I don't get it. Why would I want to go to a bar where the staff think they are above serving me? Why would I want to go to a bar where the drinks cost more than most people I consider friend's earn hourly? Even more so when I don't feel that they are fabulous! People rave about this place and when I first went I thought I was just unlucky, so I didn't review it. Waiting to go back and try it again. I did and again I was so unimpressed I thought I must be in a different bar to everyone else. Note: The cool people are not hiding in the room at the back. Just the knobs who think they are cool. Along with the staff who are a little to busy with what they look like to serve you. I love the concept. I should love this place. It has a bath you can it in for goodness sake. But, that was just disappointing. I sat in it and it was uncomfortable. I got out. Feeling sad. I don't even know what they could do here to make it better either. I mean I will say that there loos are A. Mazing but I can't sit and drink my overpriced cocktail in the bogs so sorry CC, you're a two star pony for me. read more

Alice in Wonderland meets The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. This bar has everything going for it, fantastic cocktails, lush décor and the coolest secret little areas for private parties. For a touch of decadence ad splendour, this is where you should be sipping your Martini's. I am a big fan of Callooh Callay. read more

Can I give this place six stars? The decor is unique, eye-catching and beautiful and I became particularly enamored of a large sketch in the upstairs bar that could have accompanied a passage from "Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters". The drinks were imaginative, well-crafted and delicious. I like to alternate between warmer whiskey-based drinks and cool fruity cocktails (yes, my liver and I are enemies) and every drink I ordered here was marvelous. Even the vague direction I gave to our bartender for something "cool and tropical" yielded magnificent results. Through the wardrobe is an additional room and we were lucky enough to get invited to the JubJub Bar, which apparently has a constantly changing menu depending on the bartender in residence. The staff was very attentive and happily responded to what I now assume were our drunken obnoxious inquiries. We came at around 8 pm and the venue was already pretty crowded so I recommend making reservations if you've got a big group. I also recommend coming here. Like now. read more

We were invited to Callooh Callay for a birthday the other week. It's located in Shoreditch and I was worried that it would be filled with the local tosspots. I was also worried that it would be overcrowded/overpriced, because apparently I'm a bundle of joy like that. Our friend had booked us in to Jub Jub, which is the secret bar within a bar. It's not necessarily super exclusive, you can book via the website, but it has a limited capacity, which means you get a code to the door and your seat and it's not overcrowded. Like a dream come true! Every couple of weeks the menu changes, as well as the door code, with one of bartenders debuting their own particular themed menu. It's £10 per cocktail, so it's not cheap and in fact the first once I had wasn't great, but after that the rest were amazing and totally worth it. This place is definitely a less is more kinda place and sometimes it's nice to have just a few good cocktails, rather than a bunch of shitty ones. The music was at a decent enough volume, so you could hear yourself think and the bar staff were lovely. Really friendly and attentive. I would definitely go back here again, when cash is a bit more free flowing! :D read more

You did it. I came back again and again and again. Cocktails are excellent and the bar staff is efficient, funny and agile. 5 stars for sure. I've felt guilty about now updating my review for a while now so here it is...take that psyche! read more

Free table booking, good drinks, lovely setting and a great birthday party. Why only 1 star? Well, we were told off for having too many people and that I wasn't allowed more friends (ok. totally my fault because I suck at predicting attendance and underbooked by about half) and then the fire alarm went off for about 45 minutes. Yes, it ain't your fault but a) surely it is against health and safety to let people keep drinking in the bar when the alarm is going off. b) at least give us a discount on 1 measly round of drink considering there were over 12 of us there and we all had at least 3 drinks each. To top it, Z was "given" a free drink only to find we "paid" for it already and had to demand the money back. On the back on that experience, I won't be coming back. All the otherwise wonderful quality of this bar is completely negated. read more

Shh. They have two secret rooms (you didn't hear that from me). The staff is extremely knowledgable and will make you classic cocktails off the menu. I wish I could live here. read more

