The rock-inspired bar on Denmark Street, just off Tottenham Court Road, recalls music legends that have recorded on the street, like the Sex Pistols and the Rolling Stones. Cocktails include the Lady Stardust for £16 (Champagne, vodka, lychee and passion fruit); accompanying small plates include ceviche, and naan tacos with smoked chicken or grilled aubergine. As an added bonus, DJs are in action until late in the evening.

Vesper Bar, the stylish new Dorchester hotel hotspot shakes many a cold martini, as suggested by its Bond-inspired name. Bond creator Ian Fleming frequented the hotel in the ’40s. The cocktail list recalls some of the more high profile guests. For instance, the Bessie Mae, inspired by Elizabeth Taylor’s stays, is a pink concoction made from rum, guava and kumquat with floating “bath bubbles” on top. (Taylor signed her contract for Cleopatra in the bath at the Dorchester.)

This Notting Hill lounge is an extension of the popular Mexican-Japanese hybrid, Los Mochis. Viajante does not go the flavored margarita route. Instead, mixologist Panos Kanatsoulis, an alum of Athens’ famed Clumsies, designed an ambitious cocktail menu. The focus is no waste—the restaurant’s leftover ingredients often come into play—and agave spirits; for instance the powerfully flavored £14 Pico de Gallo, a mix of reposado tequila, fermented tomatoes, coriander and jalapeño.

Stepping into Mr. Fogg’s is the equivalent of walking into a very random antique shop where the sheer multitude of objects make them charming. The latest outpost of the mini chain is in Soho, on Dean Street. Amid cabinets lined with cat clocks and “Ming” vases, guests can navigate the tiny book of a menu using a vintage magnifying glass. The creative drinks, which start at £12, include Tea Leaf’d, with infused vodka, bergamot and peach liqueurs and orange marmalade, served in a dainty cup.

Remember when rooftop bars were few and far between in London? No, we don’t either. One of this year’s new spots is Joia, sitting at the top of art-otel Battersea Power Station, which has opportunities to drink at the rooftop bar, alongside the infinity pool. The concise drinks list includes the tequila, lime and chili pimenta and a very good alcohol-free version (£15 and £9 respectively), and golden crispy patatas bravas along with other Iberian bar snacks.

The latest venture from France’s noted Experimental Group transforms a huge subterranean space near Covent Garden market into a destination spot that’s especially good for a date night or post-dinner hangout, with an elevated dive-bar vibe. There’s a stage for up-and-coming musicians early in the evening; DJs take over later. Many seats have stage views. The prices are reasonable for the location: The excellent Old Cuban with rum, lime, mint, ginger and Champagne is just £13.

Nestled among the warren of high-arched drinking spots on the Bermondsey Beer Mile is this laid-back bar from bottled drink specialists These Days. The decor is minimal—the chairs look like they were taken from a school—and the menu is short, focused on refreshing, easy-to-drink cocktails. The Venetian Spritz, made with peach and organic wine, and the Negroni Sbagliato are both wonderfully refreshing. And inexpensive: a drink costs around £8 and a bottle goes for £30.

This glorious high-ceilinged bar, replete with mirrored walls and painted ceilings, is a Harry Potter-worthy setting, if the kids had been old enough to hang out in a bar. Fun fact: It’s down the hall from the staircase where the Spice Girls vogued in “Wannabe.” The expertly made, stylishly presented drinks include the bright-flavored Corvin Cup, made with pisco, grape cordial and citrus, and a decadent Bloomsbury Club featuring gin, raspberry syrup, coconut and white chocolate foam, each £15.

On the third floor of Fortnum & Mason’s famed Piccadilly emporium, 3’6 is an oasis of calm above the busy shopping floors, with plush sofas and a gold-hued bar. The place's name derives from the per-person price for their catered cocktail parties in the ’30s—three shillings and 10 pence, or 3’6. That equals about £11 today, and that’s the cost of drinks from the mix-and-match section of their menu: You can pick a spirit, a style (like negroni, or a Collins) and a flavor like zero-waste orange bi