If there’s anything better than a small intimate bar dedicated entirely to champagne, then I don’t know what it is! It’s fair to say that the best and most abundant of champagne bars in England can be found in London, and even then there aren’t that many, making them not only wonderful but rare and quite unique. You’ll find most of the champagne bars in London within other establishments, like high-end department stores, railway stations, and even the Albert Hall, but champagne bars are so beloved by visitors some restaurants have started placing one within their space too, to bring that extra special pizzaz to your experience. To start you off on your champagne bar journey, here are nine of the best champagne bars in London.
Videos by TravelAwaits
1. Searcy’s, St. Pancras Station
St Pancras International Station is a stunningly beautiful railway station that first opened in 1868, and it’s by far my favorite station in England. The Victorian Gothic architecture makes this station a destination in itself and the addition of Searcy’s Champagne Bar brings that extra touch of glamour to an already very glamorous station. The longest champagne bar in Europe, Searcy’s also has an impressively long champagne menu. You can sit on bar stools at the long bar and watch the passengers go by to their trains, or you can get comfortable in one of the leather booths and push the “press for champagne” buzzer when you want to order.
Pro Tip: Searcy’s gets a lot of passing trade, being situated in a busy international station, so if you’re traveling through London and you want a table make sure you book ahead.
2. Augustine Kitchen, Battersea
Augustine Kitchen is an authentic French bistro in Battersea which has recently launched its own champagne bar at the front of the restaurant. Diners will still find the same bistro layout at the back, but you can now start your evening off with a sip of fizz at the bar before you go to your table for dinner. Where the bar now stands used to be a deli, but during lockdown, the owners decided we all need a bit of sparkle in our lives and they transformed the space into the decadent champagne bar you see today.
Pro Tip: The champagne bar is only open for dinner, from 6:30 till 9 p.m., but wines are available during lunchtime too.
3. The Perrier-Jouët Champagne Terrace, Harrods
Arguably the world’s most famous department store, Harrods was always going to be the store most likely to house a champagne bar. The Perrier-Jouët Champagne Terrace is as sumptuous as you’d expect from Harrods, and the views from the terrace windows, over Knightsbridge, are amazing. As the name suggests, the champagne here is Perrier-Jouët, which you can order by the glass, by the bottle, or have mixed in a delicious champagne cocktail. The bar also serves a selection of dishes from the restaurants at Harrods, making this a very special stop-off on your shopping trip.
4. Ginger Lily
For a Champagne bar with a difference, Ginger Lily in the Pan Pacific Hotel aims to bring Singapore bar culture to London in the form of this very atmospheric champagne bar. The menu details a list of champagnes from over 100 champagne houses and the champagne cocktails are especially good. Take your time in this relaxing bar space and make your way through the champagne list, stay at the hotel and spend a few hours tasting the cocktails, or make an evening of it when the bar gets lively and you can find out just what Singapore bar life is really like.
5. Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar, The Albert Hall
The Albert Hall’s foundation stone was laid in 1867 by Queen Victoria and the hall has been putting on a show ever since. This iconic building is Grade 1 listed and you can take a tour of the interior to learn about its history, have afternoon tea, and generally marvel at its brilliance, but you can only take a tipple in the champagne bar when there is a show on. As you might have guessed, the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar serves Laurent-Perrier Champagne and they serve it from 5:30 p.m. on show days only. You’ll find the bar in the grand tier, where you can enjoy some fizz before the show starts, during your interval, or after the show has finished.
Pro Tip: As the champagne bar is only open on show days, it really only serves those who have a ticket to a show. You can really make a special evening of this event, with a show and a sip of champagne, but make sure you book ahead as it does get busy, especially when shows are sold out.
6. Champagne And Fromage
If you want to enjoy a glass of champagne in a more rustic environment, Champagne and Fromage is a French bistro in Covent Garden where you can relax with a very reasonably priced champagne, pair it with a good French cheese, or enjoy some nibbles. This is a great little bistro if you like champagne but don’t want to pay over the odds for it and aren’t fussed about decadent surroundings. It’s a more homely vibe and it’s the perfect place to go if you’re only just discovering champagne. You can try by the glass and it’s very well priced, or you can try the champagne flight, which gives you three glasses to taste.
Pro Tip: Champagne and Fromage also have a cute little corner bistro in Greenwich, which is well worth a visit. Sit outside on the pavement tables and you’ll really feel like you’re in France.
7. Vertigo 42
The clue is in the name here and if you’re not a fan of heights you might feel uncomfortable venturing up to Vertigo 42, the highest champagne bar in London. Situated at the top of Tower 42, if you don’t get vertigo you can enjoy truly spectacular views from the bar while you sip a glass of cool champagne. You can also enjoy a bite to eat while you’re here, but the champagne and the views are what most people make it all the way to the top of the tower for. There’s a good selection of champagnes and, unusually, all are available by the glass as well as by the bottle. You can also try the champagne flight, which gives you three different champagnes to taste.
8. The Champagne Room At The Connaught
The Connaught is an elegant luxury hotel in London’s Mayfair region, which instantly makes you feel like royalty when you enter by the regal looking front doors. It’s perhaps no surprise then that this opulent hotel has a “champagne room” rather than just a bar. The Champagne Room at the Connaught is a more intimate and quiet affair compared to some champagne bars and you won’t find passing trade blowing in from the busy London streets here. Those champagne corks will still pop, but they’ll do so in a more reserved way. You get the feeling the champagnes are selected carefully here and the champagne cocktails are mixed with a great deal of attention.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the champagne room, everyone is welcome, but this is such a stunning hotel you probably will want to stay!
9. Bollinger 007 Bar, Burlington Arcade
Bollinger’s 40th anniversary just happened to coincide with the opening of the James Bond movie No Time to Die, so what better way to bring the two together than in an all-new champagne bar! Burlington Arcade is a luxury shopping arcade that first opened in 1819, making it one of the oldest covered shopping malls in Europe. The arcade itself is a fascinating historic shopping experience, but with the addition of the champagne bar, it’s become much more luxurious than it already was. The bar features gold-leaf walls and marble furniture and is spread over two floors, allowing for plenty of shoppers to enjoy a glass of Bollinger. If you like shopping and you like champagne, the Bollinger Bar provides the perfect combination. If you like James Bond, too, you’re really in for a treat.
Pro Tip: Perhaps because it’s situated in a shopping arcade, the Bollinger Bar opens at 12 p.m., meaning you can sip some bubbles as an aperitif to your lunch, or enjoy a glass or two in the afternoon.
