Homeboy Bar - Islington

Head down Essex Road in Islington and you'll find Homeboy tucked away with the kind of understated confidence that makes you think the bartenders couldn't care less whether you're impressed or not—but you will be. This is the sort of place where they're not muddling mojitos for groups of lads, but crafting things that taste like someone's actually thought about balance and provenance. The space has that lived-in feel, the kind of bar where regulars have their spots and newcomers quickly realise they've stumbled onto something proper. Whether you're ordering a classic Old Fashioned or letting them build something off-menu, there's a real craft mentality running through everything they do.