Bars
The 6 Best Bars in Vauxhall
South London by the river: a Georgian-cellar cocktail den, a floating barge bar, craft-beer arches and the cabaret tavern that made Vauxhall famous.
In short: our top picks are The Black Duke, The Rose and Tamesis Dock. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Vauxhall is less polished than its neighbours and far more interesting for it. The drinking spreads from railway arches and a moored Dutch barge to a 1758 mansion cellar, with the riverside pubs throwing in Westminster views for free. It is also the spiritual home of queer London nightlife, anchored by a tavern that has been running cabaret since the 1980s. Come for the mix; you will not find another patch of the city that drinks quite like this.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Black Duke | Vauxhall | £££ |
| The Rose | Vauxhall | £££ |
| Tamesis Dock | Vauxhall | ££ |
| Mother Kelly's | Vauxhall | ££ |
| Royal Vauxhall Tavern | Vauxhall | ££ |
| The Garden Vauxhall | Vauxhall | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Black Duke
Why we pick itA candlelit cocktail bar in the restored 1758 cellars of Brunswick House, pouring an inventive list beneath a Georgian mansion stuffed with reclaimed antiques.
subterranean cocktail bar
-
The Rose
Why we pick itAn 1891 pub with a bespoke circular bar, chandeliers and a terrace looking straight across the Thames at the Houses of Parliament, mixing cocktails and cask ales.
riverside Victorian pub
-
Tamesis Dock
Why we pick itA converted 1930s Dutch barge moored on the river, with a sun deck, live music below and views of the London Eye and Battersea Power Station.
floating barge bar
-
Mother Kelly's
Why we pick itA railway-arch taproom and bottle shop with around 30 keg lines leaning hard on London and UK breweries, plus two outdoor areas under the arches.
craft beer taproom
-
Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Why we pick itThe grade II-listed tavern that built modern queer London, running drag, cabaret and club nights from its centre stage seven nights a week since the 1980s.
LGBTQ+ cabaret tavern
-
The Garden Vauxhall
Why we pick itA sprawling open-air beer garden by the station with two bars, international street-food stalls and big screens for live sport, built for a loud group night.
street-food beer garden
Before you book
Almost everything sits within ten minutes of Vauxhall station (Victoria line, National Rail and the bus interchange). The riverside pubs and Tamesis Dock are walk-in friendly in daylight but fill fast on warm evenings, so arrive early for a terrace spot. The Black Duke is a small cellar that runs Tuesday to Friday from 6pm, so plan around that; the RVT runs ticketed nights, so check what is on before you go.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Black Duke is our editor's choice: A candlelit cocktail bar in the restored 1758 cellars of Brunswick House, pouring an inventive list beneath a Georgian mansion stuffed with reclaimed antiques. The Black Duke, The Rose and Tamesis Dock 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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