The best new bars in London: 2021 edition

St. Felix Place, Borough

From the team behind hip multipurpose venues Flat Iron Square and Goods Way comes St. Felix Place, a railway arch taproom serving beers brewed on site and street food ideal for soaking up hops. Taking over two arches on SE1’s The Low Line, the Bermondsey venue offers ‘year-round’ers’ as well as seasonal brews, with the Lagunitas Brewing Company responsible for keeping the taps flowing.

Foodwise, two traders are in residence here. Texas Joe’s Adobe is serving up slow-smoked BBQ dishes sprinkled with Mexican flavours, while south London-based pizza company The Good Slice is dishing up its popular focaccia-style slices topped with fresh and seasonal ingredients.

DJ sets and live acoustic sessions have also been promised, along with a book swap programme and music and publishers’ market to lend the space a community edge.

Homeboy Bar, Battersea

Ciaran Smith and Aaron Wall, the Dublin-bred, London-based bartending duo behind Islington’s acclaimed cocktail bar Homeboy, have opened a second site in Battersea’s Embassy Gardens. Prior to the full launch on 17 May, visitors can take a table on the wraparound terrace and work their way through the Irish whiskey-focused menu (the Irish coffee is not to be missed), bar snacks and toasties, all of which comes served with a side of the brand’s lovable modern Irish hospitality.

London Bridge Rooftop

London Bridge Rooftop officially launched last December only to close almost immediately as the city was plunged into Tier 3 and then another national lockdown. Four months on and the new rooftop bar has launched a second time with all heaters blazing. Look forward to celebratory cocktails, craft brews, Ginger Pig burgers and DJ sets as well as panoramic views of the higgledy-piggledy streets and train tracks below.

Limin’ Beach Bar, Southbank

While trips to tropical shores are off limits for now, a newly opened beach bar on London’s South Bank is bringing Carribean vibes to the banks of our very own River Thames. From the team behind Spitalfields’ Limin’ pop-up, South Bank’s Limin’ Beach Club is a food-focused beach bar; as well as spirited cups of rum punch, look forward to jerk delights, soft shell crab and coconut grilled prawns. Sink your toes into silky sand while you sip and allow a soundtrack of soca beats to whisk you away mentally.

Spring in the Courtyard at Hackney Bridge, Hackney Wick

Unable to book a pub garden table for love nor money? Beat the crowds and park your clan at Spring in the Courtyard, an expansive new al fresco bar and street food hub that’s part of the Hackney Bridge complex – itself the latest destination from the team behind Pop Brixton and Peckham Levels. The bar itself can cater for a generous 400 covers, while the wider canalside location hosts pop-up markets and live events.

Currently in a residency is skin contact wine enthusiasts Silver Lining, who are running a three-month orange wine pop-up from 23 April – 31 July.