They drink differently in London than we do here in New York. For one thing, pubs open—and close—a lot earlier. For another, expect to buy a round for your friends at a pub, and count on them to buy you a drink in return. (All of which may explain why they drive on the wrong side of the road.)
The fact is drinking in London is always a pleasure. So, if you want to do it like a pro, ask one.
And if there’s anyone who knows how to have a good time in the city, it’s Fords Gin founder Simon Ford. The former brand ambassador has been traveling the world for more than two decades as a longtime veteran of the spirits industry—and his encyclopedic knowledge of bars from Timbuktu to Tasmania is unmatched (thanks to his uncanny ability to retain a multitude of facts in his head). He’s also got a well-earned reputation for truly knowing the global cocktail scene—and practically everyone in it. But of course, as an Englishman, there’s no place he knows better than London. “He’s one of a handful of Brits from a certain generation who knew their trade inside-out before they worked on brands,” says Signature Cocktails author Amanda Schuster. In short: The guy knows his stuff.
Which is why I went to him when I sought recommendations.
Alessandro Palazzi presides over the Dukes Bar in London’s upscale Mayfair neighborhood. And the bar … [+]
Ford, who loves the informality and ease surrounding London’s drinking culture, is quick to explain why. “It’s not uncommon to stop for a quick pint after work, stand on the street if the weather is sunny (or even vaguely warm) and have a nice catch up and reflect on the day,” Ford says. And one needn’t go all swanky either. “I enjoy the different types of places you can find—from chugging a pint at the local pub, to sipping martinis from delicate crystal stemware at The Connaught, to everything in between.”
Ford’s practical tips abound. Chief among them is the case of tipping—a dilemma that has always confounded Americans. “Drinking in London isn’t too dissimilar to drinking in the U.S., but there are certainly some nuances that are good to know about before visiting,” Ford explains. At upscale cocktail bars and restaurants, proper protocol dictates that you should tip the way you do Stateside. “In these places the tipping culture is closer to what Americans are used to—tipping usually starts at around 12.5 percent upwards but it’s not uncommon for the staff to receive 20 percent.”
Fords Gin collaborated with Handsome Boy Modeling School to produce “Music To Drink Martinis To.” … [+]
But he also notes that the unspoken rules change when you’re at a pub, where tipping in not the norm. Instead of leaving a gratuity, you should ask your bartender if you can buy them a drink. “They will often take the money for the drink with the intention to imbibe after work—or they just pocket the cash. Either way, this weird British ritual makes everyone feel a little more comfortable,” Ford says. “Occasionally a bartender will send you a drink ‘on the house’ after you’ve bought them a drink, which brings me to the next custom of drinking in a pub: buying rounds. When you go to a pub with a group there’s an expectation that each person will be buying a round of drinks for everyone. And it’s not uncommon for someone to remind you of when it’s your turn to buy a round.”
Also: When in a pub, make sure to order both your food and drinks at the bar. “It’s most likely you will need to order your drinks—and often your food—at the bar and carry your glasses back to where your friends are gathered, but the food will typically be delivered to you,” Ford says. “It’s often very amusing for other pubgoers to observe people that sit themselves and embark on the long wait to be served before they realize they have to go up to the bar.”
The Best Bars in London 2023
SEED LIBRARY
Seed Library, one of Ryan Chetiyawardana’s ventures, features DJs from Diggers Dozen on the … [+]
“Seed Library is a basement bar in the Shoreditch neighborhood of East London. It is a bar that gives attention to two of my favorite things: craft cocktails and vinyl records. It is a comfortable environment aimed at relaxing its guests; the idea is to sit back and savor the sips and sounds,” Ford explains. “It feels like a large living room where you get your own DJ and bartender. I should add that the drinks have been created by one of London’s most celebrated bartenders: Ryan Chetiyawardana, who contributed a recipe to the Fords Gin guide to enjoying Music and Martinis, which accompanies the vinyl record we recently launched in collaboration with Handsome Boy Modeling School.”
SATAN’S WHISKERS
It’s all about the vibe at Satan’s Whiskers, where the daily changing menu is accompanied by a … [+]
“It’s hard to underestimate the love I have for this bar. Simply put, it’s a classic cocktail bar with beautifully executed cocktails that plays hip hop music,” Ford says. “For most cocktail-loving hip hop fans that would be enough, but it’s also cozy, with all the warmth and hospitality you would get from a neighborhood bar. Run by one of London’s cocktail industry veterans, Kevin Armstrong, Satan’s Whiskers has also become the place where other bartenders go to drink cocktails in London, and might be the cocktail bar I feel most at home in when I visit. I visited recently—for the first time in several months—and despite not recognizing anyone behind the bar, I still received the same warm welcome that I’m used to.”
