The bar scene in Shoreditch, arguably the hub of East London, has become the stuff of legend over the past fifteen or so years. Some of the venues below are regularly named among the world’s best cocktail bars, while others offer some pretty outrageous décor and decadent vibes that unforgettable nights out are made of. Why not start your evening at one of these excellent Shoreditch restaurants and continue the party on a bar crawl at one of the snazzy Shoreditch bars listed below? Here’s the Secret London lowdown of the best bars in Shoreditch:
1. Tonight Josephine
Resplendent in neon, glitter, mirror and chrome, Tonight Josephine’s throwback ’80s vibes make it the perfect Shoreditch bar for a big night out. The bar’s was inspired by the first Empress of France, Josephine de Beauharnais, the famed nineteenth-century party animal and wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. She famously talked herself out of an appointment with the guillotine and was, in no uncertain terms, a bit of a badass and the ‘it girl’ of her time.
Her inspiration can be found all over this gaff, which has a some pretty wild décor and cocktails with names such as ‘No Time for Napoleon’ and ‘Spill the Tea’. There’s also a sister venue in Waterloo which offers Britney and Moulin Rouge-themed bottomless brunches if you’re in that area of town.
39A Hoxton Square, N1 6NN.
2. Nightjar
Set underground behind some unassuming double wooden doors, the very successful Nightjar awaits in its dimly-lit glory. Drawing influences from all over the world, this chic, speakeasy-style spot has a seemingly endless menu of cocktails, split into pre-prohibition, prohibition and post-war categories. They also have a range of ‘Nightjar Signatures’, which include drinks with names such as ‘Tickle my Fancy’, ‘London Mule’ and ‘Name of the Samurai’. The bar aims for stylish sophistication and hits it pretty much bang on the mark. Swinging jazz nights also help to draw in the cool cats at this gem; one of the best bars in Shoreditch. Find out more here.
129 City Road, EC1V 1JB.
3. Cocktail Trading Co.
Known for some of London’s craziest cocktails, the award-winning Cocktail Trading Co. is a bubble of Instagrammability. We’re talking drinks served in conch shells, hot air balloons and an Adonis bottle – and that’s only the beginning. There’s also a background soundtrack of rock’n’roll tunes as well as free monkey nuts on tap – what more could you ask for?! Get in on the fun here.
68 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6GQ.
4. Happiness Forgets
‘Great cocktails, no wallies‘ is the mantra of the speakeasy-style Happiness Forgets, and they do both pretty expertly we have to say. Though it may look like an unassuming little place from the outside, the quality cocktails at this hip Shoreditch bar routinely earns it a place on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, and it even cracked the top ten in 2016. They also recently opened a sister venue, ‘Everafter’, just around the corner – surely another contender to add to the list of the best bars in Shoreditch list. Find out more about Happiness Forgets here.
8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU.
5. Nikki’s Bar
Inspired by ‘the nightmare girlfriend your mum warned you about’, Nikki’s is a place to get ‘lit’ and where hedonism reigns. Haters and hangups should both be left at the door for this one, because you never know where the night will take you. Drawing kitschy influences from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, amongst others, Nikki’s promises outlandishly trashy décor splashed with colour. They’re also sticking a bed in the middle of the bar – purely for the purposes of lounging around and giving zero f**ks, mind you. See if it’s the right pad for you to party the night away here.
39A Hoxton Square, N1 6NN.
6. Callooh Callay
O frabjous day! Named after a line from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’, Callooh Callay has drinks that will make you chortle with joy. The intriguingly titled Gorilla Panic catches the eye, whilst the Saint Hellier looks strong enough to take down a frumious Bandersnatch. They’ve been named among Drinks International’s list of the world’s 50 best bars four times, and they also offer a range of cocktail-making masterclasses with their expert bartenders – we’ll cheers to that! It’s all of this which made us have to add Callooh Callay to this list of the best bars in Shoreditch.
5 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AY.
7. The Gibson
A step through The Gibson’s Art Deco-style swing doors is a step into a time machine. Both its interiors and its cocktail menu will take you on a journey through the ages: from the Edwardian era, passing through the glamorous twenties and thirties, and flinging you forward into the future. The bar only seats up to forty people, and there’s often live jazz playing from a corner. But it’s the drinks that people come for. Made by some of the best bartenders in the world, the cocktails are, well, some of the best in the world. The classic Gibson gin cocktail – the bar’s namesake – is their speciality, of course. Choose your tipple of choice here.
