Best Bars in Putney: A Local’s Guide (2023)

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Looking for the best bars in Putney? Putney is known for being one of the prettiest parts of London and is great fun on a night out. As a local, we love trying new bars and pubs, and below I’ve listed some of the best spots to dance the night away.

There’s nothing quite like digging into a tasty meal or drinking a glass of wine whilst overlooking the River Thames.

There are plenty of bars in Putney for every type of visitor, so let’s get started and discuss the best ones!

NOTE: This list does NOT include pubs. If you are looking for the best pubs in Putney, check out my detailed Putney pubs guide here.

Still have a question about the best bars in Putney? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇬🇧 Other Southwest London posts:

• Best Pubs in Richmond, London: A Local’s Guide
• Putney To Barnes: River Walks, Public Transport & More
• Best Pubs in Putney: A Local’s Guide

Best Bars in Putney: A Summary

Putney is one of the best areas in Southwest London to pop out for a drink. As some of the bars and pubs are along the river, it’s the perfect spot to drink a cocktail and admire the views of one of the best cities in the world.

Over the past few years, Putney has become busier and busier with university students, young adults and couples wanting a late-night drink. From cosy wine bars to boujee pink cocktail bars, Putney has a different bar for everyone.

Bars in Putney are dotted all over, but the majority can be found on the high street, near East Putney Station or along the river.

In summary, some of the best bars in Putney are:

• Tequila Mockingbird: for late-night partying and evening cocktails
• Peachy Queen: for bottomless bubbles and boujee cocktails
• Simmons: for cheap drinks, dancing and a fun atmosphere
• Be At One: for all ages wanting a dance and cocktails
• Le Fez: for late-late clubbing in Putney
• Putney Cheese and Wine: for date nights and romantic evenings
• The Vault: for casual or after-work drinks and a well-known ‘Putney Pie’
• Ghost Whale Craft beer: for casual after-work drinks

Want to continue your night after a few drinks in Putney? I recommend heading to Clapham. Clapham is the busiest late-night area close to Putney and is full of bars, clubs and pubs.

1) Tequila Mockingbird

📍Location: Lower Richmond Road, opposite the River Thames

🪩 Vibe: Late-night, cocktails and underground dancing

👠 Dress code: Smart casual. No sportswear/loungewear.

🥂 Menu: Cocktails and pizza

⏰ Opening times: Weekends 5pm – 2am | 5pm – 12am Weekdays

🆔 ID Needed? : Yes, scanned at the front of the bar

Tequila Mockingbird is one of the best bars in Putney for late-night drinks and dancing. Set across two floors, the top floor is perfect for chatting, drinking and catching up with friends.

If you want to dance, head downstairs for the underground club, DJs and dancefloor to party the night away.

Want more of a chilled drink? Head out to the Tequila Mockingbird beer garden set along the River Thames. To access it, you need to head into the main bar and downstairs.

2) Peachy Queen

📍Location: Putney High Street

🪩 Vibe: Cocktail bar, happy hours, chatting and drinking

👠 Dress code: Smart casual, no sportswear

🥂 Menu: Cocktails and bottomless deals

⏰ Opening times: Weekends 5pm – 2am | 5pm – 12am Weekdays

🆔 ID Needed? : Yes, checked by bouncers upon entry

Peachy Queen is a relatively new bar in Putney, located near the river and a few doors down from Tequila Mockingbird. Best for casual pre-drinks and a sit-down chat, the bar hosts happy hours and bottomless bubbles on certain days.

Decorated with pink glitz, neon lights and shimmering decor, it’s one of the best aesthetic bars in Putney for those wanting some glam Instagram pics.

3) Simmons

📍Location: Putney High Street, opposite ODEON cinema

🪩 Vibe: Party, dance floor, late-night, rooftop terrace drinking

👠 Dress code: Smart casual, no sportswear

🥂 Menu: Cocktails and alcoholic drinks

⏰ Opening times: 4pm – 12am Weekdays | 4pm – 2am Weekends

🆔 ID Needed? : Yes, checked by bouncers upon entry

Simmons is a chain that can be found all over London. Weekends tend to be Simmons’ busiest time, and you’ll often have to join a queue that stretches a few doors down.

With a dancefloor, rooftop terrace and party vibes, it’s one of the best bars in Putney for those wanting to pre-drink or dance the night away.

4) Be At One

📍Location: Putney High Street, opposite ODEON cinema

🪩 Vibe: Late-night drinking, cocktails and dancing

👠 Dress code: Smart casual, no sportswear

🥂 Menu: Cocktails and alcoholic drinks

⏰ Opening times: 12pm – 12am Weekdays | 12pm – 2am Weekends

🆔 ID Needed? : Yes, checked by bouncers upon entry

Be At One is another chain of bars across London, known for its eclectic cocktail-making and fun atmosphere. Staff will encourage you to try one of their 100+ cocktails, join in on the happy hours and party all night long.

“Home to the magic-making masters of mixology with an insatiable taste for wild nights out.” – Be At One website.

5) Le Fez

📍Location: Upper Richmond Road

🪩 Vibe: Late-night partying, dancefloor, clubbing

👠 Dress code: Smart casual, no sportswear

🥂 Menu: Drinks and cocktails only

⏰ Opening times: 8pm – 4am Weekends

🆔 ID Needed? : Yes, scanned at the front of the bar

💰 Entry fee required

Le Fez is the only late-late night club in Putney. Open until 4 a.m., it’s where you’ll head to after a few drinks at Tequila Mockingbird or Simmons.

