14 Best Cocktails to Try in London And Where to Drink Them
There are nights in London when you just want a drink.
And then there are nights when you want the drink.
The kind that arrives perfectly chilled, balanced to the last drop and makes you understand why people will cross half of London for a particular bar.
London is one of those cities where you can order almost anything. A classic Martini in a grand Mayfair hotel. A Negroni in a tiny Soho bar. A Margarita in an East London drinking den. Or something so unusual that you need to ask the bartender what is actually in the glass.
And that is exactly what makes London's cocktail scene so good.
The difficult part isn't finding somewhere that sells cocktails. It is deciding which cocktail is actually worth ordering.
So rather than giving you another generic list of “the best cocktail bars in London”, this guide takes a slightly different approach.
Start with the drink.
Then find the bar that does it particularly well.
From legendary classics to experimental serves that sound strange on paper but somehow work in the glass, these are some of the cocktails and cocktail bars worth knowing about in London in 2026.
1. The Martini - The Connaught Bar, Mayfair
The Connaughts Bar
If you have never had a proper Martini in London, The Connaught Bar is one of the obvious places to start.
But the reason to visit isn't simply the name.
It is the ritual.
The Connaught's famous Martini Trolley is brought directly to your table, with spirits, handmade bitters and the ingredients needed to create your drink. The guest can influence the flavour profile, while the Martini itself is always stirred. The bar's own description explains that its bitters include combinations such as tonka bean, lavender and the Director of Mixology's bergamot-and-ginseng blend.
It turns ordering a Martini into an experience rather than simply ordering a drink.
And The Connaught isn't relying solely on its reputation. Its Martini was once again highlighted as London's best Martini in Time Out's current 2026 cocktail guide.
Interestingly, a recent bartender-led Times guide chose the Last Word a the standout drink at The Connaught rather than the Martini, which says something about the depth of the bar's cocktail programme.
What to order: Connaught Martini
Best for: A special occasion, a date or a classic London luxury experience.
Expect: Luxury pricing rather than casual pub prices.
2. The Negroni - Bar Termini, Soho
Bar Termini
The Negroni is one of those cocktails that looks simple until someone makes a really good one.
Gin, Campari and vermouth.
Three ingredients. Endless opportunities to get the balance wrong.
Bar Termini in Soho has become one of London's go-to places for the drink. Its intimate Italian-inspired setting feels almost purpose-built for an early evening Negroni before dinner.
Time Out currently names Bar Termini its best London bar for a Negroni, while the venue also sits at No. 8 in the 2026 Top 50 Cocktail Bars ranking for Britain.
But don't feel that you have to stop at the classic.
Time Out's current guide recommends the Marsala Martini, made with gin, sweet Marsala, dry vermouth and almond bitters, as another drink worth ordering here.
What to order: House Negroni or Marsala Martini
Best for: Aperitivo, pre-dinner drinks and a quieter cocktail in Soho.
The vibe: Tiny, elegant and distinctly Italian.
3. The Margarita - Satan's Whiskers, Bethnal Green
Satan's Whiskers
If you prefer your cocktails bright, citrusy and a little dangerous, head east.
Satan's Whiskers in Bethnal Green is one of London's most respected cocktail bars — and it is currently having a particularly strong year.
The 2026 Top 50 Cocktail Bars ranking placed it third in Britain and first among London bars. More than 200 people from the drinks industry contributed to the voting.
The interesting thing about Satan's Whiskers is that you cannot completely plan your visit around a fixed menu.
The menu changes daily.
That means there is a degree of uncertainty every time you walk through the door, but there are also dependable house favourites. Current coverage mentions drinks such as the Satan's Garibaldi and Satan's Manhattan.
Time Out currently names Satan's Whiskers its best London bar for a Margarita, making it the obvious choice when tequila and citrus are calling.
What to order: Margarita, or ask what the bartender recommends that night.
Best for: Tequila lovers and people who enjoy discovering something rather than following a fixed list.
The vibe: Relaxed East London rather than polished hotel glamour.
