15 of the best hotel bars London has to offer

Hotel bars are increasingly becoming must-visit destinations for cocktail lovers, often thanks to significant investment in their drink menus. In fact, most of the cocktail bars and lounges on this list have some big-name mixologists behind them, some of which are known all over the world for their inventive, boundary-breaking approaches to cocktail making. And, more often than not, cocktail menus at hotel bars will highlight rare and unique ingredients that you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

The fact remains, however, that hotel cocktail bars have a bit of a bad rep in the capital, with many assuming they're quiet, stuffy places lacking the lively energy you’ll find at more grungy, raucous bars elsewhere. On the contrary, while it is true that hotel bars can be a little pricey, the idea that they're overly formal, intimidating spaces, reserved only for hotel residents or an older crowd, is a thing of the past.

London’s best hotel bars warmly welcome tourists and locals alike and serve up some seriously good sips. Over the last couple of decades, London's best hotel bars have been optimising their spaces to offer intimate corners for relaxed conversation, alongside vibrant areas with live music or DJ sets. And though some might argue with this, we’ve seen that lots of London’s hotel cocktail bars offer a more holistic, sensory approach to drinking complemented by luxurious, design-led interiors, moreish small plates, and exceptional service. It’s this attitude that has seen many hotel watering holes land amongst the very best bars in London.

In addition to their drink offerings, whiskey tastings, and sometimes themed cocktail menus, many of London's top hotel bars on this list come with carefully curated snacks and small plates that elevate the overall experience. And if that wasn’t enough, you’ll find several hotels in London come with truly incredible views of the city. Read on to discover our top picks.

Flute, Soho

What: Putting up an incredibly strong fight as one of London’s most gorgeous rooftop bars, Flute is a relatively new addition to the drinking scene in Soho. You’ll find it in full glam, decked out in chalk pink tones, vibrant turquoise, and plenty of gold. But we’re here to drink, and Flute delivers on that front too. Whether outdoors on the alfresco terrace or cosied up in the bar, expect to enjoy some fantastic Soho film inspired tipples in full view of the London Eye. The ‘Love Actually’, for example, blends Palmarae Grand Cru gin, antica formula vermouth, grenadine, several spices, and orange blossom into an homage to the famous Kiera Knightley film.
Hotel: Broadwick Soho
Where: 20 Broadwick Street, W1F 8HT
Book now: Flute

Savage Garden, Tower Hill

What: Savage Garden is a dramatic rooftop bar known for its bold, neon-lit interiors and panoramic views of London landmarks like The Shard and the Tower of London. The atmosphere is high-energy and decadent, with plush velvet, marbleized floors, and a party vibe heightened by resident DJs on weekends. Drinking here is all about experimentation and temptation, crafting unique cocktails that evoke sensory and emotional experiences. The ‘Solpo de Aire’, for example, refers to the Spanish idiom that uses the imagery of a gentle breeze as a metaphor for a moment of relief, and uses pineapple wine, mint, Thai basil, and rum to deliver a moment of relaxation and calm.
Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - Tower of London
Where: 7 Pepys Street, EC3N 4AF
Book now: Savage Garden

Stables Bar, Kensington

What: Stables Bar offers a refined yet inviting atmosphere, blending dark wood panelling, green leather banquettes, tartan-clad furnishings, with stunning equestrian art by Elie Lambert. The space is both cosy and elegant, with moody corners and a bright conservatory area. Bar Manager Angelo Lo Greco, an award-winning mixologist, leads the creative cocktail program, crafting inventive drinks that play on nostalgia and comfort. The offering is seasonal, but has previously included a ‘Cloud & Crackle’ number with vodka infused with cacao nibs, tonka syrup, and a Guinness foam, among others, like the ‘Kaos’ which blends Nuet Aquavit, clarified tzatziki, mastiha, and basil oil to create a Mediterranean experience.
Hotel: The Milestone Hotel
Where: 1-2 Kensington Court, W8 5DL
Book now: Stables Bar

Donovan Bar, Mayfair

What: Donovan Bar, located within Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, exudes a sophisticated and intimate atmosphere, with dim lighting, plush velvet seating, and walls adorned with iconic photographs by its namesake Terence Donovan. The bar’s creative direction is led by renowned cocktail maestro Salvatore Calabrese, with director of mixology Federico Pavan and a skilled team executing inventive menus inspired by the hotel’s storied past. Drinks might include a ‘Peter Punch’ with tequila, mescal, dragon fruit and guava, or a ‘Whizzpop’ creation with Tanqueray No.10, amaro, acqua bianca, and raspberry. If you can, try and bag a seat in the bar’s ‘Naughty Corner’.
Hotel: Brown’s Hotel
Where: 33 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BP
Book now: Donovan Bar

