My London friends have been promising me cocktails for months. They know of my fascination with cocktails and spirits, so they were looking forward to taking me to their current neighborhood haunt, Nightjar. That's right. The Nightjar, listed as one of the world's Top 50 bars, is in their neighborhood. We arrived 5 minutes later for our reservation. We were still able to get in and were promptly seated next to the downstairs door and waitress stand. It provided a good view of the bar, piano (live music later) and other guests. Good company makes for the best atmosphere. I've heard their drinks are expensive, but I don't have a UK reference point. If you consider the sterling pound equal to the USD (I know it's not), the price points are similar. And considered how boozy their cocktails are, it's much more valuable than an Aussie experience. I started at the bar with the Arrac Julab featuring spicy rum and arabic bitters. Decorated with rose buds and a turkish delight, I was a tad afraid it might taste like its decor. Fears were allayed at the first taste. Spicy, tongue tingling, oh so drinkable. Quick note: Even if there are seats at the bar, apparently, you must still act permission first. And the waitstaff need to confirm with the bartenders before allowing you. I was hoping for some interesting interaction, asking question, getting answers, admiring their spirits collection. Between the bar's loudness and the bartenders' indecipherable accents, I quickly headed back to my friends' tables once I got my drink. Again, the company you seek makes the atmosphere. One bar answer I did receive was about the Moby Dick's whaleskin infusion. I think I heard they get their whaleskin or the infusion from Japan. Regardless, that was my next order from their Nightjar Signature selections. They've tweaked the drink - menu versus Nightjar card don't align. The smokiness and strength of the prevalent Scotch made this a sipping cocktail. My hopes for a third cocktail were dashed, but I sampled from my friends' 8 other cocktails. Mission accomplished then? They have a fascinating cocktail menu taking you from Pre-Prohibition to modern times. Each drink comes with unique arrangements from quail eggs sitting atop glasses, honeycomb filled seashells, to gold dust. These folks are serious about providing a unique cocktail experience. I also enjoyed their crostinis they give you at your seating. The pianist was entertaining. He will play Happy Birthday for you. And if the song's dance-able, there's some space in front of the bar. read more

A friend brought us here after midnight on a Saturday. We were skeptical, standing in the short queue at the door with little indication of what was to come. After stepping inside and then down into the basement, it was really cool to step into a different world. The Jazz and Blues band perform live at this hour and the crowd was really into it. The tables were filled with rather dapper folk, who munch on yummy popcorn as they peruse the extensive cocktail menu. The cocktails are prohibition, pre and post, era and I tried the Royal Hawaiian that was so delicious. Superbly presented in a half coconut punch bowl and I could almost taste the sweet jack fruit in my drink. Wish I had stayed longer, but I'll definitely be back. I see that you can make reservations online. I'm glad though that I could try it on a whim. It was definitely worth it! read more

Nightjar - Royal Hawaiian - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

A splendid place for mixology and speakeasy lovers. We had a couple of drinks and staff was friendly and very informative about their menu. They helped me narrow my choice and had a Soul KISS which came in a most amazing flask. Definitely a place to checkout. Make sure you call and place a reservation. Keep eyes open for door since their sign is tiny and could miss it. read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Top notch. From my perspective of course, this is what a cocktail bar should be - makes all my other cocktail experiences pale in comparison. There are many concoctions for any flavor profile but each come at a generally steep price. Is it worth it? When combined with the service of the host, yes. The host was really welcoming despite showing up late on a Sunday evening without reservations. The server, not so much. I had a drink called under the sea with "sea water," seaweed rim, and squid ink. Amazing. The mixologist were beautiful and professional. Overall a great experience. Come prepared to spend at least 10£ per cocktail, so really take your time and appreciate the experience to get the most from the investment. - have fun. read more