What a funky bar in Shoreditch. The decor is completely over the top, yet it somehow works. They have a back room that is accessed through an unmarked wardrobe in the corner. Yes, like the other Yelpers mentioned its a bit like drinking yourself through the Chronicles of Narnia---hard to top that, right? The back room is hiply decorated...expect to see benches created from a split old fashioned bath-tub. There is a 3rd "secret" room, but alas I did not explore enough to find it. Service was sassy but effective. They have an extensive list of cocktails. Apparently the menu changes but this winter all cocktails were themed after different types of birds. And yes the honey spunk drink apparently is a typo...though my friend really seemed to enjoy it! If you want an eclectic experience, Callooh Callay should be on your short-list. Tip---this place can get insanely busy weekend nights, so go mid-week or early in the evening to snag a booth and take in the uniqueness. read more

This isn't about Callooh Calley -this is about JubJub. I LOVE JubJub. From the moment I heard of this place, I wanted in. That was back during the days of keyholders past 9 - and I couldn't wait for an invite. Alas, JubJub has moved from its days of exclusivity to a reservation system and the concept is ...awesome. Each month a different bartender has complete artistic freedom over the bar within the bar - from the drinks menu, to the decor, to the ambiance, to the bookkeeping. A taster of some of the nights we've gone to experience : drinks based on one bartender's favorite movies ($5 shake anyone?!) & an absinthe menu with the bar decorated like old-time France and oysters on the rocks. Each month the concept of the bar changes, and each month it's like stepping into a totally new place. This is now done as one of our monthly go-tos -- a date night out to somewhere familiar, yet different each time. And if the donuts with salted caramel are on the menu - don't hesitate to order! read more

These guys know their S!"£$T, and a review update is long overdue. In the last 8-10 times I've been there, I've been blown away by some of their drinks, as well as the creativity around the pop-up bar concept upstairs. Yes, they've shut down the key holders jubjub bar, and replaced it with a monthly rotating pop-up bar concept. In fact, they just wrapped up their 'Havana nights', focused of course, on rhum based cocktails, and have recently launched 'Henessy Clubhouse', focused, you got it, on cognac... yum. In their own words, and I plagiarise, "The Hennessy Clubhouse is an opulent, decadent French hideaway styled on the games room of the Hennessy family home featuring cognac classics and Callooh Callay creations in association with Hennessy Fine de Cognac, XO and Paradis.". They redecorate the top room regularly, and it keeps things fresh and exciting. The only thing... man it gets hot up there... need to work on some AC or something. Or maybe it's because I went to the Havana night, and they were keeping things 'real' by pumping up the temperature and humidity (probably to make me more thirsty... just 1 more daquiri please... for the road!). The downstairs rooms are still fun... I love the back room, but make sure you book for it in advance. I highly recommend the storm in a thai cup, which is my favourite cocktail there at the moment! It's made with ocho reposado tequila, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, coriander, ginger, fresh lime juice, green chilli and coconut. Almost like a green curry in a cocktail. Amazing. Make sure you push the chopped chilli to the bottom of your glass so that it can infuse some heat... ooooh la la.... A drink to follow up the thai cup is the humourously named 'LA PENCA AND THE BRAIN' (yeah, you got it, Pinky and the Brain). This one has tequila, mezcal, kamm & sons (ginseng spirit), cointreau, and a home made red pepper syrup with fresh lime juice. A nice alternative to a margarita, and smokey, slightly savoury, and is a great complement to the storm in a thai cup, in my humble opinion. A perfect way to end your evening here is to move towards the 'Appealing to the Rye'... which, in my mind, is close to a Sazerac (probably because of the Rye ;-), and is create for you rye whiskey aficionados. It's made with rye (duh), absinthe, some orange and mandarin bitters, and home made spiced red wine. Beautiful, clean, crisp drink, and one that creates a perfect segue to go across the street to Nola and kick off the evening with some Nuclear Hurricanes followed by 50/50 Sazeracs, true and proper. Also, the staff here are awesome, try and get Ollia as your server... she's super knowledgeable about the menu, and is fun to talk to! But everyone here is super nice... Bumped up to 5 stars. For sure. read more

