Best London Hotel Bars

London has some of the best hotel bars in the world - and the great thing is that you don't always have to be a hotel resident to enjoy a martini in one of these glamorous hotspots. Here's our guide to the best hotel bars on offer throughout London town...

The American Bar at the Stafford Hotel

St James's Place, SW1A 1NJ
The world-famous American Bar at The Stafford Hotel is not one for minimalists: hundreds of signed celebrity photos dating back to the 60s cover the walls and the ceiling is hung with a colourful collection of club ties, sporting mementoes, baseball caps, model aircraft and customer memorabilia from around the globe. The bar, which was once run by members of the French Resistance (and to this day is staffed by charming green-jacketed French barmen and waiters), is famous for its martinis (once voted best in the world), malt whiskies and beer brewed by the owners, the Thwaites. Classic snacks include Caesar salad, steak tartare, club sandwiches and the famous 'Stafford Burger'. Of course, the place isn't cheap - but reclining on one of the comfy green leather sofas you'll feel something special just taking it all in. Gentlemen are required to wear jackets in the evenings and there is a delightful outdoor terrace with alfresco dining in the summer months.

More info: The Stafford Hotel Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych Hotel

1 Aldwych, Covent Garden, WC2B 4RH
Named one of the top five hotel bars in the world by the Sunday Telegraph, the Lobby Bar at the chic One Aldwych Hotel is renowned for its fresh and inventive cocktails in a superb, airy location. Contemporary sculptures, vast flower arrangements, bespoke furniture, dark oak panelling and a polished limestone floor all combine to make the Lobby Bar a stylish yet unpretentious haven from the hustle and bustle of the West End. Smartly dressed, polite and extremely talented bar staff mix together 63 original cocktails and 22 martinis - some of the best in the capital. Bar snacks include sushi, duck spring rolls, organic gravadlax and mini wagyu steak burgers - while every drinks order comes with a trademark bowl of hot assorted nuts (worth the trip alone). The Lobby Bar can get quite busy depending on the schedule of the many nearby theatres and so you may not always get a table - but with double-height ceilings and loads of floor space, you can easily stand in or around the bar without being shunted around the place. Described as "probably the most beautiful hotel lobby bar in London" by the Evening Standard, the Lobby Bar is a firm favourite of discerning drinkers off The Strand. With such a plush and relaxing atmosphere, it's the perfect place to start an evening.

More info: One Aldwych Hotel Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Dukes Hotel Bar

Dukes Hotel, 35 St James's Place, SW1A 1NY
Any bar which can lay claim to providing the inspiration for James Bond has to make a best-bar list in our books. Ian Fleming was a regular at the stylishly old-fashioned bar at the luxury Dukes Hotel in St James's - and rumour has it the bar's famous martinis (no doubt shaken, not stirred) fuelled the author's imagination when he was shaping his legendary 007 character. Some even say the martinis, expertly made at guests' tables by dapper waiters, are amongst the best in the world. A renovation in 2007 transformed the Dukes Hotel and contributed to the bar's new cool and sophisticated atmosphere, making it one of the area's most popular destinations. Thankfully, the place still maintains its former charm, with ornate furniture and leather chairs the order of the day and old portraits lining the walls. Besides martinis there is also an excellent selection of cognacs, some of which are more than 150 years old.

Dukes Hotel - Information

The Connaught Bar

The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL
If you're after perfection in a glass in an ultra-stylish location then look no further than the main bar at the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair. It hasn't been up and running for a long time but already the place has been lavished with awards: senior mixologist Erik Lorincz won the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year 2010 and Agostino Perrone won the International Bartender of the Year 2010 at the Tales of the Cocktail event, New Orleans, with the Connaught Bar picking up the World's Best Hotel Bar 2010 award in the process. It's not cheap (you won't get much change from £30 for two drinks) but given the shimmering platinum silver leaf décor, the superb individual service and the meticulous attention to detail that goes into everything that you sip, you'll agree that being treated like royalty is money worth spent. What's more, the bar snacks are refilled regularly and come at no extra cost.

