The best bars in Mayfair open late

Hidden through a secret door beneath Greek restaurant Gaia, you'll find Nyx, a sexy, sultry European-style speakeasy dripping in red velvet, mirrors, and the perfect moody lighting. This members' lounge serves bespoke cocktails while world-class DJs spin vibey tunes. The guest list even includes fashion royalty and A-listers.

Connaught Bar was voted the 'World's Best Bar' in 2021, so it's not just a place to drink, it's a Mayfair institution. Designed by David Collins Studio, this is an Art Deco dream straight out of a Bond film. The martinis have legendary status, stirred at your table, but they have a wide range of other drinks on the menu. It's easy to see why the Connaught keeps topping global bar lists.

Damien Hirst artworks, Frank Gehry fish lamps, live coral reef tanks, and a crowd dripping in designer labels are just a handful of the things to expect at this alluring bar and restaurant. The menu leans Japanese, including sushi, sashimi, seafood, fish, and meat. Drinks are broad, and include everything from cocktails and whiskies to Champagne, wine and more, with happy hours available. This is one of London's most enduring celebrity hot spots, open late.

The Pine Bar can be found tucked away inside The Dorchester, with plush Mayfair-esque seating and a bar stacked full with whiskies and champagnes. The cocktails are clever and the snacks are more-ish (think oysters and caviar). It's classic, grown-up drinking, but never boring and always open until at least midnight.

If it's Art Deco glamour and champagne flutes you're after, Claridge's Bar is a must. This iconic Mayfair spot is made for late-night sipping on vintage spirits and house cocktails, as well as an impressive rare whisky collection. If you want to drink like old-school Mayfair royalty, this is where to go. Plus, it's open past midnight.

Once one of the world's best cocktail bars, Kwãnt made a 2023 comeback in Mayfair with a brand new space. Interiors pay homage to tiki with hand-painted Polynesian tapa art, lots of rattan, and lush foliage, but the cocktails are what people really come here for. If you want to go all out, they have an omakase cocktail tasting menu including drinks chosen by the bartender.

Donovan Bar is all velvet, gold accents and stained-glass windows — very Mayfair chic. Overseen by cocktail legend Salvatore Calabrese (a.k.a. “The Maestro”), the drinks list is as glam as the setting, with inventive options and failsafe classics mixed to perfection. The crowd is just as cool: think loyal regulars and trendy jet-setters.

The Connaught's quieter sister, Coburg Bar, is all plush armchairs, soft lighting, and timeless decor, setting the stage for a serious whisky collection which includes a worldwide variety of rare malts that draws connoisseurs from across London. The cocktail list is equally impressive, and there are late-night bites if you're feeling peckish.

Nestled away in what was once the hotel's luggage room, this secret little Mayfair hangout is pure 1920s speakeasy. It's decked out with leather booths, a sleek marble bar, and a jazz soundtrack, adding a hefty dose of romance to the scene. The menu includes timeless classics, from martinis to Manhattans. It's dimly-lit, cosy, and effortlessly cool, and the kind of place you come for one drink and end up staying all night.

At Coya, South American murals, metallic details, and hanging greenery set the stage for a night that feels equal parts a Peruvian feast and late-night party. The menu is broad, including zesty ceviche and indulgent Wagyu tacos, while the bar is all rum and tequila with cocktails that have a theatrical touch. Live DJs add a little something extra to keep you drinking and dancing well into the night.