The entry leads you to think speakeasy. You travel down the basement stairs and are transported to place that holds its own in time. A smaller bar, with a good amount of seating both at the bar and around it. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. There are murmurs of various conversations, but you are not bothered by them. Their handcrafted cocktails are delish. My personal fav was the Perfect Storm. A combination of dark rum, honey and citrus. It is a hidden gem in the hamlet known as Shoredtich, just outside of London center. If you are in the area, drop by for a visit. You won't be disappointed. read more

See all

Amazing. When a great bartender and amazing cocktails come together, it's magical... and that's exactly what we got. We actually came here because a bartender at another bar recommended it as a place he frequents... because of the excellent bartenders. We sat at the bar, enjoyed several different cocktails recommended by the bartender while enjoying some quality bar bites! Expect a low-key atmosphere, in a small below ground footprint, with great music playing in the background and great bartending. One of our highlights on our trip to London. read more

Happiness Forgets - Tokyo Collins - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Came here at the suggestion of a girlfriend and a local bartender. Win! Cool space with a rad female bartender and great cocktails. It's tiny, so good luck getting a seat at the bar. Loved the horror show and the jerezana. Grassroots and bell journey were also tasty. Recommend! read more

Happiness Forgets - Menu July 2019 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Small bar in the basement but the drinks and bartenders make up for the space. Great selection of drinks but where they shine is what they come up on the fly. Just tell your guy what you like and don't like and he/she will make something that'll make you go "mewow"! Prices are very reasonable for bespoke drinks. The bartender was fun to talk to also. I was the only solo one there and he was cool with just chatting about London. He wrote down a bunch of bars to check out as well which was a nice bonus. Overall a really good spot although it's a little small but I like cosy! read more

Happiness Forgets - A Smokey old fashion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Yep. I can safely say, I have a new fave craft cocktail bar in London. I love intimate basement bars, especially when they have a stellar drinks menu, and this one fits the bill. And if you want something created off-menu, I bet if you give the bartender your desired flavor profile and spirit choice, they'll whip up something amazing for you, just like they did for me. We came here for pre-dinner drinks, and ended up with perfect cocktails, engaging conversation, and just the right atmosphere to build anticipation for dinner. Cheers to that! read more

Happiness Forgets - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Eh, it reminded me of a dive bar back in the city. There and good for the taking, but not impressive by any means. The waitress I had was amazing though. Kind, friendly, and helpful. It is what it is. read more

Great service, vibe and craft cocktails in east london - highly recommend for a nightcap.

I am a very good fan of Speakeasy and could not miss this little one. The entrance is not obvious, you need to go down through kinda 'hidden' stairs. read more

Happiness Forgets - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Was in London for the 1st time and what does a Yelper from across the pond do, set up a UYE to meet some Yelpers from London (Hi Smaïn & Yinnie!!) , so that's exactly what I did, after some research and awesome help from Alex S, I picked Happiness Forgets. So the place picked, time & date set next thing to do was to show up! Now before I left for London I did email Happiness Forgets to see if I could get a reservation, but sadly I could not, they only make reservations for 1/2 of the bar and were booked on the night in question but did tell me for the other half of the bar it was 1st come 1st serve if I wanted to take my chances, I felt as if things were in my favor so I went for it :) I arrived around 6pm and got a table for 6, but was told by the server I could only have the table till 7 since they reserved it out to someone else. Oh ok, that's fine. Happiness Forgets is a cute little bar that is downstairs from the main street, it is dimly lit but gives it a more intimate feeling, I really liked the vibe of the place. After checking out the menu I went with the Cherry Jam, I don't recall what all was in it, but it was a pretty looking cocktail and tasted great too! I though the cherry garish was a maraschino cherry (on the sweet side) so when I ate it I was shocked to find out my cherry had been drinking a bit, that drunkin cherry haha 7pm came and tabs were paid up, but at this point the only one concerned about leaving the table on time was me, the server never once gave me the "your time is up" look & never made me feel rushed. If back in the area I wouldn't mind stopping by and trying another unique cocktail. read more