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I tried to make a reservation about a week in advance for a Friday or Saturday and failed. Shocking how busy they are but now I know I need to plan ahead for next time! We decided to go with a Wednesday night and loved the live music by Bessie and her boys. The laid back vibe and intimate atmosphere was a great set-up for a perfect evening. They have a large drink menu with some very unique combinations and it is table service only. read more

Although I thought our hosts were rude, I'm giving four stars because the ambiance and drink menu are superb. Pls do work on manners. When a customer inquires about an item, don't glare at her as though she were an idiot. When the time to pay comes, don't lag and be dismissive. Also, even when a bit busy, attempt to be invested in each guest. Btw, the doorman was very polite. Thank you :). read more

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One of the best cocktail lists I think I have ever seen. Am impossible choice. At the end of the day though none of them are worth the amount of money that you will shell out on them. Speakeasy theme. Looks very good. read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Cocktails are a work of art but sadly they don't taste as good as they look. The best thing about this place was the live blues band that was playing while we were there. We paid £5 per person on a Sunday. I really wanted to like Nightjar but their signature cocktails were either too sweet or too salty! They do a great job of making the cocktail look like a work of art but the drink itself leaves much to be desired. Drinks come in special glasses with fancy decorations that are worth a picture. People around me had cocktails that arrived in tulip wine glasses or that were set on fire. Each drink comes with at least 5 ingredients to make it. It seems like the point of this place is to make the cocktail look so pretty that you don't really care what it actually tastes like. Plan to spend £10-12 per drink. Maybe it's me... I like my cocktails like I like my bedroom: NEAT. BUT I do love a negroni, bloody marys, spritz and I appreciate a well made cocktail. I don't really like sweet cocktails but I gave it a chance. The menu is organized by era and we ordered the Horse 8 from the Pre Prohibition section and a Boulevardier from the Prohibition. After drinking the Horse 8 I needed something not too sweet so I went for the Mary Quite Contrary , Nightjar's interpretation of a Bloody Mary. Again, it was pretty but too salty to finish! You can order classic cocktails that are not on the menu but when you come here, you come for the signature drinks. You pay for the decorative works of art, the drink is free. read more

Nightjar - Mary quite contrary. More like Mary quite salty! - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

One of the coolest speak Easy's i have been into. The drinks were amazing, the staff was great and the vibe is top notch!

Holy Cocktail! I live on the other side of the Old Street roundabout and am about to move out of the country. I cannot express how sad I am that I only just discovered this place. It's hard to find, sort of like a speakeasy and because it's table service only (no standing room) you really need a reservation ahead of time. But that also means it's never overly crowded and it's always at perfect capacity, including space for the live music. The cocktails themselves are phenomenal. Even the ones I tried (my friends') and didn't like, I appreciated the extraordinary presentation. Not enough good things can be said about the cocktail menu. As for the food, the lomo iberico and olives were incredibly satisfying! And my Spanish flatmate is really snobby about lomo! The art deco decor is a real throwback, it's awesome! If you can, check it out! read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Probably one of the greatest cocktail i've ever been and bartender really are fun to watch. I was skeptical with the cocktail at first due to the amounts of ingredients, but they are totally well balance. The service was great also. Not once the glass of water was empty! read more

Nightjar - Alchemist brew - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Such a cool place to listen to music and have a couple specialty cocktails. They book weeks in advance so be sure to plan ahead to secure a nice table. The two drinks I got were pretty tasty and well balanced. The table next to me also orders cool drinks he said they were good but weak, I actually like drinks that are not so strong in alcohol flavor so it worked for me. The pianist played jazz with a Nee Orleans flare. read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

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Wow....what can I say about this place! It is elegant, love the ambiance, and the intricacy and presentation of the drinks are probably one of the best I've had. I was visiting London and met up with some friends. They absolutely love this place so they brought me to Nightjar. I am so glad they did! Upon viewing the drink menu, it's an intricate list and the ingredients are superb. They make concoctions that are unique. I came here with my friends on a late Tuesday night, so we were able to easily grab a table. However, I was still surprised that the place was very busy on a Tuesday night. I don't remember the drink I ordered, but it was delicious and came with peanut butter ice. Although the drinks were quite pricey, the quality of the drinks and ambiance of the place is well worth the price! read more

