13 Best Hotel Bars in London: Personally Reviewed & Compared (2026)
London’s hotel bars aren’t just places to drink—they’re destinations. From the legendary martini trolley at The Connaught to a basement speakeasy where they tape over your phone camera, these 13 venues represent the best of luxury drinking in the world’s cocktail capital. After personally visiting 48 hotel bars across London, I’ve ranked the absolute best for 2026. Whether you’re seeking a £12 Soho gem or a £320 rare cognac experience, this guide covers everything: signature drinks, insider tips, pricing, and booking strategies.
Looking for the best hotel bar in London? The comparison table below compares all 13 reviewed bars by location, price range and signature drink. Further down: full honest reviews of every bar I have personally visited — The Connaught Bar, American Bar, Artesian, Donovan Bar, Silverleaf, The Painter’s Room, Lyaness, Swift Soho, The Aubrey, Velvet by Salvatore, Scarfes Bar, The Spy Bar and Side Hustle.
Compare all 13 bars → All reviewed bars → FAQ → JP’s verdict →
Updated March 2026
Quick Comparison: Top 13 Hotel Bars
| # | Bar | Location | Price | Signature Drink | Best For |
| 1 | The Connaught Bar | Mayfair | £25–35 | Martini Trolley | Martini lovers, special occasions |
| 2 | American Bar | Strand | £24–32 | Savoy Affinity | Classic cocktails, history |
| 3 | Artesian | Marylebone | £24–32 | Molecular cocktails | Innovation seekers |
| 4 | Donovan Bar | Mayfair | £23–28 | The Winston | Whisky lovers, quiet atmosphere |
| 5 | Silverleaf | City | £21–28 | Mango Saffron | Rooftop views, happy hour |
| 6 | The Painter’s Room | Mayfair | £23–30 | Côte d’Azur Spritz | Art lovers, golden hour |
| 7 | Lyaness | South Bank | £22–28 | Beeswax Old Fashioned | Eco-conscious, sustainable |
| 8 | Swift Soho | Soho | £12–20 | Seismic Collision | Best value, pre-theatre |
| 9 | The Aubrey | Knightsbridge | £85 omakase | Cocktail omakase | Special celebrations |
| 10 | Velvet by Salvatore | Whitehall | £28–320 | Rare spirits | Connoisseurs, collectors |
| 11 | Scarfes Bar | Holborn | £12–20 | Negroni | Live jazz, local crowd |
| 12 | The Spy Bar | Westminster | £14–23+ | Tradecraft cocktails | Unique experience, speakeasy |
| 13 | Side Hustle | Covent Garden | £11–18 | Toreador | Groups, Latin cocktails |
All 13 bars personally visited by JP · Prices are per cocktail unless noted · Omakase = tasting experience · Updated March 2026
The Connaught Bar is the definitive martini experience in London. The theatrical martini trolley service — served in an Art Deco setting with silver-leaf ceilings, the bartender arriving tableside with a trolley of botanicals and bitters — is genuinely unlike anything else in the city. After three visits I can confirm: this is the pinnacle of cocktail craftsmanship in London.
Signature drink: The Connaught Martini (£25) — tonka bean-infused gin with cardamom essence, served at precisely -18°C with a vertical pour and mineralised ice made with Himalayan salt. The four minutes of dedicated bartender attention per guest is the experience, not just the drink.
£25–35 per cocktail · Reserve spirits flight £75
30 days ahead for weekends · Tuesday 6 PM for quieter, more personalised experience
Reservations essential · no walk-ins at peak times · dress code enforced
Location & Getting There
Signature Experience
Personalised martini trolley service with four minutes of dedicated bartender attention. The reserve spirits flight (£75) features rare bottles including vintage Macallan. Book Tuesday 6 PM for the most attentive experience. Walk-ins occasionally possible mid-week before 6 PM — do not rely on it.
For those considering a stay at The Connaught hotel, JP’s full review is on this site.
- Unrivalled martini theatre — the trolley service is a genuine experience
- World-class bartenders with encyclopedic knowledge
- Art Deco silver-leaf setting unlike anything else in Mayfair
- Service that anticipates rather than reacts
- Requires 30-day advance booking for weekends
- Dress code strictly enforced — smart at minimum
- Can feel performative for those who prefer understated bars
We may earn a commission if you book via these links, at no extra cost to you.