Le Magritte, Mayfair

What: Taking cues from its namesake surrealist artist, whose Le Maitre d’Ecole painting hangs behind the bar, Le Magritte is a cosmopolitan cocktail bar that invites you to indulge your curiosity. Along with a curated selection of classic tipples, you’ll find a menu of themed cocktails that changes frequently. At the time of writing, cocktails at Le Magritte reference ‘The Great American Songbook’ stretching from well known tunes like a ‘Volare’ blend with botanical gin, white vermouth and moscato, to a more tropical ‘Come Fly With Me’ which sees banana peel rum, bacardi, lime, and chocolate bitters combine to form a sun soaked sensation.
Hotel: The Beaumont
Where: 8 Balderton Street, Brown Hart Gardens, W1K 6TF
Book now: Le Magritte

Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese, Charing Cross

What: Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese is an opulent cocktail and Champagne bar draped in rich crimson and blue velvet. It evokes a glamorous, intimate, and theatrical atmosphere reminiscent of Golden Age Hollywood. Overseen by legendary bartender (aka ‘The Maestro’) Salvatore Calabrese, Velvet’s drinks program is an artistic affair, inspired by great art over the centuries. As such, you might find the likes of a Pearl Drop, which combines Beluga Noble vodka, hibiscus and rose, and saffron-infused honey as an ode to Johannes Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’. If you’re in need of a hit of luxury, this one is certain to do the trick.
Hotel: Corinthia Hotel
Where: Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD
Book now: Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese

Blind Spot, Covent Garden

What: This one’s a little bit of a secret. It’s hidden away behind a boutique tea counter, but if you enter the door with a golden hand, you’ll find a romantic speakeasy-style bar serving up globally inspired cocktails drawing on flavours from Turin, Cairo, Paris, Britain, and more. The Oaxaca, for example, sees mezcal and cenote blanco combined with chipotle liquor and guacamole, while an Aussie Gold Coast number offers up premium vodka, Papa Salt Gin, Lillet Blanc and caviar. Each cocktail comes with a recommended food pairing, so if you opt for the Kingston 12-year rum, why not match it with jerk chicken served with pineapple relish?
Hotel: St Martins Lane London
Where: 45 St. Martin's Lane, WC2N 4HX
Book now: Blind Spot

The American Bar, St James’s

What: The fact that this is one of London’s oldest surviving American bars is reason enough in our books to make a reservation. But if that alone isn’t enough to motivate you, you might want to know that big-name mixologist Salvatore Megna and bar director Benoit Provost have had a hand in this offering. American bar classics include a ‘Moriarty’ cocktail with Enemigo tequila cristalino, mezcal, grapefruit, agave, and Champagne; while a separate menu covering ‘The Art of Old Fashioned’ offers an intriguing Mezcal Old Fashioned interpretation and others made with premium whiskeys. The menu is extensive, so you can guarantee there’ll be something to your taste.
Hotel: The Stafford London
Where: 16-18 St James's Place, SW1A 1NJ
Book now: The American Bar at The Stafford

JOIA Bar, Battersea

What: Set below the fabulous Portuguese restaurant JOIA, JOIA Bar stands as one of the most thoughtfully decorated bars in London. Thanks to pink tones, lamplit tables, and views of the power station, it’s also one of the prettiest. With live music, DJs and various events from Friday to Saturday, this is a great spot to enjoy Iberian-inspired drinks curated by Panos Ntalianis. Choose from the Rubi spritz with hibiscus verdejo, starberry, and soda; the Diamantina with rum and toasted coconut, or the Jasper sour with Woodford Reserve Rye whiskey, fig leaf honey, ginger and smoky mandarin leaves.
Hotel: art'otel Battersea Power Station
Where: 1 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ
Book now: JOIA Bar

