The reams of new bars to open in London this year are testament to this city’s progressiveness in hospitality. I hardly need to mention how taxing the game is these days — Rachel Reeves really does appear to punish the industry unfairly — and yet enterprising people see fit to roll the dice anyway. London nightlife, too often needlessly maligned, is all the better for it.
Of all the bars to open, or do a trade (a couple aren’t new, but lesser-charted gems) in 2025, these 10 impressed me most. They were the places in which I had the most fun and enjoyed the best-tasting drinks. When I review a bar for the food and drink pages, I tend not to be microscopic or overly earnest. It’s just going for a drink, after all. But I am thorough. I could condense my analysis down to “vibes” but there’s much to consider, from the drinks to the service, soundtrack to the chat. If people are going to spend money going out to drink, they deserve to know where to find the finest martini.
