The Liquor Cabinet (Closed)

Address: 184 Hackney Road, London, E2 7QL , United Kingdom
Website: view The Liquor Cabinet (Closed)’s website
Door: Open door
Style: Cocktail bar

Review

Nestled underneath a kebab shop off Hoxton Road, The Liquor Cabinet is a small, dimly lit underground grotto where bottled cocktails and great spirits thrive.

Despite the dubious entrance - take a wrong turn and you're in a kebab shop 'kitchen' - the basement serves as a charming neighbourhood venue. A rough and ready décor sees crates piling up to form booths against one wall whilst the other harbours a small alcove with rough wooden planks as seating. Rather than come across as false shabby-chic pretense however, the setting suits the pared-down look.

A small back-bar selection is themed around products which the team say have been personally chosen, including two artisan mezcals and a genever alongide more familiar bottlings. A five-strong cocktail menu is all pre-batched and -bottled, featuring an Old Fashioned, a Negroni, a Martini, a French Connection and a Tequila Martinez. All drinks are £6.

We found the drinks to be well-balanced and expertly crafted. The pre-bottling means drinks are served practically before you've got comfortable. Staff are chatty, friendly and relaxed and the atmosphere has a lovely buzz of quiet conversation. Three weeks since opening and we're pleasantly impressed. We didn't sample the kebabs and can't comment on the quality, but we're assured you can eat one in the bar if you like.