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I got lucky enough to find a spot for one upon walking by. It was just prior to the music starting and I was enjoying the background music and atmosphere that made me feel swept into a Fitzgeraldian world. Sadly I only had two cocktails but they were both unique, and well appointed. I would have liked to stay for the live music, next time. They served a small bowl of popcorn with the cocktails with will prove useful as the drinks are well worth their weight in alcohol. The wait staff was very pleasant and I'm excited to return but next time for the music and hopefully not next to the group of young ladies who were having what seemed to be a epileptic photo shoot-- I remember my first time in a bar read more

While it's not exactly the place for a quick pint after work, Nightjar is definitely a quirky location to check off a bucket list of London bars. The hidden entry just a few metres from Old St tube station, but you'll need to book ahead. Once inside you'll be sent down a set of stairs into a darkened underground lair complete with cavernous booths and candlelit tables. The cocktails are ultra-creative, served with flair and of course, rather tasty. read more

Fantastic cocktails. I actually received the recommendation from the head bartender of Raines Law Room in NYC. It definitely did not disappoint! Favorite was the owl presentation of cocktails (see video). Cocktails were all fresh, complex, and inventive. The bartender will also create a custom drink for you if you know what you specifically prefer. Fabulous experience especially with the live band (see second video, not too loud that it prevents conversation). read more

This is not a bar for getting drunk. This is not a crammed, standing room only bar. This is not a bar for screaming at your compatriots over loud music. This is a bar for grown ups. This is a bar for sitting down and imbibing beautifully made cocktails. A place where you dress a bit nicer, sit up a bit straighter, and pretend, just for a while, that you can be passably elegant. (Or maybe that's just me.) read more

Cocktail bars that adhere to the "speakeasy" theme are a dime a dozen these days. Every major city seems to have at least a few of them, and every time I visit another major city, these are the bars to which I seem to gravitate. One would think I'd be tired of this theme by now, but it's such a fun, solid concept, I doubt that will ever happen. Correction - I know that will never happen, especially when the atmosphere and cocktails are as phenomenal as they are at Nightjar. Plan ahead and make a reservation - doing so online is pretty simple. It may theoretically be possible to get in without one, but why worry about it? Nightjar takes the Prohibition theme about as far as any bar I've ever seen. It's dark, has that definite air of illicit behavior about it that I love so much, and the tuneage is dominated by soulful, jazzy torch songs. I might have taken a time machine back to the 1930s. I do find it a little odd that London bars would romanticize Prohibition, a historical travesty that I believe the UK never actually had to endure - but when the bar is this great, who cares. The cocktail list does go well beyond Prohibition-era drinks, to be fair - there's even a fairly large section dedicated to pre-Prohibition cocktails, as well as a sizable new-school contingent with serious showmanship and creativity reminiscent of The Aviary in Chicago. Nightjar is even better than that, though. I had four cocktails, and they were all fantastic - among the best I've had, anywhere. The one that stood out to me most, though, was the Toronto, a concoction of bourbon, roasted pecan and coffee maple syrup, Fernet, house bitters, and orange blossom smoke. It was similar to an Old Fashioned, but with a lot more layered complexity. The tables are pretty close together here, so you'd better be feeling social. We met a fun group of Irish girls and guys at the table next to us, and ended up shooting the bull with them for most of the 3+ hours we were there. Yes, that long. I truly wanted to stay even longer, but after four potent drinks, good sense prevailed. Easily a top five bar for me, possibly even holding the number one spot. read more