The Connaught Hotel - Information

The Coburg Bar

The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL
Beyond the doormen in top hats and white gloves outside the Connaught Hotel there are two outstanding bars, the second of which is the swish Coburg Bar, a traditional bar with a modern designer twist. Parisian designer India Mahdavi recently added to the long-standing comfort of the intimate and inviting bar with a few contemporary enhancements. Wood panelled interiors and antique pieces are counterbalanced by modern art works by Julian Opie, plush velvet and leather seats and geometric print carpet. Cocktails at £12 are expertly made - an apple martini, for example, uses the hotel's home-marinated cinnamon, pear and apple liqueur. There's even a special Bacchanology menu which provides a history lesson into the origins of each drink on the menu. No wonder this bar was voted the 'Best bar in London' by Time Out in 2008. Granted, it is on the expensive side, but service is excellent, there's a great vibe to the place and the cocktails are scrumptious.

The Connaught Hotel - Information

The Blue Bar

The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL
Set in the heart of the sedate Berkeley Hotel, the Blue Bar is as blue as an Eiffel 65 single (very blue). The universal blue colour chosen by designer David Collins is named 'Lutyens Blue' after the Edwardian architect who originally designed the room - and extends from the carpet to the ornate plasterwork and furniture. It might sound rather garish, but it works surprisingly well. Guests in the Blue Room are treated like royalty so you're encouraged to make an effort and dress for the occasion (no shorts or flip-flops). Don't be put off by the four-figure champagne prices or the vintage whisky shots coming in at almost a grand: the back pages of the bar menu may seem tailored to one Mr Abramovich but you don't have to own three luxury yachts to enjoy the Blue Bar. The cocktails may be quite expensive, but they are also sophistication in a glass, made from the finest ingredients and with an imaginative twist and a passion for perfection. This popular and exclusive celebrity hangout also offers more than 50 different whiskies, a wide selection of champagnes and selected wines by the glass. Savoury and sweet tapas-style dishes are available from a small bar menu. Surrounded by such mesmerising blue, it's impossible to feel blue in the Blue Bar (unless the DJ puts on some Eiffel 65, that is).

The Berkeley - Information

Vista

Hilton Trafalgar Hotel, 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, SW1A 2TS
If it's stunning views you're after then head to the newly spruced up rooftop bar at the Hilton Trafalgar Hotel. Now named Vista, the bar is an oasis of tranquility overlooking the chaos of Trafalgar Square below. Central London views don't get much better than this – Nelson's Column stretches up from the square, with the National Portrait Gallery behind and the elegant St Martin-in-the-Fields church to the right; in the other direction you can see the London Eye to one side and the Palace of Westminster clocktower, St Stephen's, to the other. The snazzy boutique hotel was recently named on The Telegraph's list of 15 best hotels in the world for roof top views – and it's not hard to see why. Prices are understandably steep, however, and there is a £5 cover charge for any reservations made. Still, with this superb birds-eye view you get to see just why Trafalgar Square looks so appealing to all those pigeons.

Hilton Trafalgar Hotel - Information

May Fair Bar

May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, W1J 8LL
Back in the 90s celebrity spotting used to be the realm of The Metropolitan hotel's infamous Met Bar. Now things have moved a few hundred metres east into the heart of London's swankiest neighbourhood at the May Fair Hotel. Yes, the enormous painting of Tibetan monks in silhouette may be a bit naff and the bespoke lilac seats may not to be to everyone's taste, but the slick May Fair Bar, which has a capacity of 250, delivers if you want a night out alongside the stars. With the recently refurbished boutique hotel a favoured hang-out for the rich and famous, and glitzy Nobu just over the road, it's no surprise that the May Fair Bar gets its fair share of familiar faces. Admittedly with that you get a load of wannabe Wags in pursuit of a footballer (and rich middle-aged men ready to step in and buy them drinks) but for the sheer spectacle of it all, the May Fair's worth a visit. Drinks aren't cheap but on the whole it's a fun crowd and the bar staff are friendly and not intimidating in the slightest.