Artesian, Marylebone

What: Perhaps one of the most well-known hotel bars in London, Artesian has been stretching the limits of mixology since it first opened. It’s consistently creative, updating menus regularly to offer the newest, most exciting drinking experiences. The Alter Ego menu, for example, follows ‘Ingredients of the Future’, focusing on longstanding futureproof ingredients with unique qualities. The ‘Melon’, for example, blends Don Julio Blanco, pumpkin, sweet potato, tonic and Dassai Junmai sake, while the ‘Wood’ offers up vodka, Muyu Vetiver Gris, rye whiskey, porcini mushroom, oloroso and rooibos tea.
Hotel: The Langham
Where: 1c Portland Place, W1B 1JA
Book now: Artesian

GONG at The Shard, London Bridge

What: One of London’s swankiest hotels is bound to spawn a bar that’s just as luxurious, and Shangri-La have done it with GONG on the 52nd floor of The Shard. The space is separated into two main areas: the cocktail bar and the Champagne bar. If you opt for the former, there’s a new ‘A Decade of Moments’ cocktail list that traces major moments in recent history and commemorates the legacies of British icons. So raise a class to David Bowie with the ‘Flash Fusion’ tequila and gin blend with agave, Szechuan peppercorn and chamomile, or make some noise with the ‘Applause’ and sip away on a vodka, mint, and coconut cocktail inspired by the NHS during the pandemic.
Hotel: Shangri-La The Shard
Where: 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 90U
Book now: GONG by Shangri La The Shard

The Wigmore, Marylebone 

What: Yes. This one is technically a pub, but it’s tricky to ignore the magnetic pull of a dolled-up boozer in the buzzing heart of London, especially when they serve a footlong cheese toastie that’s got one of the best cheese pulls in the capital. To match your three cheese XXL toastie, you’ll also find a couple of hoptails (that’s cocktails with beer), like the ‘Japanese Mule’ which combines Roku gin, Tanqueray infused with lime leaf, St Germain, and Sapporo lager along with jasmine and bergamot. You’ll also spot a range of tavern signatures that use techniques that date back to the 17th century.
Hotel: The Langham
Where: 13 Langham Place, Upper Regent Street, W1B 1JA
Book now: The Wigmore

Gothic Bar, King’s Cross

What: For a long while now, the Gothic Bar has stood as a North London favourite thanks to its captivating atmosphere and moody Victorian opulence. Sitting beside The Midland Grand restaurant, it’s an undeniably impressive space, all soaring arches, intricate architectural details, peacock-printed banquettes, and lavish carpets. There’s also a leafy heated terrace, but no matter where you sit, you’ll be in for a treat. The cocktail menu is known for inventive approaches, often with a strong focus on absinthe and eau de vie. The Grand Signatures menu is always a classic, offering Eau de Martinis and a Midland 75 with absinthe mist, amongst more playful concoctions, like the ‘Ecstasy’ with aged rum, dulce de leche, and banana eau de vie.
Hotel: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Where: Euston Road, NW1 2AR
Book now: Gothic Bar

Waeska, Fitzrovia

What: The Mandrake's botanical bar Waeska is a treat for the senses from the moment you walk through the door. Peruse its unique collection of artefacts and objets d'arts, including a fantastical creature that is half-gazelle, half-peacock mounted on the wall. The cocktail menu, meanwhile, is based around the principles of ethnobotany - the study of a region’s plants and their uses. Example cocktails include Mangosteen-infused Patron tequila with chipotle agave, lime juice and jalapeno vinegar, and the Flores Sana, which sees tonka bean infused vodka combined with orange liqueur, passion fruit puree, and lime.
Hotel: The Mandrake
Where: 20-21 Newman Street, W1T 1PG
Book now: Waeska at The Mandrake

PocketSquare Skyline Bar and Terrace, Aldgate

What: Fashionable east London cocktail bar PocketSquare can be found on the 9th floor of Hyatt London City East, where it combines art-deco interiors, expertly-crafted cocktails and fantastic views of the city below. On the menu, you’ll find signature cocktails like the Kushty, which combines Hendricks gin, mint lassi, pineapple and passionfruit, along with other gin-focused infusions such as the Meiso with Japanese gin, mikan essence, and peach and aloe vera sake. This one’s also great for non-drinkers, thanks to an inspired selection of tasty zero-proof drinks using Everleaf spirits.
Hotel: Hyatt London City East
Where: 9th Floor Hyatt Place, E1 1DU
Book now: PocketSquare Skyline Bar and Terrace

For occasions that demand more of a date night atmosphere, you'll probably want to check out our guide to the most romantic bars in London.