Speakeasy heaven. Cocktail utopia. Libation nirvana. I don't even know if my clumsy vernacular can do Nightjar justice. It is the penultimate drinking experience, bar none (and I've visited some pretty impressively talented cocktail spots around the world). Nightjar is an experience, from the moment you enter the dim lounge, while sultry jazz lingers in the air. Its effortlessly cool ambiance seduces, and their drinks menu is a well-written book of poetry. Choose from a range of Prohibition, Specialty, and even Pre-Prohibition (a far less commonly available option) cocktails. You can also request something unique and the bartender will whip up something perfectly suited to your palate. Each libation is lovingly crafted in such a way that despite the lengthy list of ingredients, the overall result is so smooth you would think it was just a uniquely engineered single varietal. Options like "The cold buttered rum" (made using Zacapa Solera 23 Rum, Pumpkin Chai, Mamajuana, Lemon, Honey Syrup, and a Hot Coconut Butter Float) and the "Name of the samurai" (made with Nikka Whisky from the Barrel, Umeshu, Akashi Tai Sake, Popcorn tea, LIem, Rice & Mirin Syrup, and Smoked Sakura) develop a magnificent complexity of flavors, while blending seamlessly in a perfect drink. With so many tantalizing options, it is tough to choose just one or two. Each is impressive in its own way, and they make sure the presentation is just as whimsical as the taste. Reservations are a must, as their space is very limited. They do try to accommodate as many as they can, but this does result in close seating quarters. However, this can make for a fun way to meet new friends. Don't forget to snack since some of the drinks can be pretty potent. They have complimentary popcorn available but there is also a fair assortment of options on their menu. It is mostly bar menu style but tends to be a bit more interesting than your average fare. So come, relax, and indulge in a libation (or five), Nightjar is an unparalleled cocktail experience. read more

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Nightjar was recommended to me by a friendly Cambridge student that was sitting opposite to me on a bus, so obviously I had to try it out! Bookings need to be made 6-3 weeks in advance unless you are prepared to queue from 9pm outside the door. I managed to get a reservation for a Friday evening to celebrate my best friends birthday. Nightjar's cocktails are hands down the best I have ever had! If you go in a group, I would definitely recommend the sharing cocktails. Each is presented in a unique and creative manner and tastes like nothing you have ever had before. AMSTERDAM COCKTAIL: Serves 2 and in presented in a flower vase, you drink the cocktail from the flowers. I have never felt more like Alice in Wonderland while drinking a cocktail. We also enjoyed opening the poppyseed bulbs and emptying the seeds into the flower. This is optional if you would rather not have the poppy seeds. ALCHEMIST'S BREW: serves 2-3 / 5-6 and is brought to the table in a steaming copper pot. The presentation of this drink 10/10. The copper pot has a tiny tap that makes serving a large group an easy task. HUG A WILDCAT: Serves 2-3. We chose this one mostly because of the name. It comes served in a beautiful Peruvian puzzle jug and taste heavenly. The dragon fruit slices are to die for! MAD HATTER'S PUNCH: Serves 5-6. As the name suggests this drink is served in a punch bowl. Out of all the cocktails we had, this was by far my favourite. Again the dragon fruit slices... wow! Yum! Adding to the great tasting cocktails, Nightjar has live jazz/blues music every night, starting at around 9/9.30pm and finishing 11/11.30pm approx. A cover charge applies for all guests staying for the music and is added to your bill. Mon, Tues - 9pm, on the house, Weds & Thurs - 9.30pm, £5 per person, Fri & Sat - 9.30pm, £8 per person. Sunday £5 pp The service was very friendly and the staff constantly refilled our water glasses and popcorn bowls the entire evening. The cocktails alone are of a standard London price, but after adding up the service charge, music cover charge and any food (I would not recommend ordering food here - super expensive for what you get) it can be a bit on the pricey side. Either way a great birthday celebration was had :) read more

