Stirring, not shaken: London’s best cocktail bars

Stirring, not shaken: London’s best cocktail bars

Stirring, not shaken: London’s best cocktail bars

The Christmas tree’s turned brown and the exuberance of New Year’s Eve has given way to the everyday grind of a not-so-new-year. Is it any wonder that February can bring on a general feeling of desiccation?

Fortunately, there is a remedy for those who have reached the finishing line of ‘dry-January,’ and even for those whose sense of occasion could just use a little lubrication; choose your afternoon or evening, corral a friend, acquaintance or loved one or two, and head to one of London’s finer cocktails bars. Amid the cool décor, the sophisticated atmosphere and flavours that can be as eye-opening as the conversation, you’re sure to find something to break your dry spell.

To help you on your way, we’ve painstakingly researched eight that make a perfect mix for London this weekend:

 

Fleets

44-46 Ludgate Hill, EC4.

One of St Paul’s Cathedral’s most illustrious neighbours, this restaurant-bar is a relative newcomer, but it’s already attained near-legendary status thanks to a characterful interior, excellent service and range of wonderous dishes and cocktails. 

A magnificently long green ceramic-fronted bar first catches the eye. Spacious and relaxed, the décor is contemporary-eclectic, full of pleasingly quirky details and unexpected juxtapositions of textures, materials, patterns and colours. But strangely, the overall effect is one of relaxed comfort.

The drinks menu is seriously extensive: there are a dozen beers and ciders on draught alone, and don’t even attempt to count the reds, white, roses or the various spirits and spirit-based cocktails on offer. Newcomers may want to start with something classic and reassuring from the ‘House Cocktails’ list – such as a whisky sour or a slightly more daring French martini. If your tastes run to the really obscure, just ask and the experts at Fleets will attempt to concoct it for you.

 

Mr Fogg’s Tavern

58 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden.

This two-level tavern is more Victorian than Victoria herself – an explosion of John Bull-ish Union Flags and bric-a-brac, encased in a heavy wood coating. Show up on Thursdays and you may even find yourself swept into a Cockney singalong led by the immaculately moustachioed Mr Tom Carradine.

Upstairs in the Gin Parlour and Salon, a grand marble bar evokes the aura of cocktail clubs London of decades past. As the name strongly implies, the gin-based options can be truly intriguing, such as the ‘Bramble’ (Bombay Bramble gin, Chambord raspberry liqueur, sugar, lemon juice). Not necessarily ginned up but equally tempting are the punches, available as orders for one, two or four, and exclusive creations like the ‘Eminently Sensible’ (Eminente Reserva 7yr rum, Wray & Nephew White Overproof rum, Disaronno liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, almond and raspberry syrup).

In short, if you’re dying to get away from it all – including this century – for an hour or two, Mr Fogg’s Tavern may just have the magic potion to suit.

 

Skyline London

100 Minories, Towerhill.

As pleasant as it is, you’re unlikely to give the décor of Skyline London much notice – the views will transfix you as surely as the cocktails will warm your heart.

For now, just imagine it: you’re soaking up a London vista that seems to get better and more fascinating the longer you gaze. The Tower of London is almost close enough to touch. Your eyes bring you Tower Bridge and The Shard, amid innumerable rooftops and glimpses of life along the glistening Thames. This is stirring, inspiring stuff – and experiencing it once won’t be enough.

If you can divert your eyes to the menu, you’ll find much to enhance the mood in a massive list of wines, spirits and champagnes. Shorter but very well balanced is the cocktails list, with modern concoctions like Cosmopolitans, classics such as the Old Fashioned, and Italian favourites like the Negroni. The latter makes a great accompaniment to the Skyline’s Italian food menu – or an entrée to a full dining experience at the adjacent Cento allo Torre restaurant.   

 

The Sun Tavern 

441 Bethnal Green Road, E2.

A little rough-hewn, industrial and almost unfinished-looking, The Sun Tavern immediately appeals to those who prefer to focus on their conversation and cocktails rather than the choice of draperies.

