The Cocktail Trading Co. | Shoreditch

An amazing selection of cocktails that are incredibly well made by the bar staff. They’re also super lovely and friendly, so welcoming. Felt very comfortable there. Nothing was too much. The cocktails were also honestly delicious, very reasonably priced for how well made they were also. The bar staff were completely on it too, drinks were made quickly and very well, glasses were taken away speedily and tables were wiped. Made a nice change as so many places are just badly run by lazy humans. Go here, get all the cocktails (olives are delicious too).

Called in after a recommendation from Smokestak. What a fantastic place! Staff welcomed us immediately. It was busy so we sat at the bar and chatted to staff. Great, innovative cocktails. All were fabulous and theatrical but tasted sublime! Highly recommend and will definitely return!

Hands down my favourite cocktail bar in London and probably the best spot east has to offer. Have been a regular since 2024, and no two visits have felt the same, always a unique experience. The new menu is splendid, I’m in awe of the creativity. All drinks cost the same so there’s always room to experiment. Huge shout out to the staff, the friendliest folks I’ve met, one of them remembered my drink from my last visit! Will definitely go back for the amaretto sour and the hollyday.

We stopped by for drinks after eating nearby, as it was close and looked interesting on Maps. When we arrived, the interior felt calm and softly lit, with a relaxed atmosphere that made it easy to settle in. We were a group of eight, and even though space was limited, the staff were friendly and helped us get sorted. The drinks themselves stood out for their presentation, with a playful, almost potion-like look that felt a bit different from the usual cocktails. There were also a few games available, which added to the experience and made it easy to stay longer than planned. We ended up spending more time there than expected, just enjoying the setting and the drinks. I would have stayed for another, but I was driving later on. Overall, it worked well as a relaxed stop for drinks and conversation.

We never ate, only had cocktails. And what FABULOUS cocktails they are! All themed around retro games, with a twist. SnL Sidecar was lovely a fresh. Squid Game was tasted like a sparkling Bloody Mary. Is It Cake really did taste like a dessert and was consumed in about 10 seconds ha! Really lovely speakeasy vibe about the place and the staff are extremely nice and friendly. HIGHLY recommend

We had our very first date at Cocktail Trading Co., so it’s always a special place for us. Coming back a year later, it was fun to see how much the menu had changed — this time, it’s all centered around game-themed cocktails. The creativity really stands out here: every drink isn’t just well-balanced in flavor, but also comes with playful presentation that ties into the theme. It’s clear the team puts a lot of thought into making the experience memorable, not just the cocktails themselves. A perfect mix of fun, craft, and atmosphere — no wonder we keep coming back.

The staff at The Cocktail Trading Co were friendly and looked after us well. They brought water straight away and talked us through the content of the cocktails we had ordered. The menu was great, with plenty of choice, but there were also classics available. The selection was fun and quirky, and the drinks were also delicious. The atmosphere was good, with large windows onto the street, making it welcome in the muggy weather. We’ll be using our return tokens!

Absolutely obsessed with this place! This is an easily one of the most creative and fun cocktail bars I’ve ever been to in London. Came here before dinner and ended up staying way longer than expected — simply because we couldn’t stop reading the hilarious, adorable cocktail menu. 😍 🍸 The drinks? Brilliant. Each cocktail comes with a story, a theme, or a playful twist. One of ours was served in what looked like a mini bowl with cereal, and another came with a cheeky little label that made us laugh out loud. But beyond the fun presentation, the drinks themselves were genuinely delicious and well-balanced. 🕯️ Atmosphere-wise, the bar is cozy, dimly lit, and full of character. The space isn’t huge, but it adds to the charm — feels like a hidden gem rather than a trendy hotspot. 👀 Staff were lovely, easygoing, and happy to recommend drinks based on mood or flavour. No pretentious vibes, just good drinks and good energy. 📍If you’re in Shoreditch and love cocktails with a sense of humour, personality, and great flavour — this place is a must. Can’t wait to come back and explore more of that chaotic, genius cocktail menu. 10/10 would recommend.

Truly did not know what to expect and could not have had a better experience. To start, the staff are exceptional. So friendly and congenial. They really wanted us to enjoy the experience with their establishment. And it is so apparent through the decor/experience/menu that they really care about crafting an experience through their bar. The menu itself is a treasure. Each page is hilarious and so intelligently thought out. I kept thinking each description of a drink would be the best and most random until I got to the next one. This manifests to the drinks itself, which are all so interesting. One came in a customized Old Bae container, another with a folded swan adornment, another with a burrito wrapped around the cup to actually eat the seasoning on top? So random, so fun. And the drinks themselves were so tasty! And very well priced. Finally, the decor is the maybe the most random part. But I have a feeling the randomness is in fact actually thoroughly considered. Each poster funnier than the last. Highly recommend making a stop in. We made a reservation but it wasn't terribly busy when we went during the week so at the least worth trying to pop in.

Quaint place with interesting cocktails. Highly recommended for a visit. Service was also top notch!