In my world the only kind of bars that exist are these. In my world you sit you chat you have great cocktails and you listen to a beautiful woman singing. In my world you get water and popcorn without asking. In my world all the places are slightly hard to find and commonly underground. In my world you can hear yourself think. I love my world. Why bother with the heavy beer drinking morons of the ground level when you can be treated well, drinking well and entertained. The nightjar has the feel of a private members speakeasy without the membership fee. The only problem is that its a little too popular! There's no standing and you HAVE to book if you go on a performance night, Thursdays and Saturdays, we went on the "Remembering Piaf" night and tried to book for 12 on the sunday before, all fully booked for the performance time! the only other downside was that the website could be much better, it seemed slow and you had to email them to book. Then of course you had to wait for them to reply which generally took a few hours. Well worth a spontaneous midweek or early evening late week drink. Anything else takes some planning but is probably well worth it! read more

The Nightjar is one of those hidden gems that you could walk past 100 times and never know it existed. I really really want to keep it secret., but I end up talking about this place all the time. Just a small doorway off Old Street, signed only by a brass plaque, the diminutive front houses what is by far and away my favourite cocktail bar in town - there's so much to love about a Nightjar, from the super helpful doorman, to the relaxed ambience, quiet setting, and policy of seating all customers The menu is divided into pre-prohibition (1600-1918), prohibition (1918-1932), post-war (1945-2000), and Nightjar Specials, and is impressively creative - the first time I went, I was pretty much in love with the place before I'd even ordered. A cursory look through will reveal ingredients that you didn't know existed, such as ostrich egg advocaat, marzipan orgeat, and ceylon arrack. Then the cocktails come - the attention to detail is fantastic, each cocktail a mini piece of theatre, whether it arrives with a flaming coconut shell, a bento box, or with half an eggshell on the top. By far and away my favourite cocktail so far was the Amadeus Flip, a beautiful mix of Advocaat, Tequila, Chocolate liqueur, and egg - I'm not usually a fan of such things, but it was fantastically chocolately, smooth and with a pleasant hint of bitterness. This was followed up by a refreshing Martinique Swizzle, complete with a truffle shaving. Nom. Sharing cocktails are similarly excellent and served in a range of vessels, from punchbowl to copper kettle. At ~£10 a cocktail, they're a little more expensive than your average cocktail bar; however, the whole experience is so worth it - the theatrics with the drinks, the expertly put-together menu, and the fact that they tend to be a bit stronger than your average cocktail. I would recommend going earlier rather than later, as the seating-only policy can find you waiting at the door for a long time, whilst confuddled passersby wonder what the hell the place is. Either way, writing this really makes me want to go back now, and it's not even mid-afternoon. read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

This place is a find. Thanks so much to Lizzie and Laura for pointing me in the direction of the Nightjar. I was looking for a civilised birthday venue for a group of 15 or so people and thought I'd give it a try having read the reviews and had a recommendation. So I phoned up and requested to book an area for 15 people on the Wednesday night of my birthday. The guy said that shouldn't be a problem but I should email to confirm. I did so and received a mail back asking if I wanted to order any sharing cocktails so they would be ready when we arrived, I thought this was a nice touch. Finding the Nightjar could be difficult if you didn't know exactly where it was, its basically just a doorway with a little Nightjar symbol on it. Inside the door you descend a staircase and emerge in to the sumptuously decorated bar. It really does feel quite decadent. I was greeted by a friendly member of staff how showed us to our area, a bank of tables with a long leather bench seat with chairs on the other side, just perfect for our group. Now, the Cocktails. The menu here is huge and each cocktail comes in its own glass with a very particular serving, the attention to detail here is very good. As we were a large group we went for the sharing cocktails, these come out in various different vessels, from a giant wooden tankard to a large steaming teapot. Each one had its own style, they all tasted great. During the evening they had a pianist playing New Orleans style jazz numbers which added a great atmosphere to the place. The staff were very attentive (but not overbearing) and friendly. All in all I had very good birthday! Highly recommended. Just one thing to note is that it is quite expensive, so if you are looking for a cheap cocktail this probably isn't the place. read more

