Calling all single ladies, lads riding solo and folks ready to mingle: whether you're on the pull, seeking a sleepover or looking to leave the single market for good, these are the bars to hit up.
Eve Bar
Grab a seat at the bar of this racy basement drinking den tucked beneath Michelin-starred resto Frog in Covent Garden. Your first mission is to order a Manhattan and drink it. Your second mission is to order the impeccable cheese donuts and, drawing on your newfound liquid courage, offer to share 'em with the hottie next to you. Still a little nervous? Draw some inspo from the walls, which are lined with stained glass windows of Adam and Eve in all their naked glory - #couplegoals.
34 Southampton St, London WC2E 7HF
Bounce
If you're a fan of balls flying at your face while basking in waves of testosterone, Bounce is where it's at. Descend into this UV-stripped basement in Farringdon, pick up a paddle and start whacking balls in the direction of someone that takes your fancy. You'll instantly have your next ping pong opponent, and hopefully your next date.
121 Holborn, London EC1N 2TD
Dukes Bar
Looking for someone with taste in strong cocktails? Well, ya don't come to Dukes for a white wine spritzer, so if you're after a cocktail conoisseur, this swanky Mayfair bar is where it's at. Order one of Alessandro's legendary Martinis to loosen yourself up before striking up a convo with the dapper drinkers at the next table. And honey, if they can handle these strong Martinis, they can handle you.
35 St James's Pl, St. James's, London SW1A 1NY
Homeboy Islington
Fancy a bit of craic? Course you do. You'll find it in spades at the OG Homeboy in North London, both from the cocktail- and Guinness-loving folks (our people!) propping up the joint and from the Irish lads behind the stick. If you're on the pull, get two of their wicked Irish Coffees - one for yourself, one for the cutie with the banter across the bar - and you'll be buzzin' on the same level faster than you can say "Kerrygold & Tayto crisp sandwich".
108 Essex Rd, London N1 8LX, UK
Bermondsey Beer Mile
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder, baby, so if you're looking to bag yourself a sexy ale-drinking bae, put on some sensible walking shoes and hit the Bermondsey Beer Mile (which is more like two miles, but who's counting). This is the ultimate bar crawl; a stretch of uber-cool breweries and bottle shops found under the railway arches of Southeast London, and you never know what, or who, you might find.
Start at Maltby Street Market, Arch 46, Ropewalk, Maltby St, London SE1 3PA
Laki Kane
Nothing says "night on the pull" like cocktails in coconuts and shaking your ass to big tunes. Laki Kane brings the party, and it's impossible not to have a good night here, so you'll be winning if ya pull or not. Looking for attention? Order a cocktail that comes complete with a sparkler and you'll be the focus of everyone in the room. Lock eyes with the hottie in the corner, offer them a sip of your sharing cocktail and really get this party started.
144-145 Upper St, Islington, London N1 1QY
The Phene
Got a thing for toffs with perfectly coiffed hair and trust funds? Swing by this swanky SW3 pub and chances are you'll bump into one cast of MIC basking in that soft-focus filter that follows them around everywhere. Offer to buy them a Bloody Mary, strike up a convo about your house in the country (don't mention that it's your parent's crib where you still have a single bed) and you'll have bagged yourself some posh totty in no time.
9 Phene St, London SW3 5NY
Pop Brixton
The unexpected sausagefest of South London. For some reason, this shipping-container village of epic bars and street food is a beacon for hotties. If beards are your thing, you're in luck, 'cos this place is crawling with stubble-rocking dudes. All year round there's plenty of communal seating, so chances are you'll be sat up close and personal with a stranger. Offer them one of your chips and get chatting. The rest should be, as they say, history.
49 Brixton Station Rd, Brixton, London SW9 8PQ
Barrio Soho
If you're gonna be pushed up against other bodies, you may as well really go for it. They always play the latest bangers at these colourful party cantinas and they stay open 'til late. There's a Barrio in each corner of London, so chances are it'll be the neighbourhood locals tearing up the dance floor. That means a decent chance you'll end up swapping numbers with someone who lives the same side of town. Low effort, high reward.
6 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 8PS
The Old Queens Head
This place has the magic of a relaxed pub vibe downstairs and a debauched dancefloor upstairs. Go from a sophisticated chat about current affairs over a glass of red, to getting your freak on just one floor up. Throw out some of your best shapes on the dance floor and see if you can snag yourself a dance partner fo' life.
44 Essex Rd, The Angel, London N1 8LN
The Exhibit, Balham
This multi-roomed, multi-floored party-brunch-creative hybrid space always has something cool going on, meaning it attracts pretty much every kinda person you could ever wanna meet. Our tip: check out their weekly life drawing classes. If you like the look of the model (and we mean all of the model), offer to buy them a drink afterward so you can talk about organising a close-up session.
12 Balham Station Rd, Balham, London SW12 9SG
The Windmill, Clapham Common
Hot posh rugby lads rehydrating with a pint your type? Hit up this Clapham Common-adjacent pub on a Wednesday night and get your flirt on - hopefully, you'll find yourself in a two-person scrum by the weekend. You can thank us later.
Clapham Common South Side, Clapham, London, SW4 9DE
Coya
So. Many. Party. People. This wild Peruvian bottomless brunch spot is where you need to go to find the folks who like to get down. Chances are you'll find yourself a hot date, and even if you don't, you're going to have a wicked time. Expect to be dancing on the tables by midday, accompanied by the live bongo player. Just prepare for serious disorientation when you sway out into the cold light of day at 4pm, with or without someone on your arm.
118 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 7NW
The Ned
Not all bankers are w*nkers, but most bankers have a membership to The Ned. If you're looking for a date who's rolling in cash (no judgment here, ya gotta eat), chances are you'll find 'em in one of the 17 bars peppered around The Ned. And the good thing is, you don't need a membership to get into nine of 'em. Bonus.
27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
Joe's Camden
Looking to pull a sensitive musician or barista who will be able to serenade you or make you a banging coffee the next morning? This neighbourhood bar attracts both, so beeline here on a weekend and you'll be in luck. The music's wicked, and the crowd are relaxed arty Camden types always up for a chat, so it'll be easy to break the ice.
78-79 Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AR
The Dolphin
Everyone's last-stop shop. This dive bar is open til 4am on the weekends, and post 2am, things will probably get pretty blurry, but you're always gonna have a wicked time. There are high chances of a "what was your name again?" moment when you roll over the next morning, but just think of the group chat banter when you relive it.
163 -165 Mare St, London E8 3RH
Lead image credit: Sex & The City, HBO