Luckily for us, London actually comes up trumps when it comes to happy hours. From big chains dotted about the whole city to single breweries in E17 – or Walthamstow to those not in the know – here’s our rundown of 14 of the best happy hours in London for you to get your drink on. We’ll cheers to that!
1. Simmons
Chances are if you’ve ever been out in London, you’ve walked – or maybe stumbled – out of a Simmons at some point. There are currently 21 different venues dotted about the city, from Angel to Soho and everywhere in between.
Which, we must add, is a great thing for the nine million people or so that live in our beloved capital, because this is one of the best happy hours in London.
From Sunday through to Friday, you’ll get to enjoy two cocktails for a tenner, a spirit and a mixer for just £2.50 and a whole bottle of wine for just 12 quid, which is almost unheard of in LDN. It runs from 4–9pm, and they also do the same on Saturdays where you get the cocktail deal and a cocktail teapot (yep, reall) for £15.
You’ll find Simmons in various locations throughout the city. You’ll find out more on their website.
2. Barrio
This lively chain in Angel, Brixton, Shoreditch and Soho will bring you all the Latino vibes in the shape of salsa dancing, reggaeton and kick-ass cocktails.
Tapas-style street food will take you on a journey from Mexico to Colombia, and you’ll also be able to indulge in ice-cold Caipirinhas – Brazil’s national cocktail – as well as Pacifico beers, tequila and mezcal concoctions and a Havana-style rum cocktail with Amaretto and white chocolate at Barrio.
The happy hour ain’t bad either here. From Mondays to Fridays, you’ll get to chug cocktails for just six quid a pop from the hours of 12–7pm, and the aptly-named ‘Sunday Sesh’ deal will see bottomless drinks and a DJ until 8pm.
If you’re here on a Saturday, don’t miss their La Isla Bonita brunch, where you’ll bag yourself two hours of bottomless drinks and 80s jams. Think Madonna meets Club Tropicana meets Miami Vice.
You’ll find Barrio in Angel, Brixton, Shoreditch and Soho. You can find out more on their website.
3. Lost and Found
This friendly and easy-going little cocktail bar offers undoubtedly one of the best happy hours in London. Set right in the heart of Balham, the ethos behind this spot is on attention to detail, and this goes for both the kitschy decor and the cocktails too.
Lost and Found is the kind of place where if something ain’t on the menu, you just have to ask and they’ll rustle something up for you – what more could you ask for, right?
Speaking of happy hours, theirs runs every day from 5–7pm – prime drinking time if we say so ourselves – and you’ll bag yourself two cocktails for the price of one during this time. Cheers.
You’ll find Lost and Found at 10 Bedford Hill, London, SW12 9RG. Nearest station is Balham.
4. Salvador and Amanda
For crazy sangria-fuelled Flamenco nights, there’s no better spot in town than Salvador and Amanda in Leicester Square. This is the kind of place where you can start your evening with a paella and finish it up with a fiesta. Vamos a bailar?
They’ve also recently launched their new brunch menu, which features mouth-watering Spanish cuisine that you can wash down with their signature sangria, beer, wine or bubbles, all whilst you sit back and listen to some authentic Latin music.
Plus, speaking of happy hour bars, this one offers a whole pitcher of sangria for just £14.50 every day from 5–7pm. Sounds pretty damn good to us.
You’ll find Salvador and Amanda at 8 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JA. Nearest station is Leicester Square.
5. Be At One
An ideal spot for kicking off any night, Be At One is another multiple-branch chain which is located in every nook and cranny of our beloved London Town.
Fun and unpretentious with some banging tunes playing through the speakers until the wee hours, it’s easy to while away the hours here. The happy hour certainly helps – you’ll score yourself 2-4-1 cocktails from 5 until around 8pm (venue dependent).
Book a table to guarantee your spot in one of the 22 London branches, and get yourself strapped in to drinking the night away!
You’ll find Be At One in various different locations throughout the city. You’ll find out more on their website.
6. The Rum Kitchen
As the name suggests, this is the place to come if you’re looking to guzzle on the sweet, occasionally spicy nectar that is rum. They’ve got three different venues in London – one in Shoreditch, one in Kingly Court and their biggest one yet in Brixton – and you can expect cocktail concoctions aplenty on a visit to either one of them.
They also serve up some pretty finger-lickin’ jerk if yer belly’s grumbling and ya in need of some grub, as well as a mix of reggae, reggaeton and afro-funk tunes.
Perhaps best of all, The Rum Kitchen hosts happy hour every single day – yep, you read that right – until 6 or 7pm depending on which branch you’re in. Best get yourselves a few bevvies then hey?!
You’ll find The Rum Kitchen in Brixton, Soho and Shoreditch, You’ll find out more on their website.