As it’s more of a club than a bar, you can expect to pay a fee on arrival.

“French-inspired nightclub in Putney with cabaret glamour, word-class cocktails, secret bar & VIP guest list. Atmospheric late night bar in southwest London.” – Le Fez website.

6) Putney Cheese and Wine

📍Location: Upper Richmond Road, near East Putney Station

🪩 Vibe: Wine bar. Chatting and drinking, chilled, relaxed, romantic.

👠 Dress code: None

🥂 Menu: Wine, cheeses, cold meats

⏰ Opening times: 5pm – 11pm Weekdays | 4pm – 1am Weekends

🆔 ID Needed? : No, but you may be asked when purchasing alcohol

Putney Cheese and Wine is one of our favourite bars in Putney. With an atmospheric dark setting, the flickering of candles and hundreds of vintage wine bottles on show, it’s cosy, romantic and perfect for date nights.

7) The Vault

📍Location: Lower Richmond Road, next to Tequila Mockingbird

🪩 Vibe: Casual drinking

👠 Dress code: None

🥂 Menu: Beer, wine, pies (“Putney Pies”)

⏰ Opening times: 5pm – 11pm Weekdays | 12pm – 2am Weekends

🆔 ID Needed? : No, but you may be asked when purchasing alcohol

The Vault (aka Putney Pies) is a bar set along the River Thames. Serving traditional British food with local ingredients and a wide range of British beers and cocktails, The Vault is the perfect spot to catch up with friends or enjoy a few drinks before a night out.

The Vault is also a great spot for live music – expect DJs from Ibiza to accompany your beer and pie to get you in the mood to party! (Who knew pies and partying went so well together?!)

8) Ghost Whale Craft Beer

📍Location: Upper Richmond Road, near East Putney Station and the EPT pub

🪩 Vibe: Casual drinking

👠 Dress code: None

🥂 Menu: Craft beer

⏰ Opening times: 4pm – 11pm

🆔 ID Needed? : No, but you may be asked when purchasing alcohol

Another casual bar and eatery in Putney is the Ghost Whale craft beer bar. With eight craft beer lines, drinks are available to either drink in-store or to take home. The perfect bar for an after-work craft beer or catch-up.

Where to stay in Putney

If you’re visiting Putney for the first time and need a place to stay to check out the area, here are some of the best-located apartments and hotels.

• 3 Bedroom Private Apartment: for a cosy and quintessential apartment with garden space in the heart of Putney ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!

• Modern Flat on Putney High Street: the perfect location for travelling in and out of London on a daily basis! ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!

• 1 Bedroom flat with Patio: five minutes from the high street, this apartment is on the River Thames and has a beautiful setup! ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!

Getting around Putney

Southwest London isn’t as tricky to drive in as Central London, and most people in the area own a car. If you’re visiting for a short amount of time, it may be worth hiring a car to get around to some of the parks, attractions and museums. 

Putney is also only a short 15-minute train journey from London Waterloo, so it’s a great place to stay if you’re visiting the city for the first time.

If you’re looking to hire a car in London, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in London now!

If you don’t want to drive, there are regular trains until midnight and buses in Putney 24 hours a day. You can use your contactless card on both trains and buses in London. 

For cheap train tickets to and from London, check out Trainline. We book with them whenever we are leaving the city, and want to get to other locations in the UK (including airports). ➡ CHECK TRAIN PRICES NOW!

Bars in Putney: FAQs

1) Is Putney good for nightlife?

Putney has a great nightlife with many pubs, cocktail bars and even a late-late-night club (Fez). Whilst it’s not as chaotic as its neighbour Clapham, you can enjoy a good night out in Putney.

Some of the best social spots in Putney include Tequila Mockingbird (regular DJs and a dancefloor), Revs (aka Revolution), the East Putney Tavern (for live music) and Fez (for a night that goes past midnight).

2) Is Putney safe?

Yes, Putney is a safe area of London. As a female, I have never felt unsafe walking around Putney at night or even after midnight.

Of course, as anywhere, you have to be sensible and aware of your surroundings, but on the whole, Putney is a safe place to live. 

Locals are friendly, and there are lots of opportunities to join clubs and make friends.

Nightlife on the high street (especially Thursday-Saturday) can get busy; but attracts a more sensible crowd than its neighbours Kingston and Clapham.

Visiting London? Check out my post: Is London Safe for Solo Female Backpackers?

3) Is Putney worth a visit?

Yes, especially if you’re a fan of nature! Putney is full of parks and green spaces and has beautiful views of the river.

Whilst you’re close to Richmond Park and Putney Heath, you’re also surrounded by restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes. In my opinion, it’s one of the nicest areas in London!

Don’t forget travel insurance for Europe!

If you’re visiting Europe as a tourist, it is so important to have travel insurance.

As a full-time traveller and digital nomad, I recommend SafetyWing. From my own personal experience, I believe it is the best travel insurance on the market.

And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month!

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s frustrating to spend $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something does happen?

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Europe, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

If you’ve been putting off researching the best travel insurance companies, I get it, it takes a long time. But it’s my job to make your travels as easy and as successful as possible, so that’s why I’ve done all the hard work and research for you!

➡ Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Bars in Putney: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best bars in Putney! When you’re planning a trip to London, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently balancing travelling around the world and living in London with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more London content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇬🇧 Other Southwest London posts:

• Putney To Barnes: River Walks, Public Transport & More
• Walks Near Putney: Putney Heath, Putney River Walk & Beyond
• Shops in Putney: High Street, Supermarkets & Beyond
• BEST Things To Do In Putney London By A Local