Best hotel bars in London

Whether you’re staying in one of London’s fabulous hotels or just looking for a glamorous spot for drinks, SquareMeal’s list of the best hotel bars London has to offer should be able to help. There are hotels to suit all tastes in the capital, so whether you’re seeking old-school charm or new money glitz, there’s a hotel bar to suit. And the best part is you can have all the fun of the experience without having to splash the cash for a room!

Updated on 03 March 2020

London is brimming with bars, pubs and restaurants, but if you’re in the mood for glitz, glamour and five-star sips, nothing beats London’s catalogue of swanky hotel bars. Slick service and opulent surroundings are par for the course at these institutions, as are show-stopping drinks that are worth the hefty price-tags they tend to come with.

Some hotel bars in London are famous the world over, such as The American Bar at The Savoy and The Rivoli Bar at The Ritz, but you might be surprised by just how many hotel bars London has on its books. A couple lay claims to fame by way of former guests, such as The Dorchester Bar, which has welcomed the likes of Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra; and plenty boast literary or musical connections. Some are renowned for their stunning architecture, while others house some of the most sought-after Champagnes and extensive whisky collections.

The point is that no matter what you’re looking for – somewhere to see and be seen, a spot with great views or the chance to splash the cash on a luxurious liquid concoction you’re unlikely ever to forget – London’s hotel bars are a no-brainer. Read on to see our pick of the best hotel bars in London, and click through to read the full reviews for top tips on the best serves in the place.

Ziggy

Ziggy's

Hotel Café Royal, 68 Regent Street , London, W1B 4DY

Inspired by ‘The Last Supper’ – the notorious party at which David Bowie killed off his alter ego Ziggy Stardust – the bar at the Café Royal serves up some top sips. Service is Hunky Dory too.

Bars

The Blue Bar at The Berkeley Hotel

The Blue Bar at The Berkeley Hotel

The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, London, SW1X 7RL

The lavish cocktail list at The Berkeley’s luxuriously inviting Blue Bar is colour-coded according to style and strength for ease of ordering, although you could just go for a vintage Champagne or top-notch whisky instead.

Bars

Over £80

Punch Room at The London Edition

Punch Room at The London Edition

10 Berners Street, London, London, W1T 3NP

Tucked away at the rear of the glossy London Edition hotel, The Punch Room is an inviting, low-key hideaway with a blazing open fire and an impressive range of heritage punches.

Under £30

Bars

Chiltern Firehouse

Chiltern Firehouse

1 Chiltern Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 7PA

With its reputation as a celebrity-spotting-hub par excellence, it feels only right to dress up (and save up) to come here. The stellar wine list galivants across the world and the food is outstanding too.

£50 - £79

International

Dukes Bar at Dukes Hotel

Dukes Bar at Dukes Hotel

Dukes Hotel, St James's Place, London, SW1A 1NY

A must-visit for Martini fans, this most discreet of drinking dens is old school to the core. As the birthplace of the Vesper Martini, created by James Bond’s author, you’d be mad not to order one.

Bars

The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell

The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell

49-50 St John's Square, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 4JJ

With its richly decadent colour schemes and assorted sofas and armchairs, the Zetter Townhouse Cocktail Lounge puts guests in mind of a Victorian parlour. Stop in for afternoon tea or an adventurous cocktail.

Bars

American Bar at The Beaumont

American Bar at The Beaumont

Beaumont Hotel, Brown Hart Gardens, London, W1K 6TF

There’s a cosseting feel to this art-deco style bar, which majors in Prohibition-era cocktails. American whiskey is also a focus here, so expect accomplished renditions of Manhattans, Old Fashioneds and bourbon-laced Mint Juleps too.

Bars

Waeska at The Mandrake

Waeska at The Mandrake

The Mandrake Hotel, 20-21 Newman Street, London, W1T 1PG

The decadent clubby cocktail lounge that resides within the boho-deluxe boutique Mandrake Hotel is worth a visit for its restorative plant-based sips. The bar also stocks rare and unusual brands from all over the world.

