Whether you’re looking to get in a jolly festive mood, or it’s the last hurrah before you go cold turkey for Dry January, December is the only time of the year where everyone in London is mildly tipsy for a month, indulging in the finest Christmas cocktails the city has to offer.
From winter spritzes and festive takes on the classics, to decadent Bailey’s drinks and chocolate orange martinis, here are 21 festive tipples to fill you with Christmas spirit (quite literally).
Sixes Cricket Club
Cricket and Christmas come together at Sixes Cricket Club this December, where three new festive cocktails are on the menu.
Tuck into the Clausmopolitan, a cranberry flavoured Belvedere cocktail; the Winter Spritz, a Chandon Garden Spritz with orange and cinnamon; or warm the cockles with a Mulled Negroni.
Where: Shepherd’s Bush / Fitzrovia / Fulham
Website: www.sixescricket.com
Bill’s
Escape the busy streets of London and instead let the festivities be-gin at Bill’s, drinking one (or four) of their festive tipples.
Favourites include the Monkey 47 Gin ‘Let It Snow’ cocktail and the Plymouth Gin ‘Winter Spiced Negroni’, bound to bring sparkle and spice to both the naughty and nice this Christmas.
Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.bills-website.co.uk
The Churchill Bar & Terrace
Ever fancy drinking a Whiskey Sour with a dash of festive flavour? The Merry Cherry will certainly get you into the festive spirit (quite literally). Based on the classic Whiskey Sour cocktail but with a festive twist, it’s made with a spiced red wine reduction and flavours of cinnamon, star anise and cloves. It’s Christmas in a cup, and we’re all for it.
Even better – the bar is just around the corner from bustling, twinkling Oxford Street, and makes a welcome escape after a successful Christmas shopping trip.
Where: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH
Website: www.thechurchillbar.co.uk
The Milestone Hotel & Residences
If you’re after a festive bevvy, The Milestone Hotel & Residences has four up for grabs.
Whether you fancy sipping the Santa Cloves with orange juice, cloves syrup and Jerry Thomas Bitters; or the Star Wonder with apple and rosemary sherbet, lemon juice, egg white and mulled wine – you’re bound to find something to satisfy your Christmas cocktail cravings.
Where: 1-3 Kensington Ct, London W8 5PG
Website: www.milestonehotel.com
St Martin’s Lane Hotel
Fancy a cocktail break in between your Christmas shopping? Stop by Covent Garden’s St Martin’s Lane Hotel for a real taste of Christmas.
Their festive cocktail menu is as good as it come. Expect cocktails including the Candycane, made with Bailey’s, coffee, Kumquat liqueur and caramel; the Nutcracker with gin, lemon, cinnamon and sparkling wine; and the Candlelight, a mix of jasmine and clove vodka, peach, lemon and egg white.
45 St Martin’s Lane
Covent Garden, WC2N 4HX
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Lucky Voice
Mariah Carey has fully defrosted and joined Michael Bublé in the final countdown to Christmas at Lucky Voice. If you’re looking to shake it up this December and fancy unlocking your inner mixologist, try Lucky Voice’s Christmas cocktail masterclasses.
All masterclasses are hosted by the head bar elves who’ll show you how to make a range of festive drinks whilst munching on pizza and mince pies. To finish, enjoy a rock around the disco ball for an hour in your very own private karaoke room.
Where: Holborn / Soho /Islington
Website: www.luckyvoice.com
Velvet at Corinthia London
Nothing says winter has arrived in London like the addition of seasonal truffles on menus across the capital. And at Velvet, the Corinthia’s new cocktail and champagne bar, they even feature in the cocktails. The Truffle Sazerac is made with truffled Remy Martin VSOP, bourbon, salty orange bitter, umami syrup and fresh truffle.
Pop into the luxurious bar this Christmas to enjoy classic cocktails with a modern twice, created in partnership with acclaimed bartender and drinks expert, Salvatore Calabrese.
Where: 10 Whitehall Pl, London SW1A 2BD
Website: www.corinthia.com
The Franklin Bar
If you’re searching for a delicious festive drink in Knightsbridge, you’re in luck. The Franklin bar is serving up a limited edition signature cocktails for the festive season.
Iconic for its vibrant colour in a Nick & Nora glass, The Nutcracker cocktail kinda looks like an upside down Santa hat – and tastes like Christmas too. Made with Seven Hill Gin, Karminia Vermouth, Cadello 88, homemade winter syrup and homemade Panettone foam, it’s all the very best festive flavours in one unique cocktail.
