Callooh Callay

Shoreditch / Brick Lane, London –

Far down the rabbit hole and into the heart of Shoreditch lies Callooh Callay, an Alice in Wonderland-themed bar that’s as serious about its cocktails as the Mad Hatter is about his tea parties.

A beautifully kitschy room awaits the trendy and creative patrons who regularly come in looking to warm themselves with absinthe and specialty rums before a night on the town.

Vivid patterned wallpaper, walls of mirrors, and gaudy vintage furniture evoke the bright and abstract fantasy world created by Lewis Carroll, topped off by the venue’s name itself, an invented phrase from the author’s nonsense poem “Jabberwocky.”

Groups of styled girls and hip young guys sit on the purple padded sofas, selecting from the long list of eccentric artisan cocktails with names like If You Don’t Gnome Me By Now, a gin- and Prosecco-based shareable served in a giant gnome punchbowl.

A fake wardrobe is actually the door to the Back Lounge, a popular space with groups looking to party privately among the spotlights, loud prints, and retro 70s disco furniture.

Busy most nights, the bar usually draws a long line of pretty people, waiting to step into the cozy space to down a few potions.

Despite the wait times, Callooh Callay has garnered acclaim from visitors for its commitment to cutting-edge cocktails and original design that leave patrons ready for more fantasy-fueled adventures – perhaps drinking their way Through the Looking Glass?