8 Cocktail Bars You Can’t Miss in London

Are you in London or planning to go anytime soon? Plan to do a crawl (maybe over two nights?) The Tahona Society Global Ambassador Megs Miller share us her recommendations.

1. FAM Bar

Address: Cnr. Picton Place & Duke St., London, W1U 1 LG

Website: www.fam.bar

Instagram: @fam.bar 

Book a table at: [email protected]

A neighborhood cocktail bar located in the heart of Central London, behind Oxfort Street, where you can expect family style hospitality—a laid back, friendly atmosphere, delicious cocktails, and ‘feel good’ vinyl (the walls are covered with records). 

The bar’s team includes Dre Masso, not only a leading figure in London’s cocktail scene for more than 20 years, but also the cocreator of Altos Tequila.

The food and drinks menus have been designed to bring you the tastes of home comfort exceptionally prepared. You will find signature Margaritas and cocktails crafted with locally sourced spirits.

Try The Brand New Shoes, a combination of gin and English sparkling wine and The Claymore, a blended scotch and in-house sparkling wine cordial.

In other words, FAM Bar is your best mate’s living room.  

2. Happiness Forgets

Address: In the basement, 8-9 Hoxton Square, Hackney, London N1 6NU

Website: www.happinessforgets.com

Instagram: @happiness_hoxton

Book a table at: [email protected] 

This speakeasy (one of the first bars with this theme) is subtly situated under the stairs of the French restaurant, Petit Pois.

For me, this winner of Best International Cocktail Bar in 2016 and 2018 at the Spirited Awards, is the local bar that feels most like home. In fact, it is part of a new breed of cocktail bars with the strapline ‘great cocktails, no wallies’.

Down-to-earth and no fuss, Happiness Forgets offers great drinks and banter. You can find classic cocktails like an Old Fahioned, as well as easy-drinking signature and refined cocktails.  If you like a rum drink, they’ll make you a rum drink, and it’ll be an excellent rum drink.
As World’s 50 Best Bars review says: “…The changing list embraces the classics, twists them up, delivers newbies and gives the staff scope to stray from the path if the customer so desires.”

3. Café Pacífico

Address: 5 Langley St, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JA

Website: cafe-pacifico.com

Instagram: @officialcafepacifico

[email protected]

Awarded Best Margarita in 2017 and 2018, this is the longest standing tequila bar and Mexican cantina in London.

Here you can enjoy an extensive selection of agave spirits while being treated as one of the family.

Located in the heart of Covent Garden, Café Pacifico has been serving the best Margaritas in London since 1982, always with friendly and caring service.

Enjoy some antojitos paired with one of its five signature Margaritas or one of its remarkable rum cocktails.

4. El Camión

Address: 25-27 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 0RR

Website: elcamion.co.uk

Instagram: @elcamion_soho

[email protected]

As if offfering the best jalapeño poppers and the best Espresso Martini weren’t enough, legendary Dick Bradsell used to tend bar here.

The cocktail bar is called Pink Chihuahua and is a favorite after hours hangout for bartenders. Go there to drink Altos! It is considered the temple of tequila and Margaritas, the top pick of which is Tommy´s Margarita made with Tequila Altos Blanco.

El Camión is filled with quirky charm but the menu is classically Mexican with all of your favorites from tacos and quesadillas to salads, and some ice cold Mexican beers are thrown in for good measure.

5. Marksman Public House

Address: 254 Hackney Rd, London E2 7SJ

Website: www.marksmanpublichouse.com

Instagram: @marksman_pub

Facebook: @MarksmanPub

This is my favorite Pub, located in the East End of London.

Go here for a Sunday pint (they serve great local beers, ales, lagers, and ciders alongside a selection of fine wines and spirits) and try tons of their famous buns.

Their simple, well-cooked food served without fuss really hits the spot!

6. Dukes Bar at Dukes Hotel

Address: 35 St James’s Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1NY

Website: www.dukeshotel.com/dukes-bar/

Instagram: @dukesbarlondon

Take reservation: [email protected]

This is a cocktail-land classic and my favorite place for a Martini. As quoted by the New York Times, “Dukes Bar concocts one of the world’s best Martinis.”

 To get served by the head bartender, Alessandro, is truly a treat! His hospitality is out of this world. He’s humble, kind, and funny, and serves up potent and unpretentious frozen Martinis.

7. The Toucan

Address: 19 Carlisle St, Soho, London W1D 3BY

+44 20 7437 4123

Facebook: @TheToucan

E mail: [email protected]

The Best Irish Bar in the heart of Soho— you are bound to run into a bartender there. The epicenter of Irish stout beer, largers, ciders, and rare Irish whiskeys. On the menu, you’ll find classic Celtic dishes like stew served with soda bread, and Rossmore oysters. Plus, none other than Jimi Hendrix played there.

8. Punch Room at The London Edition Hotel

Address:10 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP

Website: www.editionhotels.com/london/restaurants-and-bars/punch-room/

Instagram: @punchroomldn

Facebook: @punchroom

An intimate wood-panelled craft cocktail bar in a beautiful hotel, this place focuses solely on punches, served both individually and to share. Is a one-of-a-kind 19th century club inspired bar, ideal on a cold winter night.

Service, cocktails, and atmosphere are always on point. Nominated this year for Best International Hotel Bar, it is the perfect place for pre or post dinner drinks and reservations are essential. Try the House Milk Punch, The Punch Room’s signature cocktail, served in a hearty dimpled glass.

One of The Most Anticipated Momentos of the Year

Yeah!, this is one of the most anticipated moments of the year and is drawing near—the unveiling of The World’s 50 Best Bars List for 2019.

The list will be announced at a special celebratory event in London, where Altos Tequila once again has the honor of recognizing a selected charismatic bartender as the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. We spoke with the 2018 winner, Joe Schofield, about how his life changed after receiving this award. We also discussed other important topics such as sustainability, wise drinking, and some of the challenges that the bartending industry is facing today, such as innovation and creativity.

I realized that sustainability is all about the small steps. One small step may not make a huge difference, but it may influence other people. They, in turn, influence other people—creating essentially a pyramid effect.