Partial to a tipple or two? In the market for a new cocktail bar to try? If you’re in London, you are truly spoiled for choice. Not only do we have a swathe of outstanding drinking dens, we have many of that are considered among the finest in the whole world – just look at Top 500 Bars most recent global ranking.
The guide is determined through aggregating data from thousands of sources on the web. It looks at the opinions of experts, journalists and influencers as well as rankings and reviews on platforms, social media and search engines. The data has now been crunched and the highest ranked London bar for 2026, in at number 11 (one up from last year), was Mayfair’s .
It’s no surprise, really. The Connaught Bar has been dominating world rankings for years (earlier this month it ranked eighth in World’s 50 Best Bars). It’s one of two bars at the ultra-posh Connaught hotel, with a selection of vintage cocktails that cost upwards of £130 (get the 1893 Sidecar for £1,410 if you really want to push the boat out). That’s alongside its menu of signatures and more experimental concoctions, which cost around £25 to £30. The must-order is the Connaught Martini, which mixed in front of your table on the bar’s famous martini trolley.
Top 500 Bars said that, under the leadership of its director of mixology Ago Perrone, the bar has been on a ‘non-stop journey to elevate mixology to a true form of art - through liquid and experiences, as well as the ability to embrace change while staying true to tradition’. Nearly 20 years after opening, the team ‘continues to demonstrate a consistent performance in offering the highest standard of hospitality and creativity with style’.
Thirteen bars from London made it onto the global ranking 2026. The next highest ranked after Connaught Bar was Southbank’s Lyaness in 19th, followed by Bethnal Green’s Satan’s Whiskers in 33rd.
Every London bar in Top 500 Bars’ best 100
- The Spy Bar (44)
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Plus: 14 London restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in October 2026.
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