Reviews - Happiness Forgets
Reviews summary
Nestled away in Hoxton, Happiness Forgets offers an enchanting blend of cozy ambiance and expertly crafted cocktails. The intimate, candle-lit space, enhanced by retro jazz tunes, invites guests to unwind. Signature drinks like the Perfect Storm and Fawