The best beach bars in London

A tongue-in-cheek taste of the Costa del Sol comes to Shoreditch courtesy of Filthy Fanny’s, the ’90s-themed bar at the Crown and Shuttle. The pub’s beer garden has been taken over by a cheeky beach hut serving jugs of sangria, alcoholic ice cream from Drunken Dairy and boozy ice lollies from Popping Licks. Picture those trashy tavernas your mum used to frequent in her Club 18-30 days. Actually, don’t.

It may not be turning up the tropical heat quite as much as other beach bars, but Le Meridien Hotel in Piccadilly is bringing the sophistication of the French Riviera to its cute roof terrace. The look references Bardot-era French chic, so lounge delicately on blue-and-white striped deck chairs among pretty bougainvillea with a glass of pastis in hand. Or take to the petanque like a frog – sorry, duck – to water.

This is probably the classiest of your beach bar options in the Big Smoke – it’s not hard to imagine you’re holidaying in the Hamptons at this South Bank setting at Sea Containers. That’s thanks to a decked terrace with pretty plant life and picket fencing, and a menu of champers, lobster rolls and tacos. The murky Thames laps at the ground down below for that full immersive effect, but you can have a picnic to take away if you fancy finding another beachy spot along the riverbank.

Down in the basement of Archer Street bar is a surprising slice of summer at the Myki Sand Bar pop-up. It’s a Euro beach club in the centre of town, complete with tropical palms. Pictures of world-famous beaches on the walls, plus sails on the ceiling and sand on the floor, will transport you to somewhere coastal and warm. Failing that, pineapple vodka cocktails should do the trick.

Can’t get to Club Tropicana this summer? Fret not – the Docklands branch of Burger & Lobster has created a beach bar that’ll have any piña colada fan popping their miniature cocktail umbrella. We can confirm that drinks are not free, but don’t worry, they’re delicious and frozen. The outdoor shack is serving daiquiris and rum punch, and there’s always the option to head on indoors for a surf and turf feast.

Steel drums? Check. Barbecue? Check. Actual palm trees? Check. Get your beach on, Caribbean-style, at this cute brick shack in the garden of Herne Hill pub The Florence. It’s called the Pink Flamingo, and if the kitsch name doesn’t do it for you, maybe the alcoholic slushies will. The fun team that run the pub are describing it as a cross between ‘Cocktail’ (the Tom Cruise film) and ‘Miami Vice’. We’re sold.

So it’s not quite Muscle Beach up on the roof of SkyLounge at DoubleTree by the Tower of London – there are far too many suits for that – but at least the London skyline looks like it’s flexing its pecs up here. The beach theme comes in drifts of sand, palm fronds and a drinks list to conjure the sun; sip on frozen margaritas, pineapple mimosas and a Santa Monica Sunset Martini.