Are you looking for things to do? There are lots of great bars to choose from in South East London, so when youre searching for a place to meet up with some friends theres certain to be a bar for you. But read our top 10 guide before you leave the house!
1) Roxy Bar & Screen
Only a 2 minute walk from Borough Tube Station, youll find an original concept in the form of Roxy Bar & Screen, the first venue to showcase cutting edge independent films, visual art and VJ nights mixed in with a bar and drinking experience. So, I suppose, its a cinema you are allowed to drink in. Cool! A new concept in Londonlet alone South East London. They also screen premiership football matches, which considering the massive screen and modern sound equipment is fantastic. Roxy Bar & Screen is a members bar really but non-members can attend film screenings and VJ nights for a small entry fee. To drink, you can choose from a small list of classic and house cocktails, a fine selection bottled and draught beers (including Staropamen, Hoegarden, Guinness, wheat beers, fruit beers) and a diverse and not unaffordable wine list. Many drinks are sourced from local Borough Food Market. As well the screenings there are regular live music and VJ nights.
Location: 128-132 Borough High Street, Borough, London, SE1 1LB
For more details visit: Roxy Bar & Screen
2) The Old School Yard
Remember school, as soon as the bell sounded signalling break, that was the cue to run riot around in the playground, without a care? Well, now you can re-create that feeling in original and exciting South East Londonbar, The Old School Yard. The decor in The Old School Yard is comfortable and interesting; part school common room, part playground and part 90s style living room. The ceiling is sky blue with fluffy clouds, representing the haziness of playtime, and is perfect for winter evenings. Theres even an old skool Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle arcade game to play on. Music is, hmm let me think –old skool and school disco themed. The menus are in a cartoon style and cleverly split into subjects for example, on the Geography page there is the Mojito, from Cuba of course. The Cocktails at The Old School Yard are exceptional and the vibe is really relaxed here, until later and the mayhem begins, although the The Old School Yard has one rule, if you misbehave, you will be punished just like school. So no smoking in the toilets then but you can get away with it in the heated garden, I mean schoolyard. Getting there is no problem either; The Old School Yard is just a short walk from either London Bridge or Borough tube stations.To put a modern twist on school games and crazes, theyve even got Wiis for you to play with, although booking is advised as theyre pretty popular with the Southwark barsclientele.
Located: The Old School Yard 111 Long Lane London SE1 4PH
For more details visit: The Old School Yard
3) Shunt Vaults
Opposite London Bridge station, on Joiner Street, is a small door leading to a very special place. Shunt Vaults is a dark, cavernous, underground members bar very close toMadame Tussauds, London Dungeons, if youve visited the popular London bridge attraction; you immediately begin to draw similarities between it and Shunt Vaults. On any given night you could find performance artists and art installations, given that this South East London bar is the home to shunt collective and setting for theatrical performances and such like. It is a members bar but as a non-member its inexpensive to enter for an evening, around a fiver. Drinks wise, all the basics are provided, nothing fancy but that doesnt matter – Shunt Vaults offers a completely unique experience.
Location: 20 Stainer Street, London, SE1 9RL
For more details visit: Shunt Vaults
4) The Cut Bar
If you love the theatre, The Cut Bar is Ideal. Its set within pioneering theatre, The Young Vic and is just a short walk from The South Bank, Tate Modern, Old Vic Theatre and Southwark and Waterloo Stations. Not just for theatre goers, The Cut Bar is a popular destination for post-work drinkers and artists, as well as visitors to theSouth Bank; all seem friendly and the vibe is upbeat. Complete with outside roof terrace, this bar is buzzy and could easily be located in Hoxton or Shoreditch. An extensive selection of martinis and cocktails as well a wide range of wines, beers and ciders. The Cut Bars South Bank location and roof terrace make it an ideal relaxing vantage point to watch Londonand Londoners as they go about their busy business.
Location: 66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ
For more details visit: The Cut Bar
5) The O2
The O2, formerly the Millennium Dome situated on the Greenwich Peninsular, is Londons largest arena venue, staging world class artists such a Take That, Kylie Minogue and Metallica. The O2 is also one of the largest entertainment complexes of its type is London and rapidly becoming the largest, and most popular, in the world boasting: an 11 screen cinema, the smaller 2500 capacity venue indigO2, an ice rink, The Bubble – an exhibition space, Matter Nightclub, as well as 20 bars and restaurants. Inside the O2 is Entertainment Avenue, a standalone area housing the bars and restaurants – you dont have attend any of the events to enjoy The O2. Among the bars is Las Iguanas, a fantastic Latin influenced cocktail bar and eatery and the Slug and Lettuce,amongst a host of other high street bar/restaurant chains. Many of the premises within The O2 are licensed until 3 am and, as Matter closes 6am, you could easily spend a night there without entering the arena. For those of you who are on the O2 mobile network, theres a separate bar, The Blue room, dedicated to you, all you have to do is text in and O2 will send you an entry barcode via text message. Getting there couldnt be easier, by tube North Greenwich station, by bus or by Thames Clipper. AEG, The O2s owners are developing the Greenwich Peninsular area with many more entertainment facilities in mind.
