Guide to the best bars in South Kensington

Humphrey's Bar combines a gastropub with an upscale hotel bar in South Kensington. There's a relaxed atmosphere and a traditional interior. Sample cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as classic pub food. Food is available throughout the day, with diverse options ranging from sandwiches, burgers, and pizza, to authentic Indian curries.

Relax with a drink at ESQ. This laid-back venue is upscale and sumptuous. This environment is an ideal setting to kick back whilst you enjoy a cocktail and check out live music from renowned performers. A curated selection of global small plates are also available if you get hungry.

Hotel bar The K Bar is a top destination for cocktails in South Kensington. This intimate space has a timeless feel and serves original and classic cocktails, plus wine and hot drinks. The offering changes frequently. You can also enjoy afternoon tea here, plus upscale snacks like potted salmon with toast.

A Pan-Asian restaurant and cocktail bar in South Kensington, Nam Long Le Shaker is popular with the A-listers. Open since the 1980s, you'll find rich surroundings with art and Buddha statues. In this buzzy environment, try classic or imaginative house cocktails. If you're hungry, there are plenty of favourite Asian dishes to choose from.

Bar and restaurant Publiq is committed to sustainability and strives to serve the local community. The South Kensington venue has a polished look, with eye-catching art on the walls. The drinks list features local beers and natural wine, and the seasonal food here is intended for sharing. A set lunch menu is available too.

Enjoy cocktails with a Swedish touch at Kosmopol. Opened in 2002, this award-winning bar has a stylish Scandinavian design, with a relaxed cocktail bar and buzzing basement club for the weekends. You can try classic cocktails here and get a hot dog or toastie if you need a late-night snack. And though it describes itself as being in the heart of Chelsea, it's definitely firmly in the “bars near South Kensington” category.

Bar 190 feels luxurious and is a popular venue for classic and original cocktails. Expect a stylish space with wood panelling and iconic prints on the walls. There's a lengthy choice of wine and champagne in addition to cocktails, and food is served too. Choose from refined options like risotto or soup.

If you're visiting the Royal Albert Hall, treat yourself to a glass of bubbly at The Champagne Bar on-site. This modern bar has a regal purple and cream colour scheme, with a selection of fine champagnes to choose from. Asian-inspired sharing snacks like sashimi are also on the menu.

Apero offers breezy Mediterranean food and cocktails in an atmospheric cellar going back to Victorian times. The South Kensington bar and restaurant is furnished with Spanish tiles, exposed bricks, and a buzzy atmosphere. Head to the bar area for a pre-dinner aperitivo, including signature cocktails and fine wines, then tuck into the all-day menu of Mediterranean classics such as pasta and mezze.

Restaurant Ours is a laidback spot with a lush and lively setting decked out with neon signs and foliage. It serves a contemporary menu of Med-inspired fine dining, but if you're just after a drink, head upstairs to The Living Room. Open late, this is a great place to go for cocktails in South Kensington. The elegant bar serves seasonal concoctions in a floral environment, along with an assortment of sharing snacks.

Combining the old and the new in a beautiful space with vintage tiles, comfortable banquettes, and intimate lighting, The Hunter's Moon is a welcoming countryside pub right in the heart of the affluent area. Cosy up with premium spirits, wines, and other drinks in the front pub area, or head to the skylit dining room for a changing menu of contemporary European dishes.

Thanks in part to its proximity to Chelsea FC's home ground, Stamford Bridge, the Duke of Clarence is top of the list among sports bars South Kensington football fans flock to on match day. This traditional gastropub is fitted with multiple HD TVs, ensuring you won't miss any of the action regardless of where you're sitting. The menu features seasonal takes on classic pub fare, including Sunday roasts.