Let's be honest. Everyone likes Callooh Callay because you get to Narnia yourself through a wardrobe to get to the toilets. And that's okay. read more

OMG There's a bar through a cupboard! (do say this, the staff aren't bored of it at all) Welcome to Narnia people, or as close as you're going to get to Lewis Carroll / Alice in this part of town. It's surrealist chic, old gramophones decorate the window bays, exotic light shades are shaped like bunches of grapes, and even the corridors are plastered with a mural of 80's style old-school cassettes. They have goldfish bowls carried by skinny jean, shade wearing gnomes lined up on the bar, waiting to be filled with punch to kick-start the night. This is just the first bar,you haven't even stepped through Victorian wardrobe yet, where you're transported a backroom containing an enormous red and white striped throne - perfect for holding court. Susan and Edmund better up their game if they want in here. Play your cards right and you could be one of the chosen few invited up to the Jubjub Bar. Hidden behind a curtain, is the stairway to cocktail Heaven, you'll need the key next! The bursting bar lures in phenomenal bartenders and brand ambassadors to mix some of the best cocktails you'll find in London, the menu changes weekly, so you'll never get bored. Now all you have to do is work out how to get out BarChick was reluctant to come back to reality.. read more

Laura N and Chris O introduced me to this place on Saturday... and it is quite the find! A very cozy "front parlour", featuring gramophones, a funky bar environment, and a serious armoire at the back... which (a la C S Lewis) is in fact the gateway to other rooms of the bar. A very surreal style -- and it works so well. This bar's "party piece" is the "Mad Hatter" served *in* the gramophone... but, let me warn you. This drink is dangerous, people. It slides down very easily indeed; think alcoholic orange squash and you're well on the way... to distinct levels of inebriation! The mai tai I had here was incredibly strong -- rip-your-tongue-off strong, which was rather a surprise, but at least this bar doesn't skimp on their measures! It's definitely a place for a group visit -- and one I hope to go back to soon! read more

Callooh Callay is an excellent, eccentric exotic bar that is the cream of the crop on Curtain Road right now. Just look at the other reviews to see how much love there is for this place and how much people enjoy the quirky touches. I particularly liked the crossword puzzle on the menu. But amongst all the wonder, there is a little something that means I have to give CC a single grey star... The VIP section. This is where I found myself last weekend, and ludicrously the VIP section completely sucks compared to the rest of the bar. No DJ, no tiki-bowls, just a small selection of cocktails and pretty much nothing to look at except the big fat Bagpuss chair. It was dead and dead boring there, but the only place they'd let us sit and eat. You'd think it'd be better being a VIP, but no... they won't let you order stuff made downstairs which just leaves you with boring and daft things like the £18 Mai Tai. No thanks. I was pretty dismissive about Callooh Callay and all your 5 star reviews after 45 mins in the VIP section, but just 20 mins in the main bar swung me back around. Perhaps CC are doing us all an egalitarian favour and are purposefully shafting the VIPs in their silly little attic upstairs. If so I salute that! read more

Came here on a Friday night and MAN was it crowded. Very quirky, cute decor -- bold colored/patterened wall paper, little chandeliers, heavyset chairs. I thought the little wardrobe door on the left led to the bathrooms... but it actually opened up to a loungey, cozy, class-oozing second room. Too bad the lady told me that it was at "full capacity" and couldn't let in more people... which was a bit lame, because the main room was so much more rammed. Slurped down a gin and tonic (standard sapphire, thank you) and a tequila shot -- drinks aren't cheap (£7 for a cocktail, about £5 for a shot... but a big one!), but they definitely are heavy, as by the time I got to Cargo, a party had already began raging in my head and I wasn't sure if I was invited. It was too crowded, but next time I'm definitely going to order out of the gramophone. read more

