London

The best bars in London are the cozy, sparkling ones, the ones that act as an expression of a moodily magnificent city. If you’re going for just a drink, you really want something more – you want a taste of what this place stands for. That’s why many of our favorites below are classics.

And if you’re traveling to London on our Castles & Kingdoms journey, it’s fair to say a bit of timeless grandeur might be your cup of (English breakfast) tea. Having said that, there are few cities as multifaceted as London, which is why you’ll also find chic, European-style wine bars here, alongside innovative cocktail bars, rooftops, Aladdin’s caves and of course – in a league and category all of their own – London pubs (though there’s one in our list below, because it was irresistible). But first, some all-important FAQs.

What are the best rooftop bars in London?

In the summer, the best bars in London are its marvelous green spaces – a bottle of Chapel Down Brut NV in Regent’s Park, perhaps. But because Londoners do love to get out there as soon as the sun comes out, there has been a proliferation of rooftop bars in recent years.  Some of the best include: The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, 12th Knot at Sea Containers, which floats over the River Thames, and Flute in Soho (in the list below).

Credit: @12th_knot via Instagram

What region is best for bars in London?

It depends what you’re looking for, but you could have a cracking time hopping between bars in Mayfair (opulent) and Soho (classic), or in Shoreditch, where experimental cocktail bars and natural wine bars flourish.

What is the best cocktail bar in London?

If you only have time for one cocktail while you’re in town, head to The Connaught (below), which does effortless glamor like nowhere else on earth.

1. Connaught Bar

The Connaught Hotel opened in 1897 and was an instant icon, shimmering with refined elegance. But the bar has only been with us since 2008 and the World’s 50 Best says it “hasn’t fallen short since”. It gives the impression it’s been here forever – with its 1920s cubist aesthetic, textured walls in platinum silver leaf, dark green leather and dreamy Martini trolley. Mayfair wouldn’t be Mayfair without it.

Credit: @theconnaught via Instagram

2. Bar Termini

This tiny fifties-inspired Italianate spot, with its Harlequin-tiled floor, pistachio leather and little curved bar with space for three drinkers, tops, is the spot to sip a Negroni or a spritz in Soho. You can also pop in for a coffee and a pastry, or a wine with a plate of Italian cheeses – it’s the central London address you must keep in your back pocket for any time of day.

3. Flute

At the Broadwick Hotel, an independently owned dream address in Soho, Flute is the lavish rooftop cocktail bar that brings the hotel to life. Outside, there is a balcony all the way round, with views over Soho’s streets and the London skyline beyond. Indoors, there is pink velvet, zebra print, leopard print, scallop-shaped details, mirrored surfaces, tasselled drapes, the works. Order champagne and caviar – embrace the maximalism.

Credit: @broadwicksoho via Instagram

4. Upstairs at Rules

Rules is the oldest restaurant in London, established by Thomas Rule in 1798. It serves traditional British food, specialising in game. Upstairs, the dark wood cocktail bar is equally decadent, festooned with plant life, plush crimson fabrics and rattan furniture. If you have theatre plans, pop in for a Rules Royale (Crémant, yellow chartreuse, violet liqueur and rose powder) or a Black Velvet (Champagne and Guinness).

5. The 10 Cases

Naturally you need a Bistrot à Vin in Covent Garden up your sleeve – all Parisian monochrome chic, with wine bottles as decor. The bar’s name refers to the maximum quantity the bar buys in at any one time, keeping the line-up fresh and seasonal. It’s one of the best bars in London for trying a new (to you) wine that you may never get to drink again.

Credit: @10cases via Instagram

6. The Draper’s Arms

Why is this neighborhood pub in Islington on a list of the best bars in London? Because it’s got it all. Not only is the food good and the atmosphere exemplary, the wine list is six full A4 pages long. It’s an impeccable place to drink a glass of Chablis. And besides, you can’t plan a drink in London and not go to the pub.

7. Satan’s Whiskers

Bethnal Green’s quintessential neighborhood cocktail bar is one of the best bars in London according to everyone. From the bar’s beginning in 2013, co-founder (and London bar scene stalwart) Kevin Armstrong has remained steadfast – he cares about excellent drinks and relaxed vibes. It’s paid off – Satan’s Whiskers is currently number 21 in the World’s 50 Best list. Sip Armstrong’s own East 8 Hold-Up (vodka, Aperol, pineapple, lime juice) if you know what’s good for you.

The best restaurants in London are magnificent and myriad. They are pizzerias, fine dining establishments, curry houses, food markets, grand dining rooms and caffs. Does London have Michelin star restaurants? Yes, 85 of them. Not more than Paris, but more than New York City, Copenhagen or Rome. Does London have sushi and Thai food and Turkish? But of course; the selection of cuisines knows no bounds. If you’re heading to London on either our British Royale or Castles & Kingdoms journeys, you’ll want to extend your stay and make some reservations – treat the list below as your little black book.  Somehow, we have narrowed it down to 13 of the best places to eat in London right now.

