Bars
The 6 Best Late-Night Bars in London
Six London bars that genuinely stay open past 2am, from a Soho cafe that never really closes to a Camden blues club with live music running until the small hours.
In short: our top picks are Bar Italia, Nightjar and The Lexington. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Most bars in London call it a night by midnight or 1am, which makes the handful that push on to 3am, 4am or later worth knowing by name rather than hoping to stumble on one. Some of these are proper late night institutions that have been open into the small hours for decades, others are newer additions that have built their whole identity around the after midnight crowd. Worth noting that a late licence does not always mean a late kitchen, several of these stop serving food well before the bar itself closes, so eat beforehand if a midnight snack matters to your night.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Italia | Soho | ££ |
| Nightjar | Shoreditch | £££ |
| The Lexington | Islington | ££ |
| Balans Soho | Soho | ££ |
| MEATliquor W1 | Oxford Circus | ££ |
| The Blues Kitchen, Camden | Camden | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Bar Italia
Why we pick itOpen from the Polledri family since 1949, Bar Italia runs from 7am to 5am every day of the week, making it less a late bar than a place that barely closes at all, and it has been a fixture for musicians and Soho night owls for most of its 75 year history.
Worth knowingLargely standing room with a handful of stools and nowhere to linger, and the late-night Soho crowd spilling in can get rowdy.
Soho institution open 7am to 5am daily
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Nightjar
Why we pick itA candlelit basement speakeasy with tin cup cocktails and live jazz and swing bands, Nightjar stays open until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, closing earlier at 1am on Monday to Wednesday, a short walk from Old Street station.
Worth knowingA cover charge after 8pm, mid-teens drink prices and booking-only seating add real friction, and the speakeasy format is no longer novel.
1920s speakeasy with live jazz
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The Lexington
Why we pick itA bourbon focused bar with a live music room and small club space upstairs, The Lexington runs until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays and 3am on Thursdays, considerably later than most bars along Pentonville Road.
Bourbon bar, live music venue and club
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Balans Soho
Why we pick itBalans No. 60 keeps its kitchen and bar running until 5am midweek and 6am on Fridays and Saturdays, making it one of the very few places in Soho you can reliably get a proper meal alongside a drink well after most restaurants have shut their doors.
All day, all night dining and drinking
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MEATliquor W1
Why we pick itThe bar stays open until 3am every day of the week, with the kitchen running until 2.30am, and the entrance switches from Margaret Street to Great Castle Street after 11pm as the venue moves into its later, noisier phase of the night.
Late night burger and cocktail bar
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The Blues Kitchen, Camden
Why we pick itLive music starts most nights around 9.30pm and DJs carry the room through vintage rock and soul afterwards, with the bar open until 3am on Saturdays and 2.30am on Fridays, longer than almost anywhere else on Camden High Street.
Live blues, soul and funk until the small hours
Before you book
Friday and Saturday are when these venues push to their latest hours, with several closing two or three hours earlier on weeknights, so check the specific day before planning a late finish. Cash sometimes still gets you through the door faster at door staffed venues like Nightjar, and turning up before 11pm avoids the queues that build once nearby clubs start turning people out.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Bar Italia is our editor's choice: Open from the Polledri family since 1949, Bar Italia runs from 7am to 5am every day of the week, making it less a late bar than a place that barely closes at all, and it has been a fixture for musicians and Soho night owls for most of its 75 year history. Bar Italia, Nightjar and The Lexington 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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