Radisson Edwardian May Fair Hotel - Information

K Lounge

K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London, W14 0AX
The K Lounge at the hip K West Hotel & Spa is a favourite haunt of the movers and shakers in the music and media industries, with entertainment company Endemol based around the corner and the BBC nearby. The refurbished bar looks pretty slick: two white drop-column funk lights dangle from the roof above the black granite bar surface, the walls are covered in aubergine damask paper, and velvet-and-leather chairs sit on oak flooring, with low-lit lighting. With the Westfield shopping centre just around the corner and the fabled in-house spa, a steady flow of fashion-types flock to the bar for martinis and dancing on Fridays and Saturdays when a live DJ comes in to play. Cocktails cost around £10 and there is a small bar food and snacks menu – although for those a little hungrier, the Kanteen restaurant on the mezzanine above the bar is always an option.

K West Hotel & Spa - Information

MU Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

Millennium Hotel Knightsbridge, 17 Sloane Street, SW1X 9NU
Given its location in the heart of London's most fashionable shopping district, it's no surprise that the hip Mu Cocktail Bar attracts a stylish crowd. Found in the centre of well-heeled Knightsbridge, close to shops, sights and offices aplenty, the Millennium Hotel regularly finds itself host to VIP clients - especially in the bar. The sophisticated Mu Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is on the first floor under a large atrium that helps create the perfect ambiance, blending contemporary décor with a hint of decadence. The restaurant offers a range of Asian-influenced tapas while the comprehensive selection of delicious signature cocktails means you won't go thirsty. What's more, a happy hour from 5pm-8pm (Tuesday to Saturday) knocks a whopping 50% off your drinks bill – wiping out the guilt you may feel when celebrating the acquisition of that new Gucci handbag...

Millennium Hotel Knightsbridge - Information

Millbank Lounge

City Inn Westminster Hotel, John Islip Street, SW1P 4DD
If Whisky is your poison then the Millbank Lounge at the City Inn Westminster is a must. The stylish bar has one of the best whisky libraries in the capital - sourced with the aid of a bevy of whisky journalists - and has even found a university professor to write the tasting notes. The bar itself stands out for its glowing red décor, quite out of sync from the stark surroundings of the neighbourhood. Granted, the quiet location means the Millbank Lounge does not have the most charged of atmospheres - but if you're looking for a sophisticated place to have a cocktail or glass of whisky, one which is devoid of the baggage that weighs down so many of the fabled celebrity-ridden hangouts, then it could be right up your street. Besides its impressive whisky list, Millbank Lounge shakes more than 50 different martinis together with an innovative array of cocktails and an extensive wine list.

City Inn Westminster Hotel - Information

Sanctum Soho Hotel Roof Bar

20 Warwick Street, W1B 5NF
The "rock-star chic" Sanctum Hotel has a lot going for it - an underground cinema, or free Wi-Fi, Wii consoles and iPod docks in every room, for instance - but its most alluring asset is easily a 24-hour roof-top bar boasting a garden and an alfresco hydro spa. Whether you're after coffee and newspapers in the morning, an afternoon G 'n' T, or cocktails in the hot tub in the evening, the 5th floor lounge bar, with its garden extension, has it all. There are seats in both the sun and the shade, a separate smokers' area and an excellent view over the Soho rooftops. Sadly, the bar and roof terrace is open to residents only - but it's a great excuse to book that long weekend away in London.

More info: Sanctum Soho Hotel Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Best of the Rest

In the City and near Marylebone
From outside the Mandeville Hotel looks like a Regency townhouse, but there's an explosion of neo-Baroque extravagance inside. A welcome retreat from the chaotic shopping streets nearby, the flamboyant deVigne Bar (pictured) stands out for its luminous damask-print bar that glows and fades between various neon colours after dark. With 60s glass chandeliers overhead and some bizarre furniture to boot, it's all very kitsch - definitely worth a visit. The meticulously prepared cocktails aren't bad either! At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Bonds Bar & Restaurant at the Threadneedles Hotel, whose bar was the former service desk at the bank which used to occupy the Grade II-listed building. With 65 signature cocktails and a tapas menu sourced from Spain's finest producers, it's no surprise that Bonds gets busy with City workers in the evenings. Also in the heart of the financial district is the airy Off the Wall Lounge Bar & Restaurant at the newly renovated Apex London Wall Hotel. It's a stylish place, boasting fully opening, double-height, floor to ceiling windows, while the use of natural stone and marble throughout creates an inviting and relaxed atmosphere with a contemporary art deco feel.