Happiness Forgets - Cherry Jam - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Happiness may forget but I don't. If you're a craft cocktail enthusiast, I don't know how you could worse than coming here. It's got all the trappings of a cool place: dark environment, located in a basement, interesting music, engaging bartenders, classic cocktails, and fascinating twists on your favorite libations. My crew walked in near closing time on a rainy Tuesday night. Rather than barking at us to get out (like I probably would have done), Michael invited us to sit, check out the menu and choose wisely because we only had time for one drink. That was appreciated... and unexpected. Sometimes, master craftsmen have the reputation for... being impatient. Going through the menu, I settled on my go-to spirit, rum, and ordered an Overdraft: Banks rum, orange liqueur, lime, sugar, and clove bitters. Wow! Fragrant, complex, in-depth, and powerful... this was a drink to remember. After allowing the drink to settle in, I sat back in the mismatched seating and got enveloped by the soundtrack. Coming here will give you cred, a fun experience and one of the better drinks you'll have in London (or in most big cities). I'm so happy to have been brought to HF. I'd, gladly, come back... but a little earlier in the evening so that I can enjoy more than one cocktail. read more

Gosh, been meaning to write up this place for months, but just haven't gotten around to it. Perhaps because I wanted to keep it myself? But I guess the secret's out now, so there's no need to use smoke and mirrors, or obfuscate the truth. Happiness Forgets is a dreamy place. Tucked away in Hoxton Square, it's so easy to miss. And yet, it's there... very nice speak easy vibe, very limited seating (about 20), but the best place to sit, in my humble opinion is at the bar, so that you can watch Jeff work his magic. One of my favourite cocktails here used to be the Earl Grey Martini... which they've since taken off the menu, and unfortunately can't really make on demand. However, their classics are still truly excellent... smokin' Old Fashions, crisp, cool Negronis... yum! The atmosphere is fantastic, great lighting, nice background music... and the best part ? After a few drinks, heading out to Kingsland road for some vietnamese dinner. Always a perfect way to finish the evening. read more

See all

Nothing special!! How's this on the World's Best Bars list?? I felt like I could get a similar underground atmosphere and just as decent drinks anywhere in The States. We tried every bar in London on that World's Best list and the others had better decor as well as better drinks. We preferred Coupette, Three Sheets, and Oriole much more. Sorry but Happiness Forgets is forgetful. read more

Cool hidden gem downstairs with no real signage, so be on the look out for the stairs. The drinks were great but so was service. More like a 4.5 but I'd highly recommend. read more

Happiness is hands down my favourite bar in London. Everything about it feels natural and not try-hard. The staff are so friendly and extremely knowledgeable. They will happily go off-menu to accommodate requests, and will take you on a boozy journey through educated suggestions if that is more your thing. The atmosphere is relaxed, intimate and cosy. It would make a brilliant date night, or a perfect place catch up with friends. The music is never too loud that you struggle to have a conversation with the people you're with, and the sitting only policy means you aren't getting shoved out of the way by other customers and allows the table service to work effortlessly. I have never ever had a bad night here. To fully get the most from your experience, I would sit at the bar. Start with a Clover Club. End with an Old Fashioned. Try everything else in between. A true gem. read more

See all

Found this place by meeting a couple (Virginia and Mark) at Brewdogs. After a nice conversation she asked us to come to where she worked. Checked it out and we were glad we did. Really cool basement cocktail bar. Had a few of their outstanding cocktails which were created by Oli. The place had a great vib and we really enjoyed hanging out at the bar. read more

After a day of roaming and beautiful sunshine we decided to try this place out. After seeing so many people spilling onto the streets around town and enjoying drinks in the beautiful weather, I was a bit unsure about going into the basement for some early evening drinks. Once we settled in though, all those thoughts disappeared. The service was so friendly and the ambiance was intimate and cozy. Cocktails were delicious!! They do not take reservations on Sundays but it was easy to get a table at opening. It started to get quite busy around 730pm though. read more

Great place to visit. Better to book in advance. They have a lot of cocktails to choose from. All around £9-16 read more

