The 5 best cocktail bars in Mayfair

Not one for mincing words, you can find this Mayfair cocktail bar exactly where you’d expect it (downstairs at The Dilly hotel).

Follow the sound of the piano, down to the bar for a night of delicious drinks and delightful live music.

While the vocalists and pianists artfully work their way through classic jazz songs, take your pick from the London-inspired cocktail menu.

Fancy something classic like the vodka-based London’s Calling or something a little different like A Zombie in Cutty Sark (a tropical banana rum-based drink with milk punch, lime juice and tea)?

That’s your call but you know where to find them.

Emerald green velvet seats. Walls of black-and-white stills (from none other than Terence Donovan). Heavenly stained glass windows. And a bar you’d expect the bartender to slide a drink down.

Hopes of bartending tricks aside, Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel stands to have as much substance as it does style. With a cocktail menu coming straight from the master himself (that’s Salvatore Calabrese), sip on libations inspired by the greats – iconic people, moments, authors, actors and musicians, that is.

Classic or modern? Warm and spicy or fresh vibrant? Shaken or stirred? Well, that’s all up to you.

Tucked away in a townhouse on Davies Street, is The Lucky Club. With sugary pink walls, a bar and plants so #aesthetic they practically beg to be on somebody’s mood board, The Lucky Club is admittedly more Shoreditch than Mayfair.

Consider it just one of the ways it stands out in a sea of mature, neutral-toned bars. The other is that it’s private hire only. Hire out the entire venue any day of the week. A product launch on Monday, a team event on Friday or a birthday party on Saturday? The Lucky Club and their bevy of bao buns and bespoke cocktails are ready when you are.

Follow in the footsteps of some of the 20th century's greatest artists at this historic Mayfair cocktail bar.

Nestled in Flemings Mayfair Hotel, you’ll find the former stomping ground of many a literary great. Stop by, sit back in one of their plush armchairs, relax and take your pick of their signature cocktails. Whether you’re a Realist or a Fantasist, Manetta’s has a drink to suit every taste.

While you might not pen the next great novel, you’re always welcome at Manetta’s.

First impressions count. No one knows this more than The Connaught Hotel’s namesake bar, The Connaught. Taking experiences seriously, they’ve mastered the art of a great night at a cocktail bar.

With an “impressions”-inspired drinks menu, be prepared to take a journey discovering the nuances, feels, souls and impressions of each and every cocktail you choose. First up, Brilliance, a rum-based cocktail with Hoja Santa, champagne and saffron syrup.

Sit by the bar or in one of their plush leather seats, and get ready to spend the rest of your evening here.