Unmissable Bars in Shoreditch

A bustling venue with a focus on delivering cutting-edge music to the masses, Old Street Records is one of the coolest hangouts in east London. With bespoke cocktails and authentic Italian pizzas on the menu, you can expect everything from EP launches to new bands and established acts all to feature throughout the week, with intimate jazz nights and DJ sets held in the secret basement.

It seems pretty fitting that the trendy location of Shoreditch is home to London's first dedicated video games and e-sports restaurant and bar. Grab your mates and head to the hipster haven to take on Mario Kart, FIFA and more with goodies from Happy Face Pizza to keep you going. 

Apples & Pears is a colourful, vibrant cocktail bar offering Brick Lane's party people a tasty mix of wood fired pizzas and signature cocktails. The music programme is worth the visit alone; with soul, funk, old skool hip-hop and party classics to enjoy alongside some catchy acoustic beats. Interiors are cool and quirky, and there's a heated cocktail garden out back.

Cool, but not afraid to get down and dirty, Roadtrip is the late night party bar in Shoreditch, closing at 5am Fridays and Saturday nights. Its American jukebox feel gives it a devil-may-care attitude that is hard to resist. The DJs play a sexy mash-up of party tunes that is sure to get you on the dancefloor, or alternatively choose your request on their amazing jukebox. 

You probably know Pizza Pilgrims for its delicious cheesy slices but did you know that they also shake up a selection of tasty cocktails? Hit up the Shoreditch spot and sample some of their Disaronno and prosecco-laced cherry colas, sunshine spritzes and craft beers.

If drinking in a prison isn't the most Shoreditch thing you've ever heard about, there's nothing left to say. Wear your orange jumpsuit and smuggle your favourite liquor past the warden… so that one of the working inmates can mix you up some delicious cocktails.

Nestled in the heart of east London, this hidden gem is serving up hearty breakfasts, filling lunches and authentic Italian eats all night long. There's even a hidden bar downstairs where you'll find pop-up events, live music and plenty more.

This two-floor party spot is a great hang out whether you're looking for a few drinks or a full-blown club experience. Based between Old Street and Liverpool Street, The Lighthouse is one of the best bars in Shoreditch.

A Kingsland Road staple, flocks of East London locals revel in the laid back nature of Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes. While the interiors may be ever-changing thanks to a local plethora of artists, the attitude remains as this: Cracking pizzas, a top selection of cocktails, and a crowd that promises to be non-assuming, as long as you are too.

One of the most achingly cool bars in Shoreditch, Iron Bloom fronts some very exciting cocktails, not to mention the seasonal British small plates coming out of the kitchen, as well as regular live music events.

This hidden party bar located just off Bethnal Green Road is sure to set your senses alive. Encapsulating Shoreditch with its bold decor, slamming cocktails and fresh DJs, it's definitely one to check out thanks to its off the radar attitude and a less than assuming party crowd.

Bounce is there if you're looking to eat, drink and play ping-pong late into the night. It's a buzzing subterranean spot just down from Old Street, where big groups of mates book out tables and play to their heart's content. Each table can fit up to 20 and there's a table service policy throughout, which means you won't need to leave when you're ordering in the authentic Italian pizzas and gin cocktails.

Nestled in the bustling area of Old Street, The Alchemist are serving up some of London's most innovative cocktail creations. Serving drinks that fizz like bath bombs, change colour and come to life before your eyes, this bar will add a touch of drama to your after-work sessions.

Located on Hoxton Square, Gigi's is full of surprises with its eclectic clientele, artsy aesthetic and bold painted walls. For a great evening in this cool East London bar, hot foot it to a square that rivals the Albert one in antics and boozin' alike. 

This quirky bar in Shoreditch promises nine custom made table tennis tables, street art and even a ping pong pro-robot to challenge if you're feeling brave enough. Think buzzing party vibes, ping pong tournaments, beer pong and plenty of fun at this unique London hangout. 

Offering a slap up selection of craft beers (alongside Chicago-worthy deep dish pizzas), the Goose Island Brewpub brings you tasty food and bucket loads of atmosphere in a space made for laid back drinks and belly filling eats.

Shoreditch offers a little of everything, and Mexican party Catch Bar brings a little Latina to the area. During the week you can relax with a cocktail and some great Mexican Tacos and Tortas, and on a weekend you can dance the night away as the party spreads over two floors, with DJ's, mixing the best tunes to get the party going.

One of the city's best hotel bars, this cocktail spot on Old Street is housed inside a former magistrate's court, making it as visually arresting as its cocktails.

The Nightjar Bar is class personified with live jazz, beautiful decor and wonderful cocktails. A secret speakeasy bar hidden by Old Street station (and a notable award winner, often bagging #1 bar in the world), the cocktails are unique and designed extremely well.

Part of the legendary Strongroom recording studio, The Strongroom bar and kitchen is a hub of creativity. With a giant garden, huge craft beer list and great food, its a spacious hideaway in often-cramped Shoreditch with notoriously one of the best Halloween parties in the area.  

The LCC crew have arrived, and they're here to shake up the Shoreditch scene. Decking their irresistibly cool dwellings out in biker-themed fashion, plonk yourself on a black leather and climb into a quirky cocktail list, with 'Confessions of a Cucumber Salesman', the 'Brixton Riot' and the 'Smoking Barrel' all must tries. If you're near Old Street, try their beautiful botanical space.

With a name taken from a Brazilian island known for its party attitude and festival feel, this is the ultimate party bar. Head to Floripa for a night of Latin American beats and a cultural fusion in sound, there is no doubt you will be dancing all night at Floripa. 