This bar was recommended to us by a local for no frills legit drinks. It's in the basement, so it's easy to miss. We got to sit at the bar with Claire, who created many of the cocktails herself. They have classic cocktails, but I liked their more unique creations. - In the Basement: Mezcal based, and we requested it extra tart; it's a good light cocktail. The strawberry makes it very red/pink, but it's not overly fruity - Two Way Street: also mezcal based, very well balanced and just the right amount of fruitiness - Corporate Slang: spirit driven, but I actually really liked it (I usually only like more citrus based ones) - Celery Sour #2: I don't love gin, but this was an interesting drink. Claire was great about refiling water for us. Apparently she had just moved from Manchester, so we are lucky we caught her. In the end, for 4 drinks, it was £36, which is very reasonable by US standards. read more

I was in London for a total of four days. Two of those days were spent imbibing at Happiness Forgets. After being denied access to some of the more popular cocktail destinations (Experimental Cocktail Club, Nightjar), Happiness Forgets was a breath of fresh air. Not overly stuffy, easy to get into, and nice tasting drinks. What more can you ask for? It's a subterranean haunt so it's pretty dark. If you're looking to enjoy some of the longer summer days, it might not be the best bet. read more

#tryyourluck That's what Happiness Forgets tweeted back at me when I (foolishly) thought I could get a reservation at 7pm on a Friday...day of. Cheeky, cheeky -- and try my luck I did, and had plenty to go around as our group swelled to 6 people and we all managed to arrive at the same time, and snag seats all together near the back. We're winning and it's only 6:59, folks. Then the drinks happened, and it became a full on love fest for Happiness Forgets. This is my second visit to the famed basement bar on Hoxton Square (below Ruby Cafe for you wanderers) -- and I'm a fan. Tucked away, it's actually not much of a secret anymore, but can still be enjoyed. The nice part is -- it'll never get too crowded, as they only let in as many people as they have seats for. On this particular rainy evening it was quite humid -- fogging the glasses of our comrades and causing the jackets and jumpers to be shed as each round arrived. Again thankful they don't pack patrons in like sardines... For me? A (very inexpensive!) glass of Pino Noir, followed by...a Tokyo Collins (refreshingly long), a Conquistador (errr...x2), and then skipped home and fell asleep to dreams of well-frothed cocktails, gin-soaked dreams and the company of old friends in a dark basement in London, being served drinks by a beautiful redhead in flowered print, red lipstick and kitten heels. She never missed a beat. Try your luck. Weekdays will up your chances...the secret is out, but still a treat. read more

So, you've found yourself again in Hoxton square trying to figure out where to go for a drink. It's a bit early, and you are looking for a fine cocktail, not a cheap beer or watered down double. You look left and see a bar that's filled with an interesting variety of people, but you aren't really in the mood for a place trying a little too hard to be a California rock and roll bar that leans on the douchey side. Next you Look right and see a massive bar/restaurant. The space would be fine if it wasn't for the people that work there and all of it's clientele. At this point you are ready to give up and venture on, give up or give into the mediocrity. when you happen to notice a nondescript staircase leading underground in between a Thai restaurant and a cafe. Once downstairs you find yourself exactly where you want to be. A small intimate establishment with stools at the bar, and passionate bartender behind it. Cocktails are made individually with care. If you are the type that will be upset when you have to wait for 5 minutes while your drink is lovingly crafted by someone who cares about the beverage they are making, then this is not the place for you. If you love nice conversation, exposed brick, friendly bartenders and a great selection of spirits, then please call me up and I'll join you there for a drink. the only down side is that they are only open until 11pm. read more

This was...I think....one of the last stops of the night. I was well on my way from earning my newest yelp app badge labeled "soused". Unmarked spot in the middle of some other bars and restaurants. You have to go down stairs to get to it. Very dark, shexy. This is the place you go to first, to enjoy goood quality drinks and super friendly staff. I played a new drinking game! (well new to me) One hilarious bartender blindly grabbed a few bottles from off the shelf and placed them on the floor, we put down a pound coin and he started randomly reaching under the bar until we shouted stop. then poured us a shot of whatever he stopped on. I think I got lychee flavored liquor or something. so funny. Other bartender made us a drink that my friend had enjoyed last time. It was awesome that he had remembered that and that it was also a special drink that didn't even have a name! Kind of manhattany but smoother. Don't come here. It's awesome and I don't want it to get too crowded. read more

