7 Quirky Bars in Shoreditch You Haven’t Tried Yet
If you’ve already done the rounds of Shoreditch’s cocktail bars, the goal shifts from finding a good drink to experiencing an evening that breaks the usual routine and offers something truly unique.
Whether it’s a hidden room behind a wardrobe, a cocktail served inside a ball pit, or a full theatrical experience where you’re cast as a prison inmate, Shoreditch has become the go-to place in London when a standard round of drinks just won’t cut it. Here are seven of the best quirky bars in Shoreditch worth making time for, all within easy walking distance of local stations.
1. Alcotraz
There is no doubt that Alcotraz stands out as one of the best themed bars London offers. The original immersive cocktail bar in the area, Alcotraz prison has been running since 2017. Since then, it’s grown into a nationally recognised brand, with multiple locations around the country. Its current East London venue, Cell Block Two-One-Two, is less than a 15-minute walk from Shoreditch High Street.
As a cocktail bar Shoreditch regulars keep returning to, it earns its place at the top of this list for sheer concept: you arrive as an inmate, don an orange jumpsuit, smuggle in your own spirit past a very suspicious warden, and spend the next hour and forty-five minutes transforming it into bespoke cocktails by an in-character bartender who is, technically, also serving time. There are quite a few reasons Alcotraz is a top contender for Shoreditch’s best quirky bar:
- Its unique immersive setting, with a convincing theatrical set based around a prison cell that you’re ‘locked’ inside
- Audience participation: guests don’t just watch the story unfold, but they’re actually part of it, interacting with guards and inmates and influencing the storyline
- Its unique BYOB concept, which fits perfectly with the prison storyline (you ‘smuggle in’ your own contraband alcohol)
- Bespoke cocktail creation, where every drink is custom-made for you and tailored to the spirit you’ve brought with you
The BYOB element is a big part of what makes Alcotraz so memorable, as it creates a far more personalised cocktail experience than you’d find in a traditional bar. But it’s well worth visiting just for the immersive theatre element alone. The thousands of fantastic customer reviews agree. It even has mocktail options for non-drinkers.
You’ve probably heard of Alcotraz already, given that it’s one of the most well-known immersive experiences in the UK. But even if you’ve already done Alcotraz once, you’ll want to do it again – and if you haven’t, it’s the obvious starting point for any Shoreditch quirky bar crawl (or even a date night).
2. Hexmoor
Hexmoor takes a different approach: while Alcotraz casts you in a gritty crime narrative, Hexmoor drops you straight into a rich fantasy world set inside an immersive fantasy prison. Sharing a building with Alcotraz in East London, it’s located within easy walking distance of both Shoreditch High Street and Old Street stations.
For anyone looking for unique Shoreditch cocktail bars that go far beyond standard table service, this is the next logical step. The setting is truly immersive, the cast is exceptional, and the narrative is layered enough to reward full participation. And drinks are included in the ticket price!
3. Avora
Avora takes the quirky Shoreditch bar experience in a completely different direction. Avora focuses on a lush, otherworldly aesthetic: a bioluminescent fantasy environment of glowing forests and impossible colours that feels like stepping into a living painting. The drinks are considered, and the atmosphere is genuinely immersive, making it a brilliant option when the brief is a night out that’s as visually striking as it is sociable.
The three venues in this cluster – Alcotraz, Hexmoor and Avora – are all located in the same area, just a short walk from Shoreditch High Street and Old Street. Each offers a very different immersive world, giving visitors plenty of reasons to return to Shoreditch for future nights out.
4. Callooh Callay
One of Shoreditch’s longest-standing gems, Callooh Callay on Rivington Street in East London is only a five-minute walk from Shoreditch High Street. It’s a bar built around the pleasure of discovery. Named after a line from Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, the main bar is already deliberately playful (mismatched furniture, neon touches and a cocktail menu that leans into invention) but the real draw is the back bar, accessed through a wardrobe door that you either know about or you don’t.
The cocktail list changes seasonally, the bartenders know their craft, and the atmosphere manages to be intimate without feeling precious. It’s the kind of place that rewards going on a quieter night with someone you actually want to talk to.
