London Food & Drink | The 50 Best Bars 2026
The 50 Best Bars 2026 was revealed in Milan last night, and Bar Leone in Hong Kong has held on to its crown as the World’s Best Bar for a second year. London is well represented, though. Here are five London bars that made the 2026 rankings, perfect for your next night out.
1. Connaught Bar, Mayfair (No.8)
London’s highest entry is the Connaught Bar at The Connaught hotel on Carlos Place. It has topped the list in previous years and remains the ultimate in elegant hotel bars, famous for its martini trolley mixed at your table.
2. Satan’s Whiskers, Bethnal Green (No.29)
This much-loved East London cocktail bar is a regular on the list. It’s relaxed and unpretentious, with a daily-changing menu of classic-style cocktails and plenty of hip hop on the stereo.
3. Waltz (No.32, new entry)
Waltz is one of only four new entries in this year’s top 50, the smallest batch of newcomers on record, which makes its arrival even more impressive. If you haven’t been yet, now’s the time to discover it.
4. Three Sheets, Soho (No.73)
In the extended 51 to 100 list, brothers Max and Noel Venning’s Soho outpost made the cut. They brought the hyper-refined cocktail concept of their original Dalston bar to Soho in 2024.
5. Scarfes Bar, Holborn (No.77)
Inside the Rosewood London hotel on High Holborn, Scarfes Bar feels like a traditional gentleman’s club, lined with satirical caricatures by Gerald Scarfe. It’s a cosy spot for a lazy cocktail, often with live music.
The rest of the world
Behind Bar Leone, the top five is completed by Moebius Milano, Alquímico in Cartagena, Bar Us in Bangkok and Line in Athens. Closer to home, Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons won the award for Best Cocktail Menu. The list is voted on by more than 800 drinks experts worldwide.