The 5 best cocktail bars in Canary Wharf

Pergola on the Wharf can best be described as a leafy oasis, which is a refreshing change from Canary Wharf’s concrete jungle.

Think hanging wicker lanterns in place of your regular lights. Earthy sofas beckoning you to sit down. Floor-to-ceiling windows for maximum light. More plants than you can count. And an outdoor terrace for wharfside views.

Offering up a delightfully fruity cocktail menu, Pergola’s cocktails range from the nostalgically-named Fizzy Peaches (vodka, peach liqueur, vanilla, white grape and apricot soda) to the signature Pergola Punch (spiced rum, passion fruit, pineapple, grapefruit and lemon).

With space for up to 700 people, you can hire out the entire venue for a party (of the birthday or office variety), or one of their private dining rooms.

Sometimes a beer or a glass of wine just won’t cut it. Ask any cocktail lover and they'll tell you, there’s something special about a mix of ingredients that becomes your favourite cocktail in real-time. You could even say it’s magic.

For that little bit of magic, head to Canary Wharf’s branch of The Alchemist. As the name suggests, you can expect to step into a world of experimental elixirs and mixologist mastery. Surrounded by the modern interiors, you’re next set with the most difficult task of the night – picking your first cocktail.

From the bubbling to the fizzy, the potions, sorry cocktails, look they’ve come straight out of the lab. For chocolate lovers, try the Pressurised Choc-O-Groni.

If you can’t get enough, BYOA (Be Your Own Alchemist). Grab five friends for a mixologist masterclass, where you’ll be able to stir, mix and shake to your heart’s content.

Located in Wood Wharf, Hawksmoor’s latest cocktail bar is pretty hard to miss (especially at night).

The Lowback Bar is a lesson in elegance and simplicity done right. You’re welcomed by a chic colour scheme of blue, brown and gold – low, intimate lighting, comfy leather booths, velvet stools, and a bar to order your next round of cocktails.

Speaking of cocktails, they offer bottles of beloved classics, curated cocktails including their signature The Lowback (gin, lime, coconut and yuzu) and as well as alcohol-free options (known as Steady Ship) like the Longshore Drift.

For private hire, The Lowback’s The Waterview space has room for up to 80 standing guests and, as expected, wharfside views.

Want to know a secret? Head to the upper level of Canary Wharf’s Shutters, where you’ll find Cartel, Shutters secret (or not-so-secret, depending on who you ask) cocktail bar.

Name aside, this cocktail bar bring its Mexican inspiration straight to Canary Wharf. Expect tequila, artisan mezcal, spirits and of course, cocktails. The sweet Mia Mamma (vanilla vodka, prosecco and basil) sets the tone for the rest of cocktails to follow.

Drink, lounge and if you can sit by the window for views of the city, and with room for up to 50 standing guests, why not make an event out of it?

If an American diner, pizza parlour and New York bar had a baby then you could expect something like Pizza Pilgrims’ Pizza Playground private event space.

Head to the basement to find pizza (obviously), cocktails as good as the pizza and your fair share of foosball, arcade and board games.

Choose from a selection of classic negronis or the signature pilgrim spritz (that’s limoncello, prosecco, elderflower, lemon and basil to the uninitiated).

Sip on your chosen drinks, play arcade games that you know and love, be DJ for a night and don’t forget about the pizza.