The Best Bars in Carnaby Street, London

There’s always something going on in Carnaby Street. The area is the centre of London’s shopping scene and is lined with an array of boutiques. It’s also home to a number of bars, including a blues lounge where jam sessions are king and an underground Hawaiian tiki hangout.
Ain't Nothin’ But
Bar, Cocktail Bar, British
With local and American acts taking the stage nightly, Ain’t Nothin’ But is the place to go in London for blues, bluegrass and jazz. The club is especially popular on Mondays and Sundays, when musicians are invited to share the stage for public jam sessions. While cocktails are a bit pricey, the menu is extensive and entry is free before 8.30pm every night of the week. Arrive before 7.30pm though, or be prepared to queue outside.
Antidote Wine Bar
Wine Bar, Italian
Tucked away from Carnaby Street, Antidote is a rustic-feeling wine bar and restaurant comprising two floors and an outdoor terrace. Specialising in natural wines, cheese, charcuterie, steaks and classic French dishes, it’s a relaxing spot to grab lunch or dinner. Make your way there on Monday, when Antidote offers a list of wines you can drink at shop prices without a corkage fee.
Cahoots
Bar, Cocktail Bar, Restaurant, Fusion
A 1940s-themed bar in Kingly Court, Cahoots offers cocktails and late-night parties set in a recreated London Tube station. Inspired by the era that saw Londoners take refuge in the city’s underground, Cahoots replicates the wartime British spirit with live entertainment in the form of piano singalongs and “masters of discs” spinning vintage records (from inside a converted piano). While there’s no strictly enforced dress code, 1940s garbs and smart dress are encouraged.
Shampers
Wine Bar, Tapas
Shampers is an independent restaurant and bar that has been under the same ownership for over 25 years. The majority of the menu’s 200-strong wines are made by small growers, most of whom follow the rules of organic and/or biodynamic practices. Usually around 40 of these wines can be enjoyed by the glass. The menu features plenty of daily specials, many of which are similar to a tapas style, and can be enjoyed in the chilled-out bar area upstairs to be paired with your wine. Snack on the cheese plate, which goes well with a glass of the house port.
Two Floors
Bar, Pub, British
With a separate entrance at either end of the building and a few scattered outdoor tables on Kingly Court, Two Floors feels bigger than it actually is. Inside, the first floor has an intimate but laid-back vibe, while the basement houses Handy Joe’s Tiki Bar, a quirky Hawaiian-themed affair complete with bamboo panelling and illuminated tiki masks. Sip a cocktail and sit back as your cares float away.
Rum Kitchen
Bar, Restaurant, Caribbean
Caribbean restaurant the Rum Kitchen is renowned for its first-class beach-shack food and extensive cocktail menu. Its Kingly Court location is a great spot for a late-night tipple, with signature cocktails including the Island Bird, a blend of rum, pineapple juice and sugar, and the Rumbustion, a mix of cooling coconut, spices and rum.
Disrepute
Bar, Cocktail Bar, British
A members’ bar and cocktail den that’s open to the public until 11pm (or capacity) every night, Disrepute – DRP for those in the know – is a hideaway for luxury libations. Make your way down the gilded stairs into an intimate setting of wood-panelled walls and vaulted ceilings that’ll transport you to the hedonistic nights of the 1960s. Disrepute offers an expertly curated drinks menu of “narrative cocktails”, where a few lines about fictional characters serve as shorthand for drinks that will keep you guessing.
Our debut short film, The Soul of Soho, explores neighborhoods separated by oceans, history and culture but united by craft community and change. Neighborhoods bound by one name: Soho. Intimate portraits of city living in the Sohos of London, New York and Hong Kong reveal rich stories of the people who bring life to these iconic neighborhoods. Explore Soho here.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.