A nice little find in Hoxton Square, I found myself here on a random Monday night. Only a few scattered groups here and there and my group found a nice spot in the back. The server quickly brought us all waters and took our drink orders. The atmosphere is dark... very intimate, and the best part... you could easily walk past it without ever knowing it was there. It's got this underground air of mystery to it. It's not meant to be a place for the rowdy but a nice place for those to enjoy drinks and the company they're with. Plus, the drinks are nice 'n strong. I tried the Perfect Storm & a Moscow Mule, both got me a nice buzz as I walked out. Another great bar that London has to offer... not exactly a secret, but kinda. read more

I'm a drinker not a fighter. Put me in a bar that everyone 5 stars and I'm not going to knock it. I'll drink in it. It'll then stand up, wobble and sit back down for another drink, deciding it's far to cold outside to worry about getting home right now. Last night, after months of faffing around and not actually coming here, I went here for a drink. I was served by a dreamy guy, who could make every ridiculous drink suggestion I made. It was fair value too. I should love this place but the smell of the delish food coming from upstairs slightly took away their speak easy vibe. It's a cool bar though, I'll give them that. I'll also give them my money, again. I will be back to get drunk there again shortly. See you in a few cute barman bar mister sexy pants. read more

Cocktails after dinner on a Monday night. We found this little place after checking on yelp for help (thanks yelp!) it wasn't really packed that night but it had enough cool people chilling and having a good time. We got a nice table. We chose a cocktail. They have an amazing selection (best thing you can try there). The lady who took our order was so nice! Smiling all the time (she even recommended us a couple of cocktails) Drinks were awesome! Not cheap but totally worth it. Music was good, perfect if you want to have an intimate conversation. The place is really cosy and really suitable for a date or a night with your special person :) We just had a drink (it was school night!) but I wanna come back soon to have a longer and proper drinks night there with some friends, why not? I think they take reservations, so make sure you call them in advance because I have the feeling it's really packed almost every night. read more

I had an excellent Halloween experience in London at Happiness Forgets. Thank goodness for the map feature in the Yelp App, because I had trouble finding this basement bar. I showed up early and found a spot at the bar. The bartenders were having a great night behind the bar and were very friendly. They were on top of their game and made every classic cocktail I could throw at them. The perfect storm was the best version of a dark & stormy that I have ever had. Of all the bars I went to while in London, Happiness Forgets was the one that felt like I would frequent if I lived in London. They have a great thing going here! read more

We sat by the bar, but the bartender and waiter barely talk with us and in the mean time they did with other customers. They were busy talking to friends/customers, only asked for a favor for us to shift a seat to make space for another couple, or getting us another drink. It was just so obvious how they acted cold towards us. We had a great time anyway coz drinks were good. Loving the Tokyo! However customer service can be improved for non local/regular. read more

Great basement bar. Friendly and helpful staff. Amazing cocktails. If you enjoy a craft libation, this is the place to go.

I like the atmosphere in the low key basement space. The staff are attentive and the bartenders really know their stuff and have enthusiasm to match. Proper cocktails just well made. Unpretentious too. It can be crowded but like to go at off peak times. One of a few 'go to' cocktail bars in my book. read more

The dark, sultry atmosphere and intimate nooks make Happiness Forgets the perfect spot for a getting to know a first date or reminiscing with an old friend. The bar is located at the foot of a winding staircase under Ruby's in Hoxton Square. The first time I came here (with a date), the space was at capacity (20 people?) so we were turned away. The second time I visited (with a friend), we secured a cozy corner in the back of the bar. Despite it's tiny size and tinier capacity, this place seriously retains heat... even in the winter! As soon as my myopic friend and I walked in, we were both blasted with hot air that instantly fogged our glasses. We were blindly led to our seats by one of the bartenders dressed in neo-Amish or hipster agrarian-chic attire. Either way, he looked like he churned his own butter, but he made a mean cocktail! I just ordered a beer, but my friend ordered a winter cocktail. I can't remember what it was called or what it was made of, but It literally tasted like Christmas and all things good in the world. One thing we both loved about the experience was the background music. The bar actually played "Rock With the Hot 8" by the Hot 8 Brass Band from cover to cover! I would not have expected a place overrun with ironic beards and unnecessary suspenders to appreciate this genre of music, but I was very excited to hear it. I can't wait until my next visit to Happiness Forgets :) read more