The Devonshire

The London pub of your dreams is just off Piccadilly Circus, right opposite the elaborate, art deco theatre that’s been hosting the feathers of Moulin Rouge since 2022. The Devonshire is a hot ticket, so book in advance. Then you’ll be able to luxuriate in your good planning, on a burgundy banquette, with a pint of velvety Guinness and a beef cheek suet pudding.

 

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Brutto

This perfect trattoria is one of the best restaurants in London for a celebratory lunch that ends on a tiramisu high and starts with coccoli or “cuddles” (which are fried balls of dough served with silky prosciutto and creamy soft cheese). The atmosphere is divine, as are the spritzes. Bookings open exactly 14 days ahead of time, so you must be alert.

 

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You may also enjoy reading: What to Wear to Dinner in London by Food Writer Laura Goodman

Brat

This Basque grill restaurant in chic Shoreditch is named after the old English word for turbot, one of the star menu items that comes golden from the grill. Brat is about great food, cooked disarmingly simply but with such skill. The grilled flatbread with anchovies is a modern classic, as are the chopped eggs with bottarga on toast, and – arguably London’s most famous pudding – the burnt cheesecake.

 

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The Clove Club

For fine dining with a big heart, nowhere does it like The Clove Club, which has been keeping modern British food interesting in Shoreditch Town Hall for over 10 years now. The tasting menu is ever-changing, but always an adventure through the best of British ingredients – Wiltshire trout, Orkney scallops, Scottish langoustine, Yorkshire rhubarb – containing eight dishes which are so much more than the sum of their parts.

 

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Chishuru

In 2024, chef Adejoké Bakare became the first black woman in the UK to be given a Michelin star. Her singular West African cooking had a loyal fanbase among London’s chefs and punters long before she settled at the Fitzrovia address, thanks to a previous Brixton iteration of Chishuru. The food is luminous, delicious, cosy, alive – this is a tasting menu that makes you feel looked after.

 

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Jikoni

Eat an abundant, joyous lunch at Jikoni, where the floral tablecloths and peachy pastels will lift your spirits and the food is sunshine on a plate. Chef-founder Ravinder Bhogal describes her kitchen as ‘no borders’, offering a gently genius cross-cultural menu of, for instance, prawn toast Scotch egg with banana ketchup, or Cornish ray wing with lime pickle beurre noisette. Not to mention the Jikoni ice creams (pistachio, Ovaltine or Turkish delight).

 

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Bookmark for later: The Luxury Gold Guide to the Best London Experiences

Trullo

This handsome blue spot close to Islington’s Upper Street is an Italian restaurant in the most London sense of the words. The menu is creative but unshowy and the food is reliable, but always a massive treat. It’s one of the best restaurants in London, but quietly. For primi: pappardelle with beef shin ragu or ravioli with Westcombe ricotta, sweet herbs and walnut sauce. From the oven: Whole Torbay lemon sole. Yes.

 

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Kol

Sitting at number 17 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Kol is a modern Mexican restaurant full of soul in calm, elegant Marylebone. Chef Santiago Lastra’s blending of central American flavors and British produce is masterful and the downstairs mezcaleria oozes fun. It’s fine dining – tasting menus only, which is just as well, because you don’t want to miss a thing.

 

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Ikoyi

And at number 35 of the same list is Ikoyi, which the people at the World’s 50 Best describe as serving “category-free cuisine”. With a choice location on The Strand, close to Covent Garden station, this two Michelin star restaurant is the brainchild of chef Jeremy Chan – he creates complex, beautiful dishes inspired by West African spices and British ingredients.

 

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Toklas

This Mediterranean restaurant with its own bakery has lots of fans, including Britain’s own Nigella. It’s near Temple, close to the Thames, and only a short walk along The Strand from Covent Garden. Come for coffee and squishy cardamom buns in the morning or a perfect, pre-theatre set menu. Or, luxuriate in the full menu, from boquerones, through grilled pork chops (with escarole, raisins and capers), fantastic fries and tarte tatin. Toklas is one of the best places to eat in London at any time of day.

 

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Gymkhana

This is a two Michelin star restaurant inspired by the elite clubs of India where members of high society socialize, eat, drink, and play sport. The dining room – with its amber lighting, dark timber, shades of jade green and brass – is a chic space in which to work through a thoughtful tasting menu, an adventure in Indian fine dining.

 

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The Ritz

What is the most iconic restaurant in London? There is nowhere on this planet like The Ritz. Think: lofty, frescoed ceilings, gilding, glittering chandeliers, marble columns and all the rest of it. Go for absolute theatre – it’s icons or bust. The beef wellington is a fine centrepiece, made with Périgord truffle, sliced at the table and the crêpe Suzette is cooked (and dramatically flambéed) tableside.

 

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With exceptional dining at the heart of every Luxury Gold journey, take a look at our collection of small group luxury tours.

