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in London
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Beach Blanket Babylon
19-23 Bethnal Green Rd.
London
Nightlife
Festive
Go Rococo at this hot, sexy lounge and club modeled after a French country chateau.
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Claridge's Bar
Brook St.
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
Dark red roses on every table and champagne by the glass up the drama of this intimate, clubby room in a classic hotel.
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Commercial Tavern
142 Commercial St.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
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Break away from the typical tavern mood at this stylish spot where locals, bikers, and hip young things alike enjoy a pint.
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Crazy Homies
125 Westbourne Park Rd.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
Crowded, so-kitsch-it’s-hip Mexican joint excellent for margarita-flavored fun.
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Gordon’s Wine Bar
47 Villiers St.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
Cavernous and candlelit, the oldest wine bar in London attracts young hipsters and older folks alike to its subterranean space.
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Jerusalem Tavern
55 Britton St.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
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An historic tavern dating to the 14th century, this cozy establishment serves a big helping of personality to its loyal patrons.
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Kemia Bar and Mo Cafe
25-27 Heddon St.
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
Momo offers a magic carpet ride for the jet set, flying high on cocktails, North African tapas, and hookahs.
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Ling Ling at Hakkasan
8 Hanway Pl.
London
Nightlife
Festive
Riding the cool coattails of its Hakkasan host, this bar serves fab cocktails with a Far Eastern twist.
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Long Bar
50 Berners St.
London
Nightlife
Festive
true
The often-packed 80-foot-long bar is the focal point, but we like the terrace and seasonal cocktails.
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Lonsdale
48 Lonsdale Rd.
London
Nightlife
Festive
Mixologists work magic with fresh ingredients in a far-out lounge featuring Space Age aesthetics.
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Loungelover
1 Whitby St.
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
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Crimson décor, plush furnishings, and cocktails named for torrid affairs—what’s not to love?
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Mahiki
1 Dover St.
London
Nightlife
Festive
true
Go Polynesian at this A-list Tiki paradise with a rockin’ dance floor and smokin’ hookah lounge.
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Mandarin Bar
66 Knightsbridge
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
Kick up your just-bought Harvey Nick’s heels with a cocktail at this stylish yet comfy hotel bar.
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Milk & Honey
61 Poland St.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
The unmarked entrance and members-only vibe add to the mystique of this spot for quality cocktails.
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Montgomery Place
31 Kensington Park Rd.
London
Nightlife
Festive
Pint-sized, but well-executed cocktail lounge serving excellent drinks in a Rat-Pack-inspired ambience.
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Portobello Star
171 Portobello Rd.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
This gem with a locals’ buzz provides a sweet deal: fresh cocktails paired with tasty, homemade cakes.
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Refuel Bar
The Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
A perfect place to fuel up with a drink and a nibble among the cool crowd.
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Sketch
9 Conduit St.
London
Nightlife
Festive
This sci-fi complex of bars, a restaurant, and a gallery space is a perpetual hotspot.
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The Bar at the Dorchester
Park Lane
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
Dark, opulent, and decidedly divine, this classic bar offers old boys' club charm and top-notch cocktails.
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The Cow
89 Westbourne Park Rd.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
Contrary to its name, fresh seafood (not beef) is the draw at this local watering hole.
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The Donovan Bar
Brown's Hotel, 33-34 Albemarle St.
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
true
Live jazz sets the tone for relaxed sophistication, and the 30 to 50 set gathers for drinks and lively conversation.
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The Fumoir
Claridge's Hotel, Brook St.
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
Classy scenesters sip cocktails from luxurious Lalique glasses behind a secret door in this tiny, sexy 1930s-themed bar.
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The Grenadier
18 Wilton Row
London
Nightlife
Kick It
This classic, tiny pub on a hidden back alley in a swanky part of town serves a mean Bloody Mary.
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The Promenade at the Dorchester
The Dorchester, Park Lane
London
Nightlife
Well-Coiffed
Live jazz and the crowd's penchant for champagne make this hotel bar a celebratory destination.
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The Westbourne
101 Westbourne Park Villas
London
Nightlife
Kick It
It's hard to pry yourself away from this relaxing gastropub, especially if you’ve landed on one of the comfy couches.
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The Windsor Castle
114 Campden Hill Rd.
London
Nightlife
Kick It
Come for a cool beer in the garden or a cozy brew by the fire at this classic British pub.
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Trader Vic's
22 Park Lane, The London Hilton on Park Lane
London
Nightlife
Festive
Staying loyal to its classic (and winning) Polynesian formula, this venerable tiki lounge still serves up a mean Mai Tai.
If you're a party-'til-dawn type of gal, you may find that London nightlife peaks too early. Yeah, there are hotspots and an abundance of private, members-only clubs like Bungalow 8 London and Home House that carry the revelry into the wee hours. But by and large, this is a drinking town, where the cocktail set often starts at lunch. Though hitting the pub in the afternoon isn't uncommon for Londoners, the biggest crowds can be found at quittin' time. Even chic bars and lounges get packed to the rafters for happy hour. In the summer, throngs spill outside at some favorite spots–like the terrace at The Westbourne or the garden at Long Bar. Just don't get too comfy if you manage to snag a bar stool; chances are you'll have to surrender it by 11:00pm, when most pubs and many bars close.
Once you adjust to the nightlife time change, an array of choices for getting three sheets to the wind await. When it comes to imbibing in London, things can get very old school, and no, we're not talking about the shagadelic '60s. We're talking pubs and wine bars that have literally been around for centuries. Jerusalem Tavern in Clerkenwell, serving up suds since the 1300s, is housed in a building that dates from 1720. Gordon's Wine Bar near Charing Cross–established 1890, making it the oldest wine bar in London–offers its extensive wine list in a dark stone cellar with candlelit tables. Really, when it comes to getting a sip of history, who needs electricity?
If something contemporary's more your thing, there are plenty of stylish spots where mixology is the order of the day. Freshly squeezed juices, handpicked herbs and spices, fine spirits, and even specialty ices elevate the cocktails at spots like Milk & Honey and Loungelover, where drinks are named for the type of love you might be seeking (a "Night of Passion" or a "Bit on the Side," anyone?). If you'd like a soundtrack to your evening, brave the velvet rope at Mahiki, a tiki-bar-cum-nightclub where the Europop tunes match the youngish crowd. Or, take in some live jazz at the decidedly more mature Donovan Bar in Brown's Hotel, which actually stays open until the ripe hour of (gasp!) 1:00am.
Photo of Bar at The Dorchester courtesy of Amber Watson on Flickr