I miss the ambition of a proper night out. The outfit bought specifically for it (how we committed to the bandage dress), the wildly optimistic shoes and the absolute conviction that tomorrow could look after itself. Somewhere between the early 2000s and the group-chat scheduling poll, going dancing became an administrative exercise.
I’d like to reverse that. London still has intimate basement dance floors, extravagant cocktail bars and clubs where midnight is practically lunchtime. These ten addresses offer varying degrees of temptation, from a martini that gets the evening moving to somewhere you might remain until your phone starts suggesting breakfast.
Bunga 90, Covent Garden
A cocktail served in Britney Spears’ head is a fairly clear statement of intent. At Bunga 90, the nostalgia begins at a VHS rental-store entrance and continues through retro televisions, arcade games and private karaoke rooms. Even the bathroom lobby gets involved, periodically transforming into a miniature warehouse rave with smoke and UV lights. Order pizza, request something you once recorded off the radio and abandon any pretence of being above it. Fridays and Saturdays run until 3am.
@wearebunga90 | bunga90.com
NYX, Mayfair
Beneath GAIA on Dover Street, NYX gives the going-out outfit somewhere worthy of it. Velvet seating, deep blues and a glowing red bar set the scene for cocktails before the dance floor takes over. DJs build the atmosphere through the evening, with nights stretching into the early hours. There is something reassuring about a venue with greater stamina than its guests. Access is members-only, so make the necessary arrangements before putting on the shoes.
@nyx__ldn | nyxmembership.com
Chiave, Shoreditch
At Chiave on Redchurch Street, an innocent cocktail can become a night of dancing with very little logistical effort. Upstairs offers seasonal drinks, wine and small plates; downstairs has an intimate dance floor holding around 30 people. Local and international DJs play house, minimal techno, electro funk and hip-hop through a custom sound system. It has the appeal of somewhere a friend lets you in on, followed by the mild possessiveness of hoping they don’t tell absolutely everyone.
@chiave.shoreditch | chiaveshoreditch.com
Upstairs at Langan’s, Mayfair
The sweeping staircase at Langan’s leads to a persuasive argument for staying out. Upstairs combines a lavish red-and-gold bar with DJs, live music and a terrace for those necessary conversations about how nobody goes out enough anymore. DJs play Thursday to Saturday, with Thursday live bands and closing times reaching 2am towards the weekend. Enquire about club access when booking and check the calendar for private events. Leaving arrangements can remain more fluid.
@langansbrasserie | langansbrasserie.com/upstairs/
Dear Darling, St James’s
The name suggests a love letter. The red-lit club interiors suggest its contents might be unsuitable for forwarding. On Jermyn Street, Dear Darling moves from bar and lounge into late-night club territory, with an invitation system that requires a little forethought. Make a table booking or apply for an invitation, then give the evening the wardrobe it deserves. This is a place for assembling the friends whose “one drink” has historically proved an unreliable unit of measurement.
@deardarlingmayfair | dear-darling.co.uk
Kiyori, Marylebone
A former bank vault is an excellent place to lose track of time, although considerably less suited to losing track of your spending. Beneath Aki London at One Cavendish Square, Kiyori brings together gilded ceilings, bronze tones, Japanese-inspired cocktails and a dedicated dance floor. Saturday Kissa Nights supply live DJs, giving an evening that begins over a carefully made drink somewhere promising to go. The surroundings are sufficiently handsome to justify dressing as though someone might take your photograph.
@kiyoribar | kiyoribar.com
Full Fat at The Anthologist, City
The knees may have changed since Ibiza. The enthusiasm is still available. Full Fat brings classic house, disco and daytime dancing to The Anthologist on Gresham Street, with DJ Fat Tony’s established party series offering an excellent reason to surrender an afternoon. Book the event rather than a standard restaurant table and check the individual lineup, as guest DJs sometimes take the controls. There is much to recommend dancing while you still have a realistic chance of getting home on public transport.
@fattonysfullfat / @drakeandmorgan | drakeandmorgan.co.uk
Shochu Lounge, Fitzrovia
Downstairs at ROKA Charlotte Street, Shochu Lounge offers low lighting, Japanese cocktails and ample encouragement to extend dinner. Resident DJs play Fridays and Saturdays from 6.30–10.30pm, while Thursday’s new Shibuya Nights, launching on 19 November, pair sushi and robata dishes with a vinyl soundtrack. Come hungry and leave the evening open. It suits that delicious stage of a night out when everyone is still sitting attractively, ordering another round and pretending the original plan remains remotely relevant.
@shochulondon | rokarestaurant.com
Side Hustle, Covent Garden
Starting the evening in a former police station has a certain pleasing optimism. At NoMad London, Side Hustle serves agave-focused cocktails alongside Latin American flavours, tacos and sharing plates. Its Best International Hotel Bar win in 2025 provides solid justification for paying close attention to the drinks list. Make this the rendezvous before heading out dancing: somewhere handsome to gather everyone, eat properly and discover which friend has already decided they’re cancelling tomorrow’s Pilates.
@sidehustlelondon | hilton.com
Brutes of Mayfair
A martini accompanied by pickled-onion Monster Munch understands its audience remarkably well. At Brutes on Bruton Place, guests customise their martinis by spirit, style and garnish, with seasonal cocktails and small plates also available. The familiar crisp has acquired considerably grander drinking companions since the school lunchbox. Begin here before continuing somewhere with a dance floor, particularly if your ideal evening involves excellent drinks and friends who remember you before you developed such expensive taste.
@brutesofmayfair | brutesofmayfair.com
