East London is a playground for the curious. Beneath its graffiti-splashed streets and Victorian façades lies a network of speakeasies, secret lounges, and unmarked doorways serving some of the most inventive cocktails in the city. Forget the obvious haunts — these are the places that demand a little searching, but reward you with unforgettable drinks, atmosphere, and stories.

1. Callooh Callay – Shoreditch’s Wonderland of Whimsy

Address: 65 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AY
Website: calloohcallaybar.com

A Shoreditch institution that still manages to surprise. Step through a wardrobe to discover The JubJub Bar — a private members’ room that rotates its cocktail menu every few months. Expect clever ingredients, surreal décor, and a fun-loving crowd that knows its spirits.

Try: The Cheshire Cat — gin, elderflower, and citrus.
Why Go: Theatrical, creative, and full of East London soul.

2. The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town – The One Behind the Fridge

Address: 12–16 Artillery Lane, Spitalfields, E1 7LS
Website: thebreakfastclubcafes.com

Ask to “see The Mayor” at The Breakfast Club café and you’ll be guided to a Smeg fridge. Open it and step through into a world of candlelight, secret booths, and brilliant cocktails. It’s playful, slightly chaotic, and always memorable.

Try: Cat’s Pajamas — pineapple, rum, and lime.
Why Go: One of London’s most iconic speakeasy entrances.

3. Discount Suit Company – Tailored Drinks Beneath a Tailor’s Shop

Address: 29A Wentworth Street, Spitalfields, E1 7TB
Website: discountsuitcompany.co.uk

Once a 1970s suit shop, this unmarked basement bar is a Shoreditch classic. Vintage soul music hums from the speakers, candlelight flickers off wood panels, and bartenders quietly perfect your cocktail.

Try: Penicillin — Scotch, lemon, honey-ginger syrup.
Why Go: A masterclass in understated craftsmanship.

4. Looking Glass Cocktail Club – Through the Mirror

Address: 49 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, E2 7NX

Push through a giant mirror to reveal a hidden back room of velvet drapes, cabaret tunes, and mixology that borders on performance art. Looking Glass combines immersive theatre with seriously good cocktails.

Try: Drink Me Potion — vodka, butterfly pea flower, lemon, and glitter.
Why Go: Perfect blend of mystery, glamour, and creativity.

5. Found – For the True Cocktail Purists

Address: 5 Ravey Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4QW
Website: foundthebar.com

Hidden behind a small black door, this minimalist speakeasy is a temple of balance and precision. The six-seat bar encourages conversation between guests and bartenders, and the drinks are quietly exceptional.

Try: Smoke Signal — mezcal, pear liqueur, agave.
Why Go: Quietly confident, elegantly restrained, perfectly executed.

6. Satan’s Whiskers – The Bartenders’ Bar

Address: 343 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9RA
Website: satanswhiskerslondon.co.uk

Hip-hop, taxidermy, and some of the best bartenders in the city. This Bethnal Green legend feels more neighborhood than nightlife, but don’t be fooled — the daily-changing menu is a showcase of world-class technique.

Try: Corpse Reviver No. 2 — gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon, absinthe.
Why Go: Where London bartenders themselves go to drink.

7. Nightjar – A Jazz-Age Speakeasy for the Senses

Address: 129 City Road, Shoreditch, EC1V 1JB
Website: barnightjar.com

Hidden down a staircase near Old Street, Nightjar is a step back to Prohibition-era decadence. Expect candlelight, live jazz, and cocktails served with feathers, smoke, and silverware. It’s not new — but it remains one of London’s most enchanting experiences.

Try: Zombie Punch — 1930s-style rum blend with absinthe and spice.
Why Go: Where history, music, and mixology meet in perfect rhythm.

8. The Natural Philosopher – The Bar Behind a Mac Repair Shop

Address: 489 Hackney Road, E2 9ED
Note: Check reopening status — as of late 2025, pop-ups continue.

Once hidden behind a functioning repair shop (MacSmiths), The Natural Philosopher became a cult favorite for its candlelit ambiance and creative cocktails inspired by science and philosophy. Even in its new form, it continues to appear as a series of underground pop-ups in Hackney.

Try: Newton’s Apple — Calvados, cinnamon, lemon, egg white.
Why Go: Mysterious, brainy, and always evolving.

9. Oriole – Worldly Cocktails Beneath Smithfield Market

Address: East Poultry Avenue, Smithfield, EC1A 9LH
Website: oriolebar.com

Technically just west of East London but spiritually part of it, Oriole hides under Smithfield Market in a jungle-like lounge of exotic curiosities and live swing music. Every cocktail references a different corner of the globe, from the Amazon to Zanzibar.

Try: The Nile — rum, dates, figs, and cardamom.
Why Go: An immersive journey through cocktails and cultures.

10. Happiness Forgets – Because Happiness Should Be Hard to Find

Address: 8–9 Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, N1 6NU
Website: happinessforgets.com

Descend a narrow staircase beneath a neon sign that reads “Happiness Forgets” and you’ll find one of the most acclaimed speakeasies in London. Low lights, flawless service, and cocktails that taste like perfection.

Try: Old Cuban — aged rum, mint, lime, Champagne.
Why Go: Consistently ranked among the world’s top bars.

Plan Your East London Cocktail Crawl

If you’re ambitious, here’s how to turn this list into one epic night:

1. Start early in Shoreditch – Begin at Found or Callooh Callay.

2. Head toward Spitalfields – Hit Discount Suit Company or The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town.

3. Venture to Bethnal Green – Sip with the pros at Satan’s Whiskers.

4. Finish with jazz at Nightjar or Oriole for a nightcap you’ll never forget.

Pro tip: Always reserve ahead — many of these venues are tiny and fill up fast.

Tips for Finding London’s Hidden Bars

- Look for clues. Unmarked doors, bookcases, and mirrors often conceal the entrances.

- Ask quietly. Staff at visible venues (like The Breakfast Club) know the code words.

- Respect the vibe. Keep noise low; these aren’t nightclubs.

- Check hours. Many open late or close early on weekdays.

- Explore beyond Shoreditch. Dalston, Hackney Wick, and Bow have new underground pop-ups worth discovering.

Why Hidden Bars Still Matter

In an era of social media and “seen-it-all” nightlife, these speakeasies keep London exciting. They invite us to slow down, to explore, to reconnect with the thrill of finding something that not everyone knows. Each hidden bar tells its own story — one you enter through a mirror, a fridge, or a door you might’ve walked past a hundred times.

So next time you’re out in East London, follow your curiosity. The best cocktails in the city might just be behind the next unmarked door.