Holiday Inn London - Bloomsbury by IHG

You wouldn't normally think to drink at a Holiday Inn, but this Bloomsbury spot breaks the mould entirely. Tucked away on Coram Street, just a stone's throw from Russell Square, the bar here feels more like a proper local than a corporate hotel afterthought. The cocktail menu is genuinely thoughtful, the bartenders know what they're doing, and the atmosphere manages to shake off that stale hotel lobby feeling completely. What works here is the unexpected warmth of the space and the fact that it draws a proper mix of locals, academics from nearby UCL, and the occasional hotel guest who's struck gold. The prices won't make your wallet weep, and you can actually have a conversation without shouting over terrible background music.