Pubs London

TOP 10 BARS IN BLOOMSBURY

• Grafton Arms, 72 Grafton Way, London W1 0871 332 5367
  A welcoming pub spread over two floors and boasting a fine selection of ales. The sprawling downstairs bar is always popular but come summer, the upstairs bar and roof terrace are a refreshing alternative.
• Grape Street Wine Bar, 226A Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC20871 332 5371
  An impressive wine list ensures the bar lives up to the street it was named after. Absurdly friendly staff will talk you through the extensive list before seducing you with exotic dishes and cheese platters designed to soak up all that grape juice.
• Lord John Russell, 91-93 Marchmont Street, London WC1(020) 7388 0500
  Holding court over the passing pedestrians of Marchmont Street, this authentic boozer attracts a worthily diverse flock of regulars – from the local UCL students to discerning neighbourhood drinkers who are steadily working their way through the range of ales.
• Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC10871 332 5867
  Ideal for a pub lunch with your mates, even the vegetarian ones, the traditional, dimly lit surroundings make it the perfect place to nurse away the excesses of the weekend.
• Museum Tavern, 49 Great Russell Street, London WC10871 332 1446
  Located opposite the British Museum which has in the past attracted the likes of Marx and Orwell, it’s not as overrun with tourists as you may expect. Sup on a pint of Brain’s finest ale whilst musing over a well thumbed copy of Animal Farm by the giddy flashing light of the fruit machine.
• mybar @ myhotel, 11-13 Bayley Street, Bedford Square, London WC1(020) 7667 6000
  A sophisticated affair serving up a mouthwatering selection of cocktails, champagne and beer to accompany your breakfast, lunch or dinner. A reliable, if sometimes, slightly bland alternative to a pie and a pint.
• Oporto, 168 High Holburn, London WC10871 332 4274
  Neatly spread over two floors, and offering a decent selection of draught and wines, the downstairs bar is a cosy affair complete with pool table that’s better suited to winter months.
• Plough, 27 Museum Street, London WC10871 332 2086
  Located slightly further down Museum Street than the British Museum, the cosy appearance belies a superb selection of real ales and is a fine alternative to the Museum Tavern.
• Queen’s Larder, 1 Queen Square, London WC10871 332 2189
  Steeped in history, the pub at the heart of the traditional medical district was named after Queen Charlotte, wife of mad King George. Enjoy an after work drink under the watchful gaze of the royal portraits’ beady eyes.
• Truckles of Pied Bull Yard, Off Bury Place, London WC10871 332 2534
  The quaint sounding name belies the fact that this is one of a chain, albeit an olde worlde style one, located on a charming courtyard alongside independent shops. The upstairs bar is decidedly modern without a hint of nostalgia.

TOP 10 BARS IN COVENT GARDEN

• AKA18 West Central Street, Covent Garden, WC2(020) 7836 0110 On the outskirts of Covent Garden, London’s top DJ bar is still cutting edge, and the cocktails rival any of the smaller specialist operations scattered around town. Truly a world class bar
• West Street, 13-15 West Street, Covent Garden, WC2(020) 7010 8600 The bar at West Street may be rather on the small side and hidden in the basement, but it’s truly brilliant. The cocktail list is mercifully free of syrupy sweet numbers, and the range of Twisted Manhattans is superb. Definitely worth a look.
• Detroit 35 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, WC2H(020) 7240 2662 Housed in basement and possessing a very good cocktail list and some rather interesting décor, Detroit is a spot to head to if you like to relax in some style…
• The Porterhouse, 21-22 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2(020) 7379 7917 Looking like a cross between a Victorian pumping station and a steam ship, the Porterhouse certainly provokes conversation. The draught beer, brewed in a microbrewery in Ireland is very tasty, and they also stock about the largest selection of bottled beers in the country.
• The Langley, 5 Langley Street, Covent Garden, WC2H(020) 7836 5005 This fairly swanky Covent Garden joint seems to be popular with the area’s hipper office staff and also attracts a few Soho types during the early evening. The reason for this? It’s probably got something to do with the daily happy hour, which runs from 5pm to 7pm. Expect a wide range of cheap drinks, including wine, beer and cocktails.
• Navajo Joe, 34 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2(020) 7240 4008 If you like tequila then you’ll love Navajo Joe. They have God knows how many different brands in stock, and a pretty good cocktail list to boot. The bartenders are mostly towards the flair end of the spectrum, but that’s quite fun once in a while.
• The Round House, 1 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, WC2(020) 7836 9838 The Roundhouse is a traditional London pub at the bottom of Garrick Street. The clientele appears to be a mixture of tourists and local office types, but anywhere else in Covent Garden is likely to exhibit a similar demographic. If you’re after a proper pint then give the locals bars a miss and check out this place.
• The Prince of Wales, 150-151 Drury Lane, Covent Garden,WC2(020) 7240 9935 On the corner of Long Acre, the Prince of Wales is perfectly situated for a mid shopping spree pint. Considering the stresses involved in negotiating the nearby shops on a Saturday morning this might be exactly what you need.
• La Perla, 28 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E(020) 7240 7400 This Mexican themed bar offers a good selection of beers, spirits and cocktails, as well as some tasty Tex-Mex nibbles. They often have happy hours and promotions going on, so pop in and try it!
• Garrick Wine Bar, 10-12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, WC2(020) 7240 7649 The Garrick Wine bar is an attractive little establishment offering a fine range of wines from around the world, as well as a selection of other drinks. Again, it seems to attract quite a few tourists, but (again) given its location this is hardly surprising. Worth a look though!

