Rotary Bar& Diner, Old Street
The countdown has begun this cool, fun bar/diner - another winner from Jonathan Downey ( Milk & Honey, The Player, Redhook ) and Carl Clarke ( Disco Bistro, Rocklobsta) - is sadly closing its doors just before Christmas. It was only ever intended as a pop up - albeit a ten-month one- but that is half the appeal. Interiors are the groups signature covetable collection of retro finds - think 60s Nevada diner, with granny sofas and formica tables. It's members only downstairs, but in the main room you can snack on buttermilk chicken wings and rare breed Pig Bombs with your Goose Island or Black Isle Blonde beer. If you're up for a big night go for the pint-sized cocktails at £10 (try the Elderflower Spritz: St Germain, peach puree, grapefruit, prosecco, lemon), or, for the real troopers, the Mezcal flights, six shots for £30 - if your liver can handle it.
70 City Road, London EC1 2BY, 20 7065 6800, Rotarybardiner.com
Susan Ward Davies, Travel & Lifestyle Director
Experimental Cocktail Club, Chinatown, Soho
One of the first of the glut of speakeasies in London, the ECC is also one of the best: behind an unmarked, unassuming doorway, next to a Chinese restaurant, youll find three floors of higgledy piggledy rooms, cosy nooks, elegant vintage furniture and a piano. The atmosphere is friendly and the cocktails sublime. Its better to book, but they always keep half the space free for walk-ins, and theres a £5 cover charge after 11pm.
13a Gerrard St, Chinatown, London W1D 5PS, 020 7434 3559, chinatownecc.com
Susan Ward Davies, Travel & Lifestyle Director
Lobby Bar, Edition
With its lofty corniced ceilings, chandeliers, and huge, hanging silver egg by Ingo Maurer, this is a very glamorous place to perch your Prada-clad behind and sip a Hoax Martini. The pool table and open fire make for a laid-back vibe: its the kind of place you start out with a couple of old friends and end with a crowd of new ones, and the staff are lovely with none of that too-cool-to- look-after- you attitude you often get in places as hyped as this. Its a bit of one-stop shop, too, with Jason Athertons brilliant Berners Tavern next door, and The Basement club downstairs. Love it.
10 Berners St, W1T 3NP, 020 7781 0000, edition-hotels.marriott.com
Susan Ward Davies, Travel & Lifestyle Director
Trader Vic's, London Hilton on Park Lane
This Tiki bar does some of the best rum cocktails in London (don't ask me which one, they're all a similar mix of rum and coconut. Delish), served in amazing receptacles (such as coconuts and skulls). It's great for people watching and you only need about two drinks and you're smashed. Fun times!
Trader Vic's, London Hilton on Park Lane, W1K 1BE, 020 7208 4113, tradervicslondon.com
Fern Ross, Chief sub-editor
The Bar at Viajante, Town Hall Hotel, Bethnal Green
On the right-hand side, as you come into this amazing restaurant, the Bar serves cocktails as experimental and delicious as the food (they do great bar snacks if you can't get into the much-lauded dining room). The cocktails are seasonal, but ask the barman to make his Hendrick's Gin, cucumber and champagne cocktail. Actual heaven in a glass.
The Bar at Viajante, Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9NF, 020 7871 0461, townhallhotel.com
Fern Ross, Chief sub-editor
Off Broadway, Broadway Market
Situated on perhaps the coolest street in London (seriously, I saw Alexander Wang and Zoe Kravitz there during LFW), this bar is within stumbling distance of my house and has get this a bar cat called Chairman Miaow. In summer, the Aperol Spritz is a must, but they do a mean whiskey sour too.'
Off Broadway, 63-65 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH, 020 7241 2786, @baroffbroadway
Fern Ross, Chief sub-editor
Dukes Bar, St James
Im a very fussy Martini drinker and they do the best here. The bar is cosy in winter and quite small so you don't always get in, but
the Dirty Martini making at your table is a whole experience which makes it even more special.
Dukes Hotel, St James Place, London, SW1A 1NY, 02074914840, dukeshotel.com
Natalie Wansbrough-Jones, Senior Fashion Editor
Milk & Honey, Soho
I have never felt more looked after than at Milk & Honey. Their dark interior makes the whole experience so personal - even if its extremely busy. An all-male staff (who clearly know their drinks and food menu inside out) are always friendly and willing to explain the list, making sure you have the best cocktail for the mood you're in. My favourite drink (besides their complimentary chilled water with cucumber) is from the 'Fresh and Up' section called the French Pearl (Gin, mint, lime, sugar, absinthe) - I always have it! It is a members bar, but non-members can go before 11pm, if they book in advance.