Where: 24 Egerton Gardens, London SW3 2DB
Website: www.collezione.starhotels.com
Ginger Lily, Pan Pacific
Pan Pacific London’s specialist rum bar, Ginger Lily, are turning up the heat with their winter cocktails this December.
You’ll find three hot winter warmers on the menu, including The Hot Negroni made with spiced gin, a sweet fortified wine blend, Campari and grenadine; and The Caribbean Coffee, a creative twist on the Espresso Martini mixed with dark rum, muscovado sugar, coffee, and coconut double cream. Or, if you want to get on the tequila train (one of our favourite trains to get on) The Doctor Prescription is muddled with reposado tequila, spicy honey, ginger syrup and lemon.
Where: 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB
Website: www.panpacific.com
Bar + Block
Steak meets festive spice at Bar + Block this Christmas with their Winter Spiced Old Fashioned cocktail, available at all restaurant locations including Kings Cross, Southwark, Aldgate and Paddington. There’s also a Snowflake Martini, and a Chocolate Orange Martini made with Bailey’s Chocolat Luxe, triple sec, milk and cream, finished with a fresh orange garnish.
The best bit? There’s a 2-4-1 festive happy hour from 5-7pm every day, so get sipping!
Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.barandblock.co.uk
Art Yard Bar & Kitchen, Bankside Hotel
The Bankside Hotel elves have been busy creating their festive offering this year, with a creative twist on an Eggnog cocktail.
The festive drink uses Black Cow’s spiced Christmas Spirit, the World’s first pure milk vodka, to create a deliciously smooth drink that packs a punch, combining orange, raisins, figs, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Where: 2 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 9JU
Website: www.artyardbarandkitchen.com
Rake’s Café Bar
This December, Rake’s Café Bar will be serving up not one, but two yuletide-inspired cocktails, designed specially for the Christmas party season.
Surrounded by sparkling lights and the festive smell of cinnamon spice, you’ll get a taste of the North Pole with the La Vie en Rosé and the Winter Wonderland – made with red wine, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, sugar, Havana 3 rum and lemon juice.
Where: 40 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7QN
Website: www.rakescafebar.co.uk
Indulge in the finest festive tipples London has to offer.
nhow London
When you get the calling for Christmas cocktails, head to nhow London, where you can find a brand new Christmas drinks menu just in time for the festive season. Settle down and cosy up with drinks like the Bourbon Blizzard made with bourbon, lemon juice, sugar, Angostura bitters and red wine; the Snowball with creamy Advocaat and lemonade; and the Mistletoe Kiss with vodka, Aperol, lemon juice, vanilla, raspberry and soda, served with a candy cane.
Arguably the most important part of the festive menu, there’s also a boozy hot choccy, made with hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, whipped cream and marshmallows.
Where: 2 Macclesfield Rd, London EC1V 8DG
Website: www.nhow-hotels.com
The Swan At The Globe
The Swan is the Thameside place to go for Christmas cocktails this year. They’ll make sure your holiday drinking is as festive as possible with a range of unique mixes on offer.
There’s the Grande Manhattan made with Jim Beam Red Stag black cherry liqueur, Grand Marnier, Antique Formula red vermouth, cherry juice, Angostura bitters and Morello cherry; the Apple Cart made with Calvados, Triple Sec, lime juice and apple; and even some warming cocktails being served too, like a Blueberry Tea made with Amaretto, Grand Marnier, cinnamon, crushed blueberries and English Breakfast tea. If you’re in the mood for a classic winter warmer, mulled wine and mulled cider are also on offer.
Where: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
Website: www.swanlondon.co.uk
Sloane Place
With festive celebrations looming, Sloane Place has concocted the perfect Christmas cocktail. A tribute to Santa’s iconic hat, the aptly named ‘Naughty or Nice?’ turns the classic Negroni into the ideal Yuletide drink. A festive blend that includes Disaronno, Campari, almond syrup, and orange form, the drink will be available until 23rd December.
Where: 52 Lower Sloane St, Chelsea, London SW1W 8BS
Website: www.sloaneclub.co.uk
One Aldwych
The festive season is well and truly underway at One Aldwych, and to match their Nutcracker-themed deocr, they’ve also created a menu of five festive cocktails inspired by the nutcracker.
Try the Sugar Plum Fairy, a sparkling toast fit for an enchanted fairy, made with plum-infused vodka, sloe gin, winterberry cordial and champagne. Or for something non-alcoholic there’s The Clara, a virgin pink fizz bursting with berries, made with Everleaf Mountain, Everleaf Forrest, Christmas berry cordial and non-alcoholic prosecco.
