate space, filled with metal, red lighting and about six seats. It’s worth nabbing one if you can because the drinks list is inventive to say the least. Flavour combos include vodka, cherry, thyme and goat’s cheese; rum, miso and Greek yoghurt; and gin, leeks, sage and cacao, so go with an open mind and put your trust in the bartenders.
"Bar Kinky is still a bit of a hidden gem but is certainly somewhere to seek out next time you’re in the West End. Co-Owner Diana Khromova is a force to be reckoned with and works so hard to showcase her team’s incredible work behind the stick, whilst her exacting eye for design has made for a minimalist's heaven."
Run by Thea Cumming & Lucia Massey, the team behind London Mezcal Week and Dangerous Don, Doña is a must-visit for mezcal fans – the spicy Mezcal Margaret and the mezcal Negroni are not to be missed. The bar, decked out with velvet seating, low lighting and lashings of crimson and scarlet, also hosts a range of regular community events, including cabaret, comedy and club nights.
"Co-Owners Thea Cumming and Lucia Massey have created one of the most welcoming and wonderful spaces in the city. The bar was born out of their long-standing friendship and focuses on damn good mezcal alongside community-building activities from cabaret to cooking, club nights and comedy. Thea also co-founded Dangerous Don mezcal so it’s clear she knows her stuff."
Happiness Forgets is an oldie but a goodie. The speakeasy is in a “low rent basement” aka a small candlelit space in Hoxton and though it may not look that special, the bar serves up some damn fine cocktails, like the Sunflower (made with gin, peach, framboise, manzanilla sherry and washed with sunflower oil). As you’d imagine, it’s a popular one so book a table or get down there early as they won’t let the rabble stand in the corner here!
"Head Bartender Benedetta Paris is one of the most recognisable faces on the London bar scene, not least because of her incredible sartorial choices. Impeccably turned out, a true crafts(wo)man when it comes to drinks and someone you truly wish was your bestie - she’s the first face you see when you descend the stairs to Happiness Forgets."
First opened in Soho in 2016, the multi-award winning Swift (including Best New Bar at Tales of the Cocktail and regular listings in The World’s 50 Best Bars) has grown to three bars, with sites in Borough and Shoreditch. All three showcase the team’s superb hospitality and devotion to craft – the Irish Coffee is iconic – but we have a soft spot for the Soho original, with its bright upstairs bar; cocktail list divided into Delicate, Bright, Stiff and Rich sections; and moody downstairs drinking den, where there’s also an extensive whisky list on offer.
"Co-Owner Coral Anderson has been with the business since they opened in Soho ten years ago, working her way through the ranks to become a co-owner with Edmund Weil and Roisin Stimpson. She’s truly the best in the biz and you’ll see her commitment and care at every turn in all three of their venues."
If you’re out to impress, Lyaness (formerly Dandelyan) ticks all the boxes. Housed in the Sea Containers hotel, the bar is pretty swish and the cocktails push the boundaries. Expect drinks to include everything from oyster honey and blood curaçao to green sauce liqueur and fruit furikake. Everything is a bit of show-off here, but who doesn’t like a bit of posh now and then?!
"Another rising star, Lucy Thomas has been with the multi-award winning Lyan group for yonks - and now holds the position of Bar Manager of the first, and only, 3 PIN bar in the world. She’s warm, wonderful and incredibly passionate about hospitality."
A four-time winner of the World’s Best Bar Awards, Artesian at The Langham has a lofty reputation, and it’s well deserved. The bartending team are some of the best in the business, the space itself (with its signature purple chairs) is elegant and luxurious, and the drinks are knockout. New and creative techniques are used to extract the most amount of flavour from the ingredients used, which include the likes of kale (in a Martini), cep (in a twist on a Negroni) and gooseberry (in a Daiquiri-inspired serve). Artesian also collaborates with leading chefs on its bar bite menu – Angelo Sato of Humble Chicken and Chet Sharma of Bibi have both done it – so it’s worth grabbing a snack too.
"Head Bartender Giulia Cuccurullo is one of the biggest names in the global cocktail scene but when she’s not travelling, she’s behind the bar at the Artesian creating truly delicious cocktails. Shout out must also go to Bar Manager Lorenza Pezzetta who steers the ship."
The Dorchester had a big refurb in 2023, part of which was the transformation of The Bar at The Dorchester into Vesper Bar. Redesigned by Martin Brudnizki as an ode to the glamour and style of the 1930s, and to the hotel’s links with James Bond, the ornate interior includes a ’30s palladium leaf ceiling, art deco carpets, rich furnishings and a cosy snug. The cocktail menu features a mix of both classic drinks and signature serves inspired by the hotel – and martinis, of course, with The Vesper Martini being a thing of beauty. Dress up and pretend you’re 007 for the night.
"Since its gorgeous renovation a while back, Vesper Bar has been under the watchful eye of Bar Manager Lucia Montenelli who is a true and consummate host, remembering niche drinks orders and recreating them - sometimes without request!"
Formerly known as Kensington Roof Gardens, and once home to a flock of flamingos, under the ownership of Richard Branson, The Roof Gardens is now a members’ club, or as it bills itself, a “social club in the sky”. The venue, occupying the top floors and rooftop of its address, boasts a Spanish garden, a couple of restaurants, member lounges, a great bar and a good crowd.
"If you’re lucky enough to get into the newly revamped Kensington Roof Gardens, expect to see Bars Manager Sophie Bratt - our ultimate host! However, her job is much more than just a welcoming committee; behind the scenes she’s in charge of every delicious beverage made within the building and runs a very tight ship to ensure excellence."
