Our pick of the best places to drink in London this May.

VITA AL FRESCO AT HARVEY NICHOLS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW1
For two months, the Fifth Floor Terrace at Harvey Nichols will be transformed into a stunning al fresco veranda with delicious plates of Italian aperitivo and Peroni Nastro Azzurro infused drinks.

 

THE NATURAL PHILOSOPHER, HACKNEY E2
It looks like an unassuming bric-a-brac shop on Hackney Road from the outside. Brought to London from the people behind Manero’s Private Member’s Club – that elusive yellow door in Dalston – this lot have ‘under the radar’ down.

 

JOYEUX BORDEL, SHOREDITCH EC2
Installing a “happy mess” into Shoreditch has been the creative work of The Experimental Group this spring. The three drinkers and workers, Romée de Goriainoff, Olivier Bon and Pierre-Charles Cros, preceded Joyeux Bordel with 2014 wine bar Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels and Chinatown’s Experimental Cocktail Club.

 

GONG AT THE SHANGRI LA HOTEL
Higher than Ting and Lang on the Shangri-La’s 52nd (and top) floor, and boasting its own stunning infinity pool that seemingly flows out over London as if by magic, Gŏng is the final slice of the decadent pie that completes the Shangri-La Hotel – the first ever luxury hotel experience south of the Thames.

 

SEYMOUR’S PARLOUR AT THE ZETTER TOWNHOUSE, MARYLEBONE W1
Mark Sainsbury and Michael Benyon’s Zetter Group – which owns the Zetter and Zetter Townhouse have now opened Zetter Marylebone, a new hotel on Seymour Street in Marylebone. The ground floor Georgian drawing room, called Seymour’s Parlour, is open for breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails concocted by Tony Conigliaro with menus by celebrated French chef Bruno Loubet.

 

64TH AND SOCIAL, CLAPHAM SW4
Step off the main street and you feel as if you’ve stepped into a New York establishment. 64th & Social is sumptuous and comfortable, with bare brick and a back bar full to over flowing with some of the best spirits.

 

NIGHTJAR, SHOREDITCH EC1
The Nightjar entices with quality cocktails, attentive personal service and a vibrant and varied live music programme. This is the ultimate speakeasy bar – descend the stairs and be prepared to be enchanted by a 1920s scene of candlelit tables, glorious tin cup cocktails, and crooning jazz and swing bands.

 

THE AMERICAN BAR AT THE SAVOY
The term ‘American Bar’ refers to a bar serving mixed or ‘American’ style drinks, more commonly known as cocktails. As transatlantic travel became more popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, many American Bars opened throughout London. The American Bar at The Savoy is the longest surviving of these bars and one of the most iconic cocktail bars in the world.