How to party in London: a new generation of hedonism
From the free-love of baby-boomers, via the alcopop debauchery of the 90s, we've entered an age of abstemiousness. Or have we? It may seem that Millennials are too caught up in mindfulness and juicing to really let loose – but this new generation is re-defining and refining hedonism.
Gone are the nights of grungy all-night raves, glow-sticks and binge drinking, making room for more sophisticated and sexier hedonism to sweep in. The 'it' crowd are now raising glasses in the plushest of cocktail bars and pilgrimaging to the exclusive members' clubs deemed uncool five years ago.
In short, aesthetics is now of the uppermost importance in the London party scene, hand in hand with sharing your night on social media . If the loo isn't Instagramable, and your party-shoes can't be Kira Kira'd (we'll explain later) ditch 'em. Here's where London comes alive at night:
Whether it's millennial pink, covered in illustrations or punctuated by eccentricity, these are the bars that'll up your insta-game:
Eve at The Frog, Covent Garden: It's brand new and it's super cool (pictured), Eve champions 'temptation, indulgence and hedonism'. The walls are covered in art by JJ Adams, and there's live music aplenty.
Dandelyan at the Mondrian Hotel: With candy floss pink banquette seats of dreams, this is the Mondrian hotel’s cocktail bar Dandelyan. A celeb hotspot, and an all-round drinking dream.
Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood Hotel: Renowned British illustrator and cartoonist Gerald Scarfe has made the walls (and cocktail menu) of this bar his captivating canvas. This, paired with fires, plush velvet, glowing lamps and live jazz makes for an incredibly satisfying evening of tipples.
Mr Fogg's, Mayfair: Dark wood, perforated leather, birdcages and bicycles hanging from the ceiling...this Mayfair spot is the perfect culmination of British eccentricity and old grandeur. Think Oscar Wilde meets Winston Churchill.
Sketch: Yes, we know that it's an obvious choice, but Sketch had to make the list. The 18th-century tea room is a millennialmecca for pink fanatics – and don’t forget to check out the toilets.
