The best bar in London for a first date, according to experts
Said drinkery shouldn't be too loud, or too ostentatious, and it ideally will provide some sort of distraction if things aren't going so well. Luckily, London has myriad cosy wine bars, romantic nooks and quirky drinking dens that will give you plenty of things to talk about should you and your date run out of conversation (it happens!).
But which of these sultry spots is the best? Time Out asked industry experts including Lyaness ' Mr Lyan, Max Venning of Three Sheets, and co-owners of Rita's Missy Flynn and Gabriel Pryce, to recommend their favourite bars in the city, so that in turn we could come up with the definitive ranking of the best drinking spots for date night. Here's what they said.
According to the experts, London's best bar for a first date is Three Sheets Soho.
Three Sheets Soho is the second outpost of the Dalston-based cocktail bar, and opened last year. 'Three Sheets Soho is chic, buzzy and welcoming,' said Coral Anderson, managing director of Swift, a cocktail bar with branches in Soho, London Bridge and Borough. 'You will never walk in and find it dead. The seating is perfect for two people, even if it's at the bar.'
Anderson recommended ordering the salted plum highball, and if you're feeling fancy 'you can get the best value glass of Dom Perignon in London'.
'Three Sheets has a little bit of everything for everyone,' said Monica Berg, co-owner of Tayēr + Elementary. 'It's a good all-rounder in a central London location. It's not too loud so it's easy to have a chat.
'It's very welcoming and relaxed, but at the same time signals that you're making an effort.
'I always start with the French 75.'
Runners up included listening bar Mu in Dalston, shouted out by Carina Soto Velásquez, co-owner of Equal Parts; wine bar Bruno in Victoria Park, recommended by Exale Brewing's Stephanie Randle-Solley; Quality Wines in Farringdon, approved by Missy and Gabriel of Rita's; and 42 – the in-house cocktail bar at Michelin star restaurant Gymkhana in Mayfair, nominated by Mr Lyan, particularly for its human-sized paintings of cats.
The best bars in London for 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
‘Global sensation' Netflix movie tops chart with 106 million views
Steve Charnock Published July 24, 2025 1:32pm Updated July 24, 2025 2:55pm Link is copied Comments Film fans, gather 'round. Netflix has delivered another top 10 movies list for the week. And it's a menu featuring a cocktail of animated wonders, heart-stopping thrillers, dumb-founding documentaries and a dose of Tyler Perry's cross-dressing chaos. Whether you prefer subtitles, swordplay, supernatural pop idols or just want to witness Madea's latest disaster, this ranking reflects Netflix subscribers' loves across the genres. Strap in for a tour through what's making waves on the world's most popular streaming service right now…(Picture: Netflix) This Thai action‑horror flick exploded onto Netflix globally in its first week thanks to its martial arts‑infused zombie carnage. It's not your average undead romp, either. Choreographed Muay Thai meets dystopian grimness here, with emotional punches landing alongside physical ones. Critics praised the intensity but some flagged that the character arcs are on the thin side. Still, with its stylish violence and high‑energy pace, it's a welcome jolt for anyone bored of the standard watered‑down zombie fare - or just curious as to what K‑zombies might look like (Picture: Netflix) A quiet indie flick that snuck into Netflix's top 10 for the past week, this Maine‑based drama combines fall foliage with emotional isolation. It never attempts to provide the viewer with flashy spectacle, this is all about subtle performances and introspective pacing. To the point that it might just feel a wee bit like it's plodding unless you're really in the mood. Yet it drew in over 4 million viewers over the last seven days, possibly because people love looking at New England scenery. Not unforgettable, but oddly soothing for a film about a 12 year-old boy trying not to die in the wilderness (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock) Next up we have a Brazilian comedy‑drama from director Felipe Joffily that passes as a more-than-watchable flick. It's charmed audiences across the world with its messy familial twists and warm humor. Thankfully, its blend of romance, subtle laughs and tear‑jerking sincerity feels earnest rather than forced. It