Thirsty for a drink paired with an appreciative welcome and maybe even camaraderie?
Have a look my Best of 2019 list of my favourite bars sidled up to this year (with entries from across London as well Buffalo, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Cork and Madrid).
Please note, this list merely reflects how I chose to spend my time during the year and is comprised of well established and brand new venues as well as businesses that are somehow related to where work and play took me.
Items appear in alphabetic order, not ranked.
Best Bars in London
Bottles Wine Bar
67 Brushfield Street, E1 6AA
Opened last year, Bottles Wine Bar at Old Spitalfields Market does a smart wine list with a wine-smart staff and brilliant kitchen preparing perfect plates for pairing The Bottles wine list isn’t lengthy but expresses deep knowledge and appreciation (particularly when it comes to Italian wines), which reflects the fact that every member of the staff is a sommelier.
This is the second year in a row that this venue made the ‘best of’ list for bars and pubs.
The Connaught Bar
Connaught, Carlos Place, W1K 2AL
Classic 1920s setting where innovative cocktails and exemplary service provide a taste of luxury that’s hard to come by – even in the heart of Mayfair where this hotel bar is situated.
Flynn’s Pub & Guesthouse
418 Mare Street, E8 1HP
The best of old school East End culture still thrives at this well established proper pub (and it’s especially vibrant on karaoke night!).
Golden Eagle
59 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2NY
Any affordable local in an area increasingly upscale and transient – the Golden Eagle is a welcoming and cozy pub with house pianist leading singalongs a few nights a week.
Passyunk Avenue
80 Cleveland Street, W1T 6NE
A South Philly themed sports bar? In Fitzrovia? Yup. And in addition to being the only place in London serving a Citywide Special (that I’m aware of), it’s a welcoming watering hole for quality beers and excellent bona fide cheesesteaks.
This is the second year in a row that this venue made the ‘best of’ list for bars and pubs.
El Pirata
5-6 Down Street, W1J 7AQ
There’s always a buzzing atmosphere and decent tapas and Spanish drink to be enjoyed at this Mayfair mainstay celebrating a quarter century of service in 2019.
Pressure Drop Taproom
Unit 6, Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Road, N17 9QP
One of London’s most innovative breweries opens its facilities every Saturday for guests to enjoy its delicious beers at the source. A skip away from the Lea River towpath with plenty of outdoor seating, the Pressure Drop Taproom is an ideal setting for a drink on a sunny weekend afternoon or evening.
Vermouth 49
Lassco Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
One of only a very few handful of vermouth bars in London, Vermouth 49 at Maltby Street is an easygoing and friendly little spot for causal and flavoursome drinks and nibbles.
Best Bars Beyond London
Anchor Bar
1047 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14209, United States
Home of the original buffalo wing, the Anchor Bar remains a kick ass bar for friendly drinking coupled with awesome bar food.
Duende
85 Silo City Row, Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
A bit out of the way in a post agro-industrial site (Buffalo, New York’s Silo City), this bar’s where you wanna be when you crave quality drinks with a bit of space (and when somebody else is driving or you feel confident that the Uber driver will be able to find the bar).
Franciscan Well Brewery & Brewpub
14 North Mall, Sunday’s Well, Cork, T23 P264, Ireland
History, traditional folk music played live, pizza and extremely delicious beer add up to a convivial watering hole.
Holy Mountain
680 Valencia Street #1126, San Francisco, California 94110, United States
Surrealism is stirred masterfully into every drink at this Mission District bar where bartenders show what they know with playful craftiness.
Mutton Lane Inn
3 St Patrick’s Street, Mutton Lane, Cork, T12 RV07, Ireland
An ancient inn on the side of the famous English Market in Cork, this evocatively candlelit inn is as Irish as it gets.
The Old Pink
223 Allen Street, Buffalo, New York 14201, United States
A rock ’n roll dive from another (funner) era.
Rising Sons Brewery
Cornmarket Street, Cork, T12 WK27, Ireland
Laidback about everything but making great beer, this brewery and pub is ace place to chill out.
Sin É
8 Coburg Street, Cork, Ireland
Traditional music is played here live every night at this core-classic pub in the Victorian Quarter of Cork.
Super Lyan
Kimpton De Witt, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 3, 1012 RC Amsterdam, Netherlands
London cocktail superstar Ryan Chetiyawardana’s first venture outside of London, Super Lyan at the Kimpton De Witt is a fun and modern place to drink inside a historic 17th century setting.
La Venencia
Calle de Echegaray, 7, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Inexpensive, and age-old bar serving sherry from the cask and a limited menu of tapas and snacks to accompany your drink – you want an authentic drinking experience Madrid? This is it.
Vesuvio Cafe
255 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, California 94133, United States
Remember when San Francisco was weird and affordable and people would leave you be? It still mostly is at Vesuvio. Drink where the beatniks did and engage in a real conversation here.
More of the best of 2019 to follow!
