Bar Américain (Credit: Nick Ingram).
London is really a drinker’s paradise. According to one count, there are more than 7,000 pubs in the capital city – and that’s not counting bars or establishments that serve or sell alcohol. So, while it’s a given that you’re never too far from a watering hole in this town, the challenge is finding one that suits your mood at any given moment. Fancy a drink by a unicorn fossil? In a former Presbyterian church? Or “inside” a refrigerator? This can all be experienced in London, but discerning imbibers want drinks that are as good as the ambiance.
Feel Like An American In Paris
Bar Américain, adjacent to Brasserie Zédel, feels like a world away from the touristy bustle of Piccadilly. The walk down the grand staircase and into the Art Deco room transports you to 1920s Paris: it’s like having a drink after a night at the Folies Bergère. Classic cocktails are served here, along with champagne to give this experience an extra dash of old world élan.
A Visit With Your Eccentric Aunt
Going to the Zetter Townhouse Bar is like visiting your eccentric aunt’s Georgian-era house, if your aunt were a collector of velvet sofas, hardbound books, and a stuffed cat in a blue dress with a matching parasol. This place is big on quirk, but the curiosities displayed throughout the room capture that English eccentricity in a magical way. Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrook Row is in charge of the cocktail program so it’s no surprise that that the drinks here have won awards.
Secret Chinatown Bar
Can this place be called a speakeasy when there’s a man with a Hello Kitty notebook standing in front of an unmarked door on Chinatown’s main drag? It’s a dead giveaway that something’s amiss, but once you’re in the Experimental Cocktail Club, it’s somewhat satisfying to know that you’re in on a little secret that the tourists outside don’t know about. This is the London branch of the obsessive Parisian cocktail group, so you’re guaranteed to drink something special here.
An Italian Holiday
Looking for a place that satisfies your entire day’s drinking requirements? Then Bar Termini is the place is for you. Come in for a morning espresso and come back later for an evening aperitivo. Calling this place intimate may be a euphemism — this place is tiny. If you’re lucky you can grab a seat but standing might give you a more authentic coffee drinking experience, this being an Italian-style coffee bar after all. (They also host coffee masterclasses.) Negronis later in the day are obligatory.
For Serious Cocktail Geeks
White Lyan is the brainchild of mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana. His Hoxton bar challenges people’s perceptions about how cocktails are made: You won’t find perishable items like fresh fruits or a high-end ice maker behind the counter here; all the drinks are pre-batched and bottled on-site. Chetiyawardana sources the raw spirits directly from distillers and instead of using traditional fruit juice, ingredients such as shrub clippings and vinegars provide flavor. Even the most fervent cocktail aficionados will find something new to discover here.
