London Bars To Book For Your Birthday

Celebrating a milestone birthday? Whether you’re turning 21, 30 or 40, there’s no better way to ring in your new age than with a cocktail (or five) with your nearest and dearest, in one of London’s buzziest venues. The city is jam-packed with great bars, but some are better suited than others when it comes to hosting a party. Planning an intimate drinks do? A large shindig with 100 guests? A glitzy rooftop vibe? Or just keen for somewhere with lots of opportunities for dancing? We’ve got options for all party styles in our round-up of the capital’s best birthday venues. These are London bars to book for your birthday.

Birthday Venues London: Bars With Private Hire

The Little Yellow Door, Notting Hill

Looking for somewhere with a relaxed atmosphere? The Little Yellow Door in Notting Hill is designed to feel like your friend’s living room – but with its own bar whizzing up an array of cocktails. Book the Living Room and Kitchen for a group of up to 60 guests, decked out with comfy sofas and a fireplace; or the Flatmates’ Den for a lively basement party complete with fancy dress, board games and a sound system, with room for up to 100.

Bookable space: Available for groups of 60 – 100

Website: thelittleyellowdoor.com

Brunswick House, Vauxhall

Jackson Boxer’s famed Georgian mansion is one of the city’s best-loved spots for private events. You can hire it by the floor, or book out a room – The Saloon and Terrace has its own outdoor roof terrace and private dining options, while The Cellar is an underground bar best suited to drinks parties. Each space has a different feel, but quirky interiors run throughout: think vintage furniture, grand chimneys and sparkling chandeliers.

Bookable space: Available for groups of 30 – 250 

Website: brunswickhouse.london

Mala Madre at The Last Talisman, Bermondsey

This Asian-inspired cocktail bar just down the road from London Bridge has a hidden secret: a private bar perfect for birthday parties. Decked out with patterned chairs and leafy plants, Mala Madre has its own entrance and private bar. There’s lots of flexibility here: you can opt for an L-shaped table affair, a large private dining event or a standing drinks party for up to 90 guests. You’ll have your own events manager too, plus you can opt to hire a DJ from The Last Talisman, or play your own music through the speakers.

Bookable space: Available for groups of 28 – 90 people

Website: thelasttalisman.com

The Exhibit, Balham

Home to a karaoke room, a cinema and a secret garden, long-standing Balham favourite The Exhibit has something for everyone. It spans over three floors, with a wide variety of different areas available for hire, including the Mezzanine, which has both indoor and outdoor space and a standing capacity of up to 100. Alternatively, book out the covered garden, which comes with its own private bar, and allows you to bring your own DJ.

Bookable space: Available from groups between 30 – 600

Website: theexhibit.co.uk

Barge East, Hackney

Summer baby? Host your birthday party in Hackney’s 120-year-old boat, Barge East. Perched on a canal in Hackney Wick, the restaurant and bar has an array of options for group bookings and private hire. Book out the sunny terrace for an afternoon of street food, cocktails and dancing, one of the garden pods for smaller groups of up to 20 guests, or the rooftop, which has space for up to 45 guests with views of the river. 

Bookable space: Available from groups of 20 – 300

Website: bargeeast.com

Rowans, Finsbury Park

Bowling birthday parties aren’t just for kids. Rowans is a North London institution, with the option to book 10-pin American-style bowling lanes for groups of all sizes. Crucially, there’s also a bar serving up colourful slushies, which you can spruce up with your spirit of choice, alongside karaoke booths, pool tables and an arcade. It’s open into the early hours, with DJs keeping things lively with throwback tunes.

Bookable space: Available for groups of 12 – 50

Website: rowans.co.uk

The Prince, Fulham

Set beneath a canopy of greenery, this outdoor drinking mecca in Fulham feels like a giant pub garden. There’s a huge bar serving cocktails, wines and draught beer, alongside street food stalls offering everything from burgers to pizzas and sushi. With lots of long tables, The Prince is well-suited to birthdays: you can book space for groups big and small, though it won’t be private – unless you take over the whole venue, which fits a whopping 800 guests.

Bookable space: Available for groups of up to 800 

Website: theprincelondon.com

The Duke of Edinburgh, Brixton

This is a pub rather than a bar, but its outdoor area is one of the best – and biggest – beer gardens in London. During the summer months it always has a lively atmosphere, and you can book space for up to 20 people for a four-hour time slot. Soak up all the beers with burgers, sandwiches and chips from the resident food pop-up, Bando Belly. It’s worth noting that the garden closes at 9.30pm, and the pub inside is pretty small, so be sure to make plans for afterwards if you want to keep the party going.

Bookable space: Available for groups of up to 20

Website: dukeofedinburghpub.com

Skylight Peckham

A great view always creates a sense of occasion. Book the rooftop at Skylight Peckham for skyline vistas, food and drink, games, entertainment and fun vibes. The bar is open year-round, but it’s particularly well-suited to summer events, when you can enjoy BBQ food and cocktails in the sunshine. There are plenty of drinks and food packages on offer, from platters of nibbles to beer buckets and punch bowls, with partial hire options for groups of 30 and more – and the opportunity to book out the whole venue for up to 250 guests.

Bookable space: Available for groups of 30 – 250

Website: skylightbars.com

Lucky Voice, Multiple Locations

Whatever your age, a bit of karaoke never gets old. One of London’s best spots for this is Lucky Voice, with outposts in Soho, Islington, Holborn and Liverpool Street. Book out a private room for groups of up to 30 and sing your heart out, all while sipping music-themed cocktails: the menu includes concoctions like Ziggy Stardust, Honey Honey and Purple Rain. You can also order pizzas and nibbles for the gang.

Bookable space: Available for groups of up to 30

Website: luckyvoice.com

Bar Elba, Waterloo

Another of London’s rooftop hotspots, Bar Elba is renowned for its party atmosphere, with views over the city. Best suited to summer birthdays, the venue has a private party space you can book on the terrace fitting up to 80 standing guests, or a larger mezzanine on the upper roof with space for up to 100. Ideal if you want to go all out on the celebrations, it offers various drinks packages with cocktail trees, shooters and confetti. At the moment, you can also book out the fairy light-bedecked igloos for groups of up to 12.

Bookable space: Available for groups of between 12 and 100

Website: bar-elba.co.uk

The Avalon, Clapham

South London pub The Avalon has a range of different spaces which you can book out for private parties. During the summer months, the secret garden is a lovely spot for birthdays, with space for up to 30 friends and a la carte, BBQ and hog roast menus to choose from. In the winter, meanwhile, the covered courtyard is a good option, with cushions and blankets to keep your guests cosy. Or, for a smaller event, book the raised area, which can accommodate groups of up to 20 people standing or 15 seated.

Bookable space: Available for groups of between 15 and 50

Website: theavalonlondon.com

Laki Kane, Islington

Islington’s tropical-themed Thai restaurant and bar Laki Kane has private hire options for all types of birthday party. Book the Beach Rum Distillery upstairs for rum cocktail masterclasses for small groups, or host a larger event in the downstairs area for up to 130 guests – complete with fire shows, DJs, dancers.

Bookable space: Available for groups of 20 – 160

Website: lakikane.com