A BAR WITH SHAPES FOR A NAME
London’s A Bar With Shapes for a Name was honored as Best New International Cocktail Bar at the 2022 … [+]
“Owner Remy Savage is the master at bringing unique bar concepts to life and of all the bars he has opened, this is my favorite,” Ford says. “The inspiration for A Bar with Shapes for a Name comes from the Bauhaus movement, with a minimalist approach to the decor and the drinks. However, there is nothing minimalist to the work that goes into producing the hospitality experience of a night here. The presentation of each drink is original and complements the style of the bar. The minimalism only helps to accentuate the presentation of shapes and colors featured throughout the space. Above all else, this tiny bar gets raucous as the evening goes on, and is notably one of the most fun late night bars in London at the moment. On my last visit there I played chess and drank Champagne with the owner, who was the first person to beat me at chess in around a decade.”
THE AMERICAN BAR AT THE SAVOY
The American Bar at the Savoy has won numerous awards—including the World’s Best Bar title at the … [+]
“The American Bar at the Savoy opened its doors in 1893 and is one of the most famous cocktail bars on the planet. It is the place where bartender Ada Coleman created the Hanky Panky cocktail and Harry Craddock penned the world-famous Savoy Cocktail Book,” Ford says. “The American bar does an incredible job of honoring the vibe and atmosphere of the golden age of cocktails. Thoughtful restorations over the years have kept the room feeling like you have just jumped into a time machine to an age long gone, where the soundtrack is the clinking of martini glasses and live piano. Many moons ago, I used to run a fine wine and spirits shop opposite the Savoy and their bar team would regularly come to see me for specialty products for their guests. One day their head bartender at the time, Peter Dorelli, invited me across to try the cocktail menu. This would be my first introduction into cocktail culture. I started at the top!”
DUKES BAR AT THE DUKES HOTEL
Alessandro Palazzi, a world-renowned bartender, has been leading Dukes Bar for decades.
“The Dukes Bar is the first place I ever visited that had tableside martini service. Their world-famous Dukes Martini has always been served with playfulness and theater,” Ford says. “The head bartender who introduced me to their martini was Alessandro Palazzi in the late ’90s; he’s still the head bartender today! Be warned that the martini at Dukes Bar is strong! The gin or vodka is served straight from the freezer and therefore requires no dilution from ice. It is also served very dry with just a spritz of vermouth sprayed into the cocktail glass to accompany the gin. My favorite part of the service is the garnish: the oils from a large, thin slice of Sicilian lemon are expressed over the martini in front of you and olives are served on the side. Pure perfection! Dukes Bar is also said to be the birthplace of the original Vesper Martini ordered by James Bond in Casino Royale. It’s hidden away in the St. James area of London, which makes it feel like a little sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of London. I recommend making sure you dress up a little when you go.”
SWIFT SOHO
For the cocktail-averse, Swift Soho offers more than 300 whiskeys.
“Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston are two friends whose careers I have watched blossom over the years. They always spoke of their dream to open a bar one day and in 2016 they opened Swift in one of the most ambitious neighborhoods in London; in a venue that was previously home to one of the city’s most famous pioneering cocktail bars (LAB),” Ford explained. “Of course, everything they had learned over the years was applied, and they opened one of the most celebrated cocktail bars of the last decade. As well as serving great drinks, this bar delivers on making sure visitors get all the party vibes of the Soho neighborhood. And if you love whiskey, well, they have over 300 on offer.”
THE CONNAUGHT BAR
The esteemed Agostino Peronne, who is at the helm of The Connaught Bar, was named Best International … [+]
“The Connaught Hotel is one of London’s most expensive and exclusive hotels. If you wait outside for a few minutes you will witness designer-clothing-clad guests arrive in Rolls Royces and Bentleys,” Ford says. “The bar is a great place for people watching, but the glitz and glamour soon fades into the background as the real star here is the hospitality, the cocktails, and the team making the magic happen. I’m sure that dealing with such a crowd has its challenges, but The Connaught Bar is always a room of happy, well-looked-after people enjoying the award-winning drinks. My favorite part is the larger-than-life characters who are the face of it. Ago Perrone, Giorgio Bargiani and Maura Milia run a tight ship together, and always have time for their guests. This is the five-star hotel bar where the bartenders know your name.”
HAPPINESS FORGETS
Happiness Forgets is best described as an upscale dive bar.
“I love this bar because it brings together the feeling of an American dive bar—albeit an upscale one—with the quality that you find in the best cocktail bars in the world,” Ford says. “In fact, this bar has been named the best bar in the world by its peers, and I think that comes down to the fact that you can be relaxed and comfortable here, and get a great drink. No one is going to judge you for having a beer, but if you want a well-made negroni made from top-shelf spirits, then you can be safe in the knowledge that it will be as good as any negroni you could find elsewhere. There is a humbleness about this bar and I think that is driven by its owner Ali Burgess, who wants to democratize the cocktail experience for guests and make Happiness Forgets a great neighborhood cocktail bar.”
