The UK is home to some of the most luxurious hotel bars in the world. And the best thing is you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy your favourite cocktail in one of these fabulous hotspots.
Gone are the dingy or smoke-filled stuffy bars of the past - these places have become cocktail destinations in their own right.
From refined glamour at The Savoy to the slick and uber-modern decor that is The Long Bar at the Sanderson, there’s a perfect watering hole out there for everyone.
Here’s our pick of the top hotel bars in London and beyond...
Morse bar at the Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford
This iconic Oxford bar is often frequented by actors and politicians, and was the regular setting for many scenes for the popular show Inspector Morse - even now it features regularly in episodes of the follow-on TV series, Lewis. Just don't go expecting to solve any murders after you've had a few.
Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LN
Basement Bar at The Ace Hotel, London
Pulling in an eclectic mix of smart Londoners alongside a rather hipster set is the Basement Bar located at - you guessed it - the basement of Shoreditch’s Ace Hotel. It’s the brainchild of late hotelier Alex Calderwood, who’s uber-chic New York Ace Hotel is currently an international jet-set favourite.
Its late license means that the bar is open until 3am - so keep checking the bar’s calendar for upcoming DJ sets, live acts and other musical gigs.
Ace Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ
The Scotch Bar at The Balmoral Hotel, Scotland
Where else would you rather drink scotch than a bar that's home to one of Edinburgh’s largest collections?
Their tweed sofas (what else?) are incredibly comfy, and their Whisky Ambassadors are on hand to help you choose one of their 400 drinks. Each one is even accompanied by a specially selected snack, such as wild boar salami, dark Swiss chocolate or smoked almonds.
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 2EQ
Dukes Bar at Dukes Hotel, London
Practically a speakeasy, the Dukes Bar at the Dukes Hotel is so well hidden it is unquestionably one of London’s hidden gems of a bar, best known for martinis and personalised cocktails.
Martinis are made with great ceremony in front of you, served straight up with dashes of bespoke vermouth and oil. It’s said to be frequented by James Bond author Ian Fleming, and rumour has it the bar was the inspiration for the classic line, "shaken, not stirred."
35 St James's Pl, London SW1A 1NY
Lobby Bar at London EDITION, London
From the man who gifted the world with Studio 54, comes Ian Schrager’s super-slick Lobby Bar. Located at his boutique hotel, London EDITION, it certainly is a place to see and be seen in, with its marble walls, luxurious sofas and ornate ceiling complete with a giant hanging silver egg.
But don’t forget the drinks - the bar boasts an equally impressive cocktail list that’s both creative and adventurous.
10 Berners St, W1T 3NP
American Bar at The Savoy, London
The bartenders are almost as legendary as the establishment itself at this beloved institution. Harry Craddok, who tended to the Savoy bar in the 1930s, penned the Savoy Cocktail Book, which is still regarded as the bartender’s bible 80 years on.
Erik Lorincz, the bar's latest bartender, runs the joint in true style. The bar features a live pianist seven days a week, and you’ll want to dress up - the staff are all kitted out in lux tuxes.
The Strand, London WC2R 0EU
Beaufort Bar at The Savoy, London
It’s you’re looking for something more romantic – a first date to impress, perhaps – then head over to the Beaufort Bar, also located inside The Savoy hotel. Smoulderingly dark and sexy, the Art Deco interior boasts velvet sofas, black lacquer and burnished gold alcoves.
On offer is one of London’s most extensive list of champagnes by the glass and bottle, including rare vintages from Louis Roederer and Cristal.The bar was also once a former cabaret where legendary greats Frank Sinatra and George Gershwin graced the stage.
The Strand, WC2R 0EU
Babington House, Somerset
The Soho House members clubs are never a disappointment, and always provide brilliant service and amazing drinks. Not only that, they always have the most beautiful interiors.
Babington House is no different and is ideally situated away from frenetic pace of London, in Somerset. The ideal place for relaxing away from the city.
