Bars
The 6 Best Bars in Paddington
Canalside wine, a basement speakeasy and one of Britain's oldest mahogany bars: where to drink in Paddington once the trains stop mattering.
In short: our top picks are Vagabond Paddington, Old Mary's and The Hyde Bar. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Paddington reads as a transit hub first, which is exactly why its drinking scene gets overlooked. The water does the heavy lifting here, with Merchant Square and Sheldon Square turning the Grand Union Canal into a proper terrace, while the older streets towards Hyde Park hide Victorian pubs and a basement speakeasy most commuters walk straight past. Skip the station concourse chains; these are the rooms worth staying west for.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Vagabond Paddington | Paddington | ££ |
| Old Mary's | Paddington | £££ |
| The Hyde Bar | Paddington | ££££ |
| Lockhouse | Paddington | ££ |
| HUCKSTER London | Paddington | £££ |
| The Victoria | Paddington | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Vagabond Paddington
Why we pick itOver 100 wines by the glass from self-pour machines, poured on a canalside terrace where you taste before you commit to a full glass.
self-pour wine bar
-
Old Mary's
Why we pick itA warren of rooms beneath The Mitre at Lancaster Gate, mixing classic cocktails and craft beer with weekly live jazz and a resident-ghost backstory.
basement speakeasy
-
The Hyde Bar
Why we pick itA connoisseur's room inside the Roseate House townhouse, stocking rare vintage whiskies alongside a cocktail list that runs from precise Old Fashioneds to its own signatures.
hotel whisky and cocktail bar
-
Lockhouse
Why we pick itUp to twenty international craft beers from a keg wall plus classic cocktails, looking straight out over Paddington Basin from the heart of Merchant Square.
canalside craft beer bar
-
HUCKSTER London
Why we pick itA graffiti-covered, multi-floor warren with private karaoke rooms, street food and cocktails, built for big groups rather than a quiet pint.
multi-level party bar
-
The Victoria
Why we pick itAn 1837 Fuller's pub with one of the oldest surviving mahogany bars in Britain, where Dickens reputedly wrote part of Our Mutual Friend and the interior is Grade II listed.
historic Victorian pub
Before you book
Most of these sit within a ten-minute walk of Paddington station, with Lancaster Gate and Edgware Road closer for the southern and eastern picks. Old Mary’s only opens Thursday to Saturday and the basement fills fast, so book ahead; the canalside terraces at Vagabond and Lockhouse are walk-in but go early on warm evenings. Weekends lean heavily on bottomless brunch, so arrive before 5pm if you want a quieter table.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Vagabond Paddington is our editor's choice: Over 100 wines by the glass from self-pour machines, poured on a canalside terrace where you taste before you commit to a full glass. Vagabond Paddington, Old Mary's and The Hyde Bar 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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