I went here for a special evening event with 42below vodka, so I'm not sure I encountered typical service. However, I'm not mad about the decor. It just didn't feel very special at all. It had been overhyped to me before I went, and I have to say I was a little let down. BUT, for the benefit of the doubt, I didn't really see past the first room on entry, since the others were closed off for private parties. Plus, it was rammed and I felt like I couldn't breathe for most of the time. We found a table but were told it was reserved for bottle service, only to see a group of four take it immediately afterwards - and order beer. Hmmm. The cocktails were amazing, but free, so I can't judge price. I also didn't really see the rest of the rooms, since they were closed off for private parties. Hey, I enjoyed my time, and it's in a great area of town for other bars, plus it benefits from the hip factor. But I won't be heading back any time soon to see if it lives up to Lizzie G's review, or Andrew's.... read more

Cool & Quirky..this bar is fab..i especially like walking through the wardrobe to get to the second bar out the back...and the bathrooms that have wallpaper made out of cassette tapes. Bar staff really know what they are doing too - yum cocktails! read more

Where do you celebrate your birthday? Callooh Callay Where do you take your date? Callooh Callay Where do you lament a shit day at work? Callooh Callay Where do you raise your glass to your achievements? Callooh Callay Where d- JUST CALLOOH CALLAY aight. read more

It must be love, love, love! Before coming in, I was a little afraid hearing reviews about snobbish service. I must say, our waitress was amazing! So friendly, hospitable and enthusiastic! She explained patiently several different cocktails and recommended us some absolute deliciousness! To be warned - their cocktails are generally strong... To visit Callooh Callay, I'd recommend booking a table in the back area really in advance. I called 3 days prior to visit and it was too late.. Fully booked throughout the whole night! We had a fantastic time anyway and they will surely see me again soon! read more

This place seems deliberately set up to make as many of its customers feel unwelcome as possible. Step one: Can I get in, please? Step two: Can I go through that cupboard door to the back bar, please? Step three: Can I go upstairs to the pokey little bar in the back of the back bar, please? So turns out I could, but some of the group I was with couldn't (quelle horreure, it was like they were presenting me with "Sophie's Choice"... though, of course the choice was dead simple. We just left and went somewhere nicer with fewer Door Nazis). read more

Way overrated, not to mention overpriced ! After hearing so much about Callooh Callay, I admit I went with pretty high expectations. It was a Friday night so I was expecting the crowd, but we were shown to an upstairs area and seated so that part was pretty nice. However, the service was terribly slow. I'm a girl that doesn't mind expensive cocktails as long as they're worth it (e.g. Mahiki's £15 cocktail) but the cocktails at Callooh Callay were just not tasty. I left feeling incredibly unsatisfied with both my drinks and overall experience. Considering all the positive reviews though, I'll possibly be willing to give this place another try at some point. read more

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy." I think I had been anticipating going to Callooh Callay more than any other bar in London. It did not disappoint! I had the Ale of Two Cities(42Below Feijoa, Punt e Mes, nettle cordial, fresh lime and apple juice with malt syrup to give it its' widget. Served in a half pint tankard) and it was, I believe, the best cocktail I have ever had! Granted at most bars I order a beer or at my most adventurous a rum and coke, but they nailed this. They have an HUGE cocktail menu that I am sure are all equally tasty. I wish I hadn't known about the secret wardrobe before coming. The surprise of finding out while there would have made the night. Having already known about it, I was a bit disappointed with what I found behind. A couple more seats(some looked like old bathtubs!) As for the decorations, I didn't get the Alice in Wonderland vibe as much as I'd hoped. I didn't make any cheshire cats, mad hatters, or even tiny tea cups. It was interesting, but not as interesting as I thought it would be. The services was EXCELLENT. Usually I don't comment on the service at most bars. Bartenders usually just do their job, but our bartender went to town on this cocktail. He put such care into it I felt like I was the a guest at his Alice in Wonderland house. Another staff member(maybe the owner) came over introduced himself, asked how we liked our drinks and how our night was going. So nice! We weren't lucky enough to make it up to the JubJub bar, but if that happens and it is everything I hope it can be I'll have to revise this to fives stars. Definatley check out Callooh Callay if you are in the area. What a frabjous day indeed! read more