Bars

The Luggage Room

The Luggage Room

Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 6JP

Top-dollar 'lost and forgotten' cocktails are the thing to order at The London Marriott’s basement bar, which is modelled on an American speakeasy. 'Low tea' – a revived Victorian tradition – is also served at this clandestine hole-up.

Bars

Berners Tavern at The London Edition

Berners Tavern at The London Edition

10 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 3NP

The zinc-topped bar with high stools and an illuminated amber backdrop is just one of the stunning features of the London Edition’s spectacular dining room. The baroque space also features high ceilings and hundreds of gold-framed pictures.

£50 - £79

British

Ham Yard Bar at Ham Yard Hotel

Ham Yard Bar at Ham Yard Hotel

One Ham Yard, Piccadilly Circus, London, W1D 7DT

Ham Yard Bar is a chic, urban oasis majoring in upbeat drinks, from modern wines by the glass or carafe, to fizz from small producers and plenty of zingy cocktails. It does great nibbles too.

Bars

Claridge

Claridge's Bar

Claridge's, Brook Street, London, W1K 4HR

Claridge’s Bar is home to one of the finest selections of Champagne in the capital, with rare cuvées and vintage bottles costing up to £5,800. Happily, there’s also a reasonably priced roll call of cocktails.

Bars

Hotel Bars

£30 - £49

The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych

The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych

1 Aldwych, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BZ

Silky service, a stylish ambience and classy cocktails with high price tags give The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych a sense of sophistication that goes down well with the hotel's well-heeled international clientele.

Bars

Beaufort Bar at The Savoy

Beaufort Bar at The Savoy

Strand, London, London, WC2R 0EZ

Darkly seductive, with sleek black and gold art-deco styling, The Beaufort is possibly the most glamorous bar in the capital. Splash out on one of the fabulously rare and vintage cocktails or a glass of Champagne.

£30 - £49

Bars

The Bloomsbury Club Bar

The Bloomsbury Club Bar

The Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3NN

Cocktails inspired by ‘The Bloomsbury Set’ are the way to go at the Bloomsbury Hotel’s revamped bar. Settle into the art deco private library room, or find a spot on the fairy-lit covered terrace.

Bars

Seymour

Seymour's Parlour at The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone

28-30 Seymour Street, Marylebone, London, W1H 7JB

Heavy furniture, low lighting and silky service make this opulent bar a relaxing spot for a cocktail or else a ‘gentleman’s’ afternoon tea complete with pork pies, haggis sausage rolls and black pudding Scotch eggs.

£30 - £49

Bars

Bar 45

Bar 45

45 Park Lane, London, W1K 1PN

Spice-toned leathery luxe is the vibe at this bar, which feels a bit like a set for a Hermès ad campaign. Prices are steep, but the taste and presentation of the cocktails is suitably exotic.

Bars

Rotunda at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square

Rotunda at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square

Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, 10 Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4AJ

Featuring a sunken lounge with marble and sculpted stucco, a magnificent glass dome and a grand piano, Rotunda is a striking setting in which to enjoy afternoon tea, flutes of fizz, or an aperitivo-hour Spritz.

Bars

The American Bar at The Stafford

The American Bar at The Stafford

The Stafford Hotel, St. James's Place, London, SW1A 1NJ

Signed photos of celebrated guests line the walls of the main bar and original lounge at this five-star bar that opened in the 1930s. The St James’s-themed drinks list comes courtesy of legendary manager Benoît Provost.

Bars

Over £80

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London

252 High Holborn, Bloomsbury, London, WC1V 7EN

Named in honour of political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, whose colourful works hang on the walls, this bar has character in spades. Properly mixed cocktails join an impeccably curated selection of wines, Champagne, port and sherry.

Bars

Library Bar at The Lanesborough

Library Bar at The Lanesborough

The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7TA

Elderly couples, businessmen, wealthy tourists and drop-ins alike feel right at home at The Lanesborough’s plush bar. The blinding list of whiskies and Cognacs is worth a look, though we like the mini ‘canapé cocktails’.