'Great cocktails, no wallies.' The website promises it and delivers. If I ever lose my happiness again, I know it's because I left it at this bar*. Saturday night, my bestie and I sidle up looking for a table. What's better than a table for two? Sitting at the bar and watching the dapper and dashing bartenders whip up amazing drinks. In between shaking cocktails, they kept us amused and our thirst quenched with one amazing cocktail after another. Cute boys in suspenders and bow ties are enough to woo even the most jaded drinker. Happiness Forgets has a modest cocktail menu but they are happy to recommend and make any drink you desire. The champagne cocktails are fabulous, so is the Knickerbocker somethingorother. The music is swinging jazz and blues, the vibe is speakeasy meets 1920s nostalgia. I really want to come here on a date and cosy up at a two person table, just drinking the menu and loving the ambience. *For the rest of the night, my friend would say 'yes this is a good cocktail but no match for Happiness Forgets'. read more

This was a cute spot recommended to us by a friend in Shoreditch. It is small and a little hard to find but the vibe was intimate and cozy. The drinks were delicious and the service was fine. It's actually the perfect spot for a date night thought they do have larger tables/sections for bigger groups. I will say we came on a Sunday night so it's probably pretty packed on a weekend. This is definitely a good place for good conversation and vibes (just don't get stuck next to terrible people!) read more

Forgeddaboudit! I'm a chancer, I'm a prancer, I'm a triangle toast, in soft-egg, poking lancer. I had formerly been invited to drinks, a Pubby place, full of suits with their ties round their heads watching football on the other side of the square. Drinking Beefeater gin and tonics in plastic cups outside among my fúmer friends, I thought, come on people we don't need to live like this. Follow me. I hadn't made a reservation, but risked frogmarching my clan across to the other side, to Happiness Forgets, where on previous occasions apart from having my drink poured down me by the server before he'd almost reached my table, I had had lovely times. It was one of my friends birthdays. I smiled sweetly and explained to D Maitre that we couldn't possibly drink mainstay bottom shelf liquor on such a salubrious occasion across the road, when there was a plethora of fancy stuff in the darkness here we wanted a part of. A couple left after short time of us loitering politely and half a dozen of us clambered cozily around a padded bench meant as a table for two. We settled in with as I'd promised them, much more better drinks. I even asked if they could make something ridiculously fabulous, with some sort of pyrotechnic in it for the birthday boy and the bar tender happily obliged. A waitress elegantly delivered the fascinating, sparkling wonder of a drink, something lethal in a hollowed out pineapple alight with gun powder sparks spraying joyfully around the table whilst a group of friends tunefully wished another friend Happy Birthday. "Haaappy Buurrrth....." We began as it glowingly arrived illuminating our corner, when said waitress turned on her heels and clipped to us.. "Please don't sing!" I flicked my eyes back to her and sang with clenched teeth... "DAAAAIIII TOOO YOOOUUUAAAA... HAAAAAAPPPPEEEEE BUUUURRRRRTHDAAAAIIIIII TOO YAAAUAUUOOOOO...." I/ we continued, me spitting out vitriol with each word almost enough to extinguish the flames before B-Boy got to make his wish. Mannn! Happiness Forgets how to have fun! Next time I'm performing as the Pied Piper of party time, I shall be siphoning my masses to somewhere else that does know how to have fun. Happiness Forgets! Then you go and spoil it all by saying something stupid.... read more

Oh baby, do I love this place! It's tucked away in a basement in Hoxton Square, which is full of great places worth trying. But this particular place is worth finding! The drinks were great. That's not surprising. I ordered something called "Rocket Fuel", I think and was very pleased! But it was when I wanted something different that I found out just how good the service here is. The server figured out basically what I wanted and came back with the best drink I've had in awhile! Next time I am in London, I will make sure I pay a visit to this place. I suggest you do the same. You'll thank me! read more