44 Old Street, EC1V 9AQ.
8. Ballie Ballerson
Feeling ballsy? This ludicrously–named bar invites you to dive into a pool of 1,000,000 balls while drinking sweet shop-inspired cocktails, including the ‘Dibbie Dabberson’, ‘Hubba Hubba Bubba’ and the ‘Skittle Sour’. (OK, you aren’t actually allowed to takes drinks in the ball pool.) They also offer a range of bottomless brunches and even a full moon party – Koh Phangan in Shoreditch, anyone? Get in on the fun here.
97-113 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS.
9. Lounge Bohemia
Lounge Bohemia doesn’t sound particularly inviting if we describe it as “a bar beneath a greasy kebab shop that’s inspired by communist Prague.” Which is exactly what it is. But it’s the drinks that you stay for. They go all in for molecular mixology, with drinks bubbling, smoking, and even arriving in non-liquid forms. For instance, the wonderful Bearllinis (fizzy bellini flavoured gummy bears) are well worth trying. Other cocktails come served in lightbulbs, toothpaste tubes, or even a bubbling volcano.
1e Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3EJ.
10. Boundary Rooftop
This is definitely one of the best bars in Shoreditch. Open all year round and fully protected from the weather, the popular rooftop bar at Boundary Rooftop is an elevated hot spot overlooking the streets of East London. As well as having ideal coverage and heating in the winter, they also adapt the food menu to warm the cockles of your chilly heart. We’re talking hot, gooey fondue and raclette for a lovely spot of alfresco dining.
2-4 Boundary Street, E2 7DD.
11. Barrio Shoreditch
Looking for a slice of Latin America in Shoreditch? Look no further then than this neat spot, which brings Latino vibes in the shape of salsa dancing, reggaton and kick-ass cocktails. Tapas-style street food will take you on a journey from Mexico to Colombia, and you’ll also be able to indulge in ice-cold Caipirinhas – Brazil’s national cocktail – as well as Pacifico beers, tequila and mezcal concoctions and a Havana-style rum cocktail with Amaretto and white chocolate. Don’t miss out on their La Isla Bonita brunch, which offers bottomless bubbles, beers or cocktails, two course and plenty of 80s music. Think Madonna meets Club Tropicana meets Miami Vice.
141-143 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JE.
12. The Book Club
Contrary to what the name might suggest, The Book Club is, in fact, a lively place for a good old boogie. Join them for ‘The Get Down’ every Friday night, where resident DJ Smalls will be mixing all sorts of R&B, hip hop, disco, funk, and soul classics. They also offer some mean cocktails as well as noughties, carnival and comedy nights. Gin and tonic fans shouldn’t miss out on their G&T socials, where you can get double G&Ts for just a fiver – you can’t say better than that.
100-106 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH.
13. Queen of Hoxton
Queen of Hoxton is another great place for dancing into the early hours and a strong contender for being one of the best bars in Shoreditch, but it’s mainly known for its rooftop. This changes seasonally but last year it was decked out to look like an Alice in Wonderland-themed spot. Think a covered wigwam, fire pits aplenty, piping hot drinks, signature cocktails, burgers and a hell of a lot of magic.
1-5 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX.
14. Mikkeller
This beer bar, believe it or not, is part-owned by pop musician Rick Astley. The partnership began when Mikkeller founder Mikkel (a big Astley fan) was introduced to Astley (a big beer fan) by the singer’s Danish wife. It’s Mikkeller’s first UK bar, although they have many others dotted about in Copenhagen, New York and San Diego. The interiors are deliciously Danish, with lots of wood and bold colours to complement the array of beer taps. There are currently 18 beers on tap, so you’re bound to find something that takes your fancy. Read more about it here.
2-4 Hackney Road, E2 7NS.
15. Looking Glass Cocktail Club
Hackney Road’s Looking Glass Cocktail Club is Alice in Wonderland-themed and bills itself as a ‘haven of debauchery’ – and that’s before you see the list of absinthe they’ve got on offer. To enter, you’ll have to step through a looking glass (AKA a big mirror) and you’re likely to be there until the early hours – well 3am to be precise – cocktail in hand.