Location: The O2, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX
For more details visit: The O2
6) Adventure Bar
This is the East Dulwich offering from the small Adventure Bar chain. Adventure Bar and Lounge, East Dulwichis attract a young and trendy crowd. Stepping into Adventure Bar and Lounge, you are met with warm colours and exposed brickwork, bold, modern prints adorn the walls, and the seating accommodation is made up of comfy stools and sofa benches. The staff are friendly and attentive, you wont be waiting long to be served. The cocktails are sublime, skilfully created with a twirl of a glass and the juggling clink of bottles. Akin with the other bars in the chain, the music policy is indie. Get off the train at East Dulwich; its less than a ten minute walk along Grove Vale to Lordship Lane and Adventure Bar and Lounge.
Location: 72 Lordship Lane, London, SE22 8HF
For more details visit: Adventure Bar
7) Liquorish
Also along Lordship Lane, Liquorish is one of best cocktail bars in South East London, if not Londonin its entirety. Sleek and sexy, Liquorish is intimately and colourfully lit by strings of bare bulbs, throwing wonderful shadows on the comfy black leather armchairs and the bar, complete with smiling, helpful staff. As mentioned above, Liquorish is a premier contender in the cocktail and mixology field, serving top notch original cocktails, check out the Honey Pie for example- honey vodka, whisky, apricot liquor, orange bitters and apple juice. How tasty! Liquorish are pretty good at the classics too. And for the non-drinkers, virgin cocktails, all made from fresh ingredients. Also available is a fantastic range of wines and bottled beers. On Fridays and Saturdays the East Dulwich bar plays host to resident DJs, spinning through an eclectic mix of hip-hop, house, disco, reggae, soul and funk. Also there are monthly nights featuring guest DJs and there is even live music from time to time, ranging from reggae, jazz, folk and acoustic acts. Sundays are dedicated to board games, chess, backgammon, connect 4 and all the rest – for the competitive amongst us, there are monthly contest to crown the champion of a particular game. Just hop off the Overground at East Dulwich and take a brief stroll along Lordship Lane.
Location: 123 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8HU
For more details visit: Liquorish
8) Village East
Set in a stunning, former Victorian warehouse in Bermondsey, Village East, is the ideal place for young and trendy media professionals to congregate. Its no surprise really, the decor is everything youd expect from a venue catering for the new social elite (and those striving to be), minimalist, big windows, exposed pipes, white tiles, black leather. There are 3 rooms; the White Bar, the dining room and the upstairs lounge bar. You can expect the best cocktails from Village East with all the showmanship expected from the best bartenders and mixologists. To get there, get off at London Bridge Station, walk down St Thomas Street, then down Bermondsey Street, its about 10 minutes walk.
Location: 171-173 Bermondsey St, London, SE1 3UW
For more details visit: Village East
9) Cubana
If youre feeling a little bit revolutionary, why not try South East Londons, Cubana; a genuine Cuban experience complete with plenty of rum, cigars and revolution – only joking about the latter. Situated on Lower Marsh, in between Waterloo and Lambeth North Stations, Cubana is a celebration of all things Cuban, complete with numerous images of Fidel Castro himself and numerous red stars, of course. There are many little touches such as posters in Spanish and palm leaves in vases on the tables that bring a genuine taste of Cuba to South East London. In terms of drinks, rum is the dish of the day; there are 7 varieties of Mojito, and 5 types of daiquiris! Although, youll still find the usual whiskeys, vodkas, et al amongst the cocktail creations. A selection of wines and bottled beers are also available along with smoothies, juices and coffees for the non-alcoholics. Music, as you may have guessed, plays homage to its Latin influences with salsa and samba bringing a little piece of Cuban culture to Lambeth, South East London.
Location: 48 Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7RG
For more details visit: Cubana
10) Olivers
If you are out and about in Greenwich, have a look around the Greenwich theatre, because opposite youll find the downstairs entrance to Olivers, its a real blink and miss it occasion, down the side of a pub, looking like the back entrance to a seedy dive, well it sort of is, thats one of the reasons why its great. Olivers, right on the edgeRoyal Greenwich Park, close to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, is a charming, slightly scuzzy, live jazz bar which attracts some great names, check out the link below for listings. Its a slightly dusty place, with the musical instruments hung at every opportunity having seen better days. But it is all about the music, the intimacy and the people watching -with this Greenwich bar.
Location: 9 Nevada St, London, SE10 9JL
For more details visit: Olivers Music Bar