What kind of name is Callooh Callay? After visiting this new spot in the heart of Soho, and after few drinks, I really tried to but the name on my mind..but the next morning it was gone..oh well, it was such a nice place I have found my way back since. Unpretentious and cozy, mismatched wooden chairs and tables, a big sofa, mirrors AND a wardrobe that is actually a door to the rest of the venue. Hah haa, but a good bar with cute bartenders. Little snacks like olives with just £2 and I noticed from the menu that they serve "credit crunch" lunch. What ever that means! read more

Callooh Callay - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

I wanted to like this bar but it just didn't do it for me. For starters, the bartender who served me had so much attitude, I felt like chinning him. I asked for a beer and he suggested a specialist Estonian brew . I cringed and asked for something better at which he took insult. His arrogance was unbelievable and suggested I didn't know beer, twat. Drinks were expensive, the ambiance was good but not worth the effort, even for the wardrobe door leading you to the back. read more

I am not a big drinker, nor a big going-outer. I WILL do both of those things here (ok, one has to do the later to do the former...but whatever, you get what I mean.) The drink menu changes, but right now it looks like a printed comic book. I, like everyone else, love the imaginative and delish cocktails and whimsical atmosphere, but I think what make this establishment truly stand out is the customer service. This is one of the few places I have been genuinely impressed with customer service since I've lived in the UK (snotty American coming out again, sorry!). We went on a week night and our waiter was perfectly attentive, gracious, charming, and fun to interact with! Everything a weeknight waiter should be!! Thanks Callooh Callay! (Even though I get Jabberwocky phrases stuck in my head every time...) read more

First VERY important thing: book a table. No, you did not understand. BOOK A TABLE. Don't try to come here without it, worthless, simply don't do it. Now that you BOOKED a table, enjoy it! This is one of the most known places in Shoreditch, and therefore one of the most crowded {arrow} look above for suggestions about how to get in. The place is nice, the front room is a bit boring, but well the real bar (and the reason why you booked the place with at least 4 days) is behind that huge mirror at the end of the room! So... like a novel alice, go through the looking glass and see how deep the rabbit hole goes! The interior bar is really, really nice! the atmosphere, the waiters, the cocktail menu! As always when I'm trying a new cocktail bar, I carefully explore the whole menu for ending up with a "barman choice" option, I usually tell an ingredient I want in it and then let him do his magic! this time was cinnamon, and I received a nice tumbler, sour and spicy, joyful! Do I suggest this place? Yes I do, I don't know why several other people had a bad experience (Andrew, Alex, Vicky) but I guess this place changed property as the service I received was very, very different from the one they had! But remember, BOOK FOR IT!! Just a notice: drinks tend to be pretty strong so... take with care! read more

For some reason, we struck up a conversation with the bouncer, who was very friendly and just a swell guy. I really like the vibe of this place and I love the quirky touches and it's decor. Especially the entrance to the much lauded VIP room and toilets. It's very very cute. Drinks were really nice, pretty affordable and despite it being tweeny-weeny and rather packed, it was a very cool place to kick off the night. I love the sign, which is basically a rip of the Chanel logo, and the gramophone is just the ultimate finishing touch. This is more of a place to have quiet chilled out drinks with friends on a weeknight, I think because it would make it more charming than standing around hoping for a seat. But it's definitely where I'll be holding my next birthday drinks... read more

After walking through a maze aka Rivington Street to get here, my friend and I finally stumbled upon the much raved about Callooh Callay. What appears to be just a normal bar, impressed me from the second I was greeted by the bartender and handed their drink menu. With drink names such as the Madhatter and Strawberry Fields and the poem "Jabberwocky", I decided to be a complete tourist and even take a picture of the menu... And the drinks which I now have a photograph of, satisfied my expectations. I had two Little Lady's which was a delicious combination of peach and prosecco. While this isn't the bar to spend a Friday or Saturday night out, it is the perfect place to go with some friends for cocktails on a weeknight. I will be suggesting this place to my friends from now on, and I need to go back and search for the room behind the wardrobe-hopefully l'll have the magic it takes. read more