Each year, Mercer, the consultancy focused on global economics, publishes its list of the most expensive cities in the world. The index lists 226 cities in the world in order, measuring how ‘expensive’ each one is by comparing the costs of more than 200 items in each location, including transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Mercer says “the comprehensive ranking serves as a valuable compass, providing guidance through the intricate landscape of living expenses in cities worldwide”. At the other end of the Mercer list, the cities that ranked the lowest for living costs last year are Islamabad, Lagos and Abuja.

Mercer’s list of the most expensive cities in the world is aimed at companies with employees who are assigned internationally and it includes four Swiss cities (Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern). There are other similar lists, including one by The EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit), which publishes a worldwide cost of living survey naming its most expensive cities in the world each year. And there’s another, by Numbeo, which focuses on the prices of consumer goods such as food, restaurants, and transportation, but not housing. Below, we’ve combined our findings to make a list of the 10 most expensive cities in the world, which happen to make wonderful luxury travel destinations.

1. Singapore

Poised at the top of both lists, there is no denying this luxury paradise’s position as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Singapore has pizzazz in abundance – even its botanical garden is described by Lonely Planet as “a S$1 billion, 101-hectare fantasy land of space-age biodomes, high-tech Supertrees and whimsical sculptures”. The soothing Mandarin Oriental overlooks the Marina Bay Sands development – the crown jewel of the skyline, and the symbol of modern Singapore.

2. Hong Kong

This city wears its luxury credentials glamorously, via an iconic skyline, glittering harbour and spectacular restaurant scene. But there are lush green peaks all around, too, offering panoramic views, Hong Kong camellias and sightings of spoon-billed sandpipers. Stay at the Peninsula to absorb some old-world magic, right on the Kowloon waterfront, and dine at Wing, Vicky Cheng’s rule-free fine dining establishment, which celebrates the eight great Chinese cuisines to dazzling effect.

3. Zurich

Another long-term resident of the top 10 list, this Swiss city rides high as a result of expensive housing prices and high transportation costs. Our 10-day Majestic Switzerland journey begins and ends in Zurich, where we stay at the stunning art deco AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac on the shore of Lake Zurich, a short walk from the opera house.

4. Geneva

On the same captivating Switzerland journey, which sweeps round the country with a stint on the Glacier Express, we pause in Geneva for a stay at the uniquely grand but intimate Hotel d’Angleterre, on the shores of the lake. It’s a sumptuous address – lots of dark wood, soothing tones, rich fabrics and imposing drapery. The lake views from the restaurant are exquisite, making for a meal perfectly befitting one of the most expensive cities in the world.

5. Copenhagen

Number 8 on the EIU list, Denmark’s impossibly cool capital is well documented as an expensive destination to while away a weekend. It’s worth every penny. Our Timeless Scandinavia journey combines a divine mix of fjords, scenic railways, countryside abodes and dazzling cities, starting in Copenhagen. Our chosen city lodgings are the epitome of Scandi minimalism: 71 Nyhavn is made up of restored canalside warehouse buildings, originally built in the early 1800s. We dine at the Michelin-star Høst – on the best Nordic ingredients, meticulously assembled.

6. Paris

Naturalement, some of the world’s most fabulous vacations are taken in Paris. On our Ultimate France journey we luxuriate in Paris last of all, so you can also extend your trip and linger longer. We stay at the Hotel Napoleon, a romantic address in the city’s heart, a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe. At the very end, our guests reminisce over dinner on the Eiffel Tower, potentially the most alluring dining destination in the world.

7. New York City

We flock to the Big Apple to shop widely, dine opulently and sleep soundly in some of the world’s most exquisite boudoirs, amid the unmistakable buzz of one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our current hotel pick for sheer grandiosity is the Fifth Avenue Hotel, once part of the estate of a 19th century socialite, sensationally restored with a jewel box palette, elaborate wallpapers, ornate paneling and oysters à la pomme at Café Carmellini.

8. London

Maintaining its position in the top 10 thanks to enormous demand for a tightly constrained supply of city-centre property, London is still Europe’s biggest financial centre, and the average house costs around 850,000 USD. On our journey through the regal glory of Great Britain, we begin in London – very centrally – across the road from Buckingham Palace. The Rubens at the Palace is a riot of lavish Englishness, with four poster beds, doormen in tailcoats and afternoon tea.

9. Nassau

The high cost of living in Nassau is due to its status as a tourist destination and financial hub, and because of high demand for limited housing from both locals and expatriates. Modern Nassau is all high-end fashion designers, extremely fine dining and superyachts – all with that turquoise backdrop. Soak it up at the Rosewood Baha Mar, a haven of exclusivity, with a golf course, French restaurant and soothing, richly decorated residences, opening on to the powder white sands of Cable Beach.

10. Los Angeles

LA has higher than average costs for housing, taxes, food, transport, health care, and utilities. The most expensive neighbourhood is Bel-Air. If you’re in town, only the rose-coloured Hotel Bel-Air will do, set within 18 acres of bougainvillea, ficus, orange blossom and fern. This classic Hollywood hideaway makes guests feel like A-listers, and is a peaceful antidote to the traffic.