Great speak-easy off Silicon Roundabout on city road. You'll recognize it by the the little nightingale on a gold placard by the door. Make sure you book a table in advance... or you'll have a hard time making it past the bouncer at the door. Cocktails average 10-12 pounds... which is the standard price in the Shoreditch area; more than your supermarket style cocktail bars, but less than the uber posh American Bar at the Savoy Hotel. Memorable cocktails here are the Bloody Mary, which comes with their own tomato juice and a plethora of garnish and spices (they even have kimchi sauce). The negroni is excellent here, and they also make a mean martinez. Try and get a booth if you can, so much cosier and fun. Recommended. read more

My friend and I visited on the off chance of getting a table as a walk in as there was no availability online. The lady on the door was very nice and we only had to wait a couple of minutes and we headed downstairs to a table. Our server was really nice and greeted us with, 'we're all friends here' which was lovely. I loved the menu and the way it set out the different era's and helped you make a decision depending on the types of cocktails you might typically order. I decided to try one of their signature cocktails, Laverstoke Julep. A gin rose cocktail with Veuve Clicquot champagne. It was presented so well and it was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into their cocktails. The garnish complemented the cocktail perfectly. These are no traditional cocktails, the bar staff are experts at their craft. The surroundings is probably what you would expect of a speakeasy, with the 20's decor vibe and the dimmed, mood lighting. It made the bar feel very special. I felt very underdressed! Ours was a flying visit, but it was lovely to have a cocktail and see what the place looked like, after meaning to go for so long! I would definitely go back when the live music is on next time as I think it would be a very enjoyable evening. read more

Some of the coolest cocktails I've ever seen, not to mention the biggest! I'm so happy I found this place on Yelp because I don't know how else I would find it especially since I'm not from the area. It was a little tricky to find because its just a door along the street. We arrived around midnight & waited in line behind 1 group. After waiting 5 minutes, we were led downstairs. It was a cool jazz bar/speakeasy. I was surprised we had to wait in line because there were a ton of open tables. We were greeted with a bowl of popcorn. I ordered the London Mule & I don't remember the name of my husband's drink, but it was definitely one of a kind. His drink was complete with a spicy cucumber & pop rocks on top. The menu lists all the ingredients in the drink, but we didn't have a clue what a lot of the ingredients tasted like so we asked our server for suggestions. My drink came out in a small barrel. Not even joking. For someone my size, I thought these drinks would get me in trouble. Come here for some of the craziest craft cocktails presented in a way you won't see anywhere else. Great place to chill & the drinks were amazing! Heads up! Allow a bit of time for the drinks as they are intricate. Also, don't expect to order a ton of drinks. There wasn't as much of the drink as I thought there would be in the barrel, but it's still a LARGE drink. I think 2 or maybe 3 would be my limit here. Lol. read more

Nightjar - London Mule. This drink was as big as the size of my head!! - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Speakeasy bar in Old Street. A small sign of a nightjar in front door, stairs going downstairs and you get into a new world. Expect relaxed crowd (not standing people allowed here), comfortable seating, live music and amazing cocktails. You will be really surprised by their cocktails. Completely justifiable that they are 3rd among the best cocktail bars worldwide. Don't just turn up - booking is essential. read more

Nightjar - Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Yep, this place deserves its reputation, despite the booking hassle and high prices. If you like fantastically interesting and well-made cocktails, there is no substitute. Everything we tried here (6 cocktails between my wife and I trying our own and our friends') was perfectly balanced, interestingly flavored, and beautifully presented. The shared Pot and Ketel was a surprisingly good deal on an otherwise expensive menu - we definitely got more than the stated 6 servings out of it, and it was very tasty besides. And my Brown Derby hit the bourbon spot. Next time I'll try to branch out, but it's hard when confronted with such excellent-sounding whiskey cocktails like their Boulevardier and Waldorf Gloom Lifter. read more