Make a reservation! Nightjar can get busy, and it's better to book something so that when the hostess greets you at the door, you can quickly be whisked downstairs to the cozy, dimly lit lounge. This place is a pro at dressing up their drinks, and every time a round is served, a collective OOO is heard. My Sweet Dreams drink was served with a plantain foam, my companion's was served in a small barrel, finished with an American flag and a lollipop straw. WHOA what? My mind was blown too. Looking around, I saw dry ice, a silver chicken, cotton candy (or candy floss as you Brits call it). Check out their website for pics of the drinks so that you can have an idea of what to order. read more

Always an pleasure experience!The cocktails are amazing and the service is perfect since every drink you get it has always an explanation. Even if you are in trouble with the 5 pages menu you can always ask for a suggestion!Got again my loved London Mule but I was blown away from Beyond The Sea. See you again soon for sure! read more

Amazing cocktail bar. I ordered the Charlie Chaplin Cocktail and my boyfriend ordered the Zombie Cocktail which came to the table with the alcohol soaked cake on top light on fire. Both were delicious and the atmosphere was perfect. Service was on point and host and server were all very friendly. The drinks were served with complimentary delicious popcorn. We were there on a Wednesday Night at around 6:30 and we got in right away but I do know lines start to form but definitely worth it! read more

This place is AMAZING. I love the allure of a sexy, dark, classy speakeasy bar. The place is even hard to find. We must have walked past it two or three times until we saw the little sign that said, "nightjar." You walk down some stairs and it's like you're in American prohibition. I made reservations two weeks prior and we even got in early and we were able to get a table. We were seated close to the bar, but I must say unless you get a single table you're a bit cramped and you could get too close to the next party. Our original plan was to have dinner prior then drinks here, but since we missed our dinner reservations, we ended up ordering the fries with truffle oil - very delicious! and the six canapes. Though they were all wonderful, the one that stuck out the most was the beef carpaccio, so tender and flavorful, that was my fav. Oh and they also give a little glass of popcorn with each drink. On to the drinks, my first drink was the Wibble, an elderberry gin with grapefruit drink. This was very tasty, but a bit too fruity for my liking. I wanted something a bit stronger and my second drink was the Colony another gin drink with grapefruit, but it also had maraschino and gomme syrup. This was my favorite, not too fruity, but had a nice strong flavor. My date ordered the Little Entente which is a vodka based drink with Blue moon beer, he thought it was OK and I thought it was too fruity. His next drink was the Name of the Samurai, a whiskey based drink with Sake, which he liked better and it was great, you could really taste the Sake. Service was good and I did appreciate the fact we were seated earlier than our reservation. When I'm back in London I'm definitely coming back here! read more

Yeah yeah yeah, I know Nightjar is like the original prohibition bar in London - the one all the others have endeavoured to emulate - but with the veritable outcropping of speakeasys in the capital, I'm just not that easy to impress anymore. The cocktails were boozy and inventive, sure. But two rounds with some olives and nuts cost me over £50. You've got to do more than set my drink on fire and give me a free ashtray of popcorn to make me part happily with that much money in an otherwise pedestrian (these days, see paragraph above) venue. read more

Classy joint, unbelievable space, beautifully done, good service, great play on the speakeasy theme and amazing cocktails. The tea sharing cocktail was an amazing spectacle (not going to give it away--see for yourself). Presentation on all drinks was amazing! We were there on Friday (non-live music night). I am assuming they have prohibition jazz on Thurs and Sat? Great place to go with a group as you get a nice space to yourself. Service was good too. So no complaints at all! read more