4. Irish Coffee - Swift Soho
Swift Soho
Not every great cocktail needs to be cold.
Sometimes it needs to be warm.
Swift's Irish Coffee has become one of those drinks that people specifically visit the bar to have. A recent August 2026 guide from The Times describes it as one of London's standout classic cocktails, praising the combination of coffee, whiskey and carefully textured whipped cream.
It is also a good reminder that London's cocktail scene isn't just about elaborate creations.
A drink can be famous because it is complicated.
Or it can be famous because it is really, really well made.
Swift has also appeared in the 2026 Top 50 Cocktail Bars ranking, placing 15th in Britain.
What to order: Irish Coffee
Best for: Cold evenings, after-dinner drinks or anyone who thinks cocktails should occasionally feel comforting.
5. A Vesper - The Spy Bar, Whitehall
The Spy Bar
If James Bond had a London bar guide, this would probably be somewhere near the top.
The Spy Bar sits inside the OWO on Whitehall, a building with a genuine connection to Britain's intelligence history. The bar leans into that atmosphere without turning the whole experience into a theme park.
The drink to look for is the Vesper Martini.
The Times' latest bartender-led guide describes the bar's Vesper as a precision-made version inspired by the original Kina Lillet flavour profile — the aperitif associated with Bond's famous order in Casino Royale.
Time Out's current guide also recommends the Vesper and notes the unusual no-photography policy: visitors are given a sticker to cover their phone camera on entry.
So this isn't just somewhere to photograph your cocktail.
In fact, you're specifically being asked not to.
What to order: Vesper Martini
Best for: Bond fans, history lovers and anyone who wants something a little different from the usual cocktail night.
6. Something experimental - Lyaness, South Bank
Lyaness
This is where you stop ordering cocktails because you recognise their names.
At Lyaness, you are better off thinking in terms of flavours and ingredients.
The bar's current menu is explicitly ingredient-led rather than built around a traditional list of familiar cocktails. Its latest menu includes drinks such as the Pink Belly Gimlet, Cherry Cannon Punch, Lobster Frappé, Iron Mai Tai, Heart Yard Highball and Lunar Tuxedo.
And some of those names don't tell you much about what you're about to drink.
The Pink Belly Gimlet, for example, combines gin with carrot salami, aquavit honey and lemon.
The Lunar Tuxedo uses gin, moon raspberry, white tea and guava vermouth.
There is even a Cereal Martini.
This is exactly the kind of place where telling the bartender what flavours you enjoy can be more useful than choosing something purely because the name sounds familiar.
Lyaness also has a number of boozeless versions of its cocktails, and its current menu gives those options alongside the alcoholic serves.
What to order: Ask the bartender to guide you based on your favourite flavours.
Best for: Curious drinkers who want to try something genuinely unusual.
Bonus: You get the South Bank and Thames setting as part of the experience.
7. A Japanese-inspired cocktail - Waltz, Shoreditch
Waltz
Waltz is one of the newer names on London's cocktail scene, but it has already made a serious impression.
The Shoreditch bar opened in 2025 and draws heavily from Japanese cocktail culture and the idea of micro-seasons. Its menu changes regularly to reflect those seasonal ideas.
Time Out currently gives Waltz five stars and describes it as a Japanese cocktail bar built around micro-seasonal drinks.
Its current signature Original Picante is described as an intensely green, spicy summer drink, while the seasonal menu can include much more unusual combinations including mezcal, kefir, lemon, asparagus and fresh peas.
Waltz also ranked fifth in Britain's Top 50 Cocktail Bars 2026, making it the second-highest London bar on the list after Satan's Whiskers.
What to order: Original Picante, or ask about the current seasonal serve.
Best for: People who like Japanese-inspired flavours and beautifully technical cocktails.
8. A Margarita with an Indian twist - SOMA, Soho
SOMA Soho
SOMA is proof that a cocktail doesn't have to stay loyal to the recipe you already know.
Its current menu takes classic cocktail structures and reworks them with ingredients and flavours that give them a distinctly different identity.