£50 - £79

Bars

The Distillery

The Distillery

186 Portobello Road, London, W11 1LA

Part of a tiny boutique hotel with just three rooms, The Distillery houses two bars: one a classic British boozer serving up barrel-aged spirits, the other a stylish bar with a list of 100 different gins.

Bars

The Rivoli Bar at The Ritz London

The Rivoli Bar at The Ritz London

The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9BR

If one bar in London embodies decadent luxury, it’s The Rivoli. Such style has a handsome price tag, but if your wallet can take a hit, then settle in for gold standard signature cocktails.

Bars

The Devil

The Devil's Darling at The Napoleon

The Napoleon Hotel, 9 Christopher Street, London, EC2A 2BS

The Napoleon is London’s smallest boutique hotel, but it does boast three distinctly different bars including this one. The daily-changing menu lists just three drinks, so there’s little choice but no room for mediocrity.

Bars

Bassoon

Bassoon

Corinthia Hotel London, Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2BD

Slick service and sophisticated surroundings make the Corinthia Hotel’s glossy bar an easy place to while away an evening. The impressive selections of whisky, Cognac and rum are one option; perfectly pitched cocktails are another.

Bars

Artesian at the Langham

Artesian at the Langham

The Langham, 1c Portland Place, Marylebone, London, W1B 1JA

Entirely unique, the cocktail menu at Artesian has been carefully crafted based on the flavours people associate with pivotal moments in their life, eg, ‘that moment when… you went to big school’.

Bars

Galvin at Windows (bar)

Galvin at Windows (bar)

London Hilton, London, W1K 1BE

Spectacular views are a major selling point of the recently-refurbished bar located on the 28th floor of the Park Lane Hilton, though cocktails that fuse eastern and western philosophies are a reason to visit too.

Bars

The Connaught Bar at the Connaught

The Connaught Bar at the Connaught

The Connaught, 16 Carlos Place, Mayfair, London, W1K 2AL

Everything from the David Collins-designed décor to the drinks and decadent canapés is eye-catching here. This place gets all the basics right too, from polished service to knock-out Tanqueray 10 Martinis, mixed tableside.

Bars

The Goring (bar)

The Goring (bar)

The Goring, Westminster, London, SW1W 0JW

The newly-reimagined Goring Bar’s cocktail list focuses on British spirits complemented by herbs sourced from the beautiful English country garden out back. Posh bar bites such as lobster scampi are an excellent shout too.

Bars

The American Bar at The Savoy

The American Bar at The Savoy

Strand, London, WC2R 0EZ

This stylish, award-winning bar has been going strong since 1893. The bar evokes a golden era of cocktails with its understated elegance and flawless service all set against the backdrop of a tinkling piano.

Bars

Dry Martini by Javier De Las Muelas

Dry Martini by Javier De Las Muelas

Albany Street, Regents Park, London, NW1 3UP

Dazzlingly decked out with jewel-coloured sofas, chequered floors and eclectic modern art, Dry Martini at the Meliá White House hotel serves a top-notch dry Martini, though you could also try its Mar-Tea-Ni afternoon tea.

Bars

Hotel Bars

The Dorchester Bar at The Dorchester Hotel

The Dorchester Bar at The Dorchester Hotel

The Dorchester Hotel, 53 Park Lane, London, W1K 1QA

Launched in 1931, this classy bronze-mirrored bar serves up classics from the golden ages of the cocktail in dramatic surroundings. Keep things tame with bouchées such as Wagyu tartare with truffle mayo and oscietra caviar.

Bars

Manetta

Manetta's Bar at Flemings Mayfair

Flemings Mayfair, 7-12 Half Moon Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 7BH

Once a favourite haunt of foreign spies and British spooks, Flemings’ bijou cocktail lounge is one for discerning London drinks sleuths. Everything from the plush interiors to the dashing staff and highly-quaffable cocktails is impeccable.

Bars

For after-hours drinking inspiration, check out our guide to the best late-night bars in London.

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