TOP 10 BARS IN THE CITY

• The Counting House, 50 Cornhill, City, EC3V(020) 7283 7123 One of the nicest pubs in the City, the Counting House is enormous, with a hugely high ceiling, plenty of tasty beers on offer, and a first floor gallery with plenty of seating even when it’s rammed downstairs.
• El Vino, 3 Bastion Highwalk, 125 London Wall, City, EC2(020) 7600 6377 Reputedly one of the City’s best wine bars, El Vino keeps a fantastic cellar. It attracts a mixture of wine aficionados as well as plenty of city workers who know what they like (even if they don’t know the difference between Pouilly-Fume and Pouilly-Fuisse!)
• The Jamaica Wine House, 12 St Michael’s Alley, Cornhill, City, EC3(020) 7626 9496If you’re after an atmospheric boozer then this is it. It was once a Victorian rum merchants headquarters, and is a fine place to while away a few hours.
• Prism, 147 Leadenhall Street, City, EC3V(020) 7256 3888 The main restaurant area at Prism becomes a lounge bar in the evenings (the evening restaurant service takes place in a smaller room than at lunchtime) and the surroundings promote an incredible sense of decadence. There’s also another bar in the basement, which is very slick and smart. Get down there…
• The Scottish Pound, 50 London Wall, City, EC2M(020) 7374 4210 This is a popular pub that has been totally refurnished over the last couple of years. No longer a dingy city hole, it now attracts a varied clientele who seem to be just as happy ordering wine by the bottle as they do drinking pints. Decent bitters courtesy of Green King.
• Balls Brothers, 158 Bishopsgate, City, EC2M(020) 7426 0567 This branch of the Balls Brothers chain is smart and spacious, and offers a wide selection of wines as well as all the usual beers and spirits. Quite a calm atmosphere unless you turn up around 6pm on a Thursday or a Friday.
• The Bishops Finger, 9 West Smithfield, City, EC1A(020) 7248 2341 Another fine pub, the Bishops Finger serves some of the best kept Shepherd Neame beer in the capital, and is one of my favourite pubs for idle time wasting. Well worth a visit.
• The Evangelist, 33 Blackfriars Lane, City, EC4V(020) 7213 0740 This peculiarly named bar has a few religious trinkets here and there (church pews for instance) but the place is seriously geared to drinking – no need to pray before you start on the lager. Interesting and worth a look.
• Digress City, CityPoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, City, EC2(020) 7382 1690 Digress City is a huge and impressive bar in the basement of the even bigger CityPoint building. Fairly stylish and with a selection of decent cocktails, it’s understandably popular with people working upstairs or locally.
• First and Last, 175 Bishopsgate, City, EC2(020) 7786 9251 Typical London pub – plenty of beer, seating and space for a light-hearted rendezvous. The First & Last isn’t a stunning world-class bar, but it is a nice friendly place to meet for a pint.