49 Hackney Road, E2 7NX.
16. Duo Shoreditch
Famous for its creative range of cocktails and sophisticated atmosphere, DUO Shoreditch is well worth a visit when you’re in Shoreditch. They do a bottomless brunch with prosecco and added waffles, as well as a ‘Made in Manhattan’ afternoon tea – both are well worth trying we might add – and there are a whole host of pastel-coloured backdrops which are ripe for snaps for the old Instagram. This chic little spot also does happy hour for three hours from Sundays through to Thursdays – on Tuesdays cocktails are a fiver in the words of Lionel Richie, ‘all night long’.
45-47 Hoxton Square, London N1 6PD.
17. Black Rock
This bar has a very unique selling point, and it comes in the form of a massive 185-year-old oak tree filled with rivers of whisky. We’re not kidding. They’ve taken a trunk, laid it on its side and chopped it in half, chiselled two channels down its length and filled them both with 17 litres of whisky cocktails. The tree is then covered with glass and used as a table. The drinks age as they sit in the trunk, and are delivered straight to your glass through taps at the end. There’s also a blending room which you can visit, as well as an informal beer bar which is loosely-based on a traditional Japanese Izakaya pub. Given all this, it’s no wonder that Black Rock features in this list of the best bars in Shoreditch.
9 Christopher Street, EC2A 2BS.
18. Bull in a China Shop
Bull in a China Shop has over 100 Japanese and Scotch whiskies behind the bar, claiming to have something for everyone – even the most insistent whisky sceptics. They also have a magnificent list of signature cocktails, such as the chamomile and charcoal Old-Fashioned. The popcorn chicken is also pretty darn good washed down with a glass or two of traditional Japanese whisky, and the bartenders are dab hands at knowing which whisky you’d be suited to.
196 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6LG.
19. TT Liquor
Nobody wants to end up in jail, but what if we told you you could come and go as you please and drink as much booze as you like? TT Liquor on Kingsland Road is an old Victorian police station, converted into a three-storey haven dedicated entirely to high-quality liquor and some damn good cocktails. If you were just walking past, you’d probably mistake it for a humble old liquor store (and we wouldn’t blame you) but, lo and behold, if you had just popped in and made your way downstairs… TT Liquor is more than just a store or a bar, it’s a bit of history and a whole lot of fun.
17B Kingsland Road, E2 8AA.
20. Old Street Records
Time spent at Old Street Records will be some of your happiest hours, mostly because they have a wicked 2-4-1 offer on their cocktails between 5-8pm every day. It’s also a great place for pizza and partying into the early hours. House cocktails are under a tenner, and there are regular DJ sets and live music events to keep you up on your feet.
350-354 Old Street, EC1V 9NQ.
21. Found
You’ll find Found hidden beneath *ahem*, Ravey Street. It’s a cosy bar spread across four rooms with a menu a range of different cocktails for each of the major spirits (as well as a ‘lucky number seven’ for showing off any recent experiments). They pride themselves on great drinks and great service, and we’re pretty confident that that’s exactly what you’ll find.
5 Ravey Steet, EC2A 4QW.
22. Junction East
‘Loose lips sink ships’ – or so they say anyway. This fun and colourful bar is decked out in various neon signs akin to this slogan, and the fruity cocktails and pumping tunes just add to the atmosphere. DJs spin a range of tunes until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and they do happy hour on cocktails, beer and wine from 5-8pm. If you’re looking to explore more of Shoreditch’s raucous nightlife, you can also join a pub crawl from here and drink the night away!
1 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AA.
23. Tayēr + Elementary
Voted as number two in 2021’s list of the 50 best bars in the world, this chic, Scandic-style spot was a must for our rundown of the best bars in Shoreditch. A bar of two halves – the first of which is Tayēr and the second Elementary – this is a spot in which you can have two completely different experiences depending on where you choose to sit. Elementary is light and lit by floor-to-ceiling windows – Tayēr is darker and moodier, offering a cosy date spot. Both offer – as to be expected – exquisite cocktails.
152 Old St, London EC1V 9BW.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best bars in Shoreditch. So strap in and get ready to enjoy a night on the tiles – cheers!
Also published on Medium.