Ok friends, I may be biased in giving this five star review because I literally live two blocks away but it cannot be emphasized enough that this place addresses all of my interests in one go. Sandwiched between fast food shops near Old Street tube station, Nightjar is easy to miss as it has minimal signage. The decor is classic and surprisingly cosy with not-too-dim lighting and an old school glamorous feel. Ok now for the drinks, which are organized by style and time period. I was partial to the pre-Prohibition section of the menu, which featured many variations on scotch/whiskey cocktails and the julep, which is served inside a silver bottle filled with mint leaves and meant to be consumed via small shots a la bottle cap. YES, divine! I have to admit that I am a sucker for presentation and most of these cocktails are photo-worthy as well as deliciously strong. read more

Check 1: Music We had the pleasure of seeing Tj Johnson and his band- love. Check 2: Drinks Nightjar has THE most creatively presented cocktails I've ever seen- AND they are delicious! Check 3: Atmosphere Dimly lit, prohibition style decor with tables hidden in nooks and space to dance if the mood hits. Between the music, the drinks and the atmosphere, this place is winning all around. read more

Nightjar is one of the first names that crops up when you start to research London's cocktail scene. Sometimes this can lead to a bar becoming complacent and resting on its laurels. Thankfully, that is not the case here although it has led to the cost of the drinks being on eye high side as others have noticed. Those drinks are for me, worth the cash. They are high quality, inventive cocktails made with skill using ingredients of an appropriate standard. Happily, this does not mean that classics are ignored. Whether you want an Old Fashioned, a Sazerac or something that you have never heard of before, you will be well looked after. What did surprise me was the quality of the food Nightjar offers. While not a big menu, the cold meats listed are a good match for a night of cocktail drinking. The plate of Lomo was my favourite. Yum yum! read more

THIS PLACE WAS AWESOME. Enough said. I love a good, quirky cocktail bar with interesting drinks. This place took "interesting" to a new level: beautiful presentations of drinks made with ingredients that could only properly be described as absolutely bizarre. This in itself would have piqued my interest -- but on top of that, all the drinks were actually delicious! I've definitely been to a cocktail bar or two where the combos sounded intriguing, and everything looked pretty, but the taste was just not there. Nightjar did not fit that always-disappointing mold. The atmosphere was great as well. I went on a Tuesday night without a reservation (after trying to go on a Saturday without a booking and turned away) and we were able to be seated promptly. It's a testament to how awesome this place is that, even on a Tuesday, it was full and lively once we got inside. For the most part, this was just the right level of lively; it got a teensy bit too loud when the jazz was at its strongest and the conversations were flowing, but it was never too loud to be able to chat with your tablemates. The decorations fit right in with the atmosphere: cool without trying too hard. It didn't suffer from the pretentiousness that it could have. One last point in its favor -- for quirky cocktails in a cool setting, I was pleasantly surprised that these were only 10-12 quid each. I would have paid more, and if this place were located a little further west, I'm sure those drinks would have been nearly double the price. read more

