West London is what some people consider to be the ‘posh’ side of town, Fulham, Hammersmith, Notting Hill.
It’s the houses, the parks and the wide tree lined streets that most people think of when they think of London. But what they might not know is that it is also home to some of the very best bars in the capital, here are the top picks for where to grab a drink when you’re out West.
Gin Tonica at The Distillery
If you like gin, you’re going to LOVE this place. Situated on the corner of Portobello road, it sits the floor above The Resting Room (which is also worth a visit! While you can get a great gin made from their onsite copper pot, they also offer a vast range of barrel-aged spirits and an impressive wine list). Gintonica serves up an extensive range of Gin & Tonics that go hand in hand with their spanish style tapas menu. But it’s not just Gin & Tonics, the cocktail menu is filled to the brim with Gins from all over the world all with a recommended serving but if you need a little help the staff are friendly and more than happy to chat through the menu. The perfect spot to sit, sip and enjoy.
Southam Street
Picture perfect, the walls and interior of Southam Street are reason enough to go alone. Sitting over three floors, you can dine in a Japanese/Peruvian inspired menu (think bao buns, sushi and ceviche) before heading upstairs to either their dedicated tequila and mescal bar, or Sake bar. Take your pick! Grab yourself a cocktail and get your #boyfriendsofinstagram beau to take a photo of you sipping away in one of their perfectly placed chairs, in one of their perfectly designed rooms. A beautiful establishment worth some serious time.
Negozio Classica
This is an Italian wine lovers delight located in the heart of Notting Hill. Wine bar, shop and deli all fit into this Tuscan inspired spot. This is somewhere to go that is cosy, casual and has that real family vibe – welcoming, charming and the kind of place you could stay in all night… by accident (who ordered that third bottle of wine? In fact, who cares!) Go for a bottle of wine, a cheese and charcuterie board, some olives – you get the drift, the foods delicious and there’s plenty to go around. They, of course, have an excellent selection of Italian and moreover Tuscan wine, also from their own vineyards, but their wine list covers vino from across the globe. If you like wine – you’ll like it here. Oh and they do a mean Aperol Spritz too.
Mermaid Bar, The Wright Brothers
Hidden beneath the ever famous Wright Brothers is Mermaid Bar – if you’re looking for a cosy corner to snuggle up in, this is the place. Plush chairs line the bar perfect for a casual drink (they do classics and they do them well) with leather booths that would be perfect for stealing a kiss with your love. If you’re anywhere in the vicinity of the bar between 3pm-6pm on any given day, get yourself there and be prepared to feast on the best oysters for just £1 each, given you like oysters of course.
Trailer Happiness
Head downstairs to this Tiki haven and you’ll find an award winning cocktail bar. It’s fun and punchy – just like most of the drinks on the menu and you’ll probably find yourself crawling out from its depths at 2am. Find your spot at the bar and order a Pineapple Daiquiri that will transport you to a beach in the Caribbean, or a Trailer Colada which, by description, is sunshine in a glass. Retro and kitsch. What more could you want? What about some great Caribbean style food? Yep, they’ve got it. This is really the perfect place to end up on a night out west – the drinks a great, the food is tasty and the tunes will have you dancing till they call last orders.
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