London venues with the Wow-Factor!
In our continued search to bring you the best bits of London we've cranked the dial up to 11.
We endeavour to introduce you to the kind of bars which will have your eyes on stalks the moment you walk in. OK, so for seasoned, jaded Londoners who've seen it all this is quite a challenge... "So I'm greeted by a line of underwear models, seated on a spinning merry-go-round in the middle of the bar and served dry ice cocktails by trained dogs riding skateboards... whatevs." But we're gonna to give it a good go...
So whether you are a visitor to London or a long-time London partier - take a look at our venues with the wow factor.
Wilton’s is an All In London favourite, in fact it was once named our Venue of the Month on the basis of its wow factor. The old music hall is all about the preservation of the site’s heritage. Exposed brickwork, intimate tumbledown spaces and the very accommodating Mahogany Bar are all part of its charm.
Lounge Lover presents something different for the senses at every turn and whether it’s a two metre-high ceramic vase or a table within a cage, it works. The dazzling Shoreditch cocktail bar attached to the restaurant La Trois Garcons backs up its aesthetics with great drinks too. Looks and personality, it really is the whole package.
It isn’t the interior of the Paramount Bar that gives the place its wow factor - that would be the view from level 32 of Centre Point where the bar resides. Dim lighting sets off the stunning views of London by night and with a Paramount Bar cocktail in hand even those who have seen a thing or two will struggle to contain their awe.
Between the rooftop sky bars and ancient music halls there is the wow of the subterranean cocktail bar to be found. Since opening up in 2012, Ruby’s has become a go-to choice for anyone looking for that extra something special. Not showy but classy. Not flashy but an instant classic. From the vintage milk bottles containing its signature Blackberry Mojitos to the largely untouched interior, it’s a gem lying beneath the streets of Dalston.
The Parlour at Sketch turns into a cocktail bar from 6pm till 2am, although it’s members-only after 9pm. So head in early and soak up the visual spectacular. Eccentric, decadent and refined. And once you’re politely asked to leave the Parlour, you can stroll the short distance to the Glade where evening cocktails are served until 2am. Trust us, you won’t be leaving Sketch without giving a wow.
Part members club, part cocktail bar, the Jub Jub is the secret venue accessible only through the Shoreditch cocktail bar Callooh Callay. Boasting guest barmen who bring with them their own temporary menus, there’s a wow to be had from the drinks alone. But that’s not all. The process of getting in is just as much a part of the experience. Email Marie, tell her why you want in and wait to hear back about an appointment. It’ll be worth it in the end…
So the speakeasy may not be the hot new ticket in town anymore but at The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town you’ll still find a place that you can still show off about. It’s all about the secret entrance that leads into the basement cocktail bar. On first glance the place is merely an all-day Breakfast Club diner, but look again…
It may not have secret doorways, snappy cocktail lists or Venezuelan streetfood to make you go wow but it is among the biggest pubs in Europe. Size matters and in a pub where getting lost is a mere formality you just have to applaud the drinking space on offer at Camden pub The World’s End.