Alright, so my experience here might have been a bit unique, in that, by the grace of god, I was with a rich family friend on my birthday. That means that we spent a solid 5 hours here over about 6 rounds of cocktails. The first three hours were 5 Star+, but the last few were disappointing. The good: -The doorman was super friendly and unpretentious. -They serve cucumber water and fill glasses constantly. -The drinks list is fascinating -Service started really great, with good recommendations and an infinite amount of patience. I was with some... Americans from my home town... and one of them ordered "a shit ton of vodka". Ugh. But she even did that with class, serving it with the tonic on the side and a whole half lime. The bad: -At about 10 pm, the whole room by the toilet started to smell distinctly like sewer -While fascinating, they put a lot of extra shit in some pretty classic cocktails. Trying to find something not full of honey, some kind of fancy sugar, or fruit is surprisingly difficult, and requests to our server for "not sweet, very dry" things turned up overly sweet, complicated things. Oddly (but again, fascinatingly) most of the drinks without those things weren't vegetarian (literally containing beef consume, turkey-fat washed gin, ect). -One of the "shit ton of vodkas" which was actually a £15 triple vodka, came out smelling distinctly and unmistakably like chocolate, leading us to believe that they don't wash their glasses very well. The server took it back, and I watched the bartender shrug her off and whisk her away. She came back with the same drink, but very quickly returned, clearly irritated, and went back to the bartender demanding a new drink. High five, server! But what a douchey bartender. -Our server dropped our last round around midnight and disappeared. Cool, shift's over, I get it, and our service had been way better than most places at that point. But no one else came around to check on us. So I popped up to the bar to ask for our check. The bartender obnoxiously and farcically mimed "I can't hear you" even though he very, very clearly could, and pointed at a waitress, who ran over me and told me to "go sit down", obviously annoyed. Now, I've never been privy to a check that huge in my life, but I imagine that spending nearly £200 on a Wednesday night should earn at least the tiniest bit of grace when it comes to settling up. Nah. Someone threw the check on our table, came back 15 minutes later, replied like a snot when he tried to pay with American Express, and then loudly said the amount of the bill, like "OKAY, well you owe...!" Not so classy. Still, a cool space, and the private booths looked ADORABLE. Those things would be so much fun for a group of 4 on a night out, or for a pre-dinner drink. read more

Another quality night at the Nightjar, the bar that never disappoints. Katie B and Rob H were kind enough to invite me a long for a night out and after a bit of a wait we were seated in a cosy corner table. Which got even cosier when 3 Italian girls (I'm not complaining) showed up. Drinks were incredible with my favourite for taste being the Zazerac (a Sazerac with aged rum instead of rye) although the oversized glass and lack of ice were a bit annoying. Overall, I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend a Friday night with good people and tasty cocktails. read more

Join the speakeasy lovefest in London with this gem just off Old St roundabout. The drinks are novel and the atmosphere is fun (and loud) thanks to the talented live jazz/swing band performing. They set off the speakeasy theme, and I loved watching the couple or two that were inspired to stand up for an impromptu dance in the middle of the room. Best to book ahead for a group, esp if there's 7 of you going for a mate's bday on a Friday eve as we did. The door staff were welcoming - that is, once I found them, after walking straight past the understated entrance on first look. You head down to the beautiful basement bar where lighting is I-can't-read-the-menu low. Our table wasn't too close to the band but we still had to shout to be heard at times; good excuse to lean in close if you're on a date I suppose! The cocktails are crazy. No other word for it. The menu covers almost every ingredient you can think of, and then a few more. All arrive with some kind of flourish in the presentation. I started with a Name Of The Samurai, with Nikka whisky, sake, a plum liqueur, mirin syrup and popcorn tea infusion. Yum. They took the madness up a notch by setting some bamboo shoots alight in a small wooden box and serving the cold glass on top so it smoked. To top it off, some zingy wasabi peas and a rice cracker balanced atop the glass. A welcome snack given I hadn't had dinner and already eaten most of the free popcorn bowls on the table. The flourishes were a little style over substance in some cases though. My second Vowel Cocktail (with my fave whisky Caol Ila in it) arrived with a biscuit balanced on top that had been half dunked in liquid chocolate and proceeded to drip all over the place as I tried to eat it. They'd half-covered the outside of the glass (and half-covered me by the end) in a white powder that made no sense if it wasn't going in the drink. My friends got various toppings including a yummy wodge of candyfloss, whilst another arrived in a sea-shell that was very pretty but couldn't have had much liquid inside. Think of them less as drinks then and more as entertainment, and there's certainly no lack of imagination to them. Might also explain why they took soo long to make. It's the first time a waitress has told me they've had to close the bar to new orders for a while. For £10+ a cocktail (plus extra cover charge for the band) that wasn't something I expected to hear. I think they manage to get away with some pretty slack service because everyone is too busy oohing and ahhing at whatever's on fire in their next drink (myself included!). You'll be charmed by the atmosphere and the creative drinks here, but if the staff could just pay more attention to things like water/popcorn running low, picking up empties or offering people menus for their next drink, this place could be really slick. Ok now I feel a little like my parents asking 'what happened to the other 1%?!' when I'd get 99% on a test at school - but hopefully you know what I mean! read more