Milk & Honey, 61 Poland St, London, W1F 7NU, 020 7065 6800, mlkhny.com
Mollie Haylor, Fashion assistant
Big Easy Crabshack, Kings Road
Although not strictly a cocktail bar, the cocktails at the always-busy Big Easy Crabshack are a delicious indulgence. The best one Ive had so far was a Crème Brûlée Martini, which they cover with sugar and blowtorch in front of you, so it actually cracks with your first sip. A dessert in a cocktail? Yes please!
Big Easy Crabshack, 332-334 Kings Road, SW3 5UR, 020 7352 4071 bigeasy.co.uk
Diana Gavrilina, Digital Photo Intern
Novikov, Mayfair
Another place I love is the bar on the lower ground floor of the Novikov restaurant Its a very sleek place and full of beautiful people, the service is quick and attentive, and I love how they attach a small torch to the drinks menu so you dont have to do any strange manoeuvres to find some light to read by. My favourite drink is Zorro Plateado: a mix of Ocho Blanco tequila shaken with fresh pineapple, lime juice and ginger root, dressed with homemade cardamom syrup and Pernod Absinthe, served in a large balloon glass with a bamboo straw Yum!)'
Novikov, 50A Berkeley street, London W1J 8HA, 020 7399 4330, novikovrestaurant.co.uk
Diana Gavrilina, Digital Photo Intern
Mark's Bar at Hix ,Soho
Downstairs at Hix is great. The bar staff are friendly, create fabulous mojitos and the atmosphere makes me want to stay for longer than I ever intend. There's something very non-pretentious about the décor, too, and it feels more lived-in than other bars in the area.
66-70 Brewer St, London, W1F 9UP, 020 7292 3518, hixsoho.co.uk
Kirsty Dale, Executive Fashion Director
Lounge Lover, Shoreditch
The décor is a wonderful mishmash of antiques, taxidermy and neon lights. It might sound random, but they balance out perfectly for a fun yet relaxed vibe. Its cool without being pretentious or over-priced: go before 8pm and take advantage of their 2-for-£12 cocktails some of the best Ive ever tasted. If you like fruity drinks then go for Happy Endings: muddled fresh strawberries, raspberries and blackberries topped off with vodka.
1 Whitby St, Shoreditch, London, E1 6JU, 020 7012 1234, loungelover.uk.com
Joely Walker, Beauty Assistant
Worship Street Whistling Shop
This place makes its own speciality liquors and mixes them into such delicious potions, it is hard to have just one. The space feels like a secret hiding place, dark and romantic. Best cocktail: Mother's Ruin gin, grapefruit juice, sage, a frothy egg white and nutmeg.
63 Worship Street, London, EC2A 2DU, 020 7247 0015, whistlingshop.com
Christina Simone, Workflow Director
Spurstowe Arms, London Fields
This local pub near London Fields is great for everyday of the week but really fun on Saturday evenings and daytime Sundays. It has good food, tasty cocktails and a lovely terrace. Its always full of young people and its the place to go if you live in the area. The wine list is great, but my favourite is the Bloody Mary.
68 Greenwood Rd, London E8 1AB, 020 7923 3115
Espe de La Fuente, Fashion Assistant
Royal Oak, Columbia Road
This has the same feel as the Spurstowe Arms (above). On Sundays its packed, because of the Columbia Road flower market, but I love it here on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
73 Columbia Road, London E2 7RG, 020 7729 2220 , royaloaklondon.com
Espe de La Fuente, Fashion Assistant
Rawduck, Hackney
This just-opened small bar near Mare Street is from the family of Ducksoup in Soho. There is nothing like it around that area so it's a great option for a drink and some food before going for a movie at Hackney Picture House. They serve small tapas and platters as there isn't an inside kitchen, and it has a very modern feel and a small terrace.
Rawduck , 5 Amhurst Road, Hackney, E8 1LL, 020 8986 6534, rawduckhackney.co.uk
Espe de La Fuente, Fashion Assistant