SIDE HUSTLE
Side Hustle made its way to London from New York and is known for its tequila mai tai, which uses … [+]
“Sometimes you just want to drink a cold beer with a shot of really good tequila or mezcal after you have sipped on fancy cocktails during the evening. This is where Side Hustle excels,” Ford explains. “You can have that as well as the cocktails here. The bar program was put together by Leo Robitcheck, who knows how to navigate between the pressure of three-Michelin-star hospitality and accommodating guests when they’re just in need of something simple. This bar can go from a fancy cocktail bar to bartenders standing on the bar pouring shots in minutes; where a relaxed cocktail vibe can become a party at the drop of a dime. There are only a very small number of really good tequila and mezcal bars in London and this is one of them.”
KWÃNT
Kwãnt, which was No. 31 at the 2021 World’s 50 Best awards, serves one of the most unusual cocktails … [+]
“Kwãnt has only been open for a short time, but it is already one of my favorite bars in London. The decor is tropical and will be a welcome sanctuary during the winter months. It also feels like you have stepped into a bar from the 1920s, albeit one where the bartender has been on a trip to the future to incorporate all of the modern cooking and bar techniques into the menus,” Ford says. “This is a bar for when you feel like giving yourself a treat and want to be a little decadent, which describes my mood most of the time. I was recently with head bartender Erik Lorincz as he was inducted into the Gin Guild at the home of the Lord Mayor of London. He was nominated for his contributions to the category of gin, which I think really comes down to how well he has promoted hospitality and cocktail culture. Erik is one of the most well-known bartenders in the world and I have a feeling that one day Kwãnt will be named the best bar in the world too.”
LYANESS
Lyaness, helmed by the famed Ryan Chetiyawardana, was declared the World’s Best Bar at the 16th … [+]
“Lyaness showcases the crazy ideas of the cocktail world’s own team of mad scientists,” Ford says. “Here, strange house-made ingredients find their way into drinks alongside more recognizable ingredients that give guests some comfort while everyone is drinking cocktails such as Campfire Wine and Black Champagne. Ryan Chetiyawardana has been a supporter of me on my journey with Fords Gin since the beginning. He has shown up to shake drinks at our events and we use Lyaness as an extension of our London distillery experience, where his team showcases Fords Gin in modern cocktails. At the 10th Anniversary of Fords Gin Lyaness created carbonated cocktails that they served from magnums and placed right next to the DJs. I hope that paints a good picture of who they are.”
THE GEORGE
The George in London’s Fitzrovia neighborhood has been around since the 18th century.
“I love a good gastropub and The George in the Fitzrovia neighborhood of London is my current favorite,” Ford says. “It ticks all the boxes of a great gastropub: great food, a killer Sunday roast, elevated versions of proper British pub snacks, and a great selection of beers on tap. The George elevates this further by having great wine and craft cocktail lists also. If you are someone that likes good food and drinks without the formality, this is a place for you. At the end of the day it’s just a really, really good English pub.”
THE DONOVAN BAR
The Donovan Bar at the Brown’s Hotel in London is named after Terrence Donovan—a much-lauded English … [+]
“The Brown’s Hotel has been a center for high society in London since 1832 and at The Donovan Bar you can drink through 200 years of drinking history—from modern inventions to classic historical drinks,” Ford says. “And when I say you can drink through history (if you feel like dropping some dollars) you can drink the classics using spirits from the time the drink was invented. For example, you can drink a daiquiri using Cuban rum from 1905 or order a White Lady made with gin and Cointreau produced in the 1930s. On one occasion, Salvatore Calabrese opened a 200-year-old bottle of genever for me to taste. I love my job!”
HAWKSMOOR SPITALFIELDS
Hawksmoor, which has locations around the world, originally started in Spitalfields.
“When Huw Gott and Will Beckett opened a small East London restaurant in 2006 dedicated to high-quality steak dinners and old-fashioned punches, I would have never predicted that they would revitalize the image of the British steak restaurant on an international level,” Ford says. “They have now opened 13 more restaurants including a bold move to bring their steak-and-cocktail philosophy to Chicago and New York. I have visited most of their restaurants and have loved every one of them, but it’s the original spot in Spitalfields that remains my favorite. I remember frequenting the place regularly when it first opened. It was on my tour of places to take friends and visitors. At the time my friend and famed bartender, Nick Strangeway, was serving punches and classic cocktails in an impressive range of vintage glassware and punch bowls—using vintage and antique bar tools too. This had a big impact on the bar industry at the time, with many bars taking inspiration from both the serves and service. For example: After a visit to London, the bartenders at Death & Co in New York City quickly adopted punch bowls in their offering, which helped reignite punch bowl culture in the United States. These days the drinks at Hawksmoor are overseen by Liam Davy who has a very earnest approach to cocktailmaking that goes perfectly with the restaurant’s approach to food. Hawksmoor is also home to one my favorite cocktails of the last decade—the Sour Cherry Negroni. There is also a cocktail bar called Spitalfields Bar in the basement that’s great for an after-dinner drink.”