You’ve finally got a night when everyone’s free, the group chat is buzzing, and now the only question is: where to drink? Skip the obvious picks and book somewhere that actually feels like a night out. After you’ve found a cool spot for dinner, these are the bars we keep coming back to when the girls are in town and you want something a bit more interesting than the usual.

Smokey Kudu

Nearest tube: Baker Street

Upstairs above Kudu in Marylebone, Smokey Kudu is an intimate cocktail lounge with a South African twist. Expect classic cocktails, a solid champagne offering, and breathtaking caramel interiors.

Where: 7 Moxon Street, London W1U 4EP
Website: www.kuducollective.com

The Red Room

Nearest tube: Bond Street

Hidden behind a velvet curtain at The Connaught, The Red Room is a plush, intimate hideaway with a wine list to match. Whether you’re looking for a special occasion spot, or a way to elevate your Friday night, this is a spot to know.

Where: The Connaught, Carlos Place, London W1K 2AL
Website: www.maybourne.com

Bar Crispin

Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Located adjacent to Soho’s Kingly Street, Bar Crispin is a buzzing natural wine bar with a terrace that’s perfect for people-watching. The wine list is eclectic, the plates are shareable, and the tables are almost always full.

Where: 19 Kingly Street, London W1B 5PY
Website: www.crispinlondon.com

Naked & Famous

Nearest tube: Notting Hill Gate

Hidden beneath Zephyr on Portobello Road, Naked & Famous is a retro-inspired cocktail lounge with a moody vibe. Able to house just 35 guests at a time, it’s perfect for a chic yet intimate girls’ night.

Where: 100 Portobello Road, London W11 2QD
Website: www.nakedandfamousbar.com

Sol’s

Nearest tube: Bayswater

A neighbourhood wine bar and deli in Bayswater, Sol is all about great wines and a relaxed atmosphere. This is the kind of place where you turn up for a glass or two, and end up staying until closing.

Where: 25 Leinster Terrace, London W2 3ET
Website: @solslondon

This is a local gem that’s opened up near me, and it’s already a favourite. It’s got a brilliant choice of wines, the vibe is lively, and it’s clearly a go-to for other cool girl catch ups in the area.

Natasha, Digital Editor

The Dreamery

Nearest tube: Essex Road / Haggerston

Part wine bar, part ice-cream parlour, The Dreamery in De Beauvoir Town is as fun as it sounds. Pair a glass of glou-glou with an unexpected ice cream scoop – this is a brilliant option for when you’re after a slightly different kind of girls’ night.

Where: 20a Halliford Street, London N1 3HD
Website: @thedreameryldn

Flute Bar

Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Set atop Broadwick Soho, Flute is the ultimate retro-inspired cocktail bar. With panoramic views, maximalist interiors, and a cocktail list that changes with the seasons, it’s a fail-safe central option.

Where: 7th Floor, 20 Broadwick Street, London W1F 8HT
Website: www.broadwicksoho.com

Scarfes Bar

Nearest tube: Holborn

Inside the Rosewood Hotel, Scarfes Bar is a jazz-age cocktail lounge with plush sofas, towering bookcases, and live music most nights. Notify the group chat to dress up, order a martini, and feel like you’ve stepped into another era.

Where: Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
Website: www.rosewoodhotels.com

Amie Wine

Tucked away in Eccleston Yards, Amie Wine is a low-key local spot that feels like a secret. Think natural wines, warm lighting, and a relaxed vibe with spot-on interiors.

Where: 13 Eccleston Yards, London SW1W 9AZ
Website: www.drinkamie.com

Upstairs at Hausu

Nearest tube: Peckham Rye

Above the restaurant Hausu in Peckham, Upstairs at Hausu is a dimly lit listening bar with hi-fi sound, vinyl spins, and a full bar. It’s the perfect spot for a night of casual drinks, great tunes, and a little dancing.

Where: 11a Station Way, London SE15 4RX
Website: www.hausu.co.uk

Nipperkin

Nearest tube: Green Park

Nipperkin is a subterranean cocktail bar that feels more like a private living room than a hotel spot. British ingredients meet Japanese precision in the drinks – you’re in for a smorgasbord of unconventional savoury cocktail options. With the vinyl spinning in the background, it’s equal parts cool and intimate.

Where: 20 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8EE
Website: www.nijulondon.com/nipperkin

Zum Barbarossa

Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road

Located in the basement of a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse on Dean Street, Zum Barbarossa is Soho’s answer to a Parisian-style speakeasy. Think plush sofas, curved brick ceilings, and a cocktail list that leans into French classics with a playful twist.

Where: 77 Dean Street, London W1D 3SH
Website: www.zumbarbarossa.com/london

Three Sheets

Nearest tube: Dalston Junction or Tottenham Court Road

Three Sheets is the kind of no-fuss cocktail bar that your ‘in the know’ friend already counts among their favourites. The drinks are bang on (whether you’re opting for the famous gateway martini, or the 0% whiskey sour) and the vibe is relaxed enough that you can actually catch up and have a proper chat.

Where: Dalston & Soho
Website: www.threesheets-bar.com

Ellie’s

Nearest tube: Dalston Junction

On Kingsland Road in Dalston, Ellie’s is the kind of neighbourhood bar that feels like home. It’s fuss-free, has affordable drinks (as far as London pricing goes, at least), making it a top pick for a relaxed girls’ night.

Where: 428 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AA
Website: @elliesdalston

Want to receive more great articles like this every day? Join our daily email now