Great atmosphere, inventive cocktails, REALLY wacky drinking vessels, and a bit of popcorn served while you're waiting. My only complaint is that they may not be making the best use of some of their exotic ingredients--why put so much alcohol in a drink that you're prevented from tasting the lovely blend of nut milks in it? read more

I went here last Sunday when I was visiting London as a recommendation from a friend. It's best to have a reservation because the place is quite small but since I was alone I thought I'd take a chance. The staff was helpful and friendly finding a seat for me almost immediately. The atmosphere was a cute little jazz place with fun drinks and smooth music. I hardly drink but when I do I lean towards organic wines and was pleased to see an organic white wine on the drink menu. I stayed for a drink and listened to some tunes. It was a pleasant time. read more

Loved this place, my first visit. From the exceptionally friendly doorman (apologising for a 5 min wait!) to the laid back, friendly staff and convivial atmosphere. Cocktails were imaginative, fun, expertly made and a good price. It only loses a star as we had a slight mix up over one cocktail and one that we hadn't ordered arrived. I'd expected the waiter to take it off the bill but it wasn't. Still, will be going back as soon as I can. read more

Classic east end speakeasy, reservations are required and a discreet door is entered through. Down a staircase and into a dark lair with atmospheric music and the buzz of other cocktail aficionados huddled over well appointed seating areas. Reviewing by candlelight, we selected the Honeymoon, London mule and tea tree negroni. All were delicious, theatrical, a twist and refreshing. Close seating enables envy and appreciation for your neighbours' orders, adding to the element of showmanship and quality of craft. You pay well for the drama, the creativity and the privilege. Enjoy! read more

Fall down the rabbit's hole to this dreamy and fanciful speakeasy cocktail bar in the heart of Shoreditch. Golden candlelight and cozy dark corners, beam off the glass of old jars and leather books. The surroundings are almost as lush as the drinks to come. This is a comfortable bar where you are seated and doesn't get over crowded yet the atmosphere has a buzz. It also means it is difficult to get in as space is limited and reservations are recommended. Yet the extra effort really is worth it, and the helpful staff will actually try to get you in. Everything about the place is a pleasure to the senses but let's face it, its the cocktails that are the stars here. Order from the highly creative drinks menu, exciting, innovative cocktails that really make for an exceptional time out. read more

Great little place for live music and incredibly imaginative cocktails in trendy Shoreditch. With a fashionable speakeasy vibe, this place is well worth waiting in line for. Great atmosphere for a celebration with friends or to wow a date. Their drinks are quite complex and compelling, yet easy to like. The presentation and flavors they create are beyond unique. We had a fantastic concoction that came in a large brass owl that billowed dry ice smoke. Our server was also incredibly attentive and knowledgable. Will without a doubt return on my next visit to London! read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

This is a classy joint. A door to the outside world unmarked except for a carved little logo, gold leafed menus and walls just dripping with character. The staff are subtle and well informed, and the cocktails dressed to the gills but deliver in a big way, not sweet or syruppy, and very complex. It also feels quite exclusive, as you are brought to your tables by a host where you are attended to, which is fantastic for a private group (maybe not as much for those who are looking to mingle, although the bar may have been open.) Nevertheless, unlike Bourbon and Branch in SF, the seating is very open and you can easily enjoy spying the other patrons or enjoying conversation with friends over the subdued but moody music playing. My only real ticks are the price, 9-10 quid cocktails, which made me nurse mine maybe a little more than I might have otherwise, leaving me not so tipsy when so drawn out. That, and the odd bathroom odour that kept hitting us, which may have been a little plumbing problem... or several overly odourous cheese platters that caught the breeze.. I'm not sure. read more