This basement cocktail bar on Hoxton Square is super cool in the we're-just-a-downbeat-basement-cocktail-bar sort of way. The lack of a theme - the fact that this wasn't a Prohibition bar* - was refreshing, even if the drinks weren't. Yeah, the drinks? TOTALLY FOR GROWNUPS. Not that alcoholic beverages are for kids, kids! But these were proper grownup cocktails. Think, like, that one time you tried to drink a martini to look all cool and adult and you struggled to even palate little sips at a time without wanting to vom all over yourself. Yeah, they were like that. The unique ingredients listings of the cocktails on the somewhat limited drinks menu sounded, er, intriguing. But not in the hm-this-sounds-like-it-could-be-a-delicious-taste-explosion sort of way. No, more in the eugh-I-hate-absinthe-but-it's-in-every-drink-so-I-guess-I'll-go-for-it sort of way. Let's just say, I took three sips of my 'gin cocktail' and left its boozy remains to die in the champagne saucer it was served in - along with its substantial lemon rind that made the entire drink smell deceptively of delicious lemons while it tasted only of aniseed gone wrong. This may sound terrible, but I'd definitely go back! I just wouldn't order that cocktail again. _______________________________________ *Disclaimer: I do love a good Prohibition-style bar. I won't lie. read more

This place was an unexpected gem in Shoreditch. It came recommended by a bartender at Byron around the corner when we stopped for dinner. We had a hard time finding it, as it had the address 8-9, but it's actually down stairs (find the sign that says happiness and it will lead you here) underneath Rubys. Me and my bestie both got the Tokyo Gin cocktail, which had gin, yuzu, grapefruit, and ended with a bubbly finish. It was so refreshing. read more

Happiness Forgets - Mischief. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

I love, love, love this place, took my beautiful girls and hubby for drinks on a Saturday night, the atmosphere was buzzy, friendly, relaxed and super cosy. Also very important for girls, the ladies bathroom is luxurious and very clean! top marks for this. Also more grown up than the average Hoxton hipster bar. Now to the cocktails: A total taste explosion, the best cocktail I have EVER had. The lovely waitress arrived at our table and asked us about our favourite taste sensations, we were then they made individual drinks, the mixologist is truly gifted! A word of warning though I had 2 cocktails and barely remember the walk to the next venue, although it may be I am total lightweight. Do book a table they get very busy especially on Friday and Saturday's. read more

Great little bar that's hidden down stairs in this H. square. Got lucky with a single spot at the bar it was pretty packed that night. With very little room to operate it created an intimate setting and very easy to talk to people even though there were playing some great music. The bartenders were very friendly and were definitely down to satisfy my whiskey need even though there were not many options on the menu; still many options just not whiskey based. They put on quite a show while making drinks and tended to know a lot of regulars. I really liked this establishment! It's a good watering hole for a date, to catch up with someone or sit down and posit life's questions with a stiff drink. I will certainly be back next time I'm in the area. read more

A while back a rather respected bartender friend of mine said he wanted to check out a friends bar that had just been redone. He never told me the name, couldn't really describe how to get there, just said ''meet me at Hoxton Square.'' Underneath Yelo Thai restaurant (actually under the place next to it that I don't remember the name of), is this cute little bar that is several shades of awesome. The main man behind the bar, Alister, has worked at some rather fabulous cocktail bars and with him is a rotating cast of pitch hitters - all amazing bartenders who come by on their nights off from other places or out of retirement for a little bit of fun. These guys will expand your pallet and make you drinks you never knew existed, but cant live without. It never gets over crowded, but has a great feel and vibe to it. A great place to come by with friends, or just by yourself. Love love love this place. read more

As cocktail bars go, this place is not expensive. Their prices tend to be between £7-£9 for a well-made, hand-crafted cocktail by what appears to be a quite talented and very friendly bartender. Between drinks as my companion and I discussed the proper way to hold glasses, and how "masculine" her drink was compared to mine, he would offer us advice and interesting facts about these subjects. They also claim that while their list is small their library is large, so go ahead and ask for your favourite cocktail, or ask for recommendations that fit your mood or tastes. The setting is nice, kinda feels like a speakeasy joint without the pretension. Can't fault it :) read more