Nightjar

Behind an inconspicuous wooden door, tucked between two junk food shops on the chaotic Old Street roundabout, is Nightjar. The moodily lit basement bar harkens back to jazz-era clubs with a pressed tin ceiling, mirrored friezes and nightly bands playing everything from boogie-woogie barrelhouse to Delta blues. Bartenders serve drinks that are divided by historical epoch, as well as Nightjar Signatures that employ a range of exotic ingredients, like plankton air, Riaženka (Lithuanian fermented milk) and (once) whale skin. The garnishes are equally flamboyant, including conch shells, flaming honeycomb, dry ice and a whole hip flask in a glass. Despite the show of baroque style, the classics remain impeccably executed.