BARS TO AVOID

• Cheers – 72 Regent Street, W1R Even if you enjoyed the loathsome excuse for a television show set in that scummy Boston bar, you will still hate this place. What could be worse than a bar themed around an American bar-themed television show? I’ll tell you. A bar themed around an American bar-themed television show almost entirely patronised by American tourists. I would rather be eviscerated with a bread knife than show my face inside this atrocious dive.
• Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, 1 Ely Court, EC1 Not only is this one of London’s nicest pubs, but it also has a fascinating history. So what is it doing here? Simple – it is the hardest pub to find in the capital. Some places are slightly off the beaten track; they tease you for a few minutes, and then relent. Not the Mitre. If you’ve never been before, you’ll need a military spec GPS system to find the place. Even if you’re a returning customer you probably still get lost. Arranging a rendezvous with friends there is like committing social suicide. I rest my case…
• Moon Under Water – 28 Leicester Square, W2 There are many reasons why purchasing a selection of alcohol and tobacco products and seating yourself on a Leicester Square bench for an evening of solo revelry might not be a good idea. For one thing you may be accosted by the local alcoholic who will wish to engage you in an impromptu blind tasting. Or you might develop hypothermia. Both of these outcomes are preferable to an evening in the Moon Under Water. It is soul-destroyingly awful.
• Attica – 14-16 Fouberts Place, W1V It might have been hip when it opened, but Attica has drifted into the realms of Eurotrash naffness. The door staff have more attitude than Prince Naseem, but judging by the sparsely populated lounge-like affair we encountered upon entry, the place is about as happening as a Latvian psychiatric hospital.
• The Old Blue Last – 39 Great Eastern Street, EC2A Probably not that bad a place actually.
• The Met Bar – 19 Old Park Lane, W1K What was once the most coveted members bar in town has now become a magnet for all that is awful about our celebrity culture. The only normal people in there are the guests from the nice hotel upstairs, which is a pity as the cocktails are still something special.
• The Lord Nelson – 386 Old Kent Road, SE1 If you like your pub experience to be quiet, genteel and uneventful I would advise avoiding the Lord Nelson. It is a rather rough place. If you have ambitions to set up your own criminal network then you might find it just the place to start.
• Pop – 14 Soho Street, W1V 60s design is hip. Pop (ho ho) along to any of the blossoming secondhand design emporiums and you’ll see scores of garish plastic telephones, Vico Magistretti chairs and bulbous glassware. However, cheaply assembled virtual 60s interiors are not hip. The trouble with modern design is that it looks fine when shiny and new, but as soon as a few chips and scratches appear, it starts to look like a pimps broom cupboard. Pop was quite inspiring when it first appeared, but these days it’s more grim than glam. An entrance 6 feet away from Oxford Street doesn’t do it any favours either.
• The Blind Beggar – 337 Whitechapel Road, E1The Blind Beggar was the scene of a nasty murder back in the 60s, when Ronnie Kray shot George Cornell through the forehead with a Mauser pistol. It is now home to a variety of aging dodgy characters, and students who somehow feel empowered by ordering lager shandy in pubs with criminal associations.
• Saint – 8 Great Newport Street, WC2H A year or two ago Saint seemed to pick up quite a cool crowd. That’s cool as in up-for-it and relaxed, as opposed to preening clothes horses. Something happened around the autumn of 2001, and ever since Saint seems to attract a rather motley selection of computer salesmen and late 30s eurotrash. The drinks aren’t great, and the staff are hard work (but they don’t work hard in return.) You’re better off staying in!

