From sultry date spots to great neighbourhood hangs, here's where the expert recommends.
Finding a great bar in London can be tricky. Not because there aren't enough world-class drinking spots around the city, but because there are too many excellent options to choose from. 
Connaught Bar's Giorgio Bargiani is Europe's new favourite bartender
To banish decision paralysis, 50 Best consulted Giorgio Bargiani – assistant director of mixology at the Connaught Bar, and newly crowned winner of the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award as part of the inaugural edition of Europe's 50 Best Bars – for the inside track on where to drink in the cityl he calls home.
For a top-tier neighbourhood bar: Amaro and Satan's Whiskers
Amaro is a favoured hangout among West London's off-duty bartenders
Ask any Londoner to name their go-to local and you'll get a different answer depending on their postcode. For Bargiani, whose work takes him across London, the choice comes down to which part of the city he happens to be in.
"In West London, I love Amaro, especially with a group of friends," he says. On Kensington High Street, the bar has become a favourite among many of the city's top bartenders – particularly its sizeable Italian contingent – thanks to its vintage spirits collection and unfussy drinks programme.
Satan's Whiskers in Bethnal Green is renowned for its classics
"In East, it has to be Satan's Whiskers," he adds. A stalwart of London's bar scene and frequent high-flier on The World's 50 Best Bars rankings, Satan's is often regarded as the gold standard for classic drinks in the capital. "I always go for a Golden Cadillac (crème de cacao, vanilla liqueur, orange juice, cream, bitters)."
For date nights: Dukes Bar 
A martini at Dukes Bar should be on every cocktail-lover's bucket list
If you're looking to splash out on an unforgettable evening, Dukes Bar is Bargiani's go-to. One of London's original cocktail destinations, the legendary St James's institution has been serving drinks since 1908 and still offers a timeless glimpse into the city's old-world glamour, with dark wood interiors, royal blue furnishings and impeccable service.
Since 1985, the bar has been famed for its ice-cold direct martinis, invented by cocktail maestro Salvatore Calabrese. Limited to two per person, they're the perfect prelude to one of those special evenings that seems to slip by in an instant, according to Bargiani: "at Dukes, you always know the reason you go, but you never remember when you leave.
For the best bar snacks: Whiskey & Seaweed
Cocktails at Whiskey & Seaweed come paired with dishes from the kitchen of Core by Clare Smyth
While London's bar snack scene may not be as developed as its counterparts in the US or Asia, there are plenty of establishments dotted around the city that take their food seriously.
"It's a little bougie, but I love Whiskey & Seaweed," says Bargiani. Located within Notting Hill's fine dining bastion Core by Clare Smyth, Whiskey & Seaweed opened in November 2023 as a standalone bar within the restaurant's building, offering its own tasting menu experience and selection of drinks crafted by bar manager Vincenzo Ciaccio. "Great drinks and food made by Clare Smyth – what more could you want?" Bargiani exclaims.
For something fresh: Waltz
Waltz's cocktail list is inspired by the 72 micro seasons of Japan
Since opening in Shoreditch in mid-2025, Waltz has become the talk of the town, dancing its way to the top of London's cocktail scene with a unique perspective on Japanese micro seasonality paired with a killer hi-fi sound system, orchestrated by veteran bartender Gento Torigata.
"The cocktails from Gento [Torigata] change all the time throughout the year, so I'll always order the highball of the season," explains Bargiani. "I'm also a big fan of Japanese whisky, and it has one of the best collections in the city."
For going 'out' out: Viajante87, Experimental Cocktail Club, Stereo
Start your London bar crawl at Notting Hill's Viajante87
London's size means planning a bar tour requires serious thought, care and planning. Luckily, Bargiani has done the work for us. "My ideal night out comes in three steps," he says.
"I'll start my night at Viajante87 (No.99 among The World's 50 Best Bars 2024) in Notting Hill. I'll then move into central London with a few drinks at Experimental Cocktail Club in Chinatown, before finishing the journey at Stereo in Covent Garden for great live music."
For an underrated gem: Twice Shy
The mortadella foccacia is one of London's best bar snacks
While many brilliant bars can be found in the city centre, there are just as many brilliant bars in unsuspecting neighbourhoods that tend to fall under the radar. For Bargiani, Twice Shy in Earl's Court ticks that box.
A short stroll from Earl's Court station down a narrow pedestrian passage, the sleek spot – and sibling venue to Amaro – is a quietly cherished enclave, loved for its pared back list of supercharged classics, including a blue cheese and olive oil-imbued martini, as well as its fan-favourite mortadella focaccia. "It's cheap, it's great and it's the kind of bar I can go to for every kind of occasion," says Bargiani.
For dinner with great drinks: Legado
Legado is one of London's hottest new restaurant openings
After something more substantial to soak it all up? Many London restaurants now place as much care into their cocktail lists as their dishes. Legado, a new space in Shoreditch from Sabor's chef-director Nieves Barragán, opened in mid-2025, serving regional Spanish dishes in a stunning, open-plan space.
Alongside expectedly good wine, vermouth and sherry lists, Legado pours a punchy selection of six cocktails, including a romesco sauce-infused martini. "Everything about Legado is super cool. I love the atmosphere there and they have a great drinks selection that pairs very well with the dishes they offer," says Bargiani.
For something different: Kwãnt Mayfair
Order a ramos gin fizz at Kwãnt Mayfair
On edge of Green Park, just moments from the Connaught Bar, Kwãnt Mayfair is the brainchild of Eric Lorincz, former head bartender of the American Bar at The Savoy (The World's Best Bar 2017).
Inside the warm, tropical-themed lounge, the menu leans into highly creative, technique-forward concoctions, with its ramos gin fizz variants earning a cult-like following. "I think that the drinks that Erik [Lorincz] creates are always unique, and whatever he does is always exciting."
The inaugural list of Europe's 50 Best Bars will be revealed at a live awards ceremony in Amsterdam on 30 June 2026.