On that score, The Sun delivers big: the space is expansive enough to stretch out your ideas as well as your legs, while the menu is simply superb. As well as 10 locally sourced draught beers and a very nicely curated wine list, highlights include London’s largest selection of Irish whiskies (200 bottles and growing) and – as if that wasn’t impressive enough – the world’s most expansive legal collection of poitin (aka Irish moonshine).

The Sun doesn’t disappoint when it comes to more classic cocktails either. Whatever takes your fancy – from the Justine 1979 to the Ellesworth St Swizzle to the Acid King to good old Irish Coffee – will reawaken your appreciation for the barman’s art.

 

Lucky Voice

There are some among us for whom scrumptious cocktails and refined surroundings just aren’t enough on their own to restore the bounce to their step. They’ve also got to sing! Fortunately, they can do it with full musical and video accompaniment at any of three Lucky Voices (in Soho, Holborn and Islington), rather than the nearest park or residential street.

Lucky Voice is definitely all about enjoying the company of like-minded friends – and in that spirit, the karaoke rooms are capacious, comfortable, and even come with ‘disposable props’ on request. The beverage menu is almost as lengthy as the playlist, ensuring that there’s something for everyone – including those who prefer to mix their own.

That said, Lucky Voice works perfectly well as a pure cocktail bar too. Out of earshot of the karaoke, the lounge bar décor is sharply modern and attractive, the lights agreeably muted, and the service attentive. Lucky indeed for those who prefer to keep their voice to themselves.

 

The Alchemist

The ‘Home to the masters of molecular mixology’ is actually five ‘homes’ in London alone, with outposts in Bevis Marks, Canary Wharf, Embassy Gardens, Old Street and St Martins Lane. But if this sounds like the makings of just another cookie-cutter corporate bar chain, think again.

Each Alchemist is different in the ways that count; they’re in interesting locations, and they’re designed to make the most of them. Some, like Canary Wharf, offer stunning exterior views, while St Martins Lane, for example, exudes the theatricality of its Covent Garden surroundings. In all branches, you’ll be eating and drinking in a supremely engaging setting.

Engaging also describes the drinks menus – all creative, all very well-made, but each compellingly different. Just two examples of the imagination at work here are ‘Pear-Ple Rain’, which combines Briottet Pear Liqueur, honey and prosecco; and the splashy ‘Bath Bomb’ with Chase Rhubarb and Apple gin, Briottet Pink Grapefruit & Peche, London Essence Peach & Jasmine, Dark Fruits. Whatever the ingredients, The Alchemist turns them into drinkable gold. 

 

The Wild Monkey

Waldorf Hilton, Aldywch.

https://monkey47.com/monkey-business/inspecteur

Open since October 8, The Wild Monkey pop-up cocktail bar is the latest idea to spring from the brains that brought you Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin. It follows that gin is a much-used ingredient in The Wild Monkey’s offerings (the ‘Monkey 47 Sonic’ has already attained iconic status among eminent cocktail-ists) – but with new twists and turns that imbue them with hints of Indian spices and British tradition, and even the Black Forest.

The decor, too, is Black Forest-inspired – dark, moody, and even a little creepy, though with the odd architectural feature or light effect reminding us that this after all is still 21st century London. Supposedly, the interior also takes cues from the actual guesthouse in which Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin was originally created.

If the prospect of unusual botanicals and a modern classic gin in a wildly creative setting sounds seductive, this pop-up’s for you – but take note, The Wild Monkey is open only Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

 

The Dickens Inn

Marble Quay, St Katharine’s Way.

It is difficult to convey just how achingly perfect this Thames-side pub actually is, as pubs go. How about an original 18th century storehouse, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London? Not so long ago, patrons here walked on sawdust-strewn floors and ate their pub grub by candlelight. Charles Dickens’ grandson presided over its opening as an inn back in 1976.

So keep in mind that when you dine and drink here, you are not only experiencing some genuine London history – you’re also making it, in at least a small way. In that spirit, the food menu comes generously seasoned with hearty British fare such as fish and chips, full English breakfast and sausage and mash.

Drinks-wise, there’s a surprisingly extensive wine and champagne list to peruse, as well as a no-nonsense selection of classic cocktails and spirits. Most tempting of all, though, is the very extensive line-up of craft beers – just the thing one needs to quench that post dry-January thirst with as many pints as it takes.