The coolest bars in Central London

Soho's not short on late-night spots, but if it's pure blues you're after, this is the place to be. Since the early '90s, Ain't Nothin' But has been filling out its tiny room with nightly live music and sweaty jam sessions (sometimes with 50+ musicians). From early acoustic sets midweek to full bands later on, and weekends that run long into the night, this is the ultimate spot for casual live music in the heart of the city. It's also free entry for many of the early shows – not bad for one of the most authentic live music bars in London.

Gilgamesh is part dining room, part late-night hangout, bringing together Babylonian-inspired interiors with modern pan-Asian cuisine. The menu is chock full of dishes like hand-rolled sushi, robata-grilled meats and ribeye bulgogi. As for drinks, however, the bar offers a selection of meticulously crafted cocktails designed to complement the cuisine that Gilgamesh is known for. Lighting, carvings, and patterned banquettes create a theatrical setting to sip in, and as the evening progresses, DJs take over to transform dinner into a buzzing party.

Sister to Mayfair's Kitty Fisher's, Cora Pearl brings a slice of elegance to Covent Garden. Inside the green interiors and marble bar set the scene for a sophisticated drink. Expect house mixes that change with the seasons, alongside an impressive wine list heavy on European bottles. The food is British with a twist, and the pre-theatre menu is quick enough to get you to your seat on time.

Cheekily named after an 18th-century courtesan, this Mayfair hotspot is a cosy, intimate restaurant and bar serving a menu that nods to Spain through seasonal dishes, from pork chops to Lake District guinea fowl with creamed corn. Creative cocktails steal the show too, with playful names like 'Aphrodite's Spritz' and 'The Hanky Panky', perfectly reflecting the bar's cheeky character. The drinks menu goes beyond cocktails, with an impressive wine list, craft spirits, and seasonal concoctions that change with the menu.

Nestled inside The Bloomsbury hotel, The Coral Room is a masterpiece in design with its soaring ceilings, coral walls, and eye-catching art. The drinks are just as captivating, with themed cocktail menus that shift through the seasons and one of London's largest selections of English sparkling wines. Daytime is all about coffee and afternoon teas, while evenings turn the space into a lively cocktail and wine bar with DJs and a lively crowd. Light bites and small plates keep your stomach lined, but it's the drinks that are the highlight here.

Side Hustle is a cool cocktail bar located in the NoMad hotel, with a Latin American inspiration. The food is what you'd expect to find on a Latin American menu – tacos, tostadas, ceviche – but the drinks are the real star. The bar team are known for using agave spirits, mixing everything from classic margaritas to inventive newbies with a contemporary touch. It's the kind of place you can dip into for a quick pre-show drink or settle in for drinks late into the night.

Disrepute was once a scandalous private members' club at the centre of the 1960s Profumo Affair, but now pays homage to its hedonistic past with a cocktail menu that's basically a storybook of the past. Inside, it's all plush leather booths and glitzy interiors, with a menu that encourages guests to choose their drink based on the narrative that resonates with them. There's also the option to pass discreet notes on notepaper, adding a cheeky speakeasy twist.

Swift is a multi-award-winning bar that splits itself across two very different levels – upstairs is a sleek, modern cocktail bar, complete with award-winning drinks, low-ABV options, and more than 300 whiskies. Head downstairs, though, and you'll find a moody basement bar where live music and a specialist menu set the tone for a slower, sultrier kind of night. The menu takes inspiration from flavours, places, and moments that evoke a sense of home, and each cocktail is designed to transport you to some of the team's favourite spots around the world.

This little aperitivo bar is hidden under the Brewer Street branch of the legendary Italian deli Lina Stores and is a love letter to 1960s Italy. It's all candlelight, velvet corners, negronis with a twist, spritzes, and carefully chosen Italian wines. Small plates and snacks are on hand to whet the appetite, but the real draw here is the atmosphere, which nails the intimate, stylish, and effortlessly cool vibe.

Soma is the ultimate late-night cocktail spot with roots in the Indian subcontinent. From smoky mezcal chaat margaritas to inventive twists on classics, there's a drink for everyone here. The vibe is sultry and stylish, with dim lighting and sleek marble surfaces setting the tone. Since opening, it's quickly become one of London's most exciting bars, landing a Top 50 debut in 2023 as the highest new entry. It's perfect for anyone after something a little different in the heart of the city.

If you're after sophistication, The Connaught Bar sets the bar pretty high and was even voted 'World's Best Bar' in 2021. An Art Deco masterpiece by David Collins Studio, it's polished and elegant – just what you'd expect from a five-star hotel setting. Mixologists here take a theatrical approach to drinks, interpreting moods and moments into cocktails, while the table-side dry martini remains the undisputed star of the show.

Lyaness is a riverside cocktail bar from the team behind legendary Dandelyan. Drinks are grouped by ingredients rather than style, letting guests explore the bar's creative options alongside modern takes on classics like martinis and gimlets. There's also a full wine, beer, and spirits list, plus small plates and playful afternoon teas. The space is modern and stylish with marble counters and brass accents adding a pop of sophistication.

There's nowhere in London quite like Cahoots – an underground cocktail bar built inside a disused underground station in Kingly Court. It's themed around post-war London, with all mismatched crockery, vintage lamps, and a ration-book style menu packed with playful cocktails that nod to the era. It's kitsch, immersive, and theatrical, and is the kind of place where you'll sip drinks to a soundtrack of swing and wartime jazz.