Went here with a friend for a pre-dinner drink and had a great time. This place had really good customer service. We were running late but had reservations so called them up to inform that we were going to be late. When we got there everything was fine and we got a really nice seat in the back room. The waitresses took our orders and came back with drinks in a reasonable time. The drinks we had were Bitter Sweet Symphony, Apple Spice Flip and a Lazy Mexican. The decor of the place also helped with the whole experience, kinda quirky and random but it all worked really well. read more

It's always a little unfair to write a Yelp review for the last bar you hit after a full afternoon of, well...hitting bars. But I'm going to do it. K? K! So, kinda swayed into Callooh Callay late on a Sunday night, without a reservation (Pro tip: reservation would be best). I know that other reviews suggest some occasional snootiness here, but the staff were so on point and found us a little corner to sit in despite it being otherwise all filled up with reservations. So: yay. I'm also a big fan of how regularly they rotated around the room with water top-ups. HYDRATION IS IMPORTANT, Y'ALL. The main YAY (note transition to caps) is: THOSE DRINKS THO. I'm not particularly cocktail savvy, but: the highball, the GENIUS HIGHBALL was such a win: some Belvedere, Chenin Blanc syrup, Galliano balsamico, fresh raspberry shaken with lemon and egg white? Yes, alright then. Also, for 9 smackers, totally a good deal. It was my drink of the day, and I hope they don't change their menu up too soon because #willbeback (Arnold Schwarzenegger voice). Yelp note: consider a reservation, especially for the Lounge which is through the magical wardrobe! read more

First off- don't try to go on a Friday evening if you don't have a reservation. Even if you do get past the door, you'll be cramped and standing around the bar area. Other than that, once you're inside it's a fun little place for cocktails. The drink menu is in the form of a comic book and the bartender is a standard issue vintage lover complete with victory rolls and red lips. I can't remember exactly which cocktail I had, but I did enjoy it. After we stood at the bar for a while we were able to head to the back "secret" area behind the wardrobe. Great people watching but not the greatest for a conversation. It's a tiny room with lots of mirrors so it's quite distracting! Overall though, it's a cool place for some inventive cocktails. read more

Sexy atmosphere, delicious cocktails, friendly staff and a fun crowd - you really can't go wrong with this combination. Why not five stars then? The drinks are very pricey. I round with two drinks cost me £16 - ouch! This is the coolest new bar in Shoreditch, but don't tell everyone. Be VERY selective! read more

We had booked a table for 6. When we walked in and gave the reservation name we were taken towards the back of the bar and walked through wardrobe (yes, like Narnia). Behind this wardrobe there was another room that was a bit more private. The cocktails are different and out waitress was happy to help and explain the menu. You also get a sticker book. You get a sticker for each cocktail you buy and add it to your sticker book. There is a prize if you collect them all. Much more fun that Pokemon Go. The atmosphere is great as is the music. I definitely recommend going to this place! read more

The back room through the wardrobe is fabulous! Great surprise and beautiful cocktails. The waitress was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and personable. Loved everything about this place, even the loos.! read more

This is a great place. When you walk in I thought it may be a bit pretentious but the bartenders are awesome, the menu on the cassette tape is pretty fun, and the drinks are great. I was lucky enough to be there before it got too busy so I was able to see how much fun this place is. read more

*The bathroom is behind the wardrobe (you'll see) *The specialty drink menu is in the form of a comic book *The seats are halved, cushioned bath tubs *There is some sort of mega drink served in a fish bowl flanked by lawn gnomes Seems to be three different parts/bars in this place. and lots of other nooks and crannies I have yet to explore despite the small size. ew but yay! CON: Price per quality can be hit or miss here sometimes. And some of the servers are not on their game all the time. PRO: But the regular bartenders are pretty cool. This is one of those places where you can tell the bartender what kinds of drinks you usually order or what flavors you like or alcohol you prefer and they will just surprise you with something interesting and/or tasty. I really like that. read more

