Now in its ninth year, London Cocktail Week is back from 1st October with over 300 bars serving £6 signature drinks. The Cocktail Village has a new home on Brick Lane and there are pop-ups, masterclasses, and parties happening all over town. Got your pass but not sure where to start? Here are eight drinks to add to your To Do list.
Honey Snog
Where: 46 & Mercy, the laid-back basement cocktail bar beneath east London BBQ joint, HotBox.
What: Honey Snog – Jameson Irish whiskey, honey syrup, lemon juice, Jagermeister, Angostura Bitters, and ginger.
Eat: Book a table upstairs and tuck into short rib tacos, St. Louis pork ribs, and smoked mac ‘n’ cheese. Save room for some of their famous deep-fried Oreos with cornflake ice-cream.
Tokyo Drift
Where: This signature serve is available at Drake & Morgan bars The Refinery Bankside, The Anthologist, The Fable, The Pagination and Devonshire Terrace.
What: Roku gin, plum sake, yuzu, lemon, honey, and egg white.
Eat: The Drake & Morgan bars serve classic crowd-pleasers like chicken and oyster mushroom pie, rib-eye steak and chips, and crispy duck salad. We’re also partial to their pudding cocktails – try the After Eight Martini.
The Great Dictator
Where: Demon, Wise & Partners – a basement cocktail bar that opens weeknights only in the City.
What: Hayman’s Old Tom gin, Hayman’s Sloe gin, yuzu juice and apricot shrub.
Eat: Dine nearby at Temper City, Coya, or M Threadneedle Street. If it’s a special occasion, Jason Atherton’s City Social is a short stroll away and offers some of the best food and views in the City.
The Sampan
Where: Wright Brothers‘ seafood restaurants in Soho, Spitalfields, South Kensington, Borough Market, and Battersea.
What: Bombay Sapphire gin, dry vermouth, lemon and basil shrub, lychee juice, lemon juice, peach bitters, and basil.
Eat: Start with oysters or a shellfish platter to share, then choose from dishes like pan-fried hake, grilled lobster with garlic butter, and mussels with white wine, shallots and parsley.
Rumbullion in the Jungle
Where: Gordon Ramsay’s West End restaurant Heddon Street Kitchen and Bread Street Kitchen in the City.
What: Bacardi Carta Oro, crème de cassis, pineapple juice, lime juice, and rosemary syrup.
Eat: Choose from dishes like steamed sea bass with ginger-soy glaze, dry-aged steaks, and Goosnargh duck breast with red wine jus. For the ultimate date night indulgence, order the beef Wellington with truffle Brie mashed potato for two to share.
Ch’winkle Cha’Chunker
Where: Genuine Liquorette in Fitzrovia. Inspired by the NYC original, this hot new opening uses a machine called a cha’chunker to punch a wider hole in the top of cans so that miniature bottles of spirits can be added.
What: Elderflower vodka and canned frizzante.
Eat: Dine nearby at Peruvian restaurant Pisqu, Japanese gem Kikuchi, or the award-winning Hakkasan Hanway.
Churchill’s Tot
Where: The Churchill Bar & Terrace at the Hyatt Regency in Marylebone. The bar features bookshelves curated by Daunt Books and original photos and love letters from Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine on the walls.
What: Butter and cocoa nib infused rye whisky, Martini Rosso Gran Riserva Rubino, Benedictine, Aztec and Peychaud Bitters, aged in a wooden barrel.
Eat: Splash out on supper at Locanda Locatelli or enjoy seasonal British dishes at The Montagu Kitchen. The Churchill Bar serves snacks and light bites like dressed Devon crab, Scotch quail eggs, and mini aged beef burgers.
Prickly Rita
Where: Barrio Bars in Brixton, Angel, Soho, and Shoreditch. Expect fiesta vibes, and South American street food.
What: El Jimador Blanco Tequila, chilli liqueur, prickly pear liqueur, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave syrup, Mezcal and grapefruit bitters.
Eat: There’s no need to party on an empty stomach. You can soak up the tequila with their super-sized nachos, Mexican fried chicken, and tacos filled with Baja fish or slow-cooked pork carnitas.
Visit the London Cocktail Week website to check out the full bar line-up. If you’re planning a cocktail crawl, you can use the OpenTable app to find a restaurant nearby.
