So, You’re Wondering What to Wear to a Cocktail Bar—7 Looks That Are Guaranteed to Spark Compliments

In my humble opinion, there’s truly no better venue to visit for a date, an overdue catch-up with a friend or an after-work drink than a cocktail bar.

Considerably more elevated than the local sticky-floored pub and significantly less stuffy than a ritzy restaurant, cocktail bars strike the perfect balance between elevated and approachable, making them an ideal setting for a tipple (or two). In London, a city brimming with sensual and sophisticated haunts, you really are spoiled for choice when it comes to this kind of establishment.

There’s the small-plate-style bars slinging glasses of pét-nat and orange wine alongside pieces of art resembling the works of Jean Cocteau; or the bibliotheque-esque spaces where an intimate environment is cultivated through a library of vinyl records lining chrome shelving. Even hidden gems, known only to neighbourhood locals, fast become a must-visit spot thanks to their moody interiors and secrecy of their façade once the internet catches wind of them. Of course, you can also find traditional places like the ones inside boutique hotel lobbies where bartenders in stiff white coats serve up dirty martinis that turn lethal after a few sips.

But irrespective of whether you begin or finish your evening in one of these bars, one of the skills you learn over time is what to wear. The very nature of cocktail bars makes them transient spaces that can attract a vast clientele. In turn, they cultivate an expansive array of looks that showcase every facet of the "going out" outfit spectrum. Between plush stools and cosy corners, you’ll see everything from the quintessential "jeans and a nice top" to chintzy party dresses made for dancing.

However, if you’re looking for a few guiding principles, I can confidently assert that silhouettes are far more sensual and dressier than what you’d find elsewhere. Dressing with ease and elegance is paramount when it comes to piecing together something to wear to a cocktail bar, meaning that the ensembles that fit this vibe can range from low-rise jeans with a boxy knitted jumper and pointed-toe boots to satin miniskirts, soft ballet flats and a plunging halterneck.

Of course, it’s easy to conflate a cocktail bar with cocktail attire, but it doesn’t have to be this prescriptive. Outfits can be softer and more fluid than the prim and polished pieces you’d wear to a lavish soirée. To prove that point entirely, I’ve compiled seven outfits that define the rules of occasion and will inspire your next cocktail-bar outfit. To take the guesswork out of it, so the only thing for you to decide is between ordering an espresso martini or a glass of red, scroll through for a definitive answer to what to wear to a cocktail bar.

What to Wear to a Cocktail Bar? 7 Outfits to Get the Look

1. Oversized Blazer + Sheer Tights + Choker Necklace

Style Notes: A little sexy but entirely sophisticated, Hailey Bieber’s oversized blazer dress is the epitome of dressing polished and elevated. Though her exact piece is a bespoke Saint Laurent designed by Anthony Vaccarello for the 2025 Met Gala, you certainly don’t need to be as well-heeled as the Rhode founder to be as well-dressed as her. Embracing tailoring all about perfecting proportions, so look for something that either dominates your frame, like Bieber has here with her oversized lapel and structured shoulders, or moulds to it, similar to the custom Chanel hot pants and tuxedo shirt Kristen Stewart wore to the 2022 Oscars.

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2. Little Black Dress + Pointed-Toe Pumps + Delicate Hoops

Style Notes: A little black dress has been a staple of cocktail functions since Coco Chanel conjured up the silhouette in the 1920s. "Nothing is more difficult to make than a little black dress," the French designer said of her trademark, alluding to the fact that stripping back the silhouette to a singular shade and shape requires far more skill to make it look sophisticated. But a century later, it’s proof that clean lines, a commanding tone and refined fit will always be the height of chic, especially when the look is paired with a champagne flute as an accessory. As she also espoused, "Fashion passes, style is eternal."

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3. Sheer Tank Top + Straight-Leg Trousers + Open-Toe Mules

Style Notes: A look that is a cocktail-bar mainstay, Heaven Mayhem founder Pia Mance proves that impressive and compliment-earning attire can sometimes be an exercise in constraint. Whilst it's easy to overcompensate when putting together a cocktail-bar outfit because the venue's essence often makes it difficult to know exactly what to dress for, stripping things back to the bare necessities is often the best route. A liquid-effect tank top with fabric that moves like moonlight over water and razor-sharp trousers are unfussy but still incredibly enchanting. Less truly is more, and often will leave you with an air of mystique that will have people remembering you long after you’ve left the room.

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4. Roll-Neck Top + Lace Midi Skirt + Slingbacks

Style Notes: The French fashion philosophy of la séduction voilée, or the veiled seduction, is something that always lends itself to a cocktail bar setting. For the uninitiated, the term refers to the art of concealing and revealing the body with finesse. Though cocktail bars are an opportunity to go slightly more scantily clad, the act of doing so should be exercised with refinement and consideration. The contrast between what’s on display and what’s hidden is part of the je ne sais quoi that makes these women so magnetic. But it can also be easily replicated if you know what you’re looking for. For those curious about where to begin, make like Parisienne content creator Emmanuelle Koffi and opt for a stretchy turtleneck, glossy slingbacks and sheer lace skirt.

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5. Distressed Leather Jacket + Satin Minidress + Drop Earrings

Style Notes: As I mentioned earlier, cocktail attire is not the same as what you’d wear to a cocktail bar. Whilst the name suggests a correlation between the two, you can rest assured that the semi-formal dress code doesn’t have to be adhered to when you’re just ducking out for a round of spicy margaritas with your girlfriends. That’s not to say that you should dress casually, but that you can be a bit more experimental with the definitions of what’s considered ornate and orthodox. Take London tastemaker Lucy Williams, for instance. Subverting traditional codes, she mixes the delicateness and softness of a silky slip dress with the structure and roughness of a distressed leather jacket. Think Marie Antoinette meets The Bikeriders.

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6. Fur-Trim Jacket + High-Waisted Jeans + Vanity Bag

Style Notes: This wouldn’t be a guide of what to wear to a cocktail bar without mentioning the perennially appropriate "jeans and a nice top" outfit formula. Serving women for decades, the template is rudimentary but refined. Simply put, it involves wearing your favourite pair of jeans with a blouse, top or jacket that can be considered slightly more dressy. From satin shirts, including the ones featured in M&S’s sold-out collaboration with 16Arlington, to fur-trimmed jackets, like the style seen here on influencer Emma Rose Léger, reach for your preferred pair of baby blues and a more elegant top to achieve the ultimate cocktail-bar outfit.

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7. Long-Sleeved Shirt + Graphic Pencil Skirt + Knee-High Boots

Style Notes: Depending on your cocktail bar of choice, there’s also the option to wear something slightly more artistically inclined and languid. Listening bars like London Fields' Bambi or Stoke Newington’s Next Door Records are exercises in community and culture where the sonic landscape is just as, if not more, important than an impressive cocktail list. As a result, looks can lean more contemporary and minimal.

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