As much as I hate the cold, I must admit that I love Winter in London. There's the markets, the mince pies and mulled wine, the Christmas parties - even that buzz you feel when you step out on that first crisp Winter morning. Sure, it's chilly, but there's so much happening!
Whilst it may be tempting to hibernate through the Season, the bars of London do their best to tempt us away from the warmth of the covers with fun themed venues, quirky pop ups, and seriously good drinks. There's something so cosy about holing up for an afternoon with a few close friends and a festive cocktail or three. It's one of my favourite Winter pastimes, so I thought I'd pop together some of my favourite places to do so in London.
Queen of Hoxton
I've mentioned Queen of Hoxton before in my Rooftop Guide, but it's somewhere I return to regularly so I figure it's allowed another mention! Their rooftop area transforms between Summer and Winter, and this festive season it's inspired by Moulin Rouge, from the decor (a gigantic red satin marquee, complete with a windmill) to the cocktails and food.
It's perhaps not quite as spectacular as last years Moroccan Medina, but it's a cosy little spot in East London that's great for a drink with friends before a night out. On my visit I tried the mulled wine and the A La Mode (bourbon, cider, vanilla liquer, nutmeg and cream) from their hot cocktail menu, and was so impressed. Honestly, the A La Mode was one of the best cocktails I've tried - creamy and warming but not too overly sweet. Seriously, you've got to try it to believe it.
Oslo
Conveniently positioned right by Hackney Central Overground station, Oslo is an achingly cool bar and live music venue set in an old railway station. The venue draws inspiration from Nordic aesthetics (was the name a hint?), and serves up a great food and drink menu for a pre-gig meal, or as a starting base for a night out in Hackney.
I've visited Oslo a fair few times over the years, for girly catch ups over a drink or two, dinner with friends, or to catch bands at the music venue upstairs. My most recent visit involved trying their new Winter cocktails, plus I couldn't resist a few snacks. Their food menu is full of classic dishes and comfort food, it's perfect for hunkering down for a cosy evening!
I kicked things off with the Winter Spritz, which paired gin and gingerbread flavouring with a dash of grapefruit - deliciously sweet with a hint of sour to balance it out. Food-wise, I shared the avocado tempura (a must try, the creamy avo pairs perfectly with the crunchy tempura batter!), sweet potato fries, and mini mac and cheese, alongside my second cocktail of choice, the Pear and Rose Daiquiri. My guest had a 'Delusion', which was another highlight - if a drink can embody Christmas, it's this one, with hints of cardamom and chocolate bitters.
Honestly, I think you'd have a tough time ordering a bad cocktail at Oslo. It's a strong and varied menu with a lot of well crafted, thoughtful and inventive drinks to get you in the festive spirit (or at least help you warm up after a long day!).
Pergola Paddington
One of my very favourite things about living in London is the range of street food and drinking areas that have popped up in the last few years. They're perfect for meeting up with friends, and solve that crucial questions of "where should we go for dinner?" when one person is vegan, and someone else is craving burgers...
Pergola Paddington is one of London's best-loved of these establishments, offering a rambling space with 4 street food stalls, serving Mexican from Yucatan, Vietnamese barbecue from Mam, French cuisine from Canard, and good ol' fashioned burgers from Patty & Bun. I tried the nachos at Yucatan, brie croquettes from Canard, and the shrimp bao from Mam, and couldn't fault any of them.
With outdoor heaters and plenty of body warmth (I'd recommend booking in the evenings, it gets busy!) it may be spacious but it still feels cosy for Winter drinks with old friends. Top tip: sign up to their newsletter online for a free drink!
The Winter Forest
A hop, skip and a jump away from Liverpool Street station, in the heart of Suitville (that's where all the bankers and finance types hang out), you'll find a Winter pop up 'The Winter Forest' taking over Broadgate Circle with Christmas trees, festive cheer, and plenty of booze. If you squint really hard and try to ignore the skyscrapers and men in suits, you could almost believe you were tucked away in a forest, holed up in your wooden cabin drinking hot rum and waiting out the cold (sounds lovely, doesn't it?).
One of the main draws of the space (apart from the aforementioned men in suits to ogle, what man doesn't look better in a suit?) is that one of my favourite London cocktail 'chains' Mr Fogg's calls it home with Mrs Fogg's Maritime Club & Distillery, a beautiful bar and restaurant space with a terrace area serving drinks within the Circle. It serves snacks and beautifully made cocktails inspired by Phileas Fogg's Indian wife Auoda.
This list is far from exhaustive, and I would also like to mention a few places which I haven't gotten to yet but which sound worth checking out: Après London in Flat Iron Square, which has been transformed into a Bavarian Alpine village (and is a great place to head for street food and drinks anyway), Winterville in Clapham Common, a large-scale space hosting fairground rides, Backyard Cinema, and plenty of events, food and booze, which sounds less touristy and a bit cooler than it's Hyde Park counterpart, and finally the John Lewis Rooftop, which is playing host to a mini ice-rink, a Sipsmith gin pop up, and plenty of cosy nooks and crannies to relax after Christmas shopping on Oxford Street (I did check this one out but it was so busy I couldn't get a decent snap!).
Let me know if you get to any of the places on my list, and what you thought of them in the comments below! Or do you have a favourite Winter spot I've missed out? I'd love to hear it!
