The Natural Philosopher

You'll walk through The Macsmiths' front door—a proper neighbourhood pub on Hackney Road—and discover a proper cocktail bar tucked away inside. It's the kind of place that doesn't announce itself, which is exactly the point. The bartenders know what they're doing, crafting drinks with the kind of thought and technique you'd expect from somewhere charging £12-16 a cocktail, but without any of the posturing. The room itself is intimate and moody, with the vibe of somewhere that takes its craft seriously but doesn't take itself too seriously. You can actually have a conversation here—it's not the sort of packed, shouty cocktail bar that's become ten a penny across East London. Perfect for a proper night out in Hackney without the theatre.