Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

Top Five Gent’s Drinking Spots in London

By

The first ever gentleman’s clubs opened in London’s West End in the 18th century, to provide secret havens for gents about town to escape the world and get loose, in the classiest possible way. Today, the gentleman’s club tends to represent something a little seedier. Alas, the city where it all started has seen a string of recent openings that would quench one or two old school gent’s club cravings – think cigars, fine whiskey and seriously low lighting. Read on for our pick of the best (smoking jackets totally optional FYI)

Punch Room

Recommended Videos

City slicker edge meets old world library opulence in this reservation only drinking den. Located within the swanky London Edition Hotel in the centre of town, the Punch Room is the ideal place to take an evening up a notch with the smooth jazz acoustics and innovative concoctions of really good punch – we couldn’t get enough of the oak moss and jasmine infused EDITION punch.

Discount Suit Company

We love that the roots of this ‘secret’ cocktail bar are embedded in fine tailoring. Situated in a former tailors, the Discount Suit Company will undoubtedly emerge as one of the best cocktail spots in the city very soon but for now, it remains refreshingly clandestine. It’s dim orange glow, table-service policy and re-imagined takes on classic cocktails is bound to lead to one too many…

Champagne Cult

We loved this place. As the name suggests, the collection of champagnes available is awesome and the cigar terrace is a super sweet touch. Located within close proximity to the financial district, this cosy little bar is hugely popular with city slickers looking to unwind. City slicker or baller on tour, we recommend Champagne Cult for those that are willing to splash the cash on a chilled and refined evening to remember.

Cecil’s

If you look closely, you’ll find this gem of a cocktail bar tucked away on a back alley in London Bridge. Ensure you dress to impress- the crowd is known to be stylish here- and prepare to hunker down for an evening of fantastic live music, spontaneous dancing and one helluva drinks cabinet. The speakeasy ambiance will transport you back to a truly swelegant era.

The Luggage Room

If you’re into adventure in the form of unmarked doors, warren-like entrances and Amazonian hostesses this is the haunt for you. Don’t be put off by its location within the depths of the Marriot Hotel on Grosvenor Square – this secluded, urbane watering hole made us feel like top secret spies plotting how to save the world in hush tones over the finest spirits money can buy. And you can’t put a price on that.

Jodie Kharas
Jodie Kharas
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jodie Kharas is a style, art and culture writer who lives in London. She has contributed to the online platforms of POP…
Get dark and moody with these spiced rum holiday cocktails
These dark and delicious delights make the season a little bit sinister
spiced rum holiday cocktails kraken black eggnog 2

Spiced rums are one of those spirits which are enormously popular in simple mixed drinks like a rum and coke, but can be a bit of a challenge to mix cocktails with. As they tend to pack a big flavor punch and be somewhat sweet, you need to balance out all of that rum heft with other powerful ingredients like coffee, eggnog, or pineapple.

If you're looking for some inspiration and some holiday fun, then the brand The Kraken has suggestions for how to mix its dark spiced rum into dark and moody cocktails. If you're the kind of person who wishes Halloween was all year round, then you'll love these playful takes on holiday drinks including a take on eggnogg, an Espresso Martini variations, and a dark and fruity option which makes use of activated charcoal for extra blackness and depth.
Kraken Eggnog

Read more
We can’t wait to make these gorgeous tequila holiday cocktails
Winter tequila cocktails for inspire for the holidays
gorgeous tequila holiday cocktails cajeta ct horiz final portergabi 4118

We've been banging the drum for tequila cocktails for winter here at The Manual, because this spirit deserves to be enjoyed all year round. While many people opt to mix tequila with light, fruity flavors like the citrus of a margarita, this versatile spirit can work equally well with wintery flavors like pumpkin and amaros as shown by these recipes from Hiatus Tequila. I'm particularly intrigued by the combination of tequila and my beloved Cynar amaro, which is something I'll be trying as soon as possible.
Cajeta

Ingredients:

Read more
Log Still Distillery and The Archdiocese of Louisville collaborated on a bourbon
This collaboration between Log Still and the Archdiocese of Louisville is one of the more unique partnerships
Log Still Distillery

We’ve seen unique collaborations between spirits and non-spirits brands over the years. We’ve seen the likes of Cirque du Soleil, F1 Racing, and even the Las Vegas Raiders NFL team. But we’ve never seen a collaboration quite as interesting as the recent partnership between Log Still Distillery and the Archdiocese of Louisville (yes, you read that right).
Faithfully Crafted: The Trinity Blend Bourbon

It’s called Faithfully Crafted: The Trinity Blend Bourbon and it was crafted to highlight the faith and community prevalent in the Kentucky bourbon world. The Trinity Blend is named not only as a reference to the Archdiocese of Louisville but also because it’s made up of three distinct barrel mash bills.

Read more