With the abundance of brilliant bars scattered across the city, it sure is tricky to pinpoint the best of the bunch. But luckily for us (rather lazy) Londoners, the hard work has been done for us.
Each and every year, leading lifestyle publication, Muddy Stilettos, dishes out some very prestigious awards. They scour the length and breadth of the country in order to find the very best of things, with categories ranging from florists and farm shops to hotels and hair salons. And the regional winners of the 2025 Muddy Stilettos Awards have just been announced.
Now in their 12th year, the awards endeavor to shine a spotlight on the brilliant independent businesses that continue to make life in London (and beyond) a whole lot lovelier. And as much as I would love to sit and wax lyrical about every single one of London’s wonderful winners; right now, I’m going to focus specifically on the category in which I’m the most well-versed. The bar, of course.
Muddy Stiletto’s best bar in London
The beating heart of Balham‘s social scene, Exhibit has been crowned the best bar in London. Having opened its doors almost 25 years ago, the beloved South London venue spans three vibrant floors. Each of them filled to the brim with fun.
Boasting a boutique cinema, a secret garden, private rooms, and a mezzanine restaurant; Exhibit is so much more than just a bar. Which perhaps explains why they bagged the title of ‘Best Event Venue’ in last year’s Muddy Stiletto Awards. Blimey, they’re going to need to invest in a bigger trophy cabinet at this rate. I wonder which title they’ll be gunning for next year…
Host to a plethora of events and activities; Exhibit is a go-to destination for Londoners. Exhibit will now move onto the national awards, competing against the other regional winners for the coveted title of ‘best bar in the whole blooming country’ (not the award’s official name, but it should be). The national winners will be announced in June. So, I guess we’ll be waiting with baited breath until then.
Lisa Loebenberg, co-owner of Exhibit Balham, said about the win: “Exhibit has always been close to my heart. My love for Exhibit began many years ago, in the early days of my hospitality journey, when I worked as General Manager. When Emma and I took over just before the pandemic, we knew it would take passion and perseverance to reimagine what Exhibit could be. Our vision was simple: create an inclusive space where every guest feels like family. To now be recognised as London’s Best Bar is truly humbling. This award belongs to our incredible team and the loyal guests, especially our locals who’ve supported us every step of the way.”
You can take a look at the London regional winners for the other Muddy Stilettos Awards categories here.