We brought some newly arrived Americans for live music last Saturday night (we saw Benoit and his Orchestra again - still very good). One notable change: they now charge a 7-pound cover for live music nights... ok, I can handle that, I guess. I don't mind paying for good live music. The word-of-mouth and publicity has made this a much more hoppin' joint. At one point a fire marshall walked through doing a head count. It was crowded for sure! But it only adds to the speak-easy atmosphere. This time around (because we booked for six) they placed us in one of the back alcove, booth areas. This was a real issue. While the idea sounds good, these booths really cut you off from the great atmosphere of the rest of the space. Half the booth couldn't watch the show, and the rest of us had a front row viewing of the hen party in the corner getting progressively more booze-fueled. But hey, we did get to watch them make sexually explicit balloon animals. That's always a good time. Anyway, avoid these booths, and ask for a table in the main room. The other discovery was the punches. Great for a group to sip a glass or a couple to have more than one. The barmen seemed much more on-their-game this visit. Last note, I really hate the women's loo. It's very cramped and assures that a gaggle of gals will form outside the door waiting impatiently... annoying. Other than that, I'm looking forward to my next visit. read more

The Nightjar is a place you could easily walk past without noticing which is great as behind those doors is a great cocktail bar, untouched by the masses. Having said that I would recommend that you book ahead and reserve a table to avoid disappointment. The style of an old American prohibition bar, which darkness and low ceilings the main features. The cocktails are expensive but strong so you don't need to break the bank on drinks. read more

Willy Wonkas Alchie Factory. Booze Glorious Booze. These aren't cocktails, they are magical creations by a magician of a mixologist. Complete with unnecessary glass twists and flicks of wrist. Beautiful, sexy low lit surroundings. And never ending popcorn. I love you Nightjar. read more

I'm not convinced that the staff's headsets were used for anything other than social commentary, though to be fair, I probably wouldn't use them for work related chat either. You'll need to book a table. You'll want to order the sharing cocktails. You'll have to make sure to bring your payday-spending spirit with you. It's a really cute bar, great live music and excellent drinks. Not terribly over-priced but assuming you're not on beer, you'll likely rack up a bit of damage. There's a strange no-standing policy, which at first annoyed us as we were trying to organize the best arrangement around our tables, but then did kind of make the place seem more civilized. read more

Bar nightjar is probably the most unique bar I've ever been to. The drinks are as carefully crafted as works of art- both the flavours and presentation were show-stopping. Trying to find Nightjar can prove to be a bit tricky (no huge sign, no bright lights) just a door with a handle and the nightjar insignia. My husband and I approached and upon entering were escorted through a short corridor and down and dimly (romantic and mysterious, in my opinion) lit stairs. The hostess escorted us to our table (it should be noted that we made a reservation and asked for a table slightly off to the side but with a good view to the band that was performing) our table was perfect- towards the back, yet with a great view of the band. After sitting down the waitress brought us menus as well as a cute dish filled with popcorn (seasoned perfectly) as well as watermelon infused water. My husband and I ordered our first round of drinks- I chose to start with one of Nightjars signature drinks the Name of The Samurai, my husband chose the Barrel-Aged Zombie. When the drinks arrived (about 8-10 minutes or so) I was surprised to see that my drink was smoking! It looked so extravagant- I was intrigued. I removed the leaf-looking thing as well as the rice cake (which was a surprisingly nice touch) atop of the rice cake was a tube-shaped fortune cookie and inside was a cute fortune! I sipped the drink and it was very good- perfectly strong and smoky. I reached over to try my husbands (can you blame me?) it was very good- slightly sweet in my opinion (I decided to leave his alone and stick with my Name of the Samurai). Next we decided to go for a sharer and chose the Forest Floor. I must say it was a gorgeous drink in a pretty owl pitcher- the top of the pitcher was laced with smoking moss (this drink smelled woodsy and amazing- it's name suits it very well). The forest floor was by far my favourite drink of the night. I must also mention the tapas and pinchos. While these are not the main events at nightjar they can surely hold their own ground! My husband ordered 2 of the Pinchos He chose Manchego with Quince Paste and I also chose 2 Pinchos- Jamon with Tomato sauce. These were very very tasty and a bit bigger than expected. Next, came the Patatas bravas. Patatas bravas are one of my all time favourite tapas- I was not disappointed- nightjars take is a bit more modern than the traditional spaniard Patatas bravas, however still delicious. My husband ordered the Fajitas & Guacamole and really enjoyed them- although the self-assembly was a touch messy. Last but not least- Ham Croquettes. We started with 2 Croquettes... This was not enough. My husband fell in love with them- they were crispy on the outside, oozing with cheese on the inside... Need I say more? Delicious. Overall while nightjar is certainly on the higher-end of the bar scene in my option it is absolutely worth the trip. It has a mysterious, romantic atmosphere that makes it ideal for an intimate date with a special someone. The music was a lovely and didn't detract from the ambiance but added to it. Get the 'Forest floor' and the Ham Croquettes- you won't regret it. read more

