Bars
The 6 Best Bars in South Kensington
Museum-quarter drinking done properly: rock-and-roll hotel bars, a clubby townhouse cocktail room and the cult dens behind South Kensington's grand white stucco.
In short: our top picks are Bar 190, ESQ Bar and K Bar. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
South Kensington wears a polite face by day, all museums and embassy stucco, then drinks far harder than its postcode suggests after dark. The strength here is the hotel bars and the survivors: a Rolling Stones room, an oak-panelled cocktail bar, and a Vietnamese restaurant that has been pouring Flaming Ferraris to the local glitterati since the Eighties. Skip the chains near the tube and head for the squares behind it. These are the rooms worth dressing up for.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bar 190 | Kensington | ££££ |
| ESQ Bar | South Kensington | £££ |
| K Bar | Kensington | ££££ |
| Nam Long Le Shaker | South Kensington | £££ |
| The Anglesea Arms | South Kensington | ££ |
| The Hereford Arms | South Kensington | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Bar 190
Why we pick itThe Victorian wood-panelled room where The Rolling Stones launched Beggars Banquet in 1968, now pouring fiery cocktails and a deep spirits list.
rock-and-roll hotel bar
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ESQ Bar
Why we pick itA hushed lower-ground room with a grand piano and velvet seating, built around house-infused spirits and live music from Thursday to Saturday.
intimate cocktail bar
-
K Bar
Why we pick itOak-panelled and clubby inside The Kensington hotel, with inventive signature cocktails and brass-and-velvet glamour that draws a stylish local crowd.
townhouse cocktail bar
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Nam Long Le Shaker
Why we pick itPouring since the Eighties and home of the notorious Flaming Ferrari, a lit high-octane shot that has fuelled the local glitterati for decades.
cult cocktail bar
-
The Anglesea Arms
Why we pick itA Grade II-listed corner pub on a quiet terrace, with a proper ale selection, a serious kitchen and one of the area's best pavement terraces in summer.
characterful gastropub
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The Hereford Arms
Why we pick itA handsome Victorian Fuller's pub once frequented by Conan Doyle, pouring Griffin ales alongside cottage pie and a strong Sunday roast.
traditional Fuller's pub
Before you book
South Kensington and Gloucester Road tube stations put you within a short walk of everything here. The hotel bars (Bar 190, ESQ, K Bar) take walk-ins but book ahead at weekends or for a big group; the pubs are first-come. Nam Long Le Shaker runs late, so save it for the end of the night.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Bar 190 is our editor's choice: The Victorian wood-panelled room where The Rolling Stones launched Beggars Banquet in 1968, now pouring fiery cocktails and a deep spirits list. Bar 190, ESQ Bar and K 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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