Guide to the best bars in Clapham

Aquum is the largest bar and club on the High Street, spread out over no fewer than four floors. You'll find a variety of entertaining options to keep you busy here, including a free-to-use ball pit and a rooftop shisha garden. The multifaceted venue serves an array of global comfort food, sharing platters and more, along with cocktails and plenty of other drinks. DJs man the decks late into the night, then you can come back the next day to chase your hangover away with a bottomless brunch.

Styling itself as a tropical paradise in Clapham, Sugar Cane is decked out in South Pacific decor and encompasses indoor and outdoor party areas such as private tiki huts and a pirate cave. You can order typically fruity cocktails as well as wines, beers and spirits. There's plenty to chow down on as well, with the kitchen preparing tapas-style plates, sharing platters, burgers and other classic bar food. On Saturdays you can even indulge in bottomless brunch.

Occupying the same arch as previous Clapham highlight Fu Manchu, the rebranded Lit late-night bar and club pops off on the weekends with boisterous crowds and party vibes. The neon signage on the walls cheekily requests you to “Send nudes” and confidently proclaims “It's going off”, so it's best not to take yourself too seriously. Instead, go for a night of classic cocktails, loud bangers, wild dancing and little sleep.

The hip Venn Street Records makes its affinity for good tunes very clear with walls covered in old music magazines and vinyl records stacked behind the bar. The happening hotspot features dim lighting, neon signage and leather seats, hosting upcoming local music talent on a regular basis. You can sip on one of the house cocktails and nibble on pizza on the outside terrace, and there's a daily happy hour to keep costs manageable.

Soundtracking your night with Neo Soul, Jazz and 1990s RnB tunes, Soul Lounge provides a lively setting for friendly get-togethers and late-night parties. The bar specialises in handcrafted cocktails, while the kitchen serves a something-for-everyone range of Mediterranean and Asian fusion cuisine. Bottomless brunch is available daily, with bottle show service and other forms of entertainment provided as well. With different party packages to choose from, Soul Lounge is also ideal for all sorts of celebrations.

Behind D Vine Cellars' vibrant green exterior, you'll find a wine bar and shop with tall white shelves stacked with sustainably sourced wines from all over the world. The wine list here includes classic varieties as well as unique natural wines, accompanied by tempting deli items. D Vine Cellars hosts different events, for example themed tastings and masterclasses, but you're more than welcome to stop by just for a drink.

The Clapham branch of The Cocktail Club chain goes blockbuster big with booths themed after some of history’s biggest films to date, for example Titanic and Star Wars. In an unrestrained, fun atmosphere, you can go wild with late-night partying fuelled by cocktails - you can even mix your drink online and pick it up when you get there. Bottomless brunch, daily happy hour and masterclasses are available as well.

Looking out over Clapham Common from its rooftop terrace, No 32 The Old Town is a relaxed, sustainability-minded bar and restaurant. The kitchen puts wonky vegetables to use in an array of classic British pub fare, with the all-day menu including breakfast options such as fry-ups and mains such as burgers and salads. Bespoke playlists soundtrack the contemporary interior and provide a relaxing ambiance for after-work cocktails or a late-night tipple.

The Be At One bars around the capital offer familiarity and party vibes wherever you come upon them. Expect hit tunes and professional bartenders mixing up a storm behind the bar when you enter these cocktail retreats, with the drinks menu featuring more than 100 concoctions of all sorts, from reliable classics to creative new potions. They're available as 2-for-1 during the happy hour each day.

Taking the Little Door house party concept and plonking it next to Clapham Common, The Little Orange Door has a rustic, charming Mediterranean feel to it, complete with lush outdoor seating and a lively disco interior. In the unpretentious apartment-style rooms, you can enjoy drinks, food and music, without having to do any of the cleaning that inevitably follows a proper house bash. 

Taking up residence in a Victorian water closet beneath Clapham Common Station that dates back to the 19th century, the WC Wine & Charcuterie bar offer a concise, well-rounded wine list, small plates and sharing boards, and a quirky setting. Many of the original marble tiles and fittings have been preserved or repurposed, providing the cosy subterranean den with a charmingly vintage atmosphere.

A boozy neighbourhood retreat that sits on Clapham's High Street, Sixty/Four doubles up on cocktails during lengthy happy-hour offers. You can try a selection of unique potions such as the Jackie Ho, made with Jack Daniels Honey, amaretto, orange juice, lemon juice and gingerbread syrup, or stick to a pint of Camden Hells. With the help of a rotating line-up of house DJs, the party goes late.

This extremely, completely, totally pink bar is part of the sassy Tonight Josephine group that makes cocktails, neon lights, hit tunes and party abandon its forte. Keep an eye on the events programme, as there's usually some kind of deal going on, for example 2-for-1 cocktail happy hours or Britney Spears-themed bottomless brunches. If you're looking to dance the night away in a youthful atmosphere, this is the place.