Our Review Of Parasol: Hackney's Disco And Drinks Den

Kingsland Road and Stoke Newington Road are home to an array of brilliant bars. It's possible to spend an entire evening there, doing a cocktail crawl starting at Seed Library, making your way past Bar Lotus, Three Sheets and High Water.

And on that lengthy mission, I'd be sure to stop off at Parasol, a suave subterranean bar serving 'fancy' cocktails to a soundtrack of 80s NYC Disco. Or, if you just so happened to visit recently on the same night as I, to Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor's DJ set.

Parasol in Hackney's interiors were like an indie cave. 

DesignMyNight's Review Of Parasol In Hackney 

Parasol doesn't particularly stand out like a sore thumb. You have to know what you're looking for to find it, and in this case, it was a neon-lit umbrella hovering above a door adjacent to Red Hand, with an arrow pointing down an ominous flight of stairs. Its layout was surprisingly large for an underground bar; it had an aesthetic of an East London loft that had been dragged down through the cracks of the earth and placed, kindly, out of the way of Stoke Newington Road's relentless traffic.

There was an expansive floor area, where a disco ball sparkled among clusters of people hovering over DJ decks, and plenty of booths ideal for large groups looking to enjoy a few drinks by candlelight.

The bar's menu was divided into two sections: House and Disco. The former featured drinks under the team's guise of 'whatever floats our boat', which I concluded to be the more experimental of the two, while the latter offered twists on classics. All drinks were £10, which I thought was an absolute bargain considering its location and, as I was about to find out, quality. 

The Baklava (pictured left). 

For my first drink of the night, I went for an inventive concoction amusingly named Korean Jesus. It was a blood-red coloured Ocho Blanco tequila-based drink served in a gimlet, made up of mezcal, plum soju, gochujang, sesame, coriander, ginger, and honey. Outside the world of mixology, the ingredient list would sound like a great meal, but tonight it brought a very fiery, slightly sweet refreshment to my lips that was a joy to sip. 

My partner enjoyed the Baklava, featuring Few bourbon, Amontillado, pistachio, honey, cardamom, and orange blossom, which wasn't as sugary as he perhaps had anticipated, but was instead a no-burn dream that went down smoothly. His second drink, the El Diablo Guapo, on the other hand, was more tart with a kick of heat from ginger, and a deep, complex smoky flavour due to the combination of Quiquiriquiri mezcal, Palo Santo, tonka bean and blackberry. 

The Korean Jesus (pictured left) and the Rude Cosmo (right).

I followed his lead over to the Disco section for my second pick: Rude Cosmo. Instead of vodka, Ocho Blanco tequila was used, as well as a mix of Savoia Orancio, lingonberry, lemon verbena, and lime. This was tangy and very fruity - a girl's night out in a glass.

As the music began to pick up and the volume increased, transforming the bar into the promised dancefloor, I took this as our cue to leave. There was so much more to explore across the menu, but at such an affordable price point, I knew I'd be back with my friends. They're always looking for somewhere they don't have to take out a mortgage to drink, and I think I've finally found the place. They'll be thrilled. 

Overall: Parasol

I enjoyed my drinks at Parasol; reasonably priced cocktails in the heart of Hackney are a very rare find in 2025. There was an air of 'best friends living room' about the venue, but an exclusivity that remained alluring and elevated it above your average disco-themed bar. The adventurous drinks selection was compelling to someone who's had their fair share of margaritas. I can only hope that Korean Jesus sticks around long enough for my next visit. 

For more, discover the best bars in Shoreditch.