Looking Glass Cocktail Club

6 Reviews on “Looking Glass Cocktail Club”

• Philip Patrick

  BEWARE: TOTAL RIP OFF 12.5% SERVICE CHARGE INCLUDED ON ALL DRINKS. I visited the looking Glass along with my wife with high expectations due to the mainly positive reviews and was left distinctly underwhelmed. The drinks are average and overpriced, with a sneaky service charge of 12.5% included which is just pure unalloyed greed. The Gentlemens toilet was blocked and the taps were not working; disgustingly unhygienic. Avoid this overrated establishment and instead consider visiting Nightjar, 129 City Road or The Cocktail Trading Co. Brick Lane; both of which are excellent alternatives for a memorable night out.

  July 18, 2020, 2:04 pm

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• Tony Johnson

  I went for 2 complementary cocktails and stayed/paid for a third.The front bar was small, relaxed and intimate and the back bar, to be found literally Through the Looking glass, was sadly closed on the day that I visited. However thanks to the accommodating staff I managed to have a quick peek behind the mirrored entrance and it looked ideal for a weekend re-visit.The service very attentive and helpful and the bar staff were really knowledgeable about the history of cocktails. I was told stories behind the names of the cocktails and the history of certain spirits whilst going over the menu, which was a real treat.The quality with of the cocktails were excellent and beautifully balanced. The menu had smart variety of cocktails on offer but I stayed on the whisky/rum side of things. I started with the 12yo Irish Whiskey based Angels Share which was rich and smooth with chocolate notes. This was followed by a Julia, which was a rum/rye twist on a Manhattan with an addition of Crme de figue. Both cocktails were really well balanced. The only minor point was that the garnishes listed on the menu had been forgotten but this really didn’t matter when the cocktails were mixed this well.I ordered a third cocktail; a Royal Navy with Atlntico Private Cask rum and Crme de Cacao blanc. This was also smooth and spicy with orange notes and was served with smoked nuts which worked really well in combination. I’d highly recommend trying one.If you are looking for gimmicky garnishes maybe this isn’t the place for you. If you want knowledgable and helpful staff plus substance and quality in your cocktails you should definitely give Looking Glass Cocktail Club a try.

  February 8, 2015, 6:26 pm

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• Brittany

  Shoreditch has no shortage of cocktail bars to choose from but this one is well worth a visit! The Looking Glass plays on the theme of Alice and Wonderland, one of my all time favorite books. The bar is split into two; the front half what you see from the street and the other half behind a glass door.It has a really cool relaxed atmosphere especially out the back where you feel you have entered somewhere secret and magical. The staff all very nice and more importantly make some incredibly fine tuned cocktails.The cocktail names all play on names or terms from the book and have some really great ingredients! I couldn’t get past the Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum which was fantastic. Cocktails are around 10 but are well worth it !

  February 1, 2015, 7:30 pm

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• Ali V

  Ironic, isn’t it, that the harder you look at something, the less you can see it? There wasa shock and thrill when the huge, wall-length mirror swung aside to reveal a hidden back room, dimly lit, cosy and decorated with clusters of cushioned seating. For those after some daylight after being locked in the office all day, the front room has exposure to the hipsters wandering down Hackney Road. However, the secret room’through the looking glass’ is more ambient, intimate and novel, dark and secret without being suffocating. The dcor is old fashioned, classic and reminded me of Mrs Havisham’s house in Great Expectations; empty gin bottles holding candles, marble tables and mis-matched, classic armchairs. The bar is full to the brim with excellent quality alcohol and interesting herbs and condiments to flavour the drinks. Whilst the bar tenders clearly know their stuff and are keen to whip up any concoction you throw at them, the menu hovers nicely on ‘old classics with a twist’. Like a G&T? Try their ‘Witty Alchemist’. Or, for those with some Latino blood in their veins (ahem), try an Aztec sour for a twist on the standard pisco sour. During my visit, I sampled a Ted Bellini, a sweet yet earthy base of Kummel liquor topped with Nua Prosecco, for a crisp, elegant finish. The place lacks the pretention that it probably would have if it were slightly more known about. But the fact it feels like a secret makes it a true, treasured speak easy. So I urge you to explore…quietly… londonismyplayground.wordpress.com

