Five London bars to visit for after-show cocktails during London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week brings a familiar rush of shows, late calls and quick changes across the city. For readers looking for drinks afterwards, this list focuses on bars that combine strong cocktail credentials with locations that suit the week’s geography: the South Bank, Soho, Mayfair, Covent Garden and Holborn. These five picks were selected for the distinctness of their drinks programmes (from agave-led menus to classic martinis), the reliability of their teams and the sort of atmosphere that works for a post-runway crowd: busy, central and open late enough to be useful.

Lyaness at Sea Containers on the South Bank

Lyaness is the flagship bar from bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana (Mr Lyan), located inside Sea Containers London on the South Bank, with views across the Thames towards the city skyline. Opened in 2019, it has become a well-known stop for cocktails, including during London Fashion Week, helped by its dramatic interior lighting and late-night energy. The bar has received major industry recognition, including honours at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, and it was the first venue to be awarded three PINs by The Pinnacle Guide. A new summer menu is due, continuing its collaborative approach to flavour and technique.

To book a table at Lyaness, Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD, visit their website here.

Three Sheets in Soho

Opened in March 2024 by brothers Max and Noel Venning, Three Sheets Soho is the central-London sibling of their Dalston bar. Perfect for cocktails and excellent oysters, it sits on Manette Street, just off Greek Street, and can be easy to miss from the pavement, with only a small glass frontage. Inside, the room is intimate, built around a J-shaped marble counter in dark tones. Cocktails focus on restrained, seasonal serves, with a regularly changing list alongside classics such as the French 75. Bar food includes British oysters (often suggested with Champagne) and a burger with chips.

To book a table at Three Sheets Soho, 13 Manette Street, London W1D 4AP, visit their website here.

The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair

Inside Brown’s Hotel, The Donovan Bar is a wood-panelled, photograph-lined space named for British fashion photographer Terence Donovan, with his Swinging Sixties images forming much of the décor. The cocktail list is overseen by Salvatore Calabrese, known for creating the Breakfast Martini, alongside director of mixology Federico Pavan. Expect a balance of classics and house drinks, with martinis a particular focus. Calabrese’s Martini is served very cold, using either Belvedere vodka or Tanqueray No Ten with Martini Extra Dry, finished with a twist or an olive. Small plates and tapas are also available.

To book a table at The Donovan Bar at Brown’s, 33 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP, visit their website here.

Side Hustle at NoMad in Covent Garden

 

Set inside NoMad London, Side Hustle is one of four venues within the hotel, which opened in 2021 in the former Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station. The bar’s drinks list leans into Latin American flavours, with a notable emphasis on agave spirits. Bar director Liana Oster’s cocktail menu spans those influences alongside British, European and American classics. Current serves include the Toreador (tequila, apricot, génépi, lime and agave) and the Sergeant Pepper (cachaça, tequila, green pepper, coriander, jalapeño, pineapple and lemon). Food nods to Southern California via Mexico, with tacos and tostadas.

To book a table at Side Hustle at NoMad London, 28 Bow Street, London WC2E 7AW, visit their website here.

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London in Holborn

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London, named for cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, has officially reopened. The approach sets the tone: a long tiled corridor lined with brass leads into a bookish, firelit room filled with velvet armchairs and shelves of more than 1,000 antique books, sourced via a Portobello antiques dealer. Booth seating is arranged to feel private without being cut off. Cocktails remain the focus, including serves designed for sharing, alongside light bites, and with live jazz played six nights a week. The bar has been internationally recognised, including earning number 31 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025.

To book a table at Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, visit their website here.

Food Desk