Quirky bars in London

This quirky cocktail bar in Covent Garden oozes fun. It's named after Victorian vagabond Baron Von Took, who escaped the death penalty after requesting a final drink in Covent Garden just hours before his sentence. It's a glamorous subterranean playground with a nod to the upper echelons of a late Victorian society, and it's filled with weird and wonderful trinkets and treasures. The cocktails are contemporary and the bar comprises the 'Masonic Lodge', which leads to a smaller vault where you can dance well into the night.

Evans & Peel Detective Agency is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Chelsea disguised as a private detective’s office. Upon arrival, convince the detective you have a case worth investigating, and he’ll guide you through a secret door straight into a 1920s bolthole. Relax to the sound of 1920s jazz, swing and blues and enjoy bootlegged cocktails in an atmospheric drinking den away from the eyes of the law.

Holy Brew is a secret speakeasy inspired by ancient Hindu deities associated with drinking. Creative cocktails infused with Indian spices and flavours transport you to a world of vibrant colours and exotic tastes, celebrating the traditions of ancient India. This hidden gem in Wimbledon is discreetly located within Dalchini, an Indo-Chinese fusion restaurant, behind a secret door and is perfect for a date night or late-night rendezvous.

It's all about glitz and glam at this swoon-worthy cocktail bar in Clapham, Waterloo and Shoreditch. It's one of the most Instagrammed bars in London and is an ode to Josephine De Beauharnais, a hedonistic icon who became the Empress of the French after marrying Emperor Napoleon I. She carried herself with sass, making her own rules to get what she wanted in life, living by the motto 'c'est la f**king vie'. The specialist cocktails are aptly named and there's also a selection of wines, shooters, beers and ciders to enjoy.

Step into Japan at this quirky bar in the East End, where the food is inspired by izakayas, which are a bit like pubs in Japan, where you can sit in, drink, and enjoy sharing plates. There are regular DJs spinning live tracks, and they serve a range of sushi and sashimi, hot dishes, and set menus, including plant-based vegan alternatives, which can be made gluten-free on request. Choose from a range of small plates and larger dishes to share. The drinks vary from cocktails and beer from Camden Town and Five Points to sake, European natural wines and mezcal.

This funky bar, named after the cries of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky character, is fun, playful and synonymously British. You'll find mismatched furniture, a mirrored closet leading to another decked-out drinking den, and a thoughtfully-crafted cocktail menu. There's also a short menu of small plates and nibbles.

This super kitsch bar in the Grade I-listed Victorian arches of Deptford Market Yard is as quirky as it gets. It's kitted out in old-school, granny-ish furniture, ornaments, trinkets, and treasures. They have a fully stocked bar of cocktails, craft and draft beers and more. As for the food, expect classics.

The Last Tuesday Society is a wacky cocktail bar above The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Natural History on Mare Street. The bar is inspired by the prohibition era, with an entire menu dedicated entirely to absinthe, cocktails crafted with unusual spirits and a selection of beers and wines. The downstairs museum isn't your everyday museum; some might say it's not for the faint-hearted. It's filled with oddities like two-headed kittens, jars of celebrity faeces and a full-sized taxidermied lion sitting at a table.

If you head into The Breakfast Club in Artillery Lane and ask to speak to the mayor, you'll be led through a Smeg fridge and out into a cosy candlelit cocktail bar, The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town. The bar is decked out with vintage furniture and quirky wall art, a world away from the seemingly ordinary restaurant upstairs. The cocktails are fun and the food is more-ish. They also run a bottomless brunch on the weekend.

Pitch up at a vintage blackjack table and slink into the Roaring 20s at this Prohibition-themed casino bar. Bring along a bottle of your choice, pay the entrance fee and enjoy two hours of cocktail-making hosted by your own flat-capped bartender. Your choice of spirit will be mixed with a collection of homemade bitters and syrups, spices, herbs and pressed fruits to craft a selection of bespoke cocktails to suit your palette. Hungry? Pick some snacks to go alongside your drinks.

You'll feel like you've walked straight into your nan's 70s living room at this retro-themed cocktail bar on West Hampstead High Street. The decor includes outrageous wallpaper, throwback televisions and old-school radios. The drinks menu comprises a range of cocktails, rums, wines, spirits and beers, whilst the food features a selection of mouthwatering pizzas.

Trailer Happiness is an award-winning, tiki-themed bar on Portobello Road with a drinks menu centred primarily around rum; think tropical favourites with a tiki twist. The interior is playful, with exposed brick walls, leather chairs, fun artwork and dim lighting. Enjoy a beachside bite from their 'trailer bites' menu.

This isn’t just your average pub, this neon-lit bar is home to a range of retro arcade games, VR booths, karaoke and a Moonshine Raceway. It’s located on the first floor of an old Victorian Music Hall, where it’s filled with vintage arcade cabinets (which all take contactless payments). They serve a Mediterranean-inspired menu and pub food classics, including small plates and larger plates that are perfect for sharing.