boasts a cast that sparkles with chemistry, though critics were quick to point out that it has more than a few predictable plot points. At roughly 5.5 million weekly viewers, it's clear the appeal lies in watching ordinary chaos unfold with genuine heart. And maybe in reminding yourself that your own family gatherings could always be worse (Picture: Netflix) Charlize Theron reprises her immortal warrior role in this sequel that Netflix viewers have been enjoying over the past couple of weeks. Expect slick fight choreography, a touch of existential angst and a franchise that seems to have legs. Critics say it glosses over character development in favor of all-out action, but if adrenaline is what you want from your next movie pick, then this delivers in spades. Who said you can't age gracefully with a double-headed axe in your hand? Probably no one. But if anyone ever does, show them this action flick to prove them wrong (Picture: Netflix/AP) Netflix's South Korean psychological thriller set in a pressure‑cooked apartment building has captivated audiences globally this week. A man discovers unsettling secrets beneath his new home. Think claustrophobia meets urban paranoia. Film reviewers applauded its tense atmosphere and sharp production design, though some found the specifics of the 'mystery' a little predictable. Still, if you enjoy slow‑burn dread rather than CGI jump scares, Wall to Wall offers a stylish and unsettling ride through your worst neighbor‑from‑hell scenario (Picture: Young-Uk Jeon/Netlix) Maybe you thought this anthology docuseries had already peaked with the wonderfully titled Poop Cruise. But this Trainwreck exploring the 2009 'Balloon Boy' hoax may just prove otherwise. It brings to life a truly odd story that's a perfect storm of ridiculousness with serious implications. Critics were mixed: some saw it as sensationalist, others found it illuminating. Watch it if you've ever wondered how the internet and tabloids turn absurdity into spectacle and allow ridiculous lies to snowball into something quite extraordinary (but still extremely stupid) (Picture: Netflix) This Rotterdam-set Dutch buddy‑comedy climbed into Netflix's top five mostly due to its big laughs and even bigger stunts. Two mismatched cops fumble through crime scenes, slapstick disasters and heartfelt confessions, all before you can say 'slightly cliched plot'. Critics called it silly but effective at delivering crowd‑pleasing chaos. If you're after uncomplicated laughs with a fair few explosions, this pairs well with popcorn and fairly low expectations (Picture: Netflix) Tyler Perry's diva grandma returns in this sun‑drenched matrimonial adventure in the Bahamas. As always, Madea is equal parts troublesome gran and moral compass, stirring up family drama when her nephew's daughter marries a rapper she barely knows. Critics like to dismiss the franchise as broad throwaway slapstick, but Perry's audience just loves that familiar chaos. It's comfort viewing. If your comfort involves exaggerated accents, hugely unflattering dresses and fairly easy jokes, that is (Picture: Netflix/Everett/Shutterstock) This German thriller has a smart premise: out of the blue, a mysterious brick wall encloses an apartment building, leaving residents trapped inside. Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee anchor the film with a fair bit of emotional realism as panic and paranoia start to spread. Movie writers lauded its clever premise and escalating tension, though some said the resolution of the film feels a little contrived. And not super well executed. Hence its 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Picture: Netflix/Sasha Ostrov) This animated gem - called 'a global sensation' by the movie website Bloody Disgusting - has slowly but surely turned into a cultural phenomenon in its fifth week of being available. Since first landing in Netflix's top 10, it's racked up an incredible 106 million views, with almost 26 million of those in the last week alone. The premise: the stars are a K‑pop girl band by day and demon‑hunting superheroes by night. It's frantic, flamboyant and occasionally baffling. Arden Cho's lead voice performance went down so well it even rallied fans to try and keep the movie at top spot until a sequel gets greenlit by Netflix. Surely, given the incredible success of the thing, that decision isn't far off…? (Picture: Netflix)
Time Out
an hour ago
- Time Out
A free Music Week à Montréal pop-up coming to Time Out Market Montreal
