The New London Bars & Late-Night Venues To Know

When Naomi Campbell, Damson Idris and Jodie Turner-Smith are spotted at a new venue within its opening month, you know it’s a place to see and be seen. Set beneath restaurant Gaia Mayfair on Dover Street, NYX has opulent interiors like the brand’s other outposts in Monte Carlo and Doha, complete with red velvet seating, mirrored ceilings and soft lighting to set the mood. The members lounge welcomes various DJs each week, with music you’d expect at a Mediterranean beach club. Plus, mixologists are happy to surprise guests with elaborate and bespoke cocktails. The night begins at 9pm, before the tempo picks up at midnight through to the early hours. 

50 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4NY

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A short walk from Oxford Street is Selene, the newest club in the West End. The name is inspired by Greek mythology (the goddess of the moon to be precise), and there are three rooms inside, each with a different vibe and aesthetic: the main room hosts nightly performances; Helios, a Greek garden-inspired space plays house music; and a members-only area offers late-night aperitivi. Best of all, the latter has a hidden bowling alley and can be hired for private parties and events. You’ll spot nods to Greek mythology throughout the venue – think draped curtains, chandeliers, tiled flooring and clever lighting and mirrors that mimic infinity corridors. 

4 Winsley Street, Soho, W1W 8HF

Visit SELENE-CLUB.COM

Kensington’s Roof Gardens has always been a destination for those in the know – everyone from Kate Moss to Elton John has hosted parties there over the years. After a six-year closure, the Grade II-listed venue reopened last year as a members club following a multimillion-pound refurbishment. Now, the venue is spread across three floors, with four dining areas, numerous bars and cosy lounges where members can relax. Of course, the hub of the venue is the rooftop itself, complete with a woodland garden with Mediterranean-inspired design and great city views. Membership is reasonable too – for under-32s it's £700 per year. 

99 Kensington High Street, Kensington, W8 5SA

Visit THEROOFGARDENS.COM

One of Amsterdam’s best bars has opened a new site in the capital. Set in the basement of a listed Georgian townhouse on Dean Street, Zum Barbarossa is a speakeasy bar and club designed by interiors studio Marie Martin. Inside, expect bold shades of red and pink, patterned wallpaper and fringed lampshades. The bar serves crowd-pleasing drinks like spicy palomas and pineapple daiquiris, alongside a menu of small plates that includes dressed oysters and truffle fries. The deep house soundtrack from live DJs and a state-of-the-art sound system means the party continues late into the night on Thursdays to Saturdays. 

77 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 3SH

Visit ZUMBARBAROSSA.COM

Dynamic Vines is one of the UK’s biggest importers of biodynamic and organic wines. Importantly for this list, it recently opened its first wine shop and bar in East Dulwich. Guests can sit on sofas by the window or on the outdoor terrace during the summer months to enjoy a selection of wines from sustainable European vineyards, alongside charcuterie and cheese boards. There’s a rotating wine list that highlights seasonal selections, with weekly tastings and visiting winemakers also sharing their expertise. You can sign up for membership to receive discounts in-store and online, or to start building your own wine collection by storing wines at its warehouse.

149 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, SE22 8HX

Visit DYNAMICVINES.COM

This new spot in London Fields is set beneath restaurant Papi. From Thomas Auger (ex-NOLA and Discount Suit Company), Freddles is a small bar where the neon cocktails flow late into the night and pop classics are pumped out from the sound system. With its hot pink and red interiors, and disco balls, the fun venue has a unique cocktail list inspired by Auger’s French and Vietnamese heritage. Expect to try drinks like the ‘Carrot Cake’ made with white rum, carrot, coconut and pineapple; and the ‘Tepache Pisco Punch’ with pisco, velvet falernum, tepache and soda. 

Unit 1F, 373 Mentmore Terrace, London Fields, E8 3DQ

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