You’re probably expecting fancy hotel bars serving posh cocktails in this part of town – and sure, there are some great ones, as well as some of the best bars in London. But in Kensington and South Kensington, you’ll also find dive bars, café bars and secret speakeasy bars. You’ll find young, new spots as well as watering holes that echo with London’s history. Drinking in Kensington is full of surprises – and don’t forget to check out the best pubs in Kensington. Now here’s where to start your bar crawl.
RECOMMENDED: London's best wine bars.
Tucked away inside The Gore Hotel, Bar 190 is part of rock'n'roll folklore. It's here the Rolling Stones held the suitably decadent launch party for their 1968 album Beggars Banquet, so rock star behaviour isn't just expected here, it's encouraged.
What to drink: What would the Stones do? Whiskey on the rocks, probably.
Steeped in musical history, this multi-faceted venue has played host to some of the world’s greatest artists, from Sammy Davis Jr and Jimi Hendrix to Led Zeppelin jam sessions. The ground-floor café is a charming space with stained glass and wood panelling, where you can indulge in a glass of wine and imagine London’s headier days.
What to drink: As an iconic music venue, a simple pint of lager is more than suitable.
Top-notch drinks and table service is as good as you’d expect from a quality hotel, with oak-panelled walls and a marble-topped bar adding to the air of opulence. Cocktails are competitively priced and expertly mixed, and for the nightcap crowd, there’s even a menu of dessert drinks.
What to drink: Go for a classic, super-strength cocktail – a negroni or an old fashioned, please.
Getting into this supernaturally dark bar in Earls Court is, for many, the best part of the experience. Present ‘your case’ to a private detective before they pull back the bookcase and let you step inside for a drink. Cocktails are memorable, with intriguing flavours – from fresh to smokey.
What to drink: An Al Capone, with vodka, plum sake, and homemade melon cordial.
Quietly but quickly, the Balans chain has been taking over London with its simple, winning formula. Brunch and brekkie here is great, but we also enjoy an extremely wine-based evening here.
What to drink: Their porn star martini is ‘world famous’. It’d be rude not to order one, then.
Piano Kensington where you'll be thrilled by live jazz pianists five nights a week. Find it inside the Royal Garden Hotel, and don't forget to request some bangers as well as wine and a pizza for good measure.
What to drink: Get on the bubbles, with reasonably priced glasses of Prosecco.
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