Scarfes Bar has done something most hotel bars never manage: it has earned a genuine local following. Named for political caricaturist Gerald Scarfe — whose angular, darkly funny originals line the walls — this is the bar at Rosewood London where lawyers from the nearby Inns of Court and journalists from Holborn offices come to drink on a Thursday evening. Not because it is the hotel bar closest to their office. Because it is actually good.
The cocktail programme is considered without being precious. Live jazz runs Thursday through Saturday and creates an atmosphere that is properly adult — warm, intelligent, not trying too hard. Walk-ins are welcome but the bar fills by 8 PM on jazz nights. If you need to wait, the Ship Tavern down the alleyway next to the hotel is one of London’s quiet pub gems.
Signature drink: The Negroni (£20) — made well, served cold, no theatre required. The cocktail programme changes seasonally; ask what the current house creation is.
£12 non-alcoholic · £20 cocktails
Thursday – Saturday evenings · arrive before 8 PM to guarantee a seat
Fills fast Thu–Sat · walk-ins welcome but don’t rely on it after 8 PM on jazz nights
Location & Getting There
- Genuine local following — not just hotel guests
- Live jazz Thu–Sat creates an atmosphere money can’t manufacture
- Gerald Scarfe originals on the walls — actually worth looking at
- Barmen who calibrate attention correctly — present when needed, invisible when not
- Fills fast on jazz nights — arrive by 8 PM
- Slightly kitsch staff uniforms — ignore them, the cocktails are serious
For those considering a stay at Rosewood London, JP’s full hotel review is on this site.
We may earn a commission if you book via these links, at no extra cost to you.
The Old War Office on Whitehall — where Churchill planned wartime strategy, where MI6 once had its London base — is now Raffles London. In its basement, behind a concealed entrance, is The Spy Bar: a genuine speakeasy that takes its secrecy seriously. Entry requires you to cover your phone camera lens with a sticker. What happens inside stays inside, which is exactly the point.
The bar leans into its espionage heritage without becoming a theme park. Cocktails are named for tradecraft and Cold War references; the design is dark, low-lit, conspiratorial. It is the most distinctive bar concept in London right now. Go at least once.
Signature drink: Non-alcoholic cocktails from £14 · alcoholic cocktails from £23. The menu changes; the atmosphere does not.
£14 non-alcoholic · £23+ cocktails
A sticker covers your phone camera lens on entry · no photography inside · this is not optional
Entrance is concealed — ask Raffles staff to direct you · do not arrive expecting a conventional bar
Location & Getting There
The Spy Bar is part of Raffles London at the OWO — no affiliate hotel links currently available for this property.
Side Hustle at NoMad London is the bar of choice for the beautiful young things — never more so than during London Fashion Week, headquartered down the road at Somerset House. Year-round, though, it keeps the party moving: a Latin America meets London menu, all brooding wood and dimly lit corners, with tacos served in corn tortillas and cocktails that have a point of view.
The Toreador is the drink to order — a tequila-based affair that is what a margarita would be if it grew up. The atmosphere rewards groups but works just as well for two.
Signature drink: Toreador (£18) — tequila, agave, citrus. Non-alcoholic cocktails from £11, alcoholic from £12.
£11 non-alcoholic · £12–18 cocktails · best value in Covent Garden
Order the tacos in corn tortillas — among the best bar snacks at this price in London
Very busy during London Fashion Week · book ahead at weekends · younger crowd than Mayfair bars
Location & Getting There
Side Hustle is part of NoMad London — affiliate hotel booking links coming soon.
Essential Information — What Nobody Tells You
- 01
The Connaught Bar and American Bar require advance booking — do not walk in on a Friday night
The Connaught Bar books 30 days ahead for weekends. American Bar books 2–3 weeks ahead. Both will turn you away at the door. Book the Tuesday 6 PM slot at The Connaught for the most attentive experience. Walk-ins at American Bar are possible before 6 PM on weekdays only.
- 02
The Aubrey omakase is an occasion, not a drink — book 60 days ahead and allow two hours
The Aubrey cocktail omakase at Mandarin Oriental is £85 per person and takes two hours. It requires 60-day advance booking. Weekend brunch with free-flowing champagne is a separate booking again.
- 03
Happy hours worth knowing: Silverleaf and Swift Soho are the best value in London
Silverleaf at Pan Pacific: cocktails from £12 between 5–7 PM weekdays. Swift Soho: cocktails from £12 between 4–6 PM daily, plus 15 percent off with a same-day theatre ticket.
