The best Hoxton bars

Buried in the backstreets of Hoxton is 100-year-old heritage pub, The Lion & Lamb. As far as Hoxton bars go, it looks like it has seen better days, but come night time it turns into an intimate music venue with world-class DJ sets. It’s a top spot for local artists, electronic music enthusiasts, and audiophiles thanks to their top-notch Martin Audio sound system.

Dance to everything from Deep House and Disco to Techno and beyond beneath an artful installation of jack plugs hanging from the ceiling. The Lion & Lamb is certainly an unusual venue for world-class DJs to spin their collections, but it’s all about the music and that’s all that matters.

Just off Hackney Road in Hoxton, Looking Glass Cocktail Clubs calls to discerning drinkers of potions and tinctures and lures them in with promises of a secret bar through a looking glass and sweet DJ sets.

The Looking Glass Cocktail Club is comprised of Le Boudoir, the cosy cocktail lounge, and the dimly lit (secret, wink wink nudge nudge) Room Through the Looking Glass. Mid-week, relax in Le Boudoir with a couple of cocktails, and enjoy DJ sets at the weekend.

As for Through the Looking Glass, the place becomes more decadent as the hours while away, until it's a den of dancing and partying and one too many signature cocktails.

Feeling experimental? Try Happiness Forgets, a no-nonsense underground bar in Hoxton Square that prioritises their drinks over neon signs with cringe quotes. They’ve mastered classic cocktails as well as the art of collaboration – they regularly feature guest mixologists who will create a special cocktail of the night.

The basement cocktail bar keeps it minimalist with simple bar seating, booth seating, and tables topped by candles – like we said, no-nonsense, just an absolute focus on bangin’ cocktails.

Their drinks menu is ever changing, but the calibre of bartenders is such they will probably be able to recreate that amazing drink you had three months ago and raved about to your friends – they know their business.

Grab drinks in a pub where the likes of Charles Dickens used to grace the bar. The Macbeth pub has deep roots in the area stretching all the way back to the 1840s – it survived both World Wars and the typhoid epidemic to become a dive-y Hoxton bar favoured by bands and artists today.

Sip one of their historically named cocktails as you admire faux Neoclassical paintings so dramatic in their depictions Shakespeare would roll his eyes. We recommend the Magna Carta made with Havana 7, honey-saffron water and orange bitters, or delight your pals by ordering a round of Plague Water for the table. While a cocktail wasn’t what King John expected when he wrote the Magna Carta in the 13th century, we respect the Macbeth's love for history (and booze).

There’s no other bar quite like the Queen of Hoxton - fantastically located in the heart of Shoreditch, whether you’re getting a drink after work, going all night in the club or kicking off your weekend in style with a bottomless drag brunch, they have what you need.

With DJs, live acts, a killer cocktail menu and big party vibes - a night with the Queen is always a big, and sometimes messy, one. There’s even a rooftop terrace with iconic views (open all year round and heated in winter) and they offer private hire on a range of spaces, from 50-500 guests.

The Shoreditch gem of the “Records” bar group - Old Street Records boasts two floors and the best location as one of Hoxton’s hottest bars. Live music every night brings a bustling crowd and buzzing atmosphere. This is one for people who like big nights out, so probably avoid taking a date.

Go straight from work for happy hour cocktails, grab a delicious pizza to keep you going (eating’s not cheating) then dance the night away while discovering your new favourite bands.

Try the Sour Records cocktail for a unique twist on a beloved classic, or for a special occasion pre-order a prosecco, beer and pizza package. You can even hire out the basement for a private party.

Walking into The Breakfast Club is like doing an instant hop back in time into their quirky retro bar vibes. Think old-school Americana, complete with booths, a chequered floor, milkshakes and pancake stacks to die for.

Whether you’re after brunch, lunch, dinner, or some evening socialising - The Breakfast Club has you and your friends covered with their fantastic range of food and drinks (including some ace cocktails). Don’t miss the bathrooms to check out their nostalgia-filled wallpaper, and you can even go home with branded merch as a souvenir.

With its industrial chic and elaborate octopus motif on the window, you can’t help but notice Rapsa @ 100 Hoxton. Well known for its Filipino Fusion menu, they offer food throughout the day and one of the best weekend bottomless brunches that Hoxton has to offer.

