17 drinks experiences in London you should genuinely try at least once and exactly where to go for them

1. A Martini at The Connaught Bar

This is probably London’s most famous luxury cocktail experience.

The martini trolley service became legendary for a reason.

It feels:

• elegant

• theatrical

• timeless.

Expensive?
Absolutely.

Worth trying once?
Also absolutely.

2. A Proper Pint in The Churchill Arms

Covered in flowers outside and packed with character inside, this is one of London’s most iconic pubs.

And honestly?
A cold pint here somehow feels more “London” than many tourist attractions.

Especially during:

• winter evenings

• rainy afternoons

• Christmas season.

3. A Sunset Cocktail at Aqua Shard

Few drinks in London beat:
watching sunset over the skyline from The Shard.

You’re paying partly for the view.

But when the city lights start appearing beneath you?
It genuinely feels special.

4. Red Wine by Candlelight at Gordon’s Wine Bar

This place feels frozen in time.

Low ceilings.
Candle wax everywhere.
Stone walls.
Tiny crowded tables.

It’s chaotic, romantic, slightly uncomfortable and somehow perfect.

5. A Crazy Neon Cocktail at Gura Gura

If Soho nightlife had an anime version, it would probably look like Gura Gura.

This is:

• loud

• immersive

• chaotic

• very photogenic.

Perfect for:
birthday nights
groups
“we’re definitely staying out late” energy.

6. Champagne at Claridge’s Bar

Classic Mayfair luxury.

Everything here feels polished:

• the lighting

• the service

• the atmosphere

• even the silence somehow.

This is the kind of London experience people imagine before visiting the city.

7. Guinness at The Devonshire Soho

London has become weirdly obsessed with finding the “perfect Guinness.”

And right now?
The Devonshire is one of the most talked-about places for it.

Expect:

• packed crowds

• pub energy

• and people genuinely debating Guinness quality like wine experts.

8. Espresso Martinis in Soho

Honestly?
Espresso martinis became part of London nightlife culture at this point.

Especially around:

• Soho

• Covent Garden

• Fitzrovia.

Late-night London somehow runs on:
caffeine + cocktails.

9. Cocktails & Jazz at Nightjar Shoreditch

Dark interiors.
Live jazz.
Vintage cocktails.

Nightjar feels like stepping into another era.

One of London’s best late-night atmospheres.

10. Rosé Outside in Chelsea During Summer

This is less about one venue and more about:
a very specific London summer feeling.

Chelsea terraces during warm evenings become:

• elegant

• social

• relaxed

• and somehow cinematic.

11. A Historic Ale at The Spaniards Inn

One of London’s oldest pubs.

You come here for:

• fireplaces

• beer gardens

• old wood interiors

• literary history.

It feels deeply British in the best way.

12. Rooftop Drinks at SUSHISAMBA London

Few rooftop bars feel as visually dramatic as this one.

Especially at night.

The outdoor terrace views over Liverpool Street are incredible.

13. Natural Wine in Soho at Bar Crispin

Small. Stylish. Loud in the right way.

Bar Crispin became one of Soho’s coolest wine spots because it feels:

• intimate

• effortless

• genuinely London.

14. Riverside Drinks Along South Bank

Sometimes the best London drink is simply:
whatever you’re holding beside the Thames at sunset.

The atmosphere does most of the work.

15. A Cocktail at Lyaness

One of London’s most respected cocktail bars.

Creative drinks without becoming pretentious.

And the Thames-side setting makes it even better.

16. A Late-Night Soho Pub Crawl

This is chaotic London nightlife in its purest form.

Tiny pubs.
Packed streets.
Music everywhere.

Not luxurious.
But absolutely memorable.

17. A Fancy Hotel Cocktail at Scarfes Bar

Warm lighting.
Fireplace atmosphere.
Live music.

Scarfes Bar feels like the kind of place where London slows down for a few hours.

Especially during colder evenings.

What Makes London Drinking Culture Different

It’s not about one perfect bar.

It’s the contrast between:

• luxury hotels

• old pubs

• rooftop cocktails

• jazz bars

• riverside drinks

• Soho chaos

all existing within the same city.

That’s what makes nights out in London feel unpredictable in the best way.

FINAL ANSWER

Some cities are remembered for landmarks.

London is often remembered for:

• the pub you accidentally stayed in too long

• the rooftop cocktail at sunset

• the candlelit wine bar

• or the pint after walking all day through the city.

Because honestly?

Some of the best London memories begin with:

“Let’s just get a drink first.”