Best bars in Shoreditch

Get your fill in these east London drinking institutions 
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David Ellis @dvh_ellis4 October 2017

Hawksmoor

157A Commercial St, E1 6BJ, thehawksmoor.com

It’s hardly surprising the bar snacks are a highlight here – have the oxcheek nuggets with a side of chips, then call the waiter over to order them over again – given how good the steak upstairs is. The drinks and setting, though, match them pound for pound. The old tube tiles on the walls, the beautiful parquet floor, the copper tops and silvery black ceiling make the large space a place to settle in for the night no matter your seat, while the cocktails come with oodles of thought in each one: the new menu has homemade bitters, shrubs and syrups, and it’s bloody obvious everyone behind the bar is more than a little nerdy about building drinks. Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew is the classic, so have it, but follow up with the Shadow Boxer, a mix of scotch, sherry and Fernet-Branca. Odd, oddly delicious. It’s also a cracking place to sit for a bottle of wine.

Peg + Patriot

Patriot Square, E2 9NF, talentedmrfox.com

The Talented Mr Fox, Matt Whiley, offers is a nice blend of things here: while the menu takes a sophisticated trip around London, with each cocktail a column of flavour, some managing chameleonic taste all within the space of a sip, the actual bar is surprisingly spare and understated. The effect is such that while drinks are upmarket, one doesn’t feel obliged to sit demurely to enjoy them. Relax, have a few – you might want to, as the serves aren’t huge. It should be said that these cocktails are among London’s most interesting, rather than London’s best: they are talking points, oddities, they put flavours together in a way that isn’t available elsewhere. If you’re big on trying new things, different experiences, seeing what a cocktail can do, come, it’s a must. If it’s just something reliably delicious you fancy, elsewhere may be better.

Below the Smoke at Rök Smokehouse

Rök Smokehouse, 26 Curtain Road, EC2A 3NY, roklondon.co.uk

Matt Whiley strikes again; he’s pieced together a list that draws in the Scandinavian influences from the Scandinavian restaurant upstairs, with drinks built using same techniques, like brining, pickling and smoking. It’s a small spot, a bit of a holding pen, and tables are small and mostly just for two. It isn’t a romantic spot, but could serve nicely for a relaxed date night, or a catch-up with friends. Food is absolutely first rate; be sure to eat as you work through the curious but delicious drinks list.

Joyeux Bordel

147 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3QE, joyeuxbordel.com

Even though this speakeasy-style bar offers nothing new, it's an undeniably good place to drink a proper cocktail. Once you've made it past the heavies at the door, you'll find all the usual ingredients of an Experimental Group bar: dark wood panelling, sumptuous velvet-clad seating and a shiny bar as the centre-piece. The drinks are excellent and not badly priced by London standards, and the bar is a dark and sultry minx designed for romantic trysts. Cosy up on the velvet booths and you'll feel like it's just the two of you – it's table service so you won't have to leave each other even for a minute. Kate Lough

Scout

93 Great Eastern St, EC2A 3JD, scout.bar

Scout manages to be both peak EC1 and an antidote to it: it has all the hallmarks of Shoreditch bars – faintly pointless concept, sparse interior, men with beards – but, unlike flimsy pretenders serving watery mezcal margaritas down the road, there is skill and care here, no marketing hype, no smoke and mirrors. The drinks are weird as hell, coming from Matt Whiley, the man who’s changed your drinking even if you don’t realise it, but there’s gold here. Whiley has created interesting, innovative drinks unlike anything else in London. They may be a little technical, but try them, or ask for help: staff are friendly, talkative and knowledgeable, but they don’t show off the way your mate’s boyfriend does. Oh, and don’t miss the food; some of it is extraordinary.

Worship Street Whistling Shop

63 Worship St, EC2A 2DU, whistlingshop.com

One presumes the staff here have night vision, otherwise it’s a complete and utter mystery how they see customers, let alone their ingredients. Still, they must do, for the output is pretty much excellent through and through at this dark spot. It’s Victorian-inspired, which sounds tired and not a little tacky, but the gang from Purl have done it properly. Drinks are busy – lots of fusions, blends, gasses and pressure and all sorts – so it’s appropriate they come out of a lab. Still, all this engineering seems to be worth it, as the drinks slip down easily, the alcohol often hidden away. Make sure to take a seat in the Dram Shop, and pop in to the Gin Closet too, which operates as an honesty bar.