Head through the secret bookcase to the jungle of Sugarlandia, their party room and tiki bar, and sample the best Pinoy cocktails on this side of the Pacific. The last Sunday of the month brings their unique Boodle Fight - a new hands-on style of dining all about sharing and eating together with friends and family.

Rapsa is available for private hire for 25-100 guests.

Located on Hoxton Street, Howl At The Moon is more of a friendly pub than a wild party bar - pop in for a pint and their wide selection of beers will almost certainly convince you to stay for a few more.

The vibe is buzzy without being overwhelming, dogs are welcome and they do a mean taco if you find you need a snack with your booze. They have outdoor tables, and in summer the park next door turns into an excellent beer garden. With regular sports screenings, music nights, pub quizzes and tap takeovers - there truly is something for everyone at this local hotspot.

A classic boozer heralding from a bygone era, this tucked-away pub has been serving Hoxton locals and wanderers alike for decades.

A deceptively large pub crowned with that most elusive of city spaces - a roof terrace! - its multiple floors include a games room with pool and football tables and a SNES video game console. And whether you’re looking to secure a table or an entire floor, you can book ahead to make that private function or date night extra special.

On arrival, you’ll find a small but well-curated beer selection along with a host of other reasonably priced drinks. And if you plan to stay a while - you really should! - you’d be remiss to ignore the indulgent burgers and sides from guest menu providers Bang Bang Burger Co, with the Bangkok Chicken burger, in particular, being a favourite of ours.

Stroll down Great Eastern Street any night of the week and you can’t miss The Hoxton Seven. This popular, offbeat cocktail bar boasts a prime position on the Hoxton Triangle, and with a seven-day licence, street-side seating and bookable booths inside, they’re ever ready to show you a good time.

A colourful and open bar awaits, with friendly staff and plenty of tables to accommodate you and your mates. If you’re in the mood for something more hedonistic, venture downstairs to the basement speakeasy, where edgy decor and an even edgier soundtrack from the in-house DJs will keep you entertained all night, or until it’s time to hit the club if you prefer. (Hot tip: ask at the bar; your drinks order might just grant you a queue-jump to nearby club Cargo).

Both floors are available for individual or whole-venue hire, each with up to a 150-person standing capacity on a minimum spend basis.

In a city where ‘cool bar’ is too often mistranslated to mean exposed bricks and filament bulb lighting, Nikki’s on Hoxton Square is a neon oasis. Prepare to be gently stunned by the 70s disco-esque self-illuminated ceiling, a honey-streaked sunset in which to bask, with a retro playlist to match.

Apparently simultaneously inspired by the works of Quentin Tarantino and trashy reality TV, there’s even a king-sized (PVC) bed on which you are encouraged to pose for photos and the utter bafflement of your friends and followers.

With regular Y2K-themed Drag Brunches and a roster of seasonal events, And if you want the ‘ultimate party girl’ party - and let’s be honest, we absolutely do - Nikki’s is fully bookable with an impressive array of entertainment packages, activities and add-ons.

Yet another gem on Hoxton Square, a site that has purportedly hosted live music and entertainment for centuries, Colours is an inclusive, LGBTQ+ arts and performance space with a bar and kitchen to boot.

Step off the square, through Colours’ drinks terrace into a spacious multi-level bar, where 5 nights a week you can sample an impressive drinks roster - from killer cocktails through guest beers, speciality gins and wines - and a rotating food menu currently boasting indulgent pizzas (with optional vegan substitutes across the board).

With regular drag disco nights - larger-than-life DJs dropping iconic bops - and weekend bottomless brunches, the main bar alone has plenty to offer. But this serpentine space doesn’t end there. With a state-of-the-art live room hosting queer musicians, artists and weekly club nights; a dedicated chillout bar and private terrace; and even a purpose-built Karaoke room, you’ll never want to leave.

With every room available to hire in isolation or as a whole, you can inject some colour into your next event.

If you’re into record-setting pubs, look no further than the George & Vulture, the tallest pub in London since 1870. Their other claim to fame is combining lovingly-made sourdough pizza and craft beer for the perfect meal.

Sit by the wood-burning fireplace while you tuck into the Jon Bon Chovy pizza and wash it down with a craft beer – or spritz or cocktail, go wild, we won’t tell. We like their Monday 2-4-1 pizza deal and Tuesday quiz nights. It’s a Hoxton bar with great food, great booze, and entertainment. What more could you ask for?