Best Bars in East London

Charming drinkers with giant maypoles, wicker masks and brass icons galore, Hand Of Glory is serving up something a little different. Plonk yourself at a table and prepare for a feast; there's a rotating menu of culinary delights and plenty of ciders, craft beers and home-infused gins.

Head over to Liverpool Street where this unique cocktail spot is fronting a massive range of quality mixes for you to enjoy. And if you're looking to get more hands-on with your drinks? They've also got a fun and phenomenal masterclass.

Fun East London bars? Barrio has got to be one of the most entertaining party spots and a brilliant place to let your hair down whilst enjoying delicious cocktails. With South American-themed drinks and colourful furnishings, this hangout's a strong shout for an after-work drink or two.  

With a speakeasy style, plush velvet furnishings and an exciting cocktail menu, Casa Blue is fantastic multifaceted pub. Whether you're in need of somewhere for a catch-up or a fun night out, this place has got you sorted.

East London may be a hubbub of industrial culture and clubs, but there's one bar keeping things strictly vintage. Harking back to the days of prohibition, The Bootlegger is a hidden speakeasy serving up potent cocktails and live jazz nights.

Apples and Pears is a cocktail bar in East London that merges relaxed evenings with raucous club nights. Along with various live music performances during the week, the hangout also plays a range of funk, soul and old school hip hop songs.

The Hoxton Seven is a cracking late-night bar with a lively air and some fruity drinks to boot. Slink downstairs to the basement where DJs set the vibe with classic dance tunes to get the party started or head over earlier and hit up their happy hour.

Undoubtedly one of the best bars in East London, Callooh Callay is an experimental cocktail haunt. Boasting renowned signature tipples, a great atmosphere and a gorgeous secret room, this beauty is perfect for a date night.

Hidden behind an actual working Mac repair shop, this unique London cocktail bar is one of the city's most unique hidden watering holes. Specialising in herbal elements and foraged ingredients, it's a stunning place for those looking for a more unusual sipping experience.

Trapeze is a popular choice for nights out in Shoreditch, with quirky decor and popping tunes to keep you dancing till the early hours. On the ground floor, you'll find a creative cocktail list and impressive circus performances, while downstairs you'll encounter some of the finest DJs every weekend.

Where to drink in East London? On the corner of Hoxton Square, Gigi's is a popular choice, bringing you a winning combination of eating, drinking and dancing. A top spot for a night out with friends, this one's known for hosting big names such as Kraftwerk and Little Mix.

Jin Bo Law is one of Aldgate's prettiest bars, both inside and out. Located on the 14th floor of Dorsett City Hotel, the sky-high stunner has a summer-perfect roof terrace, bright and colourful interiors and an all-too-drinkable cocktail list.

With a sophisticated interior and two beautiful outdoor spaces, Devonshire Terrace is one of the best places to drink in East London. The wine menu is the main attraction with a huge selection to choose from, whilst the chic decor will make any night or day feel exclusive.

When it comes to cheap drinks in East London, you can't beat Simmons. The kitsch Liverpool Street boozer has award-winning happy hours that'll have you sipping on £2.50 G&Ts and bottles of beer from 4pm to 6pm everyday, except Saturday.

Going from bright and colourful art-clad walls to broody low-lit nooks, Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes has a regularly changing interior. Cool decor is paired with unusual serves, seasonal cocktails and a buzzy atmosphere that only intensifies come the weekend when the party moves downstairs.

This East London bar is a Brick Lane favourite, boasting a wide array of cocktails, beers and wines, as well as a large alfresco terrace space. Enjoy some alfresco boozing during the day before listening to talented DJs spin a soundtrack of indie, hip hop and retro classics. 

Join Moonshine Saloon for an evening of liquor smuggling and cocktail swigging at their immersive Liverpool Street bar. Set in the Wild West, the experience will see you donning cowboy hats and meeting shady characters.

A cosy candlelit pub downstairs and a secret cocktail den upstairs: The Ten Bells is a traditional London boozer with a twist. Retire to a Chesterfield sofa and sink a few craft pints or venture to the first floor for a heady old fashioned in suave surroundings. 

Located smack bang in the middle of Shoreditch's social hub, London Cocktail Club is your go-to for a unique sip. Choose between quirky creations like rose petal martinis and jam jar daiquiris before sitting back and taking in the sultry environment until the party starts.