Happiness Forgets

8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, happinessforgets.com

Don’t expect frills and fuss or the rest of it here: Happiness Forgets is cocktail bar distilled down to its very essence, and done very well – their tag “High End Cocktails/Low End Rent” sums it up best. The bartenders are all top drawer, and their creations impeccable. Unsurprisingly, this Hoxton space has its regulars, so the crowd is always good. Tables can be booked, but half are always kept for walk-ins: try your luck, it’s worth it.

Bull In A China Shop

196 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6LG, bullinachinashop.london

Truth it, you’ll need to catch this place on a good night, as we’ve been in often enough to know it has its good nights and its ‘meh’ nights. But when the place is on, it’s really cooking, and easily one of the best bars in town. The cocktail list is short, but thought through, and care is taken in even the small things: they even make sure the water glasses are chilled. The chamomile and charcoal Old-Fashioned is a must, and any whisky lovers should get chatting to the bar staff, as they’ve bottles which aren’t available anywhere else in the capital.

Old Street Records

350-354 Old St, EC2A 3QY, oldstreetrecords.com

This place is fun, and they deliver it in spades. They've kitted the bar out nicely, with a very respectable array of spirits and a cracking selection of craft beer, so it's little suprise the place gets packed early, and stays filled late into the night. Come to eat lots of pizza, drink plenty, and then dance to whoever’s on that night. Later, head downstairs and dance a little more, where the vibe is a tad more clubby. Old Street is loud – your witty conversation is going to get swallowed up by the speakers – so come along and be equally loud too. It’s not flippant for us to say: have whatever the hell you like. This isn’t a place for haute mixology – the people tending the bar are, well, good and proper bartenders, not would-be scientists with a drink problem.

Callooh Callay

65 Rivington St, EC2A 3AY, calloohcallaybar.com

Eccentric doesn’t seem to quite cover it: enter the surreal world of Callooh Callay through an old Victorian wardrobe, catch sight of a throne and order punch out of a gramophone from a menu that’s more of a sticker book. It sounds a bit ridiculous, but the bartenders really know their stuff, so for all the quirks, drinks are fundamentally pretty excellent. On the weekends, it’s a party bar, and DJs spin music to match: you’re here for a good time. Any detectives in your gang will find there are two extra rooms in Callooh Callay to explore – they’re hidden away, too, naturally. If you’re good, you might even get an invite upstairs to the Jub Jub Room, where the 10-long cocktail list changes every three weeks. Fans should also head to their new offering in Angel, Little Bat.​

Nightjar

129 City Rd, EC1V 1JB, barnightjar.com

Nightjar has fame which means writing about it is redundant: people think it marvellously good, and they’ve live music most of the week. It’s seating only and worth booking: just be sure not to be a no show on the night, or they’ll charge £10 per person (you can cancel up to 1pm on the same day without paying anything). They do the speakeasy theme, but well enough that it isn’t too tired yet, and have plenty of old school style on the list. Pick up a pack of cards from the bar on your way out.

Flight Club

2 A Worship St, EC2A 2AH, flightclubdarts.com

Fancy a round of darts with your drinks? And no, we don’t mean grabbing a pint, a packet of cigarettes, shaving your head and putting on weight. True to its neighbourhood, Flight Club is a decidedly east London take on the old game, complete with a scoreboard designed by a rocket scientist. They’ve got plenty of classic cocktails, a solid beer selection and the games are great fun.

Bounce

241 Old St, EC1V 9EY, bouncepingpong.com

There are two Bounce bars, one on Old Street and one on Holborn. The Old Street spot is a little more fun, graffiti adorning the walls,the Holborn spot somewhat more upmarket. Still, they both deserve a mention, and for the simple reason they’re damned good fun. Drinks here are good, with a decent spirit selection at both (and a huge number of gins in Farringdon) and a respectable selection of beers. Food is fine, simple. Still, you come to play ping pong. They’ve tables everywhere. There’s little to fault with Bounce: it’s a laugh, and sometimes that’s all somewhere needs to be.

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