Trapeze's arrival in Shoreditch has done nothing but improve what is already an incredible nightlife scene. A circus inspired bar and club that's split over two floors, expect comical quizzes and live music to DJs on a nightly basis. Always a fun night out, it's a truly eye-catching addition to the bars in Shoreditch.

Go and find Found and then report back to us on your findings. Joking. We'll do the hard work for you and give you a brief round up of why you should go to this secret Shoreditch bar. 1 - Finding it is half of the excitement, 2 - Once you're there, you'll be in the presence of some of London's top mixologists. 3 - This means the drinks are insane.  

Barrio Shoreditch is easily one of East London's best cocktail bars (if not one of the wildest. This fun time party bar is a great place in Shoreditch for letting your hair down and enjoying delicious cocktails of the flaming variety as it raises the bar of South American themed cocktail bars in London. 

If you're looking for a great bar in Shoreditch then you need venture no further than Callooh Callay. Not only is it skilled in the art of fine cocktails, but this place also hides a secret JubJub room where eccentricities flourish and you can chill in some sort of mod, 70s inspired purple clad pad. Basically, it's pretty damn cool. 

Welcome to Flight Club. You've been chosen as part of the movement taking East London bars by storm. This is the new era of social gaming, the dawn of darts if you will. Yes, darts, but in a cool, Shoreditch styled bar where the digital system will set you up with a whole hoard of games to play and do all the scoring for you. To the oche! 

Sleek, suave and carefree, Matchbox is a laid back spot in the heart of Shoreditch High Street. The experienced team of bartenders will be serving both signature and classic cocktails and the kitchen will be creating huge sharing platters of delicious street food alongside all the big sporting events.

Nestled on the vibrant Curtain Road, this fun time party bar is serving up everything from sharing owls to shooters and classic cocktails. Quench your thirst with a rum-fuelled Miami Vice or something a little more subdued like an Old Fashioned to get the party started.

Situated just opposite Liverpool Street Station, this bar in Shoreditch offers a happy blend of city sophistication and revelry. This is the perfect place for after work drinks on account of its prime location in the city, plus with a 3 AM license and great happy hour drinks deals, you'll find yourself there longer than you planned. They've got outposts in Monument and St Paul's too.

One of the most unique bars in Shoreditch, Cirque is sitting pretty for those of you that want a dose of quirky interiors with your drinks. Circus themed and brimming with vintage trinkets, taxidermy, clown paraphernalia and more, head on down for a four hour long happy hour, DJ nights and more. 

Black Rock is pretty much a whisky lover;s heaven, bringing together over 250 bottles of whisky inside a minimalist, cool and contemporary drinking space. But even novices will be drawn here, with their centrepiece of a 185-year-old, 18ft oak tree trunk in the middle of the bar, used as an interactive cocktail ageing system.

Head to Hoxton Square, where Nikki's is serving up a delicious mix of twisted cocktails and hedonistic thrills. Inspired by Quentin Tarantino, you can expect a wild space featuring a PVC-covered bed, buzzing vibes and a menu filled with creative concoctions.

Loves Company is everything that embodies Shoreditch, from the quirky and colourful decor and live DJs through to the exiting mix of cocktails and varied events.

In the heart of Shoreditch, close to Hoxton Square, the party keeps going on all week at B@1 Shoreditch. With a killer cocktail happy hour and the friendliest staff in town, this is the place in Shoreditch for any time of the night; whether you are starting off your night with a few friends, or socialising around the bar till the early hours of the morning. 

This critically acclaimed basement bar on Commercial Street is a must visit for the cocktail connoisseurs among us. The venue offers a quite exquisite range of concoctions - featuring vintage and modern tipples alike - put together by the masterful bartenders. Cocktails not your thing? No fear, there's also a library of fine wines, ice cold beers and divine bar snacks.

In the heart of Shoreditch at the top of the hip Hackney Road, lies Looking Glass Cocktail Club. This great Shoreditch cocktail bar takes mixology to a whole new dimension. The entertainment at Looking Glass is tantalizing and titillating, challenging the powers of perception. Showcasing the weird, the wonderful, the wicked and fusing live music and performance art. 

With a quirky stencilling design, a strong cocktail menu and hot DJ nights, Shoreditch Platform is one of East London's most exciting new openings. Split over two levels, the space offers areas to work during the day, while in the evening the upstairs bar is a hub of socialising.

If you're a cocktail fanatic, then Swift Shoreditch is the place for you. The gorgeous East London bar oozes style with gorgeous lighting and sleek banquettes. As for the drinks? Sample some of their signature concoctions and you'll see why we rate it so highly.

The Jones Family Project is one of Shoreditch's best all-rounders. Ideal for both work and play, this Great Eastern Street hangout offers great food, delectable drinks and ever better company to an eclectic mix of visitors. There's a choice of innovative cocktails and thoughtfully selected wines to be had, and the venue's many versatile event spaces make it a stand out candidate.

This all-day, all-night venue blends Italian dining with a European market hall approach to drinking. Head on down to experience the mouthwatering coal oven-baked pizzas with the largest selection of tap wine outside the US and a stunning array of absinthe.

Founded by bartender royalty Alex Kratena and Monica Berg, this East London bar was one of the most hotly anticipated openings of 2019. With sleek Old Street digs, a kitchen menu not to be missed and drinks in the form of world-class cocktails, it's not hard to see why it's already winning awards.