London Cocktail Week: the highlights

Here’s our picks of the best bits from London Cocktail Week so you can concentrate on the drinking

Laura Richards
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London Cocktail Week is back! From October 4, the capital’s best bars, mixologists and drinks vendors will open their doors or take up home in the Cocktail Village at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, giving you the chance to try some of the finest potions, tipples and cocktails in London

All you need to take advantage of this ten-day celebration (October 4-13) is to purchase a £10 festival pass and download the DrinkUp.London app to activate it. Yes, it’s longer than a week, but what better way to celebrate the event’s tenth birthday? A pass gives you access to £6 drink deals at participating bars as well as entry to the Village.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choice of things to do during London Cocktail Week, fear not. Below we’ve highlighted our pick of satellite events, as well as plucking out a few of our favourite London bars participating in this year’s activities. Cheers! 

The best events during LCW

Some of the best bars from all over the world will be popping up in London. From New York’s hot new properties Katana Kitten and Mister Paradise to Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour, mixologists from these esteemed establishments have devised signature cocktails for your drinking pleasure. Read on to find the best pop-up bars from around the world that you need to visit during London Cocktail Week. 

  • Drinking
An enormous ‘cocktail village’ is coming to Shoreditch
An enormous ‘cocktail village’ is coming to Shoreditch

We know what you're thinking. Another pop-up in Shoreditch? Gimme a break. But does your average pop-up have a dedicated Porn Star Martini Bar or a scorching hot tropical paradise with VR headsets and real sand? Thought not. The boozehounds behind London Cocktail Week are bringing their epic Cocktail Village back to the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane – and with it being its tenth birthday this year, it’s going all out.

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  • Drinking
Meet pygmy goats at London’s gin martini townhouse
Meet pygmy goats at London’s gin martini townhouse

For London Cocktail Week, Hendrick’s gin will be bringing back their Gin Tini Martini Townhouse, a celebration of all things teeny-weeny. That means ‘micro pianists’, a pygmy petting zoo and, yes, the chance to cuddle some adorable little therapy goats. What’s more, there’ll be takeovers by some of the world’s biggest bars, with NYC’s Nomad Bar going up against Singapore’s Manhattan Bar on the Friday, Barcelona’s Two Schmucks versus Amsterdam's Super Lyan on the Saturday, and a head-to-head between Little Red Door from Paris and Panda & Sons from Edinburgh on the Sunday. 

Our favourite £6 drink deals at London Cocktail Week

  • Cocktail bars
  • Soho
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Bar Américain
Bar Américain

The art deco palace is serving six quid Penicillins (Scotch, lemon, honey, ginger).

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Bloomsbury
  • price 3 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Bloomsbury Club Bar
Bloomsbury Club Bar

Fancy a Strawberry Old Fashioned? Of course you do. Especially when it’s served in this gorgeous setting.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Soho
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Blind Pig
Blind Pig

The playful restaurant-bar is serving a chocolate-flavoured concoction.

  • Cocktail bars
  • Shoreditch
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Cocktail Trading Company
Cocktail Trading Company

Blow out the candles on a special cocktail made from victoria sponge syrup and served in a cake case.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Hackney
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Every Cloud
Every Cloud

Don’t miss the chocolate cereal milk punch being poured at the fun Hackney hangout.

  • Cocktail bars
  • Marylebone
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Fam
Fam

Vodka, fennel, soda: boom! Fam always gets it right.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Peckham
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Funkidory
Funkidory

Peach Please is on the menu, a vanilla vodka and peach combo.

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  • Mezcalerias
  • Dalston
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Hacha
Hacha

Say ‘hola’ to the Smoked Chilli and Chocolate Margarita at this east London ‘agaveria’.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Islington
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Homeboy
Homeboy

Try the Bananasauras Rex for size – one for the sweettooths. 

  • Cocktail bars
  • Mayfair
  • price 3 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Kwãnt
Kwãnt

Enjoy a souped-up G&T at the Mayfair’s most ‘Casablanca’ hangout.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Crouch End
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Little Mercies
Little Mercies

One of London’s best cocktails is on offer for £6 – melt away with a White Chocolate Old Fashioned at Little Mercies. 

  • Fusion
  • Clerkenwell
  • price 3 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Luca
Luca

The Autumnal Spritz is the perfect foil for the chillier weather. 

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  • Cocktail bars
  • South Bank
  • price 3 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

One of the top bars in the capital serving £6 cocktail is an opportunity not to be sniffed at – grab a Circle Fizz while you can.

  • Cocktail bars
  • Chinatown
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Mulwray
The Mulwray

Get cosy up at the Mulwray with a thyme-infused gin tipple.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • London Bridge
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Nine Lives
Nine Lives

Come over all tropical at Nine Lives, where they’ll be shaking up a Strangely Sour.

  • Vegan
  • Notting Hill
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Redemption
Redemption

You can still enjoy LCW while off the sauce. Over in Notting Hill this sober bar is serving a Dry 75.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Dalston
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Ruby’s
Ruby’s

What could be more indulgent than a blend of Scotch, honey and fig-flavoured creme de figue. 

  • Cocktail bars
  • Bethnal Green
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Satan’s Whiskers
Satan’s Whiskers

It’s always party time at Satan’s Whiskers – but especially during London Cocktail Week, when they’re serving £6 daiquiris.

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  • Pubs
  • Bethnal Green
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Sun Tavern
The Sun Tavern

Order a round of Meady Bitches at this rockin’ cocktail spot in Bethnal Green.

  • Cocktail bars
  • King’s Cross
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Supermax
Supermax

Disco drinks are the order of the day at King’s Cross spot Supermax. Get involved with a Mocha Manhattan. 

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Old Street
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Tayēr + Elementary
Tayēr + Elementary

This clever bar is serving highballs with their very own liqueur range at their core. Good luck sticking to just the one.

Find more amazing cocktails in London

So many cocktails, so little time. So just stick to the best cocktail bars in London by using our ranked list below. You'll find everything from dark and dirty speakeasy joints and secret bars to bold and brash party spots meant for a night out on the tiles. What they all have in common is mixed drinks that will blow your mind – and hopefully not your budget. 

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