Happiness Forgets
Happiness Forgets is a basement cocktail bar at 8-9 Hoxton Square that opened in 2010 and quickly earned recognition as one of London's best bars. The space is small, seating around 40 people across a handful of tables and a short bar. The no-standing policy means you wait for a seat before being admitted, which keeps the room comfortable but creates queues on busy nights. The cocktail menu changes regularly, with eight to ten drinks at any time, each made to order. Prices run GBP 12-16 per cocktail. The bartenders are knowledgeable and will adjust drinks to taste or make off-menu recommendations. No food is served.
What to Expect
A small, dimly lit basement bar with exceptional cocktails served at a deliberate pace. You'll be seated at a table and served by bartenders who take their craft seriously. The atmosphere is intimate and conversational. This is not a loud bar or a place to start a big night out; it's a destination for drinking well.
Quiet, intimate, and focused. The small room, dim lighting, and attentive service create an environment where the drink is the centerpiece. Conversations happen in normal voices. There's no rush.
Background music only. Jazz, soul, and downtempo vinyl selections that complement the atmosphere without competing with conversation.
Smart casual. The venue is intimate and the crowd tends to dress slightly up. No strict policy, but you'll feel out of place in gym clothes.
Cocktail enthusiasts, couples on a date, and anyone who appreciates craft bartending in a quiet, focused setting.
Cards and contactless accepted.
Price Range
Cocktails GBP 12-16, no cover charge, no food
GBP 12-16 ≈ USD 15-20 / EUR 14-19
Hours
Mon-Sat 5:30 PM to 11 PM. Closed Sundays.
Insider Tip
Arrive at opening (5:30 PM) to guarantee a seat without waiting. The bar doesn't take reservations for groups under six. If you have specific taste preferences, tell the bartender and ask for a recommendation rather than ordering from the menu.
Full Review
Hoxton Square is a small park surrounded by bars, restaurants, and the White Cube gallery. Happiness Forgets occupies a basement at the corner, down a narrow staircase that opens into a room much smaller than you'd expect given its reputation.
The no-standing rule is the key to everything that works here. By limiting occupancy to seated guests, the bar maintains an atmosphere that most cocktail venues can't. Conversations happen at a normal volume. The bartenders can hear your order clearly. Nobody is jostling for space.
The menu is concise, usually eight to ten cocktails, each balanced and made with precision. Seasonal ingredients rotate through the list. The bartenders are among London's most skilled and can talk through flavor profiles, adjust sweetness or strength, and make off-menu drinks that match your preferences. This is a bar where saying 'I like gin, something citrusy but not too sweet' produces a better result than ordering from the menu.
The room itself is understated: dark walls, low ceilings, candles on the tables, and a short bar where you can watch drinks being built. The vinyl selection playing in the background is curated rather than random.
The trade-off is availability. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the queue can run 20-40 minutes for a table. Midweek is much easier, and the experience is arguably better when the room is slightly less than full. The 11 PM closing time means this works best as a first stop rather than a late-night destination.
The Neighborhood
Hoxton Square hosts several bars and restaurants, plus the White Cube gallery. Shoreditch High Street is a 5-minute walk south. The area around the square is busy until late, with multiple venue options within a short radius.
Getting There
Old Street station (Northern line) is an 8-minute walk. Hoxton (Overground) is 5 minutes. Shoreditch High Street (Overground) is 6 minutes south.
Address
8-9 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU
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