The best cocktail bars in Shoreditch

Tayēr + Elementary is a venture from power couple owners Monica Berg and Alex Kratena, who have managed to nab the bar a spot on the 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World list for multiple years in a row. The venue is divided into two industrial-style spaces: Elementary, where you can enjoy the bar's own wine and beer lines, and its famous One Sip Martini, as well as other classics with a twist, like the vetiver negroni. Tayēr, on the other hand, is the boutique cocktail bar which offers an even more high-end experience, with a daily seasonal menu of drinks with top-quality produce and intricate techniques used to extract the best flavours from them. Check the seasonal drinks board for options that change weekly.

Happiness Forgets is a tiny East London speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Hoxton, seating only 50 people in the standing-only space. The entrance is elusive, tucked away down a flight of stairs just off Hoxton Square. The menu isn't particularly long but includes a varied selection of drinks for a reasonable price. Enjoy sipping with the background music of smooth jazz and dim candlelight.

Swift in Shoreditch is another one on the 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World list. Step into the upstairs, and you'll be met with a sleek Art Deco-style space, ideal for a casual cocktail. However, downstairs you'll have to book. It's a little more intimate, with dimly lit booths that make for the perfect date night setting. There are around 300 whiskies to choose from and nearly 100 constantly rotating bottles of tequila, mezcal, raicilla, sotol, bacanora, and more.

Chiave in Shoreditch is the kind of place where the cool kids hang out. Chiave literally translates to "key" in Italian, symbolising a sense of belonging and holding the key to a place that feels like home. Not only do they serve excellent cocktails in a swish, sleek space, but they also have a custom-built hi-fidelity sound system where they host music-led nights to bring people together.

Nightjar, one of the world's 50 best cocktail bars, is a multi-award-winning vintage bar and music venue. This speakeasy-style Hoxton spot is all about jazz, blues, and top-tier cocktails. The bar counter offers a front-row view of the bartenders shaking up your drinks, while a few tables are available for walk-ins each evening, though many people book up to six weeks in advance. The menu is divided into sections, including a pre-prohibition selection, and there's also a non-alcoholic section.

This laidback cocktail bar is from the legendary Ryan Chetiyawardana, who goes by the name of Mr Lyan, a regular on the World's Best Cocktail Bar lists. The cocktails are works of art, and they also serve a selection of beers and wine. Swing by on the weekend for a DJ spinning vinyl, and check out his other London bars if you're a fan of Seed Library.

This literary-themed cocktail bar is kitted out with cosy booths, bold colours and lots of books. The creative drinks menu is award-winning, incorporating delicious flavours and spirits shaken using different techniques to extract the best flavours. They use their own rum blend and also offer a small menu of tasty dishes to accompany the food.

Pamela prides itself on being the cocktail bar for people who don't like cocktail bars. This Kingsland Road neighbourhood bar has regularly changing chef residencies alongside their signature cocktails. It's down-to-earth and laid-back but still super cool.

If whisky is your choice of poison, Black Rock is the place to be. It's been named the UK's best specialist bar for four consecutive years and is dedicated to demystifying whisky. They serve an impressive selection of drams and whisky-based cocktails, but for a deeper dive, you can book the blending experience and create your own unique bottle to take home.