This bar in Waterloo is part pub, part theatre, which is unsurprising as it's owned by The Vaults, London's home for immersive theatre and alternative arts. It's super playful, with theatre-inspired props like a huge moon replica, neon lighting and even a bar stool that's deliberately a foot higher than the bar. The cocktails are classic and they have espresso martinis on tap. There's also a small menu of beers and soft drinks to choose from, too.

This 1940s-themed bar is set inside an abandoned train station used as an emergency air raid shelter during the war. Today, it still houses many of the items that were left behind, like tinned foods and old toys, which helps to maintain the post-war spirit they are trying to keep alive. They also serve rations and cocktails and throw themed parties well into the night.

The colourful Little Doors around London are designed as if you’re showing up to a house party – a house party in a pretty hip flat, that is. You can choose your adventure exploring the place, camping out in a single room, drinking, dancing, dining, whatever takes your fancy. Live DJ events and themed cocktail nights are also a regular feature, alongside cocktails and bottomless brunches.

Four Quarters has an excellent selection of drinks and a vibing atmosphere and is home to an impressive selection of 80s style arcade games. There’s a bar in Peckham, a bar in Elephant and Castle and a more laid-back version of the bar in Hackney Wick, located right along the canal. Come here for the games, console booths, drinks and bar snacks. It’s a great spot to bring your friends and challenge them to a tense Mario Kart tournament.

Tayēr + Elementary is an innovative bar located a stone's throw away from Old Street station. It's split into different parts. Elementary: an all-day, walk-in bar that caters to a weekday seasonal bite to eat and drink. The second part is Tayēr: a drinking den at the back with a menu crafted by two of the world's most respected bartenders. The cocktail list changes regularly, but each is a miniature work of art. There's a reason this bar came second on the list of the best bars in the world in 2022.

Those in the know will say you'll be hard pressed to find a more chilled-out neighbourhood bar than Satan's Whiskers. This Bethnal Green-based boozer is a local favourite, and from the outside, it looks like a run-down dive bar. But, head inside, you'll be met with a stylish, relaxed ambience, accentuated by French posters pasted on the walls, hip-hop filtering through the sound system and a sleek, dimly-lit interior. The cocktail menu is updated daily, depending on what the bartenders fancy.

Mr Fogg's bars are a collection of adventurous bars based on the renowned explorer Phileas J. Fogg, Esq. All of the bars are inspired by Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in 80 Days", and transport you back to the Victorian era. You can expect quirky decor, with things like hanging birdcages and kooky lampshades, although each bar differs slightly. The cocktail menu is just as adventurous as Phileas himself, crafted using rare spirits and ingredients inspired by his worldwide travels. There are Mr Fogg's venues located around the city, from Mayfair and Covent Garden to Soho, Fitzrovia and The City. Some focus on just one drink, like gin, while others serve a menu of outlandish cocktails.

Rhum Tavern, inspired by the early days of the rum trade, features a stunning wood-panelled interior designed to resemble the keel of a 17th century ship. It offers one of the most extensive rum selections in the country, alongside a range of rum-based cocktails. The bar's concise menu of grilled delicacies draws inspiration from the food that was commonly found on sailing ships during that period. Additionally, Rhum Tavern operates a shop where customers can purchase from a collection of approximately 400 rums.

A Swedish export to London, Garlic & Shots does what it says on the tin. At this dimly-lit and gothic bar you can sample global dishes rammed with garlic as well as an extensive menu of shots covering the entire spectrum of flavours from fruity to spicy and, indeed, garlicky. Cocktails are available too if shots aren't your thing.

The Chocolate Cocktail Club specialises in original cocktails loaded with chocolate. If wine is more your thing but you don't want to miss out, the chocolate-infused red wine is a great alternative. This comfortable venue is full of quirky decor and also serves an afternoon tea just made for chocoholics. Sweet and savoury bar food is served too.

Basement Sate is a subterranean cocktail bar with a USP. This place serves up decadent desserts with cocktail pairings for a unique drinking experience. Original and classic concoctions are served here. Ideal for those with a sweet tooth, the venue also offers cocktail-making masterclasses. The space has a drawing room style.

Tabac is a chic French-inspired bar in Kentish Town with a relaxed, bohemian vibe. Inside, it's all red brick, leather booths, and a mural of the wine regions in France. Classic cocktails, house specials, wines, prosecco, champagne, and craft beers are all on the menu, paired with bar snacks. 

Bandra Bhai, located beneath the Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai restaurant, pays homage to India's smugglers' dens in its outlandish decor and vibe. Unlike typical bar fare, it offers bougie snacks like chargrilled asparagus and lamb cutlets. The bar specialises in signature cocktails infused with Indian spices and flavours, such as the Gold Fashioned, which features chat masala.

Nestled above the sales floor of the Heritage Classics dealership, the Classic Car Bar provides a unique vantage point for enthusiasts of vintage automobiles. The bar boasts an impressive array of beverages from across the globe, reflecting its roots as a primarily online retailer of premium food and drink products, meaning the selection here is far from ordinary. In partnership with 67 Sourdough, they also serve artisanal pizza.