I absolutely love this old-fashioned speakeasy located the other side of the most unassuming black door in London. I hate to encourage the cliché but yes, I did walk past it many times. This place boasts the right amount of innovation without ever falling victim to overworked novelty. Sideline all other speakeasies for this one. Their super spicy Bloody Mary comes with a basket full of fixings so you can customise. You'll often encounter troupes of swing dancers dressed to the nines, ready to dance to the live tunes. To avoid disappointment book ahead. read more

Excellent cocktail lounge! Amazing cocktails. I also really enjoyed their absinthe menu. The live music was great! read more

See all

Oh I do love Yelp! I mean how did I end up in Nightjar!...I mean Nightjar really! This place is sooo underground, cool, intimate, and Wow! Me and my mate nearly missed it because its like one doorway with a security guard who was lovely. With a huge smile the owner welcome us, so friendly, then directed us to the rest of the yelp gang (Yelp drinks). The cocktails looked amazing, the one I tried was Aged Pina Colada which I told was strong. I know this drink had rum in it, but you sure it was strong, didn't taste like that to me, has a refreshing taste with a good combination of sweet and bitter taste to it. I liked the dried pineapple that came with it and also the almond ball, very tasty. Aged Pina Colada is £10 but with yelp it was £5 now I did not appreciate being charge extra 60p on top, when is their ever been a service charge on a drink, I can understand food but drink! well I'll just see it as a tip, luckily the service was good anyway. Oh Nightjar, you are well out of my budget, but maybe one day ill come to treat myself to your cocktails again. read more

Nightjar is the coolest cocktail bar I have ever been to. I love a good "elbow grease" cocktail. You know, the drinks that take 5 minutes to make because they have so many fancy, delicious ingredients that require slicing, muddling, squeezing and shaking? Nighjar takes that to a whole new level. I was visiting London with a couple of girlfriends and four of us visited Nightjar on a Tuesday night and we needed a reservation. As you walk downstairs to the bar, you actually feel like you're stepping back in time. Mis-matched antique furniture, live jazz music, and the cocktail list is a mile long with a full page dedicated to every different type of liquor you can imagine. As you can see from the photos, all the cocktails are so carefully concocted, they're like pieces of art. We all loved Nightjar so much that we wanted to buy some souvenirs. They sell their copper mugs, playing cards and their menu (which is more like a like a book). A great gift for the cocktail-lover in your life! I can't recommend this place highly enough! Just make sure you plan ahead with a reservation. read more

Best drink menu ever -- in a deck of cards! They also have awesome straws, in metal! Hah. I do love this place, mainly because I followed my favourite bartender across town to go there, and for good reason. The space is sparse and I wish there were more tables, but they have a stage for live bands, and if it's packed it's the ideal place to dance with stellar cocktails in hand. Will definitely be hitting it up again soon. read more

Cool place to check out. Great live music (jazz, old school, prohibition theme), extensive cocktails list - sexy vibe. Have to book well in advance (or try your luck at the door - unlikely you'll succeed but you can try!!) but worth the experience! Honey smash and the cold coconut rum cocktails were the highlights. Attentive service too! read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Oh my god, I could not have more glorious things to say about this place. If I were to move to the UK, I would make this my watering hole. I would bring all of my friends here and continuously rave about it. It's that freakin' amazing. I tend to enjoy places and restaurants that are off the beaten path and little hole in the wall. My friend took me here on a night where there was a NoLa jazz pianist performing and I just loved it to pieces. I developed a small whimsical crush on the server because he liked that I was a whiskey girl. We each ordered two drinks, both of mine had a base alcohol of whiskey. The first one Adam recommended was SO phenomenal, I would go as far to say it was the best whiskey drink anyone has ever made me. Mind you, it was quite strong, but delicious none the less. It had the taste of an old fashion, but a hint of extra maple woody smokey something...and flambeed cotton candy! What?! If you took a swig and then a bite of the sweetness, it just all melted in your mouth like decadence. I can't remember the second drink because I was pretty buzzed. I had to chug a lot of water to make the tube back home. Haha. There was some pretty fun entertainment going on at the table next to ours. An American girl was trying desperately to pick up this British looker, a comical modicum of entertainment for at least an hour or so. The service was on the slower side, but it was quite fine because when you're drinking in a lounge you want to enjoy your drink. We had some appetizers to go with our drinks and all I can remember is the ham and cheese ball, which was quite tasty. I love anything with cheese. And ham. Yes. I want to go back here. I may just fly back to the UK for it. We'll see. It's a definite WIN in my book. read more