7. Salsa!
Somewhat of a London institution, Salsa! is another one that cranks up the party vibes and then some. With two venues in Temple and Soho, this lively spot is another authentic, Latin American-themed spot with pumping tunes, colourful decor and all the energy you’d expect in this kind of place.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they have weekly salsa classes, but they also host a whole array of fantastic bottomless brunches, from Lady Gaga– and Britney-themed ones hosted by drag queens to ones with performances by buff male dancers and even acrobats. Gimme, gimme more we say.
Speaking of happy hours in London, this one also has one every day from 4–8pm, with up to 50% off various different drinks. Win, win.
You’ll find Salsa! at Temple Place, Temple, WC2R 2PH. Nearest station is Temple.
8. The Lock Tavern
Pretty much right opposite Camden’s famous market and the bronze statue of icon Amy Winehouse lies The Lock Tavern – a buzzing, historic spot with a lush rooftop terrace, a banging Sunday roast and a beer garden to boot.
As well as being just a great spot to hang out, they also offer a bloody great happy hour – or should we say hoppy hour – which means you get three quid beers on Mondays through to Thursdays from 5–7pm.
They’ve also got 18 different beer taps, so you won’t be spoiled for choice here. Get the beers in, son…
You’ll find The Lock Tavern at 35 Chalk Farm Road, Chalk Farm, London, NW1 8AJ. Nearest station is Chalk Farm.
9. Exale Brewery
Another happy hour for the beerhounds here, Walthamstow’s Exale Brewery is a great spot to head if you’re ever in E17 and are looking for some pints.
Converted from an old furniture factory, their taproom is certainly roomy and has ten different pumps, various food vendors outside and special beer launches and tasting events throughout the year.
DJs regularly spin their decks until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, and they’re also not just about the beer – cocktails, natural wines and gluten free options are also all on the menu. Happy hour wise, Exale offer *ahem* ‘Kill The Keg’ where you get four quid beers on Thursdays, as well as six quid cocktails on Fridays until midnight. Sounds good to us.
You’ll find Exale Brewery at Unit 2C Uplands Business Park, London, E17 5QJ. Nearest station is Blackhorse Road.
10. The Regent
This local independent boozer whips up a great happy hour if you’re knocking about the Islington area of London. They rustle up some mean, stonebaked pizzas, show regular sports fixtures on the big screen and have a wide variety of craft beers, ales, wines and spirits on offer if you’re looking to whet your whistle.
The Regent also hosts weekly comedy nights so you can make it a big night of laughs and lashin’ if you so choose. In terms of happy hours in London though, this one is a humdinger. On Mondays and Tuesdays you get two pizzas for just 15 quid – and all day we might add. Bellissimo!
You’ll find The Regent at 201-203 Liverpool Road, London, N1 1LX. Nearest station is Angel.
11. The Three Crowns
This large Stokey pub is pretty much an institution in this area of London. They whip up a great roast, have an event pretty much every night of the week and serve up a hell of a lot of beers.
Downstairs lies ‘The Waiting Room’ – which has regular gigs at weekends – and there are cosy, leather booths which are the perfect place for sipping your pints in.
Perhaps the best thing about The Three Crowns is the happy hour, which runs on Mondays to Fridays at 4–7pm. You’ll get two cocktails for 15 quid and selected pints for under 4. A steal if we say so ourselves.
You’ll find The Three Crowns at 175 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, N16 0LH. Nearest station is Stoke Newington.
12. Peckham Levels
There are a range of lovely traders who’ll happily sell you a beer at Peckham Levels, but the hidden gem here is arguably the happy hour, which runs from 5 to 7pm Mondays to Fridays. Duppy rum punch for a fiver and pints for four quid? Yes please!
You’ll find Near & Far at Level 6, Peckham Levels, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST. Nearest station is Peckham Rye.
13. Hackney Bridge
From the makers of Pop Brixton and Peckham Levels, the award-winning Hackney Bridge is full to the brim with international street food traders, bars, coffee shops, pizza joints, co-working spaces – you get the idea.
Since opening in 2020, it has really gone on to make a name for itself in London and its canalside Hackney Wick location is pretty dreamy if we say so ourselves.
Perhaps best of all are their happy hour bars, which all give you 2-4-1 drinks on selected cocktails, house wines by the glass, house single spirits and house lagers from Tuesdays through to Fridays. You can also cop lunch for just a fiver here during weekdays.
You’ll find Hackney Bridge at Units 1-28, Echo Building, East Bay Lane, London, E15 2SJ. Nearest station is Hackney Wick.
14. Heidi Wine
Rounding off this list of the best happy hours in London is another Balham baller. Chic Heidi Wine is – as the name would suggest – all about the wine, and this one is unique in that you actually serve yourself.
No really, you actually pour the wine yourself, so whenever you need a top-up, it’s fair game! No waiting to be served, no queueing out the back door – think they’re onto a winner here…
They also offer oysters for just a quid (a quid!) every Tuesday from 5–10pm, and glassers of champers and champagne cocktails for £6.66 each until 9pm every day. Sounds a bit like the devil’s work if you ask us.
You’ll find Heidi Wine at 1 Balham Station Road, London, SW12 9SG. Nearest station is Balham.