SL Approved: London Based Rum Bars

October 19, 2016

At Saint Luke we're all about capturing the holiday spirit to get you in the mood for rum in your glass and sand between your toes! As the nights start to draw in and the temperature drops, we've decided to share with you some of our favourite London based tropical rum bars to keep your spirits high and your whistles wet.

THE RUM KITCHEN

The Rum Kitchen is a Caribbean eatery that bends the rules. Focusing on Caribbean beach shack drinks with travel inspired flavours, these guys bring the Caribbean good life to London. Now with three locations in Notting Hill, Brixton and Carnaby Street - you're never far from a mojito. Their Notting Hill venue has just had a revamp with the downstairs basement club transformed into a cocktail lounge. They’ve also bumped up their rum collection to 200 rare bottles which has made the shortlist of trade mag Imbibe's Rum List of The Year.

BUSTER MANTIS

Located down a little alleyway just off Deptford High Street, spread over two railway arches underneath the platforms of Deptford rail station, Buster Mantis is a small independent family business, whose owners have lived between Jamaica and London for the last 60 years. Buster Mantis takes its name from the first prime minister of Jamaica, Sir Alexander Bustamante, who was instrumental in establishing the country's independence. We can recommend the rum punch!

BURLOCK

According to Burlock, their name originates from the prohibition era when Rum Runners used a twine and hemp packaging nicknamed "Burlock" to move their rum. Nowadays, it's the name given to this central London based shabby chic rum bar. Burlock is home to an eclectic mix of antique furniture, mismatched wallpaper, and several tattooed staff with their 200 different Caribbean rums behind the counter. It's an intimate place, with a Havana style barber shop in the corner, where you can sip your rum from a retro dryer chair.

COTTONS RHUM SHACK

All three Cottons bars are oozing in exotic and colourful Caribbean vibes, with tropical beach and jungle murals adorning the walls of two of the three venues. Their Camden branch is home to the biggest selection of rum in the UK with over 300 varieties to work your way through. It's all very no-fuss, with simple tin chairs, fairy lights and wooden floorboard walls. If it wasn't for the chilly London climate, you could believe you're pitched up in a road-side Caribbean booze shack.

TRAILER HAPPINESS

This hidden tiki basement bar on Portobello Road is like walking into a 70s living room, with wood panel walls, patterned rugs and shabby curtains. With one of the best rum line ups in town, their cocktail list is outrageous and flamboyantly tiki — expect lots of umbrellas and drinks served in coconuts & pineapples.