5. Ballie Ballerson
If you want a themed bar in Shoreditch that commits fully to its concept, Ballie Ballerson is exactly that. Just around the corner from Shoreditch High Street, this unique East London venue is built around a ball pit – not a small, novelty-sized one but a full-scale adult ball pit. It is designed to be drunk in, photographed in and generally used as the centrepiece of a night out that absolutely does not take itself seriously.
Cocktails are colourful and designed with the environment in mind. Themed bottomless brunches run regularly, and as you would expect from the most quirky bars in Shoreditch. The format tends to work particularly well for groups who want a bit of organised chaos. It sounds better in practice than on paper, which is probably the most Shoreditch thing about it.
6. NQ64
NQ64 on Old Street functions as a hybrid retro arcade and high-energy cocktail bar Shoreditch locals flock to. It features 45 arcade machines, classic consoles running everything from Street Fighter to Mario Kart, and a cocktail menu themed around iconic games with drinks named after beloved characters. The Kirby cocktail glows. The Mars Attacks is served on the rocks with chocolate-infused Jack Daniel’s. The whole place is neon-lit, open late, and drinks are taken as seriously as the games.
As a group venue, it works because everyone finds their own thing to do. As a date night, it works because competitive gaming tends to break the ice faster than almost anything else. Either way, it’s reliably one of the more fun evenings you can have in the area without booking anything in advance – and it’s only a two-minute walk from Shoreditch’s Old Street station.
7. Flight Club
Flight Club reimagines darts as a social sport – and does it well. Five minutes from Old Street in Shoreditch, it has multiple interactive oche bays where groups play against each other using a format designed to be quick to pick up and competitive enough to matter, with cocktails, a full food menu and high-spec technology that makes the whole thing feel considerably more sophisticated than a pub darts board.
Booking is worth doing in advance for the bays, but it’s a strong pick for larger groups, work events or anyone who wants a bit of structure to their evening without booking into a full theatrical experience. Our guide to the top 7 team building activities in London covers similar ground if you’re planning a group outing.
Why Alcotraz is the best quirky bar in Shoreditch
Shoreditch remains the undisputed home of London’s eccentric nightlife scene. While the wider city has no shortage of excellent options, this square mile of East London succeeds because its venues refuse to play it safe.
If you’re looking for cocktail bars in Shoreditch that offer more than just great drinks, Alcotraz is a must-visit. Expertly crafted bespoke cocktails, interactive storytelling, and plenty of surprises combine to create one of Shoreditch’s most unique and talked-about experiences. Book your sentence at Alcotraz London today.
FAQs
What are the quirkiest bars in Shoreditch?
The quirkiest bars in Shoreditch include Callooh Callay, inspired by the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland, and Ballie Ballerson, famous for its adults-only ball pit. Shoreditch is also home to some of London’s more unusual drinking experiences, including Alcotraz, Hexmoor and Avora, which immerse you in an interactive storyline complete with theatrical set and live actors.
What are the most immersive themed bars in Shoreditch?
Shoreditch boasts several immersive drinking experiences that go beyond simply ordering drinks at a bar. Alcotraz, Avora and Hexmoor are all close to Shoreditch High Street and each offer their own unique theme, creating unique experiences with storytelling, immersive environments and audience participation.
What’s the best quirky bar in Shoreditch for groups?
That depends on the type of experience you’re looking for. Flight Club is ideal for competitive group activities, NQ64 is great for gaming fans and Ballie Ballerson is popular for birthdays and celebrations. Alcotraz, Avora and Hexmoor, on the other hand, offer fully immersive experiences that encourage guests to get involved with the story. They’re particularly popular venues for unique group celebrations like birthdays and team socials.
Do I need to bring my own alcohol to Alcotraz?
Yes, Alcotraz is a BYOB immersive experience – guests bring their own bottle of spirit which is then transformed into a series of bespoke cocktails. This is woven into the storyline, with inmates smuggling their alcohol past the watchful prison warden, and it’s what makes Alcotraz stand out as one of Shoreditch’s most unusual cocktail experiences.
