Canary Wharf bars

The third branch of this American-style barbecue and seafood joint has a Jamaica-influenced rum bar within its quarters. And it’s open from 7am each day. Oh boy! There’s nightly live tunes to soundtrack your drinking – work through cask rums on tap and a ‘library’ of bottles from the Caribbean, Central America and beyond. That should give you sea legs for a walk across the Wharf afterwards.    

At this famous Scottish restaurant, bar and music venue, no cliché is knowingly ducked – mounted stag’s head and angling trophy, tartan carpet, table-top thistles – yet they’re delivered with a cheerful wink. After 9pm there’s a stiff cover charge to watch jazz or blues from a stage at the far end of a pewter bar counter, where there’s a daunting number of fine whiskies. Bring it on!  

A sky-high restaurant and bar over Canary Wharf, Bōkan’s bar is up on the 38th floor of the Novotel, with amazing views of London’s skyline. The wine list is lengthy and cocktails have a maritime theme that plays on the history of the docks down below. But it’s mostly about the views, tbh.

They’ve nicknamed the bar on the first floor of Burger & Lobster 'The Quay to Happiness'. Up here, it’s all about a large beer selection and some appropriately snappy cocktails.

Wine is the order of the day at Davy’s, a bar and restaurant from the famous and centuries-old wine merchants. There are two bars here and within each you’ll find a lengthy list of wines from around the world. Don’t miss a list of sherries, madeiras and ports for some good old-fashioned quaffing in a good old-fashioned Victorian setting.

Street Feast’s shiny rooftop venue is home to heaps of stalls selling delicious grub. But it’s also where you’ll find a beer bar with a bona fide view, as well as ‘The Island Bar’, where peach bellinis and Negroni Sbagliatos are the order of the day. Or pick a posh iced tea if you’re just drinking in the views and not the booze.

Who loves gin? Everybody! Especially us Brits. In Canary Wharf, The Marriott pairs everyone’s favourite spirit with another Great British love: tea. Back to the gin though – there are 180 types to work your way through in hotel bar surrounds.

Ibérica is probably best know as a Spanish restaurant, but in summer, flock to its Cabot Square Terraza and convince yourself you’re in sunny Spain for the day. Enjoy tapas, wines and sherries in an attractive al fresco setting. Sangria is exactly the thing to get those ties loosened. 

Sleek and smart, The Pagination resembles the lobby of a luxury ski lodge, with a ’70s vibe throughout. Cocktails are pretty and the wine list is solid. A suitable hub for after-work drinks – this place is proof that Canary Wharf bars aren’t soulless at all.

Located in West India Quay, Rum & Sugar boasts a menu that celebrates the history of London Docklands. There are 200 rums to peruse on the menu, and most cocktails have the sugar-cane spirit at their base.