The best cocktail bar in London [most likely]. But I haven't been to them all, so I'll stick with my assumption until I've been proven wrong. A most exquisite menu, artfully composed, with cocktails containing only the highest quality liquors. Stunning beverage presentation, at prices which are surprisingly befitting, given the craftsmanship and caliber of such libations. The 'clandestine'-ish location is also a bonus, if you head there late on a Monday/Tuesday, table reservations aren't even required... read more

Did a trip to London from LA. I got to say this is an awesome bar/lounge with many specialty drinks. We went on a Thursday night when they just finished live music, 11pm ish. Wait in line to get in for about 30 minutes and I think that's probably a short wait. It is recommended to get a reservation. read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Welcome to my favorite bar in London. PERFECT for a date (lots of hidden cozy booths), or just a few friends shows you know where you are going too, cause it is somewhat secret/hidden. Interesting and imaginative drinks with stunning garnish, spectacle-oriented sharing beverages (steaming tea pot of gin cocktail w/ dry ice, served in tea cups with scotch ice, fresh black pepper, and cucumbers with different shaped birds in each cup, for example.) Expert bar staff, sultry 1920's vibe, canape's to start, a mobile cart/chef to cook you what is on the handwritten scroll (aka daily food menu) with small bites like crepe Suzette or olives, etc. I'm taking everyone here, they do just do it right. read more

After my visit this has to be my new favourite 'secret' cocktail bar. An amazing array of different cocktails all come beautiful presented with some dramatic flair. Every single drink I had tasted great. What I love about this place is the live music they put on. It makes it feel more personal rather than another cocktail bar. It's actually quite large for its location. A must visit if you're trying to impress. (Visit - 17/08/2015 Evening Drinks) read more

Nightjar - Lounges Near Me - London, XGL

Whoa, this place was whoa. I went there for the Yelp Drinks week, such a nice place - thank you for the find! First you have to find it, i passed in front of it twice without seeing it! Big wooden door with a small gold plate with Nightjar name on it. Classy already. Dark wood walls, prohibition-like atmosphere (the cocktails are even classified by pre-prohibition/prohibition/post-prohibition period! cool.), jazz playing in the background...Loved it. Only 3 drinks were Yelp Drinks : -Montgomery Martini: whoa the real one, vodka and vermouth...with a piece of cheddar! too strong for me... -Seasonal Schrub: so good with berries, very sweet, but I think there wasnt that much alcohol - Aged Pina Colada: not milky enough I I like it but still very good but all cocktails looked amazing (£8-£10), I wish I had more budget to indulge! The nice pluses: - amazing seasoned shrimps as an amuse bouche before the cocktail arrive, and with the pina colada, we had small ball cake made of almond & coconut and a piece of crispy coconut flesh sprinkled with some spices -super nice staff. My friend was fascinated by the barman as well, they got into talking, the barman explaining a lot of things about the different alcohols (interesting) and he offered a bit of Hennessy just for him to try! - A friend of mine told me they did shows as well, he went to a burlesque one, i'll probably go back to check one of those! Only funny thing is that it smelled a lot like fish & chips inside, my clothes smelled when i came home. Overall, this place is a MUST TRY read more

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