Looks like a random door. If you are near Old Street station and fancy something a little different, you should try this place. You may need to book ahead of time though as you are usually quizzed on the door if you have made a booking. If you do get in, you are taking downstairs to an underground bar you didn't know existed, it is one of the jazz speakeasy bars. The guy playing the piano when I went was pretty amazing. The drinks we had were like a more expensive upper market fish bowl which had cinnamon sticks and stuff, but they also had cocktails menus and I can't remember the price but you probably pay for the location and "cool factor". Will be going again. read more

Lovely hidden underground space close to old street, live jazz amazing tapas-style food and each drink is presented as a work of art, mocktails (sangria style) were delicious and presented beautifully. A lovely relaxed evening! read more

After a great night at the Bugsy Malone Secret Cinema we thought it would be a great idea to keep up the theme and go to a speakeasy. There was a small queue outside but the doorman said we would be let in soon. Soon turned into about 30 minutes and after nearly walking away he finally let us in. Apparently the rule in one in one out, you can only go in when there is a table available. We finally walked down the stairs and alas! There was no band, the place was small and there was no atmosphere. So much for a fun speakeasy... we were sat at out table and looked at the drinks menu. Eeeeks! At those prices I'll have to file for bankruptcy. I think not. We used the toilets and were out of there within 5 mins of being let in. A speakeasy? Methinks not... it's a pretentious overly expensive basement bar. read more

The cocktail menu is fantastic and full of creative details, as is the music, service and atmosphere generally. The no-standing policy is great and makes the place. I think the private booths in back are not so great, but others could reasonably disagree -- my recommendation would always be to get a seat in the main room. TIf I had to find a nit to pick, it would be that the service is very good, but somehow short of perfect -- oddly, the place with better service that comes to mind is the Yale club. They service here is attentive but not to the level of perfect customer-ESP that the best cocktail joints (including, I'm sure, this one) strive for. The booking people are excellent. To that end, BOOK AHEAD. The no-standing policy limits capacity (again, it's great) and means that getting in without a reservation between thurs-saturday is unlikely. read more

this bar really lives up to the hype: great live music, creatively fun & delicious cocktails, & cozy seating. we recently visited over the holidays, made a reservation for 4, and were promptly seated upon arrival. we ordered many delicious cocktail creations and even some light bites. the cocktails come prepared with so much detail (!!): miniature bird cutouts from a lemon peel, airmail sticker for the airmail cocktail, chocolate covered glass as an enhancement to one cocktail, wasabi roasted nuts, and on and on it goes. i loved ordering more drinks to see their creativity! the drinks were also strong and tasty! additionally, they had live music, so it really livened the atmosphere. i love the ambiance and that everyone was given a seat, so it never felt over-crowded. i do wish there were seats at the bar as i like to interact with the bartenders and have them personally create unique cocktails. the only critique i would provide is the service. we were there on a saturday night and it seemed our waiter got swamped with all her other tables that it took a while to get her attention. we even had waited 30 minutes for one drink because the servers and bartenders were so backed up. that was kind of annoying. additionally, in the menu it says you can order any cocktail or they'll make one to your preferences, but when i asked our server to make something with bourbon with citrus and a hint of sweetness, she said it was impossible. it's clearly isn't impossible, since one of my drinks i ordered off the menu was EXACTLY like this. so it was a bit annoying that the server really only wanted us to order what was off the menu. with a bar at this caliber and the fact that it says ON the menu they can custom create cocktails, i would anticipate the bartenders/servers would oblige. oh well. bottom line: this place had great live music and fun, creative cocktails. i would definitely come back for a visit when i'm back in london. read more

