Best Bars in London: Hidden Speakeasies, Rooftops, and Local Hotspots

When people talk about the best bars in London, hidden, intimate venues where drinks are crafted with care and conversation matters more than noise. Also known as secret London bars, these spots aren’t listed on TripAdvisor—they’re passed down like family recipes. This isn’t about flashy neon signs or cover charges that break your budget. It’s about places where the bartender remembers your name, the ice is freshly cracked, and the music doesn’t drown out your thoughts.

The London nightlife, a layered ecosystem of underground jazz cellars, rooftop lounges with Eiffel Tower-like views, and basement pubs that have survived two world wars. Also known as London after dark, it’s shaped by decades of immigration, music movements, and quiet rebellion. You’ll find old-school gin joints in Shoreditch, cocktail dens tucked under railway arches in Camberwell, and bars where the menu changes weekly based on what’s fresh at Borough Market. These aren’t tourist traps—they’re where bankers unwind after a deal, artists debate philosophy over mezcal, and expats find their second home.

What makes a bar truly stand out in London isn’t the glassware or the name on the door. It’s the hidden bars London, venues with no signage, password entries, or backroom doors that only locals know about. Also known as speakeasies, they thrive on mystery and trust. Think bookshelf that swings open, a phone booth that rings to a backroom, or a fridge door labeled "No Entry" that leads to a 12-seat lounge with a master mixologist. These places don’t advertise. They earn you.

And then there are the secret venues London, unmarked spaces that appear only on certain nights—like a rooftop that opens when it rains, or a warehouse that turns into a jazz club every Thursday. Also known as pop-up bars, they’re temporary, unpredictable, and unforgettable. You won’t find them on Google Maps. You’ll hear about them from someone who heard about them from someone else. That’s how London’s best spots survive—by staying quiet.

The local London bars, neighborhood joints where the regulars have been coming for 20 years and the owner knows exactly how you take your whiskey. Also known as true London pubs, they’re the heartbeat of the city’s social fabric. These aren’t the ones with DJs and bottle service. These are the ones where the beer is poured cold, the chips are salted just right, and the conversation flows even when the TV’s on mute. They don’t need to be trendy. They just need to be real.

What you’ll find below isn’t a list of the most Instagrammed spots. It’s a curated collection of real experiences—bars where people come to feel something, not just take a photo. You’ll read about the hidden speakeasies that changed how London drinks, the rooftop lounges with views you didn’t know existed, and the unassuming pubs that have seen more history than most museums. No fluff. No hype. Just the places that keep London’s nights alive.