For a fairly small area in London’s east end, Shoreditch is absolutely packed with eating and drinking establishments of all shapes and sizes. With its rising vegan food scene and humble coffee shops, this cultural melting pot will take you to pretty much every corner of the globe, feeding and watering its guests with the ferocious hospitality of an Irish grandmother. And one thing Shoreditch doesn’t come up short on is its bottomless brunches and cocktails bars. When it comes to the latter, there are a lot to choose from, so here are some of our favourites that we’ve chosen for their impeccable flavours, Instagram-worthy presentation and lively atmospheres with live music and great food to boot.
Callooh Callay is a quirky Lewis Carroll themed cocktail bar with a number of impressive awards under its belt, including best cocktail menu and one of the world’s 50 best bars. Don’t expect to find a mojito or a Tom Collins here, a bar inspired by Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem ‘The Jabberwockey’ was never going to deliver a simple menu. But it delivers unforgettable cocktails nonetheless. Why not start with a ‘Builder’s Breakfast’ which includes three types of rum, lemon sherbet and tea syrup. Most curious.
Average cocktail price: £11
This Brick Lane cocktail bar’s interiors are as pretty to look at as its cocktails. Every last detail has been considered with The Cocktail Trading Co. and they deliver an experience that goes far beyond a drink in a glass. Make your order and expect it to arrive at your table in all manner of vessels including a wellington boot, a conch shell and even a chinese takeaway box. The best thing about this place is that the theatrics don’t take away from the flavour, each cocktail is made by mixologists who love their craft, and it shows.
In fact, the bar staff here love what they do so much that they want to share it with their guests in the form of masterclasses and even professional bar school. Offering bespoke one-to-one sessions or larger group events for hen and stag parties, The Cocktail Trading Co. is where it’s at, not just for drinking cocktails but learning how they’re made too.
Average cocktail price: All cocktails are £9.50
This speakeasy style cocktail bar serves beautifully presented drinks to the tune of live jazz and swing music in true 1920s style. This hidden, underground haunt is table service only and offers a delightful range of bar snacks and small plates to share with friends, including burgers, juicy chicken wings and crispy croquettes. But as delicious as they may be, there’s no mistaking the real star of the show at Nightjar, and that’s it’s truly beautiful cocktails.
The Hennessey Fish-House Punch is a winner with its delightful cherry liqueur and cherry beer foam. While the Sao Paulo Swizzle offers a tangy punch in the form of geranium agave and Empirical Spirits. Every drink here is an artistic masterpiece to be marvelled before your lips even touch the glass.
Average cocktail price: £12
Widely recognised as Shoreditch’s best whiskey bar, Black Rock is award-winning for its specialist offering and there’s no surprise why. Not only is this bar memorable for its choice of hundreds of fine whiskeys, but also for its statement oak tree table running down the middle of the seating area which has been riveted with two tunnels filled with whiskey that can be poured directly from taps at the end. It’s a showstopper and certainly a conversation starter for anyone on a first date. Whether you prefer your whiskey on the rocks or mixed into a cocktail, the expert bar staff at Black Rock can cater for almost all requests.
Average cocktail price: £12
With a strapline like ‘Cocktails Forever’, Tonight Josephine stole our hearts from the get-go. The combination of this Shoreditch cocktail bar’s bright and funky interiors with classic crowd-pleaser cocktails make Tonight Josephine a dream for social butterflies and Instagrammers alike. Serving all-time favourites such as Aperol Spritz and Long Island Iced Tea along with more inventive mixes like a Pisco Inferno, a sweet blend of pisco, passion fruit and ginger ale – served in a disco ball, you know you’re in for a great night. Get there before 7pm Sunday-Friday and make the most of two for one cocktails, peroni or prosecco.
Average cocktail price: £10
Taking pride in its humble basement setting, Happiness Forgets shouldn’t be mistaken for anything less than exceptional in quality. Serving traditional favourites such as negronis and espresso martinis along with some more unheard of choices, this intimate cocktail bar offers a vivacious yet cosy vibe with its lively music ranging various decades in just a handful of tracks and its friendly bar staff that are more than happy to accommodate an order whether it’s on the menu or not. Perfect for a catch up with friends or a romantic evening.
Average cocktail price: £9.50
Head to any of these and you’ll have an incredible night, but you may need some recuperation come the morning. That’s where Shoreditch comes into its own – check out our favourite coffee shops in Shoreditch: you might enter with a hangover; but you’re bound to leave without one.
Planning to visit one of our favourite cocktail bars in Shoreditch? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Instagram and tag #marshandparsons in your best insta-worthy cocktail shots.
And if you’re thinking of moving to the area, or want to find out more about doing so, get in touch with one of our Islington & Shoreditch estate agents today.
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