  December 5, 2014, 2:11 am

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• Gingle Lists Everything

  After such serene yet convivial surroundings, walking into The Looking Glass was a bit of a shock to the system. And not a welcome one unfortunately. We definitely got the feeling that The Looking Glass was full of spill-over from Shoreditch High Street, which is fine if that’s what you’re after, or expecting, but we were expecting a similar sort of low-key refined cocktail bar vibe we’d got from The Liquor Cabinet. By the time we got there it was a little after 11 and so we were probably entering the rowdiest point of the night. Had we gone earlier, or on a different evening I wouldn’t be surprised if we had an entirely different experience. Though I’m sure the bar stools would have been just as uncomfortable and impractical. The place was really busy and yet we still managed to grab a couple at the bar. This was probably because they seem to have been designed to actively repel you to sit on them. Kind of slippery and nowhere comfortable to put your legs.The bar staff were pretty rushed off their feet, trying to keep up with the crowd at the front. I’m sure they knew their stuff, and overheard one of them trying to determine what kind of cocktail one of their customers would like (starting with the basic – sweet or sour?) but whereas normally sitting at the bar affords you some personal attention, it wasn’t the case here. We had been served at one end of the bar and then moved to sit. I managed to get our bartender’s attention to show him where we were and was met with a curt acknowledgement. Smiles seemed lacking.Also, I sadly did not get to actually go through the Looking Glass for which the bar is named as there was a private engagement party happening in there. The list of drinks is inventive and fun. There were two incredibly tasty-sounding dessert cocktails (the past your bed time! for example, made with orange and cacao infused bourbon, Oreo syrup, and milk served with mini oreos), that I would have jumped at having, had we been having the last drinks of the night. But I didn’t want anything too heavy and instead took a gamble on a carrot-juice-based drink. I don’t think I have ever seen a cocktail which uses carrot juice, but I like carrots and I like to try something different. This one was called the Shoreditch carrot and featured Jameson whiskey with sweet caramel syrup and it was actually pretty good! Stephen had one which came with a huge banana leaf in it. Which looked impressive if nothing else but happily tasted good too.Quite a few of the cocktails seemed to make use of either lavendar, or tea, neither of which I’m a big fan of, which limited my choices somewhat. This is just a personal preference of course, but did contribute to my lack of enthusiasm for the place. Price-wise, they were still in the fairly acceptable range of 7.50 – 9.00, with about four more extending to 10 or 12.So, I am well aware that we may not have seen The Looking Glass at its best, but it was our least favourite place of the night. To be fair I think a return visit will have to be on the cards. jaminaward.wixsite.com

  July 16, 2014, 6:46 am

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• WeTheFoodSnobs

  With London Cocktail Week all wrapped up for another year, WeTheFoodSnobs takes a look back at some of their favourite drinking dens unearthed during one of the most important weeks in the capital’s cocktail calendar! First on the list was Looking Glass, an enchanting little speak easy located on Hackney Road, inspired by the mystical world created by Lewis Carroll. Just like Alice, we stepped through the Looking Glass with great intrigue and were delighted with what we found.The Looking Glass is at first not all that it would appear. The main bar area is a stripped-back space, dimly lit with a modest amount of ornate armchairs and vintage furniture for cocktail sippers to recline amongst. However, the real charm to this place is concealed by the giant ‘looking glass’ in the corner that conceals the entrance to the hedonistic world that lurks within! One whisper of the password and you will be granted access and be prompted to walk through to the other side, where you can join the raucous scenes and sin to your heart’s content.Sadly we weren’t here to join in with the debauchery as we had an appointment at the bar with the head mixologist, who had planned an adventurous journey through the many wondrous flavours that the Looking Glass boasts. Their menu is a unique mix of exotic ingredients that reflects the imaginative minds behind this charming little hideaway. However, we were in-store for a night of something slightly unique as we were invited to indulge our tastebuds in bespoke creations tailored to suit our favourite tipples.It was a great way to explore different combinations that we wouldn’t usually have been bold enough to choose. My first selection was Dodd’s Gin, which is created in Battersea by the London Distillery Company. It was partnered with a mix of wine reduction, cardamom reduction and compari; Looking Glass’ take on the classic Negroni.My drinking partner for the evening chose a tall cocktail of Kaffir Lime infused Vodka, Grapefruit Sherbert and Ginger Ale. A smooth mix for those of you that have a sweet tooth. This one creeps up on you slowly, unlike the punchy Negroni that is far more suited to the palate of those who love a hard drink.What I loved about Looking Glass was that they were always looking for an opening to add an element of elegance to the design or delivery of the cocktail. Presentation was key to each drink and it was mesmerising to watch their construction and listen to the reasoning for the inclusion of certain ingredients.As I am a huge rum fan, I was intrigued to see what they had up their sleeves for a nice short rummy sipper. The result was a delicious little number that incorporated Havana Especial Rum, Chocolate Bitters, Gosling’s Black Rum, Caramel Syrup and topped with Orange Twist and Green & Black’s Orange Infused Dark Chocolate. How is that for a list of delicious ingredients!?The final tipple of the evening for my companion was another demonstration of elegance and precision. This time a healthy dose of Kaffir Lime infused Vodka was mixed with Grenadine, Citrus Sherbet & Egg White; finished with love heart detailing and served over a large block of ice.The Looking Glass is certainly a hidden gem that I was previously unaware of before London Cocktail Week came to town and I went hunting for new jaunts to frequent. The bespoke experience we enjoyed was an intriguing look at the decisions behind the sophisticated list of ingredients that line the Looking Glass cocktail menu. We were granted access to all the spirits and sampled many homemade bitters and syrups. The drinks are boozy but beautifully balanced and crafted with a fine touch from delivery through to decoration. I plan to be returning very soon so I can step through the mirror once again for a far more raucous evening with the rest of the crowds.If you are looking for a new drinking den in the heart of Shoreditch, then you better get ready to follow the white rabbit to Wonderland and head through the Looking Glass now!Enjoy!We The Food Snobs x wethefoodsnobs.com

  February 3, 2014, 5:50 am

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