Our 11 favourite Leicester Square bars

Just round the corner from China Town, The Blue Posts is an original Georgian pub serving drinks since 1739 inside a Grade II listed building. It has a traditional pub on the ground floor and upstairs is The Mulwray, a wine bar with a weekly changing wine list by the glass.

But having two bars isn’t enough for The Blue Posts. It is also home to Evelyn’s Table, the pub's 12-seater counter dining experience and a Michelin star recipient since 2022.

All three spaces in The Blue Posts are available for private hire with a capacity for 50 guests in the wine bar and 60 guests standing in the pub.

Step out of Leicester Square to taste some 1920’s Shanghai at Opium’s themed Cocktail Bar and Dim Sum Parlour in the heart of London’s Chinatown.

This wonderful venue is split across two floors, housing three oriental-themed cocktail bars-within-a-bar. The Academy bar is located on the top floor and is split into two sections, the ‘Attic’ which has a more lounge feel with lower coffee tables, sofa seating and quirky booths and their signature ‘Bartender’s Table’ where you can drink around the bar and enjoy watching their bartenders.

The Apothecary bar is located on the second floor, with higher tables and chairs on one side facing the Tea Parlour. There’s also their hidden Peony bar located behind the red curtains on the second floor. The space is perfect for private functions accommodating up to 30 people seated and standing.

Circus is a unique experience. A fusion of modern pan-Asian dining with jaw-dropping performances at the cocktail bar. Situated in the heart of London’s beautiful Covent Garden you are sure to stay entertained with every meal and if you like a cheeky brunch on the weekend then look no further.

Guests are kept guessing as the details of the performances are kept under wraps but be assured to see nothing short of extraordinary from acrobatics, burlesque, contortionists and fire-breathers. A great experience. Open every Wednesday - Saturday for dinner and Saturday brunches.

If you have a song you just can’t get out of your head and your are looking for something more rich than just the version on your phone then head over to The Piano Works.

Located near London’s Leicester Square and with non-stop live music, cocktails and bottomless brunch you can grab yourself a request slip and scribble down that song which has been on your mind.

Sit back and watch the 6-piece house band bring it to life. Enjoy the 2 piano vocalists and accompanying musicians play a non-stop repertoire of music decided only by you the audience.

Feeling lucky?

Then try your hand at the games Horizons has to offer. From roulette to baccarat, blackjack and three-card pokes. There's a plethora of options.

You'll find a premium bar (with premium prices) packed with all the drinks you could wish for, alongside a dinner menu offering red and white meat, fish and vegetarian options.

Found in Leicester Square, the home of nightlife, Horizons is a place which caters to everyone, so don’t be shy. Gamble responsibly, obviously.

The bubble bath, the cherry poppins, the popsicle and lightbulb moments: just a few of the eye-popping cocktails you will see smoking away at The Alchemist at St. Martin’s Lane.

Get in on the act with the ‘Bath Bomb’. Drop a concoction of dark fruits into a fruity medley of rhubarb and apple gin. Watch as your drink fizzes away and takes you back to your chemistry class.

The venue provides an all-day dining experience with an Alchemist touch on classic dishes. So, the next time you’re in Covent Garden head over to The Alchemist you are sure to be bedazzled, then drunk, very drunk.

With a central location near Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, the Lounge Bar at Hovarda consists of super stylish and chic lounge tables, sofa chairs, and stools for guest to enjoy Aegean-inspired dishes and contemporary cocktails and wines.

The sleek and modern interior design is dominated by an illuminated cocktail bar and overlooks the restaurant floor and DJ booth. With the mood lighting, decor, drinks, and Aegean dishes, we like the Hovarda for a swish little private dining experience for celebrations this festive season or just to pop in for a cocktail or two and some small plates.

The Perception Bar at W London is a swish cocktail bar with the vibe of a club. Enjoy your drink at the ultra-modern bar lit up with all the colours of the rainbow or at one of the many comfortable lounge spaces.

Perception has an endless list of signature cocktails named after films, but our favourite has to be the Role Models made with Belvedere, hazelnut liqueur, coffee, caramel and cheesecake foam. The drinks and atmosphere at this Leicester Square bar are all you need for a proper night out.

Perception and all its different lounge spaces are available for private hire.

On the ninth floor of Hotel Indigo London is LSQ Rooftop, a cocktail bar serving drinks and stunning panoramic views of central London. Escape the hustle and bustle on the open-air terrace with a drink in your hand and wind in your hair.

The signature cocktails are named after iconic London landmarks — all within view at this Leicester Square cocktail bar. Try the Shard made with vodka, strawberry syrup, and passion fruit Purée, or perhaps the St Paul’s made with gin, Martini Rosso, Cherry Heering and maraschino cherry liqueur.

The full venue is available for private hire and can accommodate up to 60 guests seated and 150 standing.

Cork & Bottle is a wine bar and restaurant whose founder, Don Hewitson, is credited with popularising New World wine consumption in London during the ‘70s and ‘80s. It has an intimate atmosphere with brightly painted walls, colourful wine artwork, and seating arrangements inside all the different nooks and crannies.

There are plenty of wine options at this Leicester Square bar from all over the world. Sample it by the glass or opt for the entire bottle if you would like. And if wine isn’t your cup of tea, Cork & Bottle has a good-sized selection of cocktails and beers, too.

Brewmaster is a classic pub just steps from Leicester Square serving British pub staples like cask ales and cocktails. The traditional aspects are continued with the pub’s decor — wooden planks on the walls, wooden furniture, and wood flooring. It might seem like too much, but it's just the right amount to make this pub warm and inviting for all. As for drinks, this Leicester Square bar has the usual — beer, all sorts of wines, a decent amount of cocktails, and spritzes.