Take the Chaat Margarita.
Instead of simply tequila, citrus and orange liqueur, SOMA's version uses Tapatio Blanco, Mezcal Verde, chaat masala, gooseberry and kumquat.
There is also a Jamun Whisky Sour, a Kahwa Chai Old Fashioned, a curry-leaf Gimlet and a melon Martini.
The result is a menu that feels familiar and completely unfamiliar at the same time.
SOMA also appears in the 2026 Top 50 Cocktail Bars list, at No. 48 in Britain.
What to order: Chaat Margarita
Best for: Anyone who wants to see familiar cocktails through a completely different flavour lens.
9. A Mediterranean twist - Kamara, Soho
Kamara Bar Soho
Kamara is another place to visit when you want a classic cocktail without necessarily wanting the classic recipe.
A recent Times guide from August 2026 highlights Kamara for its Mediterranean approach, specifically pointing to an Old Fashioned that combines whisky with aged tsipouro and aromatic bitters.
It is a subtle idea rather than a gimmick.
The structure of the Old Fashioned remains recognisable, but the Mediterranean influence changes the character of the drink.
That is often what the best modern cocktail bars do.
They don't completely reinvent a cocktail.
They give you a reason to taste it again.
What to order: The Old Fashioned with tsipouro influence.
Best for: Whisky drinkers and anyone who enjoys classic cocktails with a regional twist.
10. A proper Daiquiri - Waltz, Shoreditch
There is a reason classic cocktails keep returning.
The Daiquiri is basically rum, lime and sugar.
That's it.
Which means there isn't much room for hiding mistakes.
The latest Times guide includes Waltz among its standout London cocktail destinations and specifically recommends its approach to the Daiquiri. The bar's philosophy is influenced by the Japanese idea of kaizen, or continuous improvement, with the team constantly refining details.
That makes it a particularly good place to appreciate something simple.
A Daiquiri doesn't need smoke, foam, five garnishes and a story printed on a card.
Sometimes the skill is in making three ingredients taste exactly right.
What to order: Daiquiri
Best for: Anyone who wants to understand why classic cocktails remain classics.
11. The 50/50 Martini - The Savoy
The Savoy's cocktail history is impossible to separate from London's drinking culture.
Its American Bar and Beaufort Bar remain destinations for people who care about classic cocktails and old-school hospitality.
The latest Times expert guide highlights their 50/50 Martini an equal split of gin and dry vermouth as a particularly strong example of how much precision matters in a simple cocktail.
The important thing here is not experimentation.
It is restraint.
A good 50/50 Martini is a lesson in balance, dilution and temperature.
And if you are going to have one in London, there are few settings more fitting than The Savoy.
What to order: 50/50 Martini
Best for: Classic cocktail lovers and anyone interested in London's cocktail history.
12. The Adonis - Américain
Américain
Not every great cocktail needs to be strong.
The Adonis is a low-ABV classic built around vermouth, sherry and bitters, and it is the drink that recent bartender Angelos Bafas singled out at Américain.
That makes it a good option for people who want something sophisticated without necessarily ordering a spirit-forward cocktail.
It is lighter, complex and suited to the kind of slow early-evening drink where you are not trying to get through three cocktails in an hour.
Sometimes the best cocktail is the one that lets you stay for longer.
What to order: Adonis
Best for: Low-ABV drinking and elegant early evenings.
13. A reimagined classic - Archive & Myth
Archive & Myth
Finding Archive & Myth is part of the experience.
It sits underneath the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square and describes itself as a hidden cocktail bar built around reimagined classics. The venue's official site says its cocktails come in two sizes and that it also offers vintage and alcohol-free cocktails.
It is particularly interesting if you like cocktails with a little theatre.
The current bar has also been recognised in major cocktail guides, and its place at No. 18 in the 2026 Top 50 Cocktail Bars ranking confirms that it is more than simply a novelty hidden below a casino.
And the smaller Minor serves are particularly useful if you want to explore more than one cocktail without committing to a full-sized drink every time.