A free musical event downtown? Refreshing cocktails and mocktails? 40,000 square feet of air-conditioned space? Mark your calendars: Time Out Market Montréal is hosting a free musical pop-up in collaboration with Music Week à Montréal. From free popups taking place in a variety of nightlife venues to larger ticketed events and activities, Music Week à Montréal (a concept by This Is House and presented in collaboration with Tim Hortons) has something for everyone. Come for the free music and DJs and stay for the food by some of the best chefs and restaurants in the city under one roof. When is the Music Week à Montréal pop-up coming to Time Out Market Montréal? Head to the Market on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 5 p.m. t0 11 p.m. at the Beer Bar. What is Music Week à Montréal? Music Week à Montréal (a concept by This Is House) is a week-long celebration of Montreal's music culture, featuring events across the city, both free and paid, from August 4 to August 10, 2025. For the full programming for the city-wide takeover, click here. Founded in 2021 by Xavier Cornejo-Perez, Jamie Pinney, and Angelo Ghantous, This Is House is a Montreal-based nonprofit dedicated to producing high-quality, community-focused electronic music events. This Is House has produced more than 50 events, grown a community of more than 20,000 fans across multiple platforms, and has garnered millions of impressions online over the past 4 years.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I created my own luxury wallpaper in one afternoon for just £3, you need virtually no equipment & it works in any room
Plus, how one woman had a shocker with her stencilling attempt SAVVY STYLE I created my own luxury wallpaper in one afternoon for just £3, you need virtually no equipment & it works in any room Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORGET having to splash out on expensive wallpaper to transform your home, one woman shared how she gave a room in her house a makeover for just £3. Baylee shared how she bought a floral rubber art stamp from a crafts shop and then added paint to make the pretty print. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A woman shared how she transformed her laundry room walls with a rubber stamp Credit: TikTok / @bayleewhiteasheck 4 She picked up the stamp and paint and it took her two hours to do the whole room Credit: TikTok / @bayleewhiteasheck Although the US-based homeowner got her wooden stamp from Hobby Lobby, you can pick up similar style ones from The Range. On her @bayleewhiteasheck account, she showed how she used a piece of cardboard to ensure the prints were spaced apart evenly. Two hours of stamping later, and her laundry room had gone from plain white to being covered in the gorgeous floral print. Baylee said: 'You know what? It worked out for me.' And she wasn't done yet. She added that she then added a hanging basket to the wall, along with some artwork a friend had made her. Showing off the finished result, she added: 'And that's my perfect, precious, gorgeous, beautiful cottage laundry room makeover for three dollars and fifty cents. 'Feeling absolutely unstoppable after finishing this project in two hours after putting my baby down. 'Maybe I'll like doing laundry now.' Many people will be hugely impressed with the DIY tip, which has racked up over 50,000 likes. I live in a council house with no storage & made a dream dressing table for £21… it's great for those with limited space One person commented: 'A tutorial I could actually follow and afford?!' Another added: 'I fear I must go do this now.' And a third wrote: 'I'm flabbergasted by how smart and easy this is.' DIY FAIL 4 A woman shared how she attempted a DIY stencilling job in her bedroom Credit: Instagram/@lifeatthelma 4 However, when she peeled back the stencil, she was not impressed with what she had done Credit: Instagram/@lifeatthelma However, DIY doesn't always go according to plan, as one woman showed. TikTok user @lifeatthelma showed how she had picked out a gorgeous sage green paint and had then taped a decorative stencil to the wall. She thought everything had gone swimmingly, until she peeled back the stencil to reveal her hard work. To her horror, the paint had spread until the stencil and it looked messy and not like the design she had wanted. After she pulled off a larger section, she joked: 'But do we think it is giving cottage core (the goal) or chain link fence?'