A boozer with entertainment, London Shuffle is whipping up handmade pizzas, craft brews and shuffleboard fun. Sorting out your evening from start to finish, the venue has a number of tables and lanes both indoors and outside.

This Walthamstow taproom is serving up some of the best craft beer in East London. Exale pride themselves on producing nothing but quality pints, and you can find 10 taps of the stuff at their wetlands-adjacent HQ, alongside cocktails, DJs and live tasting events throughout the year.

This East London bar is dedicated to Hollywood legend Steve McQueen and packs three rather impressive punches - a restaurant, bar and club. That is not all. Q Shoreditch is also the home of live music and popular comedy nights.

Don't get us wrong: Ruby's may not be easy to find or get into, but those that do are in for a treat. Set on Stoke Newington Road, this romantic bar is ideal for an intimate evening with your boo. Expect skillfully crafted cocktails and speakeasy vibes.

Nestled at the top of Hackney Road, the Looking Glass Cocktail Club is a secret watering hole boasting vintage decor, Victorian opulence and expertly mixed libations. Step behind an actual mirror for regularly changing tipples and an evening you won't forget.

Trafik is up there for places to drink and dance in London. Music is at the heart of this late-night bar, touting a turbo sound system and a line-up of DJs spinning underground hits pretty much every night of the week. 

Start your evening with a professionally mixed imbibe here, before dancing your way through the night. Loves Company is definitely no shrinking violet, with weird and wonderful decorations and excellent music that's anything but tame.

From Waterloo to Shoreditch, Tonight Josephine is painting the town pink. You'll find Insta-worthy interiors, pretty cocktails and a high octane vibe to take you from after-work drinks to midnight antics at the weekend.

Home to beer, pizza and shuffleboard, Fugitive Motel is bringing you a sunshine-ready taste of West Coast America. Filled with neon lights and pretty foliage, it's the perfect place to live out your road trip dreams without having to actually drive anywhere.

Laden with ping pong tables and offering lush cocktails, SINK is where music and good times come together. If table tennis isn't your thing, why not take things up a notch with a game of beer pong? They also play host to fantastic live music gigs and events that'll blow you away.

A hands-on immersive cocktail experience, Hackney Funhouse's ABQ event will see you creating some of the finest molecular concoctions around. Suit up in your hazmat and take to your own RV where you'll be cooking up seriously spectacular creations.

Situated a hop, skip and a jump away from Monument, Dirty Martini is a subterranean cocktail bar oozing style. Come after work when there's some great drinks deals to snap up, pop in later to get the night started with some tipples or stay till close bopping to top hits.

Housed in a former bank by Spitalfields Market, The Bar Downstairs shakes up some of East London's coolest cocktails. Created by the team behind Blixen and Three Sheets, this basement treasure trove is a haven for those after curious sips and achingly stylish interiors.

Arguably East London's best rooftop, Skylight is open all year round, offering panoramic views over the city's skyline. Come for alfresco games and a laidback atmosphere during the summer or check out their ice rink come winter.

As well as being famed for its live music programme that stretches back three decades, this Dalston boozer also pours up delicious cocktails, local craft beer and global wines. The Victoria's kitchen hosts pop-up chefs so there's always something fresh and exciting to keep hunger at bay.

A classy place to drink around East London, Aviary is an impressive rooftop bar. Take your pick from a vast selection of Champagne, spirits and cocktails before taking in the jaw-dropping panoramic views from this heated terrace on the 10th floor.

One of the best bars in East London, this unique offering in the heart of The City promises is a slap-up selection of craft beers and fine wines, alongside tasty pub grub and a large, heated beer garden.

The Shoreditch is on the front line of East London's bustling entertainment and cultural scene. Based across two floors, the lounge bar transforms into a full-frontal party as the night goes on, complete with disco bangers and dance hits.

Not only does Nightjar concoct some of the most theatrical cocktails around, but they're also one of the best speakeasies in London. Grab a table in the glamorous setting and enjoy a memorable evening of unique libations made using ingredients such as savoury sand and banana bread beer. 

Named as one of the world's best cocktail bars, Coupette is a haven for all things French. With a menu of unique libations, such as maple Americanos and Champagne pina coladas, this watering hole in Bethnal Green screams European elegance. 

Timeless Bar and Kitchen is an immersive experience that's paying homage to the last century of food and drink. Expect iconic cocktails from the 1920s through to the 2020s, along with mouthwatering food from former MasterChef finalist Louisa Ellis.