See all

Our favorite bar in London - well, close first for all of the UK. Make reservations online if you can! Drinks the size of your head with unbelievable ingredients. Amazing service, all around worth the wait if they send you away from the door and tell you to come back... Make sure to ask for the souvenir list, collapsible shot glass and flash anyone? read more

I must be missing something because I do NOT get all the hype. Maybe it's because I'm from NYC where the "speakeasies" are some of my favorite bars and so my bar was set too high but you'd think when coming to London, where the bars are superb, that that wouldn't be the case. The drinks are pretty delicious and creative though, so I will still give it 3 stars. My problems with them started from my wait at the door. They apparently cannot seat more than one party at a time. There was a large party (more than 10 people) being seated when we got there. Many of them were late and for some unknown reason we needed to wait to be seated until all of them were. Not only was this wait unnecessary and annoying, but they made us wait on the street. It only occurred to them 10 minutes later that maybe we might want to wait inside. Once we were finally *permitted* to walk downstairs it was apparent that there were free tables (and no one had left) and so our wait was not due to that. They have an incredibly large menu for drinks. For me, it was so large that I was unable to enjoy the selection. For example at PDT in NYC, they don't include all the drinks in the initial menu they give you. The drinks we DID get were pretty good. One of mine I didn't love, but the second one I did. We also ordered a number of their tapas-style dishes for dinner. Some were okay, but I was not at all impressed with the food. The live music was good but we were seated in front of it and it was WAY too loud. So... if you are already thinking of going here and really want to see a London speakeasy-style bar, then I'd probably go. But I wouldn't recommend it of my own volition or return myself. I was definitely disappointed with my high expectations, but maybe yours will be more accurate going in. Reservations are crucial! read more

See all

I was in town only for the weekend and let me tell you! This place is freakin amazing. It's a really cute speakeasy bar. Sometimes there is a wait but trust me you won't wait that long. Once you're in you'll love it!!! The interior grabbed my attention immediately. Very dim but lively too with so many people there at around 1:00 am. Love it. Now on to the next. The choosing of drinks!! That's where it gets tough but just know you won't be disappointed. They come up with the coolest concoctions and the presentation of it is a bit unusual but that's what I loved about it. Nightjar is a must do! read more

A favorite new cocktail bar of mine - recommend making reservations as the space does fill up especially when there is live music, the cocktail menu is fun and inventive - if you come with a group there are some nice group options. Intimate setting great for small groups dates or one on one get togethers - a find in Shoreditch! read more

Nightjar - Tea at St James - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

See all

I decided to go here after doing some research of cocktail bars in London (both on Yelp, Timeout London and a few other sources). Booked a table via their website for Monday and went there. The doorman was very friendly and let us in, once downstairs we were asked wether we preferred a table so we could see the band or wanted a booth. I chose a booth and this turned out to be a good decision as it offered more privacy for me and my girlfriend. Menus were handed out an we were given an explanation of that night's specials. I ended up ordering a Marmalade No.2 and my girlfriend got a Tortuga. Drinks arrived rather quickly and were both presented in a fun way (mine had a cloth with a violet and a candy orange on it, my girlfriend's had cocoa bits on the glass and a raspberry dipped in chocolate). The drinks were a bit stronger than expected (though I should have prepared for this given the prohibition-era theme) but tasted really nice. My second drink was the London mule, which was a bit bigger than I expected, but tasted all the better. This one was even more up my street than the Marmalade No.2 All in all, a very nice night out (albeit not a cheap one). Staff also made no issues about calling a taxi and notified us when it arrived. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in London. read more

