London triumphs in 'World's 50 best bars'

Six of our capital's drinking dens made it to the top 10 of Drinks International's prestigious list
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Gareth Vipers11 December 2012

With the recent announcement of prestigious ‘The World’s 50 Best Bars 2012’ giving the nod to London as the ultimate drinking destination - six of our capital's bars made the top ten - ES Going Out gets yet another excuse to celebrate our cracking cocktail scene.

If this is a list of the 50 world bars you need to visit, there’s no excuse not to visit the following six as they're just a stone’s throw away…

#1 Artesian at the Langham Hotel

Recently featured as one of our top rum bars, Artesian is getting all of the plaudits of late. Drinking International notes “the attention to detail and cocktail-craftsmanship is outstanding and head barman Alex Kratena brings his own personal touch of magic to proceedings”, and we agree. Visit Artesian for a luxurious drinking experience coupled with an elegant interior and outstanding drinks selection.

1c Portland Place, W1B 1JA (020 7636 1000)

#3 Nightjar

Old Street’s unassuming subterranean cocktail den started as a secretive and niche experience where friends could hide and drink indulgent cocktails and listen to a sharp jazz quartet. Nothing much has changed in the past year, apart from the Nightjar name being on everyone’s must-visit lists and their own reservations list becoming exceptionally hard to get on to.

129 City Road, EC1V 1JB (020 7253 4101)

#4 Connaught Bar

Decadent, stylish, but ultimately cosy and welcoming, The Connaught Bar’s design embraces the 21st century bar scene without compromising its traditional character. As you would expect the expert team present classic drinks, made with the finest of ingredients, and Chef Helene Darroze’s accompanying nibbles are absolutely to die for.

16 Carlos Place Mayfair, W1K 2AL (020 7499 7070)

#5 American Bar at The Savoy Hotel

World-renowned mixologist Erik Lorincz now heads the team at The Savoy famous bar, one of the industry's most prestigious of pouring positions. The excellent cocktails are as elegant and well-executed as you would expect for £14 apiece, with a mix of signature classics and American-accented cocktails on offer.

Strand, WC2R 0EU (020 7836 4343)

#8 69 Colebrook Row

The tiny little bar on an Angel side street is understated, intimate and entirely personable.

Mixing Parisian cocktail bar chic with New York speakeasy and London cool, chemical mixologist Tony Conigliaro’ s classic ‘bar with no name’ is a joy.

Immaculately attired staff, handwritten bills and an impressive attention to detail with a touch of modest ceremony make for a special, but especially unpretentious, evening.

69 Colebrooke Row, N1 8AA

#9 Callooh Callay

We love Callooh Callay – that surreal Shoreditch backstreet joint with a twist of exuberance and an almost endless menu – but, when competing with Mayfair’s glitzy hotel lounges, we are slightly surprised to see it on Drinks International’s prestigious list. That is of course completely irrelevant; with an intimate, ‘secret’ back bar Callooh Callay is a welcome rest bite from east London’s more garish eccentricities.

65 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY (020 7739 4781)

World's 50 Best Bars 2012, full list:

1 ARTESIAN, LANGHAM HOTEL, LONDON

2 PDT, NEW YORK

3 NIGHTJAR, LONDON

4 CONNAUGHT BAR, LONDON

5 AMERICAN BAR AT THE SAVOY HOTEL, LONDON

6 DEATH & CO, NEW YORK

7 BAXTER INN, SYDNEY

8 69 COLEBROOKE ROW, LONDON

9 CALLOOH CALLAY, LONDON

10 BRAMBLE, EDINBURGH

11 EMPLOYEES ONLY, NEW YORK

12 HAPPINESS FORGETS, LONDON

13 DRINK, BOSTON

14 THE VARNISH, LA

15 ZETTER TOWNHOUSE, LONDON

16 MUTIS, BARCELONA

17 BLACK PEARL, MELBOURNE

18 CLOVER CLUB, NEW YORK

19 DRY MARTINI, BARCELONA

20 LA CAPILLA, MEXICO

21 PALMER & CO, SYDNEY

22 HIGH FIVE, TOKYO

23 LE LION, HAMBURG

24 SMUGGLER’S COVE, SAN FRANCISCO

25 EAU DE VIE, SYDNEY

26 EXPERIMENTAL COCKTAIL CLUB, NEW YORK

27 PORTOBELLO STAR, LONDON

28 SCHUMANN’S, MUNICH

29 TIPPLING CLUB, SINGAPORE

30 LEBENSSTERN, BERLIN

31 GOLDENE BAR, MUNICH

32 PEGU CLUB, NEW YORK

33 WORSHIP STREET WHISTLING SHOP, LONDON

34 ANGEL’S SHARE, NEW YORK

35 DUTCH KILLS, NEW YORK

36 FRANK’S, BUENOS AIRES

37 BEAUFORT BAR, SAVOY HOTEL, LONDON

38 HEMINGWAY BAR PRAGUE, PRAGUE

39 MEAT, KENTUCKY

40 MILK & HONEY LONDON, LONDON

41 NOTTINGHAM FOREST, MILAN

42 28 HONGKONG STREET, SINGAPORE

43 BOUTIQ’BAR, BUDAPEST

44 CHAINAYA. TEA & COCKTAILS, MOSCOW

45 CANDELARIA, PARIS

46 SALVATORE AT PLAYBOY, LONDON

47 RUBY, COPENHAGEN

48 STAGGER LEE, BERLIN

49 LE BAR DU PLAZA ATHÉNÉE, PARIS

50 ASOKA, CAPE TOWN

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