Nightjar opened in 2010 and has been routinely ranked among the world top 50 since. The basement room is committed to the 1920s aesthetic — tin-tile ceiling, leather banquettes, dim warm lighting, live jazz nightly. The cocktail menu is divided into eras: pre-prohibition, prohibition, post-war, and modern.
The drinks are theatrical and precise. Cocktails arrive in custom glassware, sometimes with theatrical effects — smoke, fresh herbs, dehydrated fruit garnishes. Over 50 cocktails on the menu, all built with serious technique.
The crowd is mid-thirties professionals and special-occasion couples. The jazz starts at 21:00 most nights. Pair with Discount Suit Company nearby for an East London speakeasy evening.