Nightjar - Marmalade No.2 - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

See all

An excellent place for a unique and memorable experience! My friends and I were escorted to a private, adorable nook perfectly suited to 5 people and ordered drinks that at first, by their menu description, didn't seem like they would be the works of art that they turned out to be! Everything was a delight. Quite pricey, including the cover charge for live music (but the music was truly excellent and I didn't mind), but I will fully go again. It would be great for a third date and beyond! A bit loud and intimidating for dates 1 and 2. read more

'My cocktail smells like an aromatherapy shop.' 'Your coconut's on fire' 'Is that a cake on top?' 'Is that a smoking teapot?' I thought I was going for drinks at Nightjar but it was really more of a theatrical experience. The menu is overwhelmingly vast and every drink has a myriad of strange and unusual ingredients. All drinks come in quirky vintage cups or steins. It's fun, but a little played out in London. My cocktail came with a banana leaf covered in fennel seeds and Turkish Delight on top, which 'you can eat if you like'. Err, no thanks. The drink itself was great, but the stuff on top smelled like someone had dumped the contents of their potpourri all over it. Maybe they are justifying their 10 quid prices but it just felt unnecessary. I don't know, the drinks seem a little clumsy for such a beautiful and classy bar. With the jazz music and prohibition atmosphere, why is my drink on fire? My companions' drinks came in great big stein mugs, one with a flaming coconut, the other with a union jack flag. In our second round, one of the drinks came with a big hunk of booze soaked brownie cake on top, we nearly choked on the taste of it. I think Nightjar would be much better suited to making really fine cocktails like HIx or Happiness Forgets and leave the theatrics to the tiki bars. And because of the theatrics, everyone is taking pictures and laughing at their drinks and it loses a lot of its appeal. Too touristy. Also the service was so criminally slow, it did not justify 12.5% service charge. read more

Great, great cocktails - possibly the best I've ever had. At £10 a go they're expensive but not terrible for London. The service was fairly average though - certainly not as good as I might have hoped for given the prices. My biggest gripe however is the tipping. 12.5% added to every bill automatically is just too high. Also we paid a £7 cover charge for the band (despite not being able to see them from our table) and then got charged a tip on the cover charge! Overall these little things soured my memory of an otherwise great bar. read more

This is a tough one. Nightjar offers the probably most beautifully presented cocktails in London. It also probably uses the most off the wall ingredients you will find in any London bar. It's a very popular place with a very stringent seating policy. And that's where it gets difficult. If you're with a group of people, looking for the cocktail equivalent of a three Michelin starred dining experience, accompanied by some classy live jazz and perhaps a bar snack - look no further. Make sure to book in advance, be open to experimental cocktails that are not always spot on, but almost always interesting, and you should be in for a fun evening. If you're a barfly like myself you're probably not going to be too happy. I am writing this review after my second visit. Both times I was on my own, requesting a seat at the bar. On my first visit, I watched one lady sitting at the bar (there is room for about 6-8 people) chatting with the bartenders and was invited to sit at the bar after she left. From that point on I had a great time and left ten cocktails later with a sizeable dent in my wallet, but happy to have sampled a wide range of original beverages while chatting about the trade with the very knowledgeable bartenders from time to time, and watching them preparing one stunning cocktail after the other. On my second visit I watched the empty bar for more than one and a half hours by when I got bored to listen to the other guests' conversations around me and asked for the bill. I received an apology for not being able to seat me at the bar (why not - there was nobody else there!), accompanied by a complementary shot and a their "deck of cards", a lovely way to take home their cocktail menu. While that gesture was very much appreciated, I still left disappointed and headed straight to Satan's Whiskers, my favourite watering hole in London, to save the rest of the evening. Another guest speculated that they were restrictive about sitting people at the bar as that would block the view on the work that the bartenders were doing. Ironically, I was under the impression that other than myself everybody else around me was engaged in conversations with the people they came with and didn't really give much attention to what was going on behind the bar anyway. If I could rely on being seated at the bar, I'd come back here often and sample my way through the cocktail menu. Since that does not seem to be an option I will stick to my other favourites. A real shame. read more

See all