Where: 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
Website: www.onealdwych.com
OXO Tower
If you’ve ever been for drink at the OXO Tower, you’ll know their cocktail menu is extensive – especially so when December rolls around and we see a host of festive cocktails making their way onto the menu. This year’s festive drinks range from a delicious coconut and cranberry number (The Lady Ella) to the classic Old Fashioned Bishop, an infusion of Plantation pineapple rum flavoured with mandarin zest, cinnamon and a hint of clove.
Escape the bustle of London while gazing out over the city lights, as the OXO transforms into a magical Christmas destination.
Where: Barge House St, London SE1 9PH
Website: www.oxotowerrestaurant.com
Little Bar, Great Northern Hotel
You’ll be feeling merry and bright at Great Northern Hotel this Christmas as you sip on seasonal serves like the Ginger Sleigh, a twist on a classic Sidecar cocktail featuring Rémy Martin 1738, lemon, Cointreau and gingerbread; or The Rockefeller Crush mixed with The Botanist Gin, mulled wine reduction, lemon and apple.
For Christmas-in-a-cup vibes, there’s also The Great Hot Toddy made with Bruichladdich Classic Laddie, lemon, grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon, homemade spiced demerara sugar and Angostura bitters.
Where: Pancras Rd, London N1C 4TB
Website: www.gnhlondon.com
St Pancras Brasserie and Champagne Bar by Searcys
As per usual, champagne will be flowing at Europe’s longest champagne bar this festive season, but you can also look forward to some fizz-tastic festive cocktails too.
Take a seat at the recently refurbished bar, and choose from a unique selection of festive drinks including the Champagne Panettone with Bombay Sapphire London dry gin, Martini Ambrato vermouth, speculoos syrup and Searcys Selected Cuvée Champagne; and the Gingerbread Star with Dewar’s 12-year-old whisky, Benedictine DOM liqueur, gingerbread syrup and pressed apple juice.
Where: St Pancras International Station, London N1C 4QL
Website: www.stpancrasbysearcys.co.uk
11 Cadogan Gardens
Bailey’s fans, listen up – this one’s for you.
You’ll find your favourite creamy liqueur served at Chelsea’s 11 Cadogan Gardens in the form of a deliciously festive cocktail, made from Baileys, Frangelico (hazelnut liquor) and grounded nuts, topped up with double cream.
Where: 11 Cadogan Gardens, London SW3 2RJ
Website: www.11cadogangardens.com
Smith’s Bar & Grill
Christmas is well and truly here at Smith’s Bar & Grill, and they’ve created three delicious festive cocktails for the holiday season.
There’s the Santa Pine made with cranberry syrup, rosemary, and prosecco; the Christmas Cookie with whiskey and chocolate; but we have our eye on the Snowmen’s Milkshake – a decadent drink whipped together with Baileys, vodka and cinnamon.
Where: 25 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EP
Website: www.smithsbarandgrill.co.uk
The Richmond Club
As the frosty season gets underway, Richmond’s award-winning private members club will be offering winter warmers for you to cosy up with in the bar, outside in the heated Pagoda.
Alongside mulled wine and cider, there are also festive cocktails on offer, including the Cinnamon Old Fashioned using peppercorn and orange-infused whiskey complimented with apricot maple syrup; and the Christmas Expresso Martini with cinnamon spiced infused vodka, chocolate blended coffee and a touch of Baileys.
Where: 115-117 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2PN
Website: www.therichmondclub.uk
Town House at The Kensington Hotel
Relax in festive comfort as Town House, Jo Loves and Lillet bring you cocktails to lift the spirits and send your senses soaring this Christmas, inspired by Jo Loves’ timeless scents and the ageless appeal of favourite French apéritif Lillet.
For a cocktail to conjure up warm evenings by a crackling fire, raise a glass with Log Fires – a beautiful blend of Lillet Rouge, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Orange and Cacao. Or go for something deliciously decadent with the nostalgic notes of Christmas Trees – marrying Lillet Blanc and Italicus with fresh pine.
Where: 109-113 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 3LE
Website: www.townhousekensington.com
The Rubens at the Palace
Indulge in a holiday cocktail like a royal this festive season, just steps from Buckingham Palace.
This season The Rubens At The Palace are offering The Very Merry Martini, made with Cognac, Disaronno, apple sour liqueur, vermouth and edible gold leaf – garnished with a freshly sliced caramelised pear.
Where: 39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS
Website: www.rubenshotel.com
