Bars
The 6 Best Bars in Kensington
Kensington after dark: the hotel cocktail rooms, hidden basements, wine cellars and flower-clad pubs that drink far better than the postcode lets on.
In short: our top picks are K Bar, Bar 190 and ESQ. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Kensington gets written off as all museums and money, but the drinking here rewards anyone who knows where to look. The best of it hides inside hotels and down basement stairs, where serious cocktail people work to a quiet, grown-up room rather than a queue. Add a couple of the area’s great pubs and a proper wine bar and you have a night that runs from a mirror-themed martini to a pint under hanging baskets. These are the Kensington bars worth crossing town for.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| K Bar | Kensington | ££££ |
| Bar 190 | Kensington | ££££ |
| ESQ | Kensington | £££ |
| The Kensington Wine Rooms | Kensington | £££ |
| The Churchill Arms | Kensington | ££ |
| The Scarsdale Tavern | Kensington | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
K Bar
Why we pick itLeather wingbacks and velvet sofas set the scene for signature cocktails served on a mirrored menu you read backwards, the bar's mirrored walls being the whole concept.
hotel cocktail bar
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Bar 190
Why we pick itWood-panelled and lined with photos from the Rolling Stones' 1968 Beggars Banquet launch party held here, with whiskies and contemporary cocktails to match.
rock and roll hotel bar
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ESQ
Why we pick itDown on the lower ground floor of 100 Queen's Gate, ESQ pours house-infused spirits over small plates and live music in a snug, low-lit room.
hidden basement cocktail bar
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The Kensington Wine Rooms
Why we pick itMore than 40 wines pour from Enomatic machines you tap with a prepaid card, so you can taste your way through bottles you would never order blind.
wine bar
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The Churchill Arms
Why we pick itOne of London's most photographed pubs, buried under hundreds of flower baskets outside and trinket-crammed inside, with a Thai kitchen running for over 35 years.
Worth knowingThe Thai conservatory takes no bookings and tables are cramped and often shared with strangers, and the famous flowers come down over winter.
historic flower pub
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The Scarsdale Tavern
Why we pick itA Victorian pub on a leafy garden square off the High Street, all gilded mirrors and frosted glass, pouring cask ales and craft beer by a roaring fire.
upmarket gastropub
Before you book
South Kensington, Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington stations put you within walking distance of everything here. Book K Bar and the hotel cocktail rooms Sunday to Thursday, since Fridays and Saturdays tend to run walk-in only; the pubs you can simply turn up to. Come early evening if you want a table at the Churchill Arms or the Wine Rooms, both of which fill fast at weekends.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
K Bar is our editor's choice: Leather wingbacks and velvet sofas set the scene for signature cocktails served on a mirrored menu you read backwards, the bar's mirrored walls being the whole concept. K Bar, Bar 190 and ESQ 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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