Have a classy Xmas

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City chic: get the party started with a signature champagne cocktail at Mary Janes

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It's the season of the work Christmas party, but you don't want to be first to arrive and look like you've been counting down since last year. Much better to start with a few drinks at a chic bar nearby. And at the party's end you don't want to be stuck at the bar, trying to catch the eye of the boy in the post room who's a decade your junior. It's cooler to head off to a fabulous late-night cocktail bar to carry on with the fun. So, here's our guide to the most glamorous pre-party and post-party cocktail bars.

The Champagne Bar, Andaz

This grown-up new bar adjoining Catch restaurant at Andaz (formerly the Great Eastern Hotel) has a dizzying array of fizz. With crowds of City boys spending their bonuses, you might not even want to go to your office bash.
40 Liverpool Street, EC2 (020 7618 7200, london.liverpool street.andaz.com). Open noon-late, Mon-Fri; 6pm-late, Sat
V&T, £7; bellini £9.50

The Lonsdale

This uber-sleek bar has a laid-back vibe and inventive cocktails. Try the Carol Channing, raspberry eau-de-vie and liqueur with bubbly (£8), and the Elderflower Martini: bison grass vodka, apple juice and elderflower (£8).
48 Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill (020 7727 4080, the lonsdale.co.uk). 6pm-midnight, Mon-Thu; 6pm-1am, Fri-Sat; to 11.30pm Sun
V&T, £6.20, bellini, £8.50

Mary Janes

Stop at this industrially kitsch bar for its signature cocktail, the Mary Jane - champagne, rose-petal vodka and watermelon (£7.95) - and you may be buoyed up enough to talk to the boss later. But with little chat with your pals possible thanks to this fun spot's deafening disco-pop you could find yourself downing extra intoxicating Frida Kahlo tequilas or bubblegum chasers. Perhaps it'd be best to steer clear of that chat with the boss later after all...
124-127 Minories, EC3 (020 7481 8195, maryjanesbar.com) 11am-midnight, Mon-Wed; 11am-2am, Thu-Fri
V&T, £5.70; bellini, £6.95

Milk&Honey

This Twenties-style speakeasy likes to keep itself a secret, hence the unmarked door. It's also a members' bar, but you can call before to book a table until 11pm.
Inside is intimate with perfect service (from cute waiters in braces and aprons). Sip on Prohibition-era drinks - like Continental sour cognac with lemon, claret, sugar and egg white (£7.50) - or have a classic champagne cocktail.
Poland Street, W1 (mlkhny.com 07000 655469, 6pm-11pm/3am members)
V&T, £6.50; cocktails, £7.50/£8.50

Mahiki

Camp as Christmas and twice as fun, this is a Polynesian-themed guaranteed good time. Among the bamboo, tiki figures, Hawaiian cushions and caged iguanas you'll find young royals, Sienna or Madonna hanging out. Top-notch cocktails: try a signature Mahiki (£9), or share a legendary Treasure Chest, designed for eight drinkers (£100). Then strut your stuff to cheesy tunes on the dance floor.
1 Dover Street, W1, (mahiki.co.uk, 020 7493 9529) 5.30pm-3.30am, Mon-Sat. Entrance: free before 9.30pm, after 9.30pm varies from £7 (Mon-Tue) to £15 (Fri-Sat)
V&T, £6.50; bellini, £9

The Brickhouse

The achingly hip new bar in an old Brick Lane warehouse is filled with trendy types. Cocktails like mojitos and martinis are a reasonable £7. You may catch a burlesque act or aerial performer, otherwise the DJ will be spinning cutting-edge house music. A seriously cool way to rock on post-party.
Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, E1 (thebrickhouse.co.uk, 020 7247 0005). Noon-2am, Tue-Sun Entrance: varies, up to £5
V&T, £5.50; bellini, £7

Sosho

Sosho (it means "South Of Shoreditch") heaves with revellers after hours, drawn by big-name DJs and classy cocktails made by mixologist supreme Dale DeGroff. Try his Green Tea Highball with sake, Wyborowa lemon vodka, green tea and a twist of lime (£6.50), or the Sosho Cooler: Finlandia mango vodka and sauvignon blanc with muddled grapes, lemon and apple juices (£7). Who said the East End was dingy?
2a Tabernacle Street EC2 (020 7920 0701, sosholondon.com). Noon-midnight, Mon-Tue; noon-1am, Wed-Thu; noon-3am, Fri; 7pm-4am, Sat; 9pm-6am, Sun. Entrance: £5 after 9pm
V&T, £5; bellini, £7

Albannach

As christmassy as you can get without singing carols in Santa's grotto, The Albannach proves whisky isn't only for old men and drunks. The multi-level bar's dark oaks, slates and thistle fabrics are offset by clean white walls and cool chrome. Aside from the many whiskies on offer, cocktails include old-fashioned recipes with a modern twist. Try Reservation: Wood-ford Reserve in a fresh basil julep, with vanilla, ginger and green chartreuse.
66 Trafalgar Square, WC2 (020 7930 0066, albannach.co.uk). Noon-1am, Mon-Wed; noon-3am, Thu-Sat. Entrance: free to bar, to downstairs club Doon: Fri-Sat £10, £7 (guestlist) after 10pm
V&T, £6.50; bellini £8

 

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