This legendary London hangout has a history and glamour all of its own. It lays claim to being London’s first ever gay cocktail lounge. And while some may debate that, there’s no debating it’s appeal and popularity. That’s what makes The Shadow Lounge one of our best gay bars in London.

Still opulent, still enticing, still exclusive it’s still attracting a well-heeled and well dressed clientele out to have a good time. There are different themes on different nights, with the weekends given over to crowd pleasing international pop.

The décor reflects the disco vibe and the fibre optic ceiling throws light on the party atmosphere – and occasionally the odd celebrity or two. Remember, it’s ostensibly a members club, so if you definitely want to get in, grab a member, or get yourself on the guest list.

While it does have booths – and wonderfully hunky hosts and waiters this isn’t the place for a quiet drink or an intimate rendez-vous. It’s a place to bring friends, meet friends, down some serious cocktails, kick back and have glamourous fun. The Shadow Lounge – one of the best gay bars in London.

The Shadow Lounge 
Brewer Street,
London,
W1F 0RF

www.theshadowlounge.co.uk

Tags: bar review, bar reviews, bars in london, Bars in W1, best bars central london, Best Bars London, best gay bar, best gay bars london, gay bars, london bars, The Shadow lounge

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Well, it’s the tallest building in London. So where else would you expect to find some of the greatest views in town? The Oblix bar is right up there on the 32nd floor of the Shard- and right up there when it comes to a stunning visual spectacle that encompasses a vast swathe of London from Canary Wharf to the West End. Thats what makes Oblix Bar at the Shard one of our best views London.

Despite the views the 32nd floor is only half way up the building! To get higher, you might want to pay your money to take in the viewing platform towards the peak.

This luxuriant, low lit, lounge bar is the brainchild of Rainer Becker, former scion of Zuma and sits in conjunction with the equally ambitious Oblix Restaurant. There’s a minimalist, American theme going on here. Hints of 1920s glamour are enhanced by the live music that adds to the atmosphere in the evening. Cocktails are, as you would expect, good and expensive. Tables with the best views can – and are – booked in advance, which means that sometimes those amazing views are a little obscured. There’s a comprehensive food menu if you’re feeling peckish, but not quite up to the full on restaurant experience (which probably will be fully booked anyway).

If you want to get even higher – and we’re talking the 52 floor – The Shangri-la Hotel’s Gong Bar includes both a champagne Bar and a cocktail bar – plus some even steeper prices too!

Oblix Bar
The Shard, 32nd Floor
31 St Thomas Street
London Bridge
London
SE1 9RY

www.the-shard.com/restaurants/oblix/

Tags: bar review, bar reviews, Bars in Borough, Best Bars London, best bars with views london, bet bar view london, Oblix Bar at the Shard, the shard

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In the old days you invariably took your latest date to the cinema. It had many advantages for budding young couples. It was dark. It was relatively cheap. You didn’t have to talk too much.

You could show your sensitive side if you were a boy by choosing a chick flick and dabbing away the tears that showed how ‘in touch’ with your feelings you were. If you were a girl you could suffer through Rambo XV and pretend you enjoyed mass destruction.

It was also accepted that some canoodling might be going on towards the back. Many cinemas even had a bar so you could fortify yourself beforehand.

Now update that concept to a retro themed basement in cool and trendy Southwark. And, instead of a cinema with a bar, try a bar with a cinema. Throw in a great program of films, tasty food, a superb sound system, all the drinks and cocktails you could want, comfy sofas facing the screen with tables and chairs dotted around the perimeter and you’ve got a great venue for romance.

If you’re a member you can book a sofa in advance, if you’re not you can still get in, but arrive early or take pot-luck with where you get to sit. Films are shown Sunday to Wednesday. Turn up any other time and you’ll be in the middle of a music and dancing venue… which is better suited to a rave than a romance. And unless your date is a footy fan, check to make sure it’s not a football night when big matches are shown on the big screen.

Roxy Bar and Screen 
128-132 Borough
High Street
London
SE1 1LB

www.roxybarandscreen.co.uk

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It’s a short hop from central London to trendy Shoreditch and the scintillating Trapeze bar. Occupying the same space as the former East Village club and bar, this is a great place to have a good time. And that makes Trapeze one of our best party bars London.

The subterranean club has been left unchanged since its East Village days and this is where the serious dancing gets done at weekends, but the ground floor has been revamped with a circus theme to make it a fantastically fun themed and stylish homage to the nearby National Centre for Circus Arts.

Cocktails and food all gets the thumbs up… as does the service, which is universally acclaimed to be friendly and helpful. The management is more than ready to help you organize a great shindig… or just turn up and enjoy the party vive. Check out the website to see what’s playing on what night.

Trapeze 
89 Great Eastern Street,
London,
EC2A 3HX

www.trapezebar.com

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Well, it’s got to be on our list hasn’t it? So, here’s to The American Bar – Best Hotel Bars London.

No other bar in London has the fame, the fortune, the fabulous décor, the fantastic cocktails that this one does.

Despite the Savoy’s recent multi-million pound refurbishment program, the American Bar – one of our best hotel bars in London – has retained its art deco style and its unparalleled wow-factor.

It’s not intimate, it’s not discreet, but it really is impressive. It’s got history too… this where back in the 1930s Harry Craddock invented The White Lady cocktail and wrote his definitive tome; The Savoy Cocktail Book. To this day their cocktails are still amongst the best to be had, made expertly with the finest ingredients – as you would expect from the prices. And, fittingly as the bar which grew to fame in the jazz age, you’ll still find a pianist playing classic Jazz here every evening

One of the world’s greatest hotels, one of the world’s greatest bars. What’s not to like? Possibly the fact it is too much of a tick box bar, where tourists and rubberneckers arrive to have just one cocktail before breaking the bank. A destination where queuing is common, albeit in amazing surroundings. A tourist site rather than a refuge. But having said that, it is one of those bars that you really rewards a visit – even if it is just for one night only. If you’re looking for something a little more intimate and less showy we also highly recommend the Beaufort Bar at The Savoy.

The American Bar – Best Hotel Bars London  
The Savoy, 
London
WC2R 0EU

www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/dining/americanbar/

Tags: american bar, bar review, bar reviews, best bars, Best Bars in London, best hotel bar, best hotel bars, cocktail bar

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