What to order: Try one of the reimagined classics, and consider a Minor serve if you want to explore.
Best for: Hidden-bar atmosphere and adventurous drinkers.
Important: It is inside the Hippodrome Casino, so valid physical photo ID is required for entry.
14. The Hugo Spritz - for a lighter summer drink
Not every cocktail night needs to be serious.
And not every drink needs to be a Martini.
The Hugo Spritz has become increasingly visible in Britain, offering a lighter, more floral alternative to the ubiquitous Aperol Spritz. The basic combination of elderflower, sparkling wine, soda and mint makes it particularly suited to warm-weather drinking.
It is also part of a wider shift in what people are ordering.
The cocktail world has become much more interested in lower-ABV drinks, spritzes and lighter serves drinks that can work earlier in the evening and don't necessarily dominate the rest of your night.
If you are sitting outside somewhere on a warm London evening, sometimes a cold, sparkling drink with mint is exactly what you need.
What to order: Hugo Spritz
Best for: Summer evenings, aperitivo and people who prefer lighter drinks.
Don't know what to order? Let the bartender choose
This might actually be the most useful recommendation in the entire guide.
If you walk into a genuinely good cocktail bar and don't recognise half the ingredients on the menu, don't panic.
Tell the bartender:
what spirits you normally like
whether you prefer sweet, sour, bitter or spirit-forward drinks
whether you want something refreshing or strong
and roughly how much you want to spend
Then let them work.
This is particularly useful at places such as Lyaness, where the current menu is deliberately organised around ingredients and ideas rather than simply familiar cocktail names.
It is also one of the reasons London's cocktail scene remains so interesting.
You can walk into the same city bar on two different nights and have completely different experiences.
So, which cocktail should you actually try?
If you want to keep things simple, here's the shortlist I'd use.
For the iconic London experience: Connaught Martini at The Connaught Bar
For a Negroni: Bar Termini
For a Margarita: Satan's Whiskers
For an Irish Coffee: Swift Soho
For a Bond-style drink: Vesper at The Spy Bar
For something experimental: Lyaness
For Japanese-inspired cocktails: Waltz
For an Indian-inspired twist: Chaat Margarita at SOMA
For Mediterranean flavours: Kamara
For a classic Daiquiri: Waltz
For a 50/50 Martini: The Savoy
For low-ABV drinking: Adonis at Américain
For a hidden-bar experience: Archive & Myth
For something light: Hugo Spritz
And if you're still unsure?
Ask the bartender.
What makes a cocktail bar actually worth visiting?
A famous name doesn't automatically make a great cocktail bar.
The best places usually get several things right at once.
The drink comes first.
A beautiful interior won't rescue a badly balanced cocktail.
The classics matter.
If a bar cannot make a good Martini, Negroni or Daiquiri, it is difficult to trust the more experimental creations.
The menu should have a point of view.
The best modern bars aren't simply throwing unusual ingredients into glasses for attention. There is usually an idea behind the combinations.
And the experience matters too.
A cocktail is more than liquid.
It is where you are sitting, who you are with, the music, the service, the glassware and the feeling you get when the drink arrives.
That's why a £15 cocktail in the right place can sometimes be more memorable than a £30 cocktail in the wrong one.
A final word before your cocktail hunt
London has no shortage of places to drink.
The challenge is knowing where to go for the drink you actually want.
The good news is that London's cocktail scene is broad enough to cover almost every mood.
Want something timeless?
Order a Martini.
Want something bitter?
Go for a Negroni.
Want something bright?
Try a Margarita.
Want something warm?
Have an Irish Coffee.
Want something completely unfamiliar?
Head to Lyaness.
Want to see what happens when Indian flavours meet classic cocktails?
Try SOMA.
Want to disappear underground for the evening?
Find Archive & Myth.
And if you visit one of London's best cocktail bars and discover a drink that completely changes your mind about what a cocktail can be, that's probably the point.
Because the best cocktail in London isn't necessarily the one that wins a ranking.
It is the one you remember.
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