JAZZ CLUBS

• Ronnie Scotts Club 47 Frith Street, Soho, W1(020) 7439 0747 Ronnie’s is something of an institution, and has played host to plenty of jazz legends over the years, including Elvin Jones and Georgie Fame. Booking is essential if you want somewhere to sit, and the food isn’t going to win any Michelin stars, but the atmosphere is quite unique. Think twice about a visit mid-week if you need your beauty sleep, as the show often doesn’t really get going till quite late.
• Jazz Cafe 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1(020) 7344 0044The Jazz Cafe is probably the least jazz specific venue listed here, despite the fact that unlike so many of the others it has “jazz” in its title. The repertoire varies from soul and funk to sing-along guitar stuff, but the core ingredient is still jazz. Quite a few big names have played here, although they tend to be from the more commercial side of the street – Courtney Pine, the James Taylor Quartet and Georgie Fame.
• Le Quecumbar 42-44 Battersea High Street, SW11(020) 7787 2227Outside of Paris, it is Europe’s only venue dedicated to the promotion of Django Reinhardt Hot Club Gypsy Swing. This and a wide (and seemingly never-ending series of gigs) make it a must stop venue on the London jazz scene.
• The New Vortex Gillett Street, London N16 8JN(020) 7690 6661 Vortex is North London’s premier jazz venue, and attracts a serious crowd of musical aficionados. Don’t worry if you aren’t as knowledgeable as they are; just make sure you keep your voice down and don’t start singing along…besides, it’s an absolutely great place to start getting into the whole jazz thing so you should go along!
• Pizza Express Jazz Club 10 Dean Street, Soho, W1(020) 7439 8722This is the flagship jazz venue of the very jazz-friendly Pizza Express chain. Situated in the basement of the Dean Street restaurant, it attracts some fairly big names (okay, some very big names), which is quite impressive when you consider the local competition.
• The Bull’s Head 373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, SW13(020) 8876 5241The Bulls Head is a world away from the grime and seediness of Soho. Situated alongside the river (a stones through from Barnes Bride) it blends an easy out-of-centre charm with some serious music and is also one of London’s most established jazz venues – it wouldn’t be too out of place to suggest it is bordering on the famous. Evenings are the best time to visit Monday to Saturday, and the Sunday afternoon sessions are also very popular.
• The 606 Club 90 Lots Road, Chelsea, SW10(020) 7352 5953The 606 is set in a rather out of the way location (near the ol d Lots Road power station.) The music is always superb, and the policy of hiring local musicians and up-and-coming youngsters ensures that you won’t have to sit through tedious monologues recited by octogenarian has-beens. Non-members have to eat if they want a proper drink, and will have to eat whatever at weekends. It’s definitely still worth it though!
• Jazz After Dark 9 Greek Street, Soho, W1(020) 7734 0545More of a jazz and funk club at weekends, Jazz After Dark offers a range of jazz orientated nights midweek. Usually open very late, which, of course, is no bad thing…
• Dover Street 8 – 10 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1(020) 7629 9813Dover Street offers three separate bars, a host of jazz and blues performers as well as tasty food, an extensive drinks menu and late opening. You’ll need to dress up smartly, but it’ll be worth it!
• Boisdale 15 Ecclestone Street, SW1(020) 7730 6922Boisdale features some seriously good live jazz on a weekly basis (Monday – Saturday, 10pm till midnight) and, for that alone, should be visited (never mind the excellent menu and superb drink selection). Not only that, but they have their own label which they use to release recordings of the most memorable of their evenings. In short, if you miss a really good one, there’s a good chance it’ll turn up on CD sometime soon. Excellent.

CELEBRITY SPOTTING (You know you want to)

• The Met Bar, Park Lane, W1 Has been a celeb haunt for as long as anyone can remember. Not only that but it’s the one where they most often tend to misbehave – making it all that much more fun for observers.
• Attica Foubert’s Place, W1V A restaurant long favoured by celeb night owls. More often than not when you see a piccie of some hapless c-lister being helped into their car by a minder/relative/loved one/hanger on, it’s a picture taken after an evening there.
• Fabric, Charterhouse St, EC1 Blag your way into the VIP bar upstairs (the only place with sitting room after 10pm) and you’ll often find the hipper side of today’s celebs – normally Sarah Cox and Zoe Ball…
• Cargo, Rivington St, EC2 Like Fabric, Cargo seems to attract the cooler famous types. Normal sightings include various popstars and DJs. Last time we were there I nearly fell over Zero 7 who were milling about in my way…
• The Elbow Room, Islington, W2 Has recently been used by Ash as a venue for their album party launch.
• Chinawhite, Air St, W1 In all probability you won’t be able to get in. Nevertheless, it’s packed to overflowing with stars both big and small.
• Vingt Quatre, Fulham Rd, SW10 Is, apparently, full to bursting with recognisable faces. Regulars include Geri Halliwell, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Martine McCutcheon. Naomi Campbell, Calista Flockhart, Jim Carrey and Vinnie Jones have been spotted here too according to our spies.
• Woody’s, Woodfield Rd, W9 Another great place to spot all the usual suspects (Albarn, Ant’n’Dec etcetera ad infinitum) imbibing alcohol…demurely of course.
• The Ivy, West St, WC2 Obviously…we really don’t need to say any more.
• Quo Vadis, Dean St, W1 Expect to see diners the like of Jarvis Cocker plonked at the table next to you.