Somerset, BA11 3RW
The Cocktail Lounge at The Zetter Townhouse, London
Over in Clerkenwell through a discrete door off St John’s Square you'll find this eccentric and grandeur cocktail lounge located in the Zetter Townhouse. Grab a pew in front of the bar’s crackling open fires while sipping on legendary bartender Tony Conigliaro’s excellent, signature cocktails.
But that’s not all. Chef Bruno Loubet’s array of small sharing plates will satisfy even the most discerning of palates, complimenting the drinks, of course.
St John's Square, 86-88 Clerkenwell Rd, EC1M 5RJ
Blue Bar at The Berkeley Hotel, London
This bar really is all blue: sky blue armchairs, ornate blue walls, plush cobalt carpeting - even navy coloured, leather-bound menus. But it’s not just any blue that adorns the walls and chairs of the Blue Bar.
It’s Lutyens Blue, named after the famed Edwardian architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens. The top of the bar list can be frightening expensive - £4,210 bottle of champagne anyone? – but its signature drinks are worth the ambiance and price.
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL
The Grosvenor Arms, Dorset
Did someone say wood-panelled? This bar is open all day and offers a variety of Bloody Marys - perfect if you're feeling a little delicate.
The Commons, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JA
Coburg Bar at the Connaught, London
The Connaught’s Coburn Bar has precisely that sort of refined, old-school vibe that is both gorgeous and contemporary. Put together by Parisian designer India Mahdavi, expect a mix of lavish materials, bright colours and quirky accents throughout.
The bartenders at this joint are masters of a long-lost mixing technique called throwing, where the cocktail is essentially "thrown" from two shakers.
16 Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL
Artesian Bar at the Langham, London
If you’re looking for something a bit unique, this is the place for you.
For start, there’s a slushy machine in the corner, and each of the drinks comes with a glorious garnish, or two – think pirate swords and pistos. But if the barrage of modern cocktails isn’t your thing, there’s a fine selection of classics, individually mixed with intense precision and care.
1C Portland Pl, London W1B 1JA
The Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall
Known as the eco hotel, the luxurious Scarlet is decorated with beautiful artwork by local artists, not to mention the fact that it's located by the sea.
Which is why their bar is the ideal spot to take stock of life and enjoy the surroundings.
Tredragon Rd, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall TR8 4DQ
Rivoli Bar at the Ritz, London
The Rivoli Bar is an intimate and elegant cocktail lounge just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Circus.
The bartenders are experts in the craft of cocktails, using top-shelf spirits, homemade cordials and bitters, and there is an extensive champagne and wine selection to choose from.
150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR
The Long Bar at the Sanderson, London
This light and contemporary bar is 80ft in length, and is the focal point at the Sanderson hotel, which is located in the heart of Fitzrovia. One of the major plus points of the Long Bar is that non-resident visitors are also allowed - you don't have to be a guest.
50 Berners St, London W1T 3NG
Burleigh Court Hotel, Gloucestershire
Situated in the picturesque surroundings of the Cotswolds, the Burleigh Court Hotel is ideal for drinks during a romantic getaway. Its oak panelled bar features crackling log fires during winter months, plus an imaginative wine list to revel in come summer.
Burleigh Court Hotel, Gloucestershire, GL5 2PF
The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych
Set in London's Covent Garden, the Lobby Bar offers serious after-work cocktails - with ornate columns and Art Deco-style interiors, Friday drinks never looked so good.
1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
Light Bar at St Martins Lane, London
Open until 3am, the Light Bar is one of the best places for some serious drinking. Guests can sip on their famous Raspassion Martinis and snack on delicious food from Asia de Cuba (try the ceviche, it's amazing).
45 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4HX
Malbar at Malmaison, Manchester
An ideal way to start (or end) a night out in Manchester. With both an expert mixologist and sommelier on hand, there's nothing that can really deter you from finding your favourite tipple in this northern bar.
1-3 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 3AQ
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