To get it straight - I give 5 stars to the bar and 2 stars to the restaurant. So, the bar. The seating area is very small, but cool - randomly put armchairs and pouffes has this easy atmosphere, where you can find yourself talking to a complete stranger because you were seating in a position convenient to talk! That I like. If you're lucky to get a place in a corner on a quiet Tuesday - you can have as much privacy as you want. I liked the atmosphere and the mixed crowd too. The cocktail menu is confusing, it's a deck of cards coloured in various shades, initially I though I'd get a cocktail in colour matching the card - but I haven't gotten my violet Ambrosia, instead - it was orange. I was slightly dissapointed. But the cocktail was very, very good nevertheless. All other cocktails were good too. Now, the restaurant, if you call it so! The menu is just so so poor. I mean I know not every place serves salads, but if you're up for some good food - don't go there. Three options for mains are: mix of sliders (lamb, beef and a veggie burger), hot dog and fish&chips style sharer. I went for sliders and wasn't too impressed. The chips (nope, no salad for me!) were deep fried in something - super unhealthy, so I had 4 (chips, not portions!) The entrance to the restaurant is cool, though - you get there through a wardrobe door which I haven't noticed before. Do make a reservations - from Wednesday onwards it's super crowded and it's rather small - only about 10 tables. Upstairs they have a members area which as I was told due to be converted into a pop up food place in March/April time - perhaps I will check the menu there before coming! Verdict: cocktails - YES, food - NO. read more

Going for last-minute drinks after work on a Friday, I wasn't expecting to end up in a place like Callooh Callay. Thankfully my boss is a talker, and with a 45 minute opening, we were able to sample the flavourful cocktails, and take a few to sit in some mismatched chairs in their elusive backroom. Our bartender was incredibly knowledgable, friendly, and helpful when it came to the cassette tape styled menu, which she asked us if we needed any help with after presenting us with some glasses of water. It was unfortunately written in manner which favoured showing off the brands of the alcohol rather than the taste and booziness of the cocktails. High quality vodka may be a selling point for some, but I think explaining how the drink will hit your pallet is more informative for the customer. And for over £9 a cocktail I would hope I love what I drink, rather than knowing I've got some Cuban rum that I've never heard of before. The atmosphere of the place was friendly enough, although the patronage made it seem a bit more unwelcoming than necessary. Especially considering the staff were so friendly, and helpful. With my jeans and t-shirt I felt incredibly out of place, but if anyone batted an eye it was those who were paying the same amount as I was to be there rather than the employees. The seating was a bit cramped so I definitely ended up in the selfies of the couple sitting in front of me a fair few times, although this crampedness fit in with the sort of mismatched, 80s basement/boudoir feel of the decor. Typical Shoreditch though. The cocktails themselves were tasty and served in appropriate glassware, with pretty garnishes that added to the upperclass feel of the beverage itself. I always appreciate a place that knows a gimlet style drink should be served in a cocktail glass. They didn't feel stingy on the booze either. For environmental reasons I probably won't be returning to this place. The drinks alone don't make up for lacking atmosphere. read more

This place was amazing. I have been to a bunch of speak easy types and this drinks here were amazing. I went with co workers and we tried a bunch of drinks and each one was distinct and very good. The service was very good and the place has a great vibe. We found a room upstairs that had karaoke and it was so much fun. The ironic part was 3 bartenders from a speak easy in Mayfair I go to showed up. You know it's a good bar when the best bartenders come here for drinks. read more

Thank you Yelpers--I love this place. Had to wait a bit to get in, but the bouncers were nice and friendly and we were the second party in line (and no one behind us) at 11:30ish. I just assumed that it was going to be packed if we had to wait, but was pleasantly surprised when there was plenty of space in the front room and easy access to the bar where an adorable waitress worked hard on crafting our drinks. I just thought there was a front room but then we followed people wondering to the back. There is an awesome back room with tables and a host that finds you a table. I just loved the cassette tape decor in the ladies and just thought that every detail had been considered. But wait....not done. We got taken up to this awesome little lounge upstairs where we received great attention--they were moving seats around to accomodate us and worked hard to get us the drinks we desired. Excellent tunes in the background--great R&B and funk classics. Fabulous drinks. Great crowd. Great service. Cool vibe. Good crowd. I am sold! (Except for the couple sucking face across the way, but that wasn't the bar's fault). read more