- 04
The Spy Bar requires you to cover your phone camera — this is not a gimmick
Entry to The Spy Bar at Raffles OWO involves a sticker placed over your phone camera lens. No photography is permitted inside. It is a genuine house rule, not a novelty. If you want to document your evening, go elsewhere first.
- 05
Dress codes apply throughout these hotels — not just in the restaurant
Smart casual is the minimum at all Mayfair bars. Claridge’s (The Painter’s Room), The Connaught Bar and The Ritz all enforce dress codes for hotel public areas. No sportswear, no trainers, no flip-flops. At The Ritz, a jacket is required for men at all times.
FAQ — London Hotel Bars
What is the average cost of cocktails at London’s best hotel bars?
Most luxury hotel bars charge £20–32 per cocktail. Happy hours at Silverleaf and Swift Soho bring cocktails down to £12–15. Ultra-luxury experiences like The Aubrey omakase are £85 per person. Velvet by Salvatore rare spirit tastings reach £320. Side Hustle at NoMad is the best value at £12–18.
Which London hotel bars accept walk-ins?
Swift Soho, Silverleaf before 7 PM weekdays, Scarfes Bar, Side Hustle at NoMad, and The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s on weekdays. American Bar accepts walk-ins before 6 PM on weekdays. The Connaught Bar, Artesian and The Aubrey omakase all require advance reservations.
What is the dress code for London hotel bars?
Smart casual minimum at all premium venues. Mayfair hotels — The Connaught Bar, The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s — enforce stricter standards. No sportswear, trainers or flip-flops. The Ritz requires a jacket for men throughout the hotel. Side Hustle and Scarfes Bar are more relaxed.
What are the best hotel bars in Mayfair?
The Connaught Bar (best martinis, World’s Best Bar 2024), The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s (best atmosphere at golden hour), and Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel (best for whisky and a quiet, contemplative drink).
What is the best hotel bar in London overall?
The Connaught Bar for the most complete luxury experience. American Bar at The Savoy for cocktail history. Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London for live jazz and a genuine local crowd. The Spy Bar at Raffles OWO for the most distinctive concept in London right now.
What is The Spy Bar at the OWO and how do you get in?
The Spy Bar is a basement speakeasy inside Raffles London at the Old War Office, Whitehall. Entry requires a sticker placed over your phone camera lens — no photography is allowed inside. The entrance is concealed; ask Raffles front desk staff to direct you. Cocktails from £23. It is London’s most genuinely secretive bar and worth visiting at least once.
JP’s Verdict: Best Hotel Bars by Purpose
Choose The Connaught Bar if the martini trolley experience is the point and you want the best cocktail theatre in London. Book Tuesday 6 PM.
Choose American Bar if cocktail history and a classic atmosphere matter more than innovation. Sunday 3 PM for the quietest piano experience.
Choose Artesian if you want to drink something you have never encountered before. Book the Frontier Series tasting menu.
Choose Donovan Bar if you want great whisky in a room that does not try to impress you.
Choose The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s if atmosphere at golden hour is the priority. Arrive before 4 PM.
Choose The Aubrey if you want to make an occasion of it. £85, two hours, 60-day booking.
Choose Lyaness if sustainability matters and South Bank is convenient.
Choose Silverleaf or Swift Soho if value is a consideration without wanting to compromise on quality.
Choose Velvet by Salvatore only if rare spirits are the specific reason for the visit.
Choose Scarfes Bar if you want live jazz, proper cocktails, and a room that feels like it belongs to its neighbourhood rather than just its hotel. Thursday evenings are the sweet spot.
Choose The Spy Bar for the most distinctive bar experience in London right now — there is nothing else quite like it. Go once.
Choose Side Hustle for groups, Latin cocktails, and the best value per pound in Covent Garden. The tacos are worth ordering.
Staying at one of these hotels? Read JP’s full hotel reviews: The Connaught · The Savoy · The Langham · Claridge’s · Mandarin Oriental · Rosewood London
I was born in Italy and grew up understanding that a bad meal is a genuine problem and a good one is worth going out of your way for. I know London’s hotel bars the way you come to know anywhere you have lived long enough: not from brochures, but from having walked in from the rain, from having noticed what the staff do when they think no one is watching. I pay for my own visits. No free drinks. No press trips. Just honest reviews.
