London · bar_and_grill
The Empire Bar
Proper theatre bar inside Hackney Empire with excellent cocktails and a menu that actually tries. Feels like a proper night out.
Closed4.3(90)291 Mare St, London E8 1EJ, UK
🍴 bar_and_grilllivelysophisticatedcasualhistoricbar and grill
You're walking into the beating heart of Mare Street's cultural scene—this is the bar attached to Hackney Empire, one of London's best mid-sized theatres. It's got that pre-show energy that makes you feel like something's about to happen, whether you're catching a gig upstairs or just settling in for drinks. The space has real character: ornate mirrors, warm lighting, and a genuinely skilled bar team who know their way around a cocktail list. The food menu reads like someone actually cares—proper sharing plates and things worth ordering, not just theatre-bar filler. Come early, stake a spot by the window, watch Hackney pass by.
Known for
- ★Cocktails made by bartenders who know what they're doing
- ★Pre-theatre drinks atmosphere without the stuffiness
- ★Hackney Empire's cultural energy seeping into every corner
- ★Proper food menu that rises above typical bar fare
- ★Mare Street people-watching from the window seats
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