135 Bar and Lounge

Hidden away in Bethnal Green, 135 Bar & Lounge is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a subtle Art Deco edge — low lighting, warm tones and a layout that keeps things intimate.

The drinks draw on Nordic flavours, with a seasonal cocktail menu focused on clean, ingredient-led serves. There’s also a small food offering built around the same idea: simple, considered and well executed.

Earlier in the evening, it’s relaxed — good for a quiet drink or a date — but it doesn’t stay that way for long.

From Thursday through the weekend, live jazz, vinyl DJs and late-night sets take over, and the room gradually builds in energy. By the time it’s in full swing, it feels more like a proper night out than a cocktail bar.

The crowd tends to be a mix of locals and people who’ve come here on purpose — not somewhere you just wander into.

If you’re after something loud and obvious, this isn’t it.
But if you want a low-lit spot where the drinks are great and the music actually matters, 135 is worth seeking out.