Park Plaza London Riverbank

You're not here for groundbreaking mixology – you're here because this spot serves up some of the best river views in South London without the Shard's eye-watering prices. The bar sits right on Albert Embankment, meaning you get proper postcard shots of Westminster and Big Ben while nursing a perfectly serviceable G&T. The cocktail menu won't win awards but it's solid enough, and the staff actually know what they're doing behind the bar. What sets this place apart from other hotel bars is that it feels less corporate and more like somewhere you'd actually bring mates for drinks. The terrace is the real winner when weather permits – grab a spot outside and watch the Thames traffic drift by while the sun sets behind Parliament.