Bars
The 6 Best Bars in Greenwich
Riverside taverns, a basement jazz den and a rooftop above the Thames: where to drink in maritime Greenwich after dark.
In short: our top picks are Oliver's Jazz Bar, Davy's Wine Vaults and Cutty Sark Tavern. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Greenwich drinks the way it looks, all river light, old timber and naval history, with the odd glass tower thrown in for contrast. This is not a cocktail-crawl neighbourhood so much as a place to settle in: a Georgian pub on the water, a wine vault full of curiosities, a tiny jazz room that has been going since 2003. The peninsula adds the modern note, a hotel sky bar eighteen floors up. These are the rooms worth crossing the river for.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oliver's Jazz Bar | Greenwich | £££ |
| Davy's Wine Vaults | Greenwich | £££ |
| Cutty Sark Tavern | Greenwich | ££ |
| The Old Brewery | Greenwich | ££ |
| Eighteen Sky Bar | Greenwich | ££££ |
| Clipper Bar | Greenwich | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
Oliver's Jazz Bar
Why we pick itA tiny candlelit basement off Nevada Street with live jazz every night since 2003, a winter fire and cash-only entry.
basement jazz bar
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Davy's Wine Vaults
Why we pick itA characterful cellar bar of antique curiosities and historic wine artefacts, pouring a deep old and new world list from Davy's own merchants.
old-school wine bar
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Cutty Sark Tavern
Why we pick itA Grade II listed Georgian tavern over three floors on Ballast Quay, with real ales and bay windows looking straight across the Thames to Canary Wharf.
Georgian riverside pub
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The Old Brewery
Why we pick itSet in the Old Royal Naval College with the original Meantime copper brewing tanks still in the dining room, plus a large garden and local craft beer.
brewery pub, garden
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Eighteen Sky Bar
Why we pick itOn the eighteenth floor of the InterContinental at The O2, with an east-facing terrace, signature cocktails, champagne and views over the Thames and Docklands.
rooftop hotel cocktail bar
-
Clipper Bar
Why we pick itA nautical-themed cocktail room in the InterContinental, its marble bar pouring infusions and small-batch British spirits beneath floor-to-ceiling Thames views.
nautical cocktail bar
Before you book
Cutty Sark DLR and Greenwich rail both drop you in the centre; the peninsula bars sit at North Greenwich on the Jubilee line. The riverside pubs and Oliver’s fill fast at weekends, so book ahead or arrive early, and note Oliver’s takes cash for entry. Eighteen Sky Bar takes walk-ins.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Oliver's Jazz Bar is our editor's choice: A tiny candlelit basement off Nevada Street with live jazz every night since 2003, a winter fire and cash-only entry. Oliver's Jazz Bar, Davy's Wine Vaults and Cutty Sark Tavern lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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