It’s your birthday.
Which means you are, by definition, older and more mature.
And being older and more mature, you’ll likely be in the mood to celebrate with a bewilderingly good cocktail in an atmospheric, sophisticated space. One which is both upmarket and intimate, but still has plenty of room for all your adoring fans friends.
So we’ve lined up a solid collection of the very best places for birthday drinks in London which offer just that…
Eve | Covent Garden
It’s a sumptuous subterranean cocktail bar tucked away underneath the Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling, serving never-before-seen theatrical cocktails, alongside bar snacks like cheese and truffle doughnuts or smoked cod caviar. And they have cosy little candle-lit booths in which to graciously host your friends.
Numbers? Up to 10 people online (telephone reservations accepting larger groups) | Book Eve or email [email protected] for 6+ people
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TT Liquor | Shoreditch
Taking up three full storeys, TT itself is a huge, converted Victorian police station that looks like, well, like it’s been converted from a Victorian police station: brick walls, stone slab floors, and caged liquor bottles (framed by their captors with subtle low light) surround the beautifully aged wooden fittings. There’s a cellar with former jail cells converted into convenient booths (where you can have a private drinks tasting if you so choose); a rooftop restaurant; and the upper floor is reserved for cocktail masterclasses which, despite being educational, are actually perfect for birthday parties.
Numbers? You can book a cocktail masterclass for 6-20 people, a space in their vaults for 5-15 people, or an area in their bar for anywhere up to 120 people | Book drinks or classes at TT
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Lyaness | South Bank
Lyaness is the reincarnation of cocktail wizard Ryan Chetiyawardana’s bar Dandelyan, which he closed months after winning the World’s Best Bar award. Now holding a position on that list in its own right, Lyaness is also an excellent shortlister for birthday drinks in London, considering the cocktails are incredible, and there’s a stunning view of the Thames right outside. Hog one of the serene blue booths wrapping the back of the room, and enjoy creative concoctions with ingredients like toast liqueur, shiso absinthe and something called ‘pie wine’.
Numbers? Up to 300 for the whole venue | Book Lyaness, or email [email protected] for 8+ people
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BYOC | The City
Yes, you’ll have to bring your own booze to this moody speakeasy. But the barkeeps will then turn that booze into whatever cocktails suit the individual tastes of you and your party, while supplying music, an illicit setting, and atmosphere by the bucketload.
Numbers? Up to 12 | Book BYOC
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Artesian | Marylebone
Winner of “world’s best bar” accolade several times over, Artesian is a high-flying, we-take-our-cocktails-oh-so-seriously glamour shot of a bar. Expect to pay the big bucks, and get the best drinks.
Details: 1C Portland Pl, London W1B 1JA | Numbers? Up to 20 | Bookable area? No | For more information, visit their website here.
Purl | Marylebone
The original venture from the boys behind the Whistling Shop and Dach & Sons, Purl’s subterranean bar combines exposed brickwork with leather sofas; chandeliers with cosy booths; urban edge with classic cool. But as nice as all of that is, the focus here is 100% on the drinks. The cocktail menu forebodingly warns: “This is not an elegant or simple cocktail list…if you don’t like fire, liquid nitrogen or loud noises, you won’t like this.” And if you’re after something a little bit special on your birthday, this place provides just that.
Details: 50-54 Blandford St, London W1U 7HX | Numbers? Up to 35 | Bookable area? Yes, they have some neat little alcoves. Up to 12 people requires no minimum spend. Above that it varies a lot, so best get in touch | For more information, visit their website here.
12th Knot | South Bank
Another one in Sea Containers London’s portfolio of stunning Tom Dixon-esque bars with a view out over the Thames and some really nice cocktails besides. 12th Knot’s recently had a full refurb – but the best bit? There’s a terrace to go out onto overlooking the river.
Details: 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD | Numbers? Up to 300 for the whole venue | Bookable area? You can book a table for up to 20 people, or the whole venue for up to 300 (however, that costs anywhere between 25k – 50k) | For more details, have a look at their website here.
The Drop | King’s Cross
Tucked away under a railway arch in King’s Cross’ Coal Drops Yard is The Drop, a low-lit, exposed brick restaurant and wine bar courtesy of the Hart Brothers (the same folks behind places like Barrafina and El Pastor). Here however the focus is very much the wine. Supported by a menu of mostly British-leaning dishes, they offer a totally unique and exciting wine list made up of mostly smaller, independent producers often doing new, innovative things across the globe.
Details: Unit 22-24 Bagley Walk Arches Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DH | Numbers? Up to 24 | Bookable area? You can book a table for any size, however their set feasting menus are for groups of 8-24 | For more details, check out their website here.
Discount Suit Company | Spitalfields
DSC is an underground booze den hidden in the basement of an old suit tailor’s stock room, which was literally a discount suit company. It’s now a dimly-lit neighbourhood cocktail bar entirely composed of exposed brickwork, scaffolding planks, Victorian floorboards and Motown records. If you want somewhere that’s not only cool, but makes you look cool too? Look no further.
Details: 29A Wentworth St, London E1 7TB | Numbers? 30ish | Bookable area? Yes, you can book a table or bar area free of charge | For more details, take a look at their website here.
Mr Foggs | Mayfair
The fictional home of the famed, not-exactly existent Philleas Fogg, this cocktail spot pushes eccentric Victorian to its limit – it overflows with artefacts and trinkets, from stuffed Indian tiger heads, to whole crocodiles and umbrella stands made from elephants’ feet, birdcages, bicycles and one large penny-farthing swinging from the ceiling.
Details: 1 New Row, London WC2N 4EA | Numbers? Up to 12 (if you’re going to book) | Bookable area? Semi-private – parties of up to 8 guests can make their reservation for a table in the Drawing Room | For more information, visit their website here.
Sketch | Mayfair
With any mention of Sketch comes the inevitable reference to its collection of pod shaped toilets which look, almost exactly, like the spaceship from Mork and Mindy (basically a big egg with a door). But aside from that, there are also three bars and two restaurants, all of which will ever so slightly blow the mind of anyone unfamiliar with the joint.
Details: 9 Conduit St, London W1S 2XG | Numbers? Depends on the night; probably 20ish at a stretch | Bookable area? No, and that’s the rub – you can’t book any of their bars, they’re strictly walk-in only. So you’d need to get your party there early, and hope | For any more information, check out their website here.
Want somewhere a little more fun? Check out our guide to Fun Places For Birthday Drinks…