To a continental like me, the early closing hours of most bars and pubs in London are as astounding as they are inconvenient. When the night is flowing gently from conversation to light boogie and back to hour-long chats, how frustrating is it to have it cut down by the final call bell?
Thankfully, some places have an answer to the “where to next?” conundrum.
Here is an East London list of bars to try out when the goal isn’t to hit a full-on nightclub, but to keep the festivities going in another late-night establishment:
Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes
A Hoxton institution, Jaguar (as it is called by locals) is set in an old bags and shoes wholesale warehouse. The bar which is part of a collective of the same name, offers an underground performance space for live music and DJ sets as well as an exhibition space across the whole venue. Every few months, an artist or collective takes residence in the upstairs area and redecorates it with a project tailored just for the space, making Jaguar an ever-changing haven of cocktails and relaxed pints with friends.
32-36 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DA
Open till 1:30 a.m. on the weekend
Troy Bar
Just a stone’s throw away from Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes sits one of the most exciting jazz bars in London, self- titled “London’s best kept secret”. Hosting weekly open mic nights and Friday nights Funk jazz jam sessions where musicians can bring their instrument and join the house band on stage, Troy Bar has something for everyone. Drinks and food are reasonably priced, and the crowd is made of an eclectic mix of music lovers, old and young locals as well as the occasional Shoreditch party chasers who will have had the chance to stumble upon this staple of the East London music community.
10 Hoxton St, London N1 6NG
Open till 3 a.m. on the weekend
The Jago
The Jago is one of those multifunctional community spaces that would bring joy to the most taciturn of home bodies. A live music area with a downstairs space dedicated to the various jams happening throughout the week and an upstairs nightclub space that has the feeling of a bohemian flat in Paris. Music styles range from Afrobeats to Latin vibes, funk, soul and everything in between. The Jago also holds a food bank and is open for hire if a private event is what you wish to organise. Local musicians will all know of this haven for creativity, sharing and dance.
40 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London, E8 4AA
Open till 3:30 a.m. on the weekend
Dalston Superstore
If you were to directly ask the bartender of your local east London boozer where to head to next when the night is advancing fast, chances are they will direct you to this LGBTQ+ space of dreams. From drag brunches to theme nights, this renowned cocktail bar is a haven of inclusivity and late-night partying. They are present at Glastonbury and support a wealth of LGBTQ+ charities, host exhibitions, musical events and cabaret shows. Day or night, you should visit Dalston Superstore.
117 Kingsland High St, London E8 2PB
Open till 4 a.m. on the weekend
A Bar with Shapes for a Name
This East London cocktail club which often features high on the list of great environment and drink ratio only has shapes (specifically yellow triangle, red square and blue circle) for a name. Open every day until 4 a.m., walking into Shapes feels a little bit like visiting another dimension. Less about music than all the other places on this list, this cocktail bar is perfect for sit down chats around very nicely presented
drinks. All the waiters wear jumpsuits, and the slick décor is reminiscent of Bauhaus aesthetic. To finish off a night of bar hopping, this time travelling capsule of late-night entertainment should not be missed.
232 Kingsland Rd, Whitmore Estate, London E2 8AX
Open till 4 am every day
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Zoé Manset
Zoe Manset is a French actress, writer and producer based in London, UK. After growing up in the Fragrant Harbour otherwise known as Hong Kong, Zoe moved to London in 2018 to pursue a BA in Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Arts. Missing the stage too much, she then completed a two year MFA in drama school and is now living the freelance actor life at full speed. Zoe is a fashion history lover, a great pub amateur, a dancer and a big foodie!
