London's best bars for Christmas parties

Craft beer lovers, rejoice. Mother Kelly’s Vauxhall is a warehouse-style taproom with industrial charm and a huge beer selection. It’s great for relaxed Christmas gatherings with smaller groups, while full venue hire accommodates 150. You’ll also find more festive things like mulled cider, retro tunes and twinkling lights for a laid-back celebration.

In the heart of Clapham, No 32 is a chic bar and restaurant with a homely feel. The first-floor bar and terrace is available for groups of up to 50 throughout the season, offering private dining set menus, cocktails, draught beers, and party boards. The rooftop terrace adds a twinkly touch, while the interiors throughout are warm, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed.

For skyline views, exclusive hire and sleek interiors, PocketSquare delivers. Located in Whitechapel, this rooftop bar hosts festive parties with up to 80 guests. You’ll have the whole ninth floor to yourself, complete with curated cocktails, festive small plates, and panoramic views. There’s a terrace here too, so your guests can take it all in, mulled wine in hand.

Mini golf meets festive fun at Swingers West End. This immersive venue offers two crazy golf courses, cocktail bars, and street food vendors. Ideal for groups of 10 to 200, it’s a playful option for Christmas party hire.

Packages cover various needs and budgets, offering golf, drinks, and bites from vendors like Patty & Bun and Slice.

The Christmas star in Pantechnichon’s crown, Luum is all about bold Christmas party hire. Glittering and velvet-clad, the space is magnetic. Here, you’ll find private snugs for up to 12 and semi private hire for 40. For larger events, full hire accommodates 80, extendable to 120 for standing canape events. Drinks packages and entertainment are also available.

Pedro’s is a cosy, candlelit wine bar with a Portuguese feel. Ideal for laid-back Christmas gatherings and celebrations, it offers small plates, cheese boards, and charcuterie. The mezzanine floor offers near privacy for up to 95 seated guests, and there’s no hire fee, just a minimum spend. Think warm, rustic, wine-soaked indulgence.

Tucked behind Knightsbridge, this boutique five-star hotel blends velvet, leather and Vespa-green interiors with genuine festive warmth.

The Hari Bar takes exclusive hire for up to 100, with terrace access until 11pm, while The Snug's fireplace and cashmere sofas suit smaller drinks receptions. Expect Italian-leaning menus from Il Pampero and tableside tiramisù.

A dependable City choice steps from Cannon Street Station, ideal for office parties that need to be easy to reach. The private Mezzanine, with its own bar, blush-pink banquettes and geometric detailing, holds 30 seated or 60 standing.

Sharing plates, buffet options and cocktail masterclasses round out a relaxed, moderately priced festive package.

High above the city, Savage Garden is a rooftop bar with serious edge. With dramatic decor and skyline vistas, it’s perfect for Christmas parties. The Ferus Suite hosts 40-50, offering views of the Gherkin and Walkie-Talkie, whereas the covered Wildside terrace accommodates up to 120 standing. Themed drinks, canapes, and DJ sets, it’s all about untamed revelry.

Armed with various spaces, hosting Christmas parties with 35-60 guests, Vagabond is great for those looking for an elegant, festive party with a more relaxed, natural feel. Known for its self-pour wine concept, this wine bar also offers varied Christmas packages complete with wine-friendly festive food, loaded foccaccia, sharing boards and canape platters. 

The Martini Bar at Hawksmoor St Pancras has fast become one of the hottest haunts in the city. With soaring ceilings, opulent interiors and a moody atmosphere, it's perfect for everything from date nights to cocktail parties and a solo nightcap. Plus, it helps that they know how to stir a killer Martini.

The Rubens is a go-to during the festive period. It’s home to the Leopard Room, which has its own entrance and looks out over the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. It seats up to 29, with a standing capacity of 40, and has all the makings of a sophisticated Christmas party. We’re talking creative cocktails, canape menus, finger food, lobster rolls and more

A tiny, buzzy pintxo bar moments from Carnaby Street, best suited to intimate office socials rather than blowout parties.

Exclusive hire covers the whole restaurant for up to 65 seated or 80 standing, among wine-lined shelves and hanging plants. Signature croquetas, small plates and Spanish fizz make for a snug, sociable night.

Ember Yard brings Mediterranean warmth to your upcoming festivities, with wood-fired Spanish and Italian small plates and a central London setting. The Josper Room seats up to 24 for informal get-togethers, whilst the entire bar is available for exclusive hire. You and up to 50 guests can take over the entire space, sipping on expertly crafted cocktails and enjoying festive sharing menus.

A top choice for more casual Christmas parties, this sprawling social bar and taproom caters to a range of festive groups. It’s a winter playground, with curling lanes, a winter garden and dedicated bar, as well as Flukes - a private games room. It also boasts a dedicated event space with party lighting and a massive disco ball. All group sizes welcome!

Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or an all out bash, The Anthologist has options for all types of Christmas parties. The bar area is ideal for groups of 20, whilst exclusive hire can accommodate over 200. Host sparkling receptions or enjoy curated Christmas cocktails, with festive menus and nibbles to pair.

The jewel in Vagabond's crown, Vagabond Carnaby is the largest site yet. Fitted with the group's signature self-pour machines, it can accommodate festive celebrations with up to 200 standing guests. Smaller group? Simply take over intimate sections of the venue, from the secluded 30-seater Cork Room, more casual Atrium, or gather with 50 in The Nook for an evening of self-pours and mingling.

With a cosy open fire and an outdoor terrace covered in fairy lights, No 1 Duke Street is a a lively bar, perfect for Christmas parties. Available for exclusive hire, the bar offers festive party boards - perfect for sharing - with sesame crusted feta, and harissa potatoes, just some of the snacks on offer, as well as flexible packages to suit your preferences.

A West End giant with serious scale - full exclusive hire spans multiple floors for up to 500 standing guests. Smaller outfits can book the semi-private Mezzanine (100 seated/150 standing), amid velvet seating and gold accents.

Expect a classic three-course turkey dinner, DJ-driven energy and a genuinely lively, dance-friendly Christmas atmosphere.

On the hunt for a showstopping party venue in Canary Wharf? Hawksmoor Wood Wharf's Bar is a shoe-in for memorable events, with a capacity of up to 250 guests, and fantastic views of the water through large windows. It also boasts a private dining room for 22, or can host 60 semi-privately.

Just off Oxford Street, this two-floor Spanish bar has room to flex: an upstairs terrace for up to 40, plus a more tucked-away downstairs for 20 seated or 30 standing.

Sharing plates of croquetas and tapas anchor the menu, alongside playful cocktails like the Firebird Paloma - a laid-back alternative to a traditional office do.