Cool spot, but a little bit shticky. All of the cocktails in the menu have a full-page description talking about their ingredients and flavor profiles, and the cocktails come in ridiculous containers (mine was in a wooden box of sorts and my friend's was in a metal safe). It wasn't the best drink I've ever had, although it was decent. Mine was similar to an old fashioned and was a little sweeter than I would have preferred. Drinks are £11 which is fairly aligned with other similar places in London, and I like how the pricing is consistent throughout the menu. The service was nice but very slow. At the end your cheque is presented in a tiny mints container with some potpourri. Bathrooms were nice and clean and the bar overall had a nice vibe to it. Would return.

Was excited to return three years after our last visit, when we were last in London. the experience was just as amazing as our visits when we used to live in the area. Love that it's walk-in only so no worries about reservations but they really squeeze you into the place with counters around the lower area and tight tables. But it's a great vibe in my opinion. The menu changes a bunch so it stays fresh. This most recent time, there was a heist theme so drinks were from across the globe with various bases that were loosely themed to unsolved heists. The glasses / containers in which drinks were served are a highlight and always make for an enjoyable experience. Ultimately, and most importantly, the drinks are great. Each one we had, other than the one that wasn't to our palette which is our fault, was delicious. Well crafted, balanced, tasted as described. And the one that was overly bitter that we didn't like, they replaced without any question and gave us another of our choice very quickly. Great experience

The service at this neighborhood cocktail bar was great. The atmosphere was even better with a great collection of creative and well constructed cocktails

Came at 19:30 on a Friday night and it was nearly full but still got one of a handful of tables straight away. The service was impeccable - friendly lumberjack of a man greeted us, seated us, offered to walk us through the menu/concept and returned a few mins later to take our orders. The menu is a bit kitschy but it's relatively short and it's undeniably fun. We peeked at other tables and it's hard to not get excited about the container in which drinks come. Ultimately I was swayed by both the description and visual of Flawless, a rum conception served up in a gorgeous Garosa egg shaped trinket. It was a small portion but perfect for the quick pre dinner drop in we were aiming for. My husband got Goldrush which was a tequila mixture in a lantern in the style of the those miners way back. Homerun for me and at £11 a pop, good value compared with similar places that put a steeper premium on the theatre of the drink. But this place has no pretension, innovation, excellent manners and great atmosphere.

A must go when in London. The cocktail presentations are the most creative I've seen coming from nyc. Everything is prepared meticulously and the bartenders really know their stuff. Loud music and a fun party vibe.

Went for cocktails after dinner and enjoyed it. The menu wasn't too expansive, I must say. However, when my friend asked for a cocktail to be custom-made, they served up a delightful glass of concoction that I thought ought to be added to the menu. I also appreciated some of the presentations, which were very creative. Service was phenomenal. We were greeted promptly, and the bartender was kind enough to serve us water without us even asking and chatting with us. Ambience was cosy and hip. Smaller than expected, but it was all the better for it

Really great bar! Top notch service, creative and adventurous cocktails in cool surroundings. I found this place through Timeout London and wanted to give it a go as it the sort of bar I used to visit when I lived in NYC. I loved the decor and theme of the bar and the host was very helpful when trying to decide what cocktail to go for. I found the menu really impressive and it looks as though each cocktail had a quirky presentation, which is a bonus. Every cocktail was very photogenic! The cocktails aren't too badly priced and they were pretty strong! So a couple was enough for me! I tried the Apairoteef and Bondai Butterfly, both were really good. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Apairoteef cocktail as it looked clear and simple when it arrived, but I really enjoyed it. My drinking partner tried the seasonal punch and Royal Mail aged Air Mail. The air mail cocktail was really strong and their preference was the punch. I was surprised at how quiet the bar was, but we did go in fairly early. However there is a lot of competition in Shoreditch so maybe that was why? I do hope this place survives, it is a great place to enjoy a cocktail or two in nice surroundings.

I had this place on my list and since it was open in the afternoon, it worked perfectly after hitting the Sun. markets around Brick Lane. Sat at the bar and was entertained by Ollie who made a great Bee's Knees. He also said he was up to the pisco sour challenge (have never had one as good as in Peru) so my friend and I came back the next week and he came close. The other guys working were also charming and the place is cute with lots of interesting cocktails. Highly recommended.

Went to The Cocktail Trading Company for Thursday night cocktails and I loved it! Managed to easily book a table for 2 the same day which is good because it's quite a small intimate bar. Pretty romantic actually with low lighting and the candle lit table. All the cocktails we had were super instagrammable and probably did look better than they tasted but that's ok, pictures last forever.

Really inventive cocktails and a warm and hip atmosphere. Only gripe was that the tight space could feel a bit crowded, but it felt really alive! The bartenders had a really wonderful knack for their craft and the staff was really well drilled in explaining each drink. Just a great cocktail bar in a cool part of town. Definitely worth dropping in.

Stopped in for a cold one after a long walk and boy did it pay off. The bar is small but has a great feel. Old world style with art and music coupled with fresh cocktails and classics. Service was quick and friendly. Best Bloody Mary I have had in a long time! Smoky, savoury and the right level of spice. Garnish was interesting with pickled onion, olive, lemon slice and some sprout salad. Somehow it all worked and went down smooth. This would be a cool date spot as I can see it really lively yet intimate in the evening. The tables next to us had some crazy drinks with a drinkable seashell and egg that cracks into a cocktail. Everyone seemed about as pleased as we were, definitely coming back!

We literally stumbled across this pub-turned-cocktail bar and what an amazing find. They have a menu of suggested cocktails, but tell then bartender what you are looking for and he will whip up something to fit your needs. I had a Cobbler (sherry, Glenmorangie, fruit, syrup, served over shaved ice), my husband had a Welcome to Tennessee, Have A Nice Day (Jack Daniels, Matcha Plum Wine, Cardamom-Ginger Brew, Yuzu juice) & a bartender special based on his likes. All three were simply delicious. If you need a few libations in the East End, this is the place to go.

If you like to try new quirky cocktails prepared by guys who completely understand the classics and build on them, here's the place to go. The crew are brilliant, easy to talk to and just genuinely nice people, the drinks are off-the-wall-bat-shit-crazy at times, but never off and always very entertaining and enjoyable, and if you're tired of experimenting just order a classic and you won't be disappointed. The cocktail menu is a little booklet that you can take home with you - written with a lot of attention to detail and love for the trade. I've got two on my cocktail book shelf and I am committed to keep collecting! The new location is a little easier to find than the one in Soho and it is absolutely worth the detour if you are not in that part of town. There are a few more places to explore on your way back as well - if you can still manage after sampling the extensive cocktail menu!

If you want a special cocktail experience, this place is it. They had a booklet of specialty cocktails from around the world that they've replicated and serve. The service is attentive and the space is cozy, but the thing that got me was that the music was SO loud and I didn't expect that from anything I read online. This is probably a sign that I'm too old...

THE DEFINITION OF CRAFT COCKTAILS And I am not exaggerating. If you want an awesome, friendly, and life-changing experience in one of the trendiest areas of London, please go here. The bartenders are all super friendly (in the most genuine of ways) and make you feel at home from the moment you walk in. Their menu-books are all hand-printed and give hilarious descriptions of their extremely unique cocktails (you seriously have to see these cocktails to believe them). You're welcome to take them home (you know I did) and in the back are recommendations for other bars and restaurants in the area that they recommend (and which are also great). As for the cocktails, they are seriously too good to be true. Each cocktail is handcrafted and comes in some sort of wild concoction of a "glass" for you to drink out of (think tissue boxes, hot air balloons, magnifying glasses). And on top of being the most original looking cocktails I've ever seen, the drinks themselves were KILLER! I had the Toreador No. 4 which was a spicy/sour/perfect tequila drink. My friend had the Scofflaw, a perfect gin drink. Seriously I wish this bar was in Atlanta and I would be there every other night, not only to drink the drinks and have a new experience each time, but also to befriend all of the awesome bartenders who work there. When in London, please go here.

The waiter who served me was really friendly... But then I was annoyed by how they made fun of another customer behind his back. I never had a mojito that only comes with ice and got nothing much to drink. I finished it with two sips. It was so bad that I hope that the ice could melt faster so I could have another few more sips. They were really keen to refill your water though. So there goes with the extra star for you :)

I'm visiting from the US. I was told shoreditch is the cool area, found this bar by accident and so glad I did. The music had a great selection. It wasn't so loud that you had to yell or to soft that you couldn't hear it. The bartenders were great. They gave me tips on places to go, and were super friendly. Now for the drinks, AAAMMMMAAAZING! The bartender was busy the entire time I was there, but he made it look effortless. And the drinks had great presentation. Try the air mail.

Original and unique!!! A definite must visit bar for all London visitors. Our barman was a gem - so helpful, but also gave us space. The cocktails tasted as good as they looked.

Bliss. One price for all cocktails. The servers are amazing, and the drink list is perfection. The atmosphere is chilled and relaxed. The tunes are retro (I'm 43, so I mean from my childhood). Best place in Shorditch for cocktails).

Love this place. Went here last night with some friends for the second time and everybody loved their cocktails. What I really like about this place is not just the taste of the drinks, but the creativity in making each of them. The staff are very friendly too. I can't wait to go there again and try a new drink!

Chilled out cocktail lounge with some interesting cocktails. The cocktails here are well made, tasty and there is a fairly comprehensive list, if they don't have it they can probably make it. The barmen/waiters (I didn't see any women working here) know what they are doing, apart from giving you correct bill, they fluffed that up. I enjoyed the music and the overall low key vibe, put it this way: it's a place you go with friends, not to make friends.

We are visiting London for the week and went for drinks here last night. This place is amazing!! The staff was so friendly and the atmosphere was perfect. The drinks were so creative and delicious! Would definitely come here again!

This place is amazing -- from the cozy atmosphere, to the very friendly staff, to the inventive cocktails. While we were staying in Shoreditch, this place became our hangout at the end of long days of walking, sightseeing and shopping. What I appreciated the most was the warm way the staff greeted everyone who came in; whether they were young or old, local or tourists, everyone seemed to receive the same attention. That is so very rare in bar that could easily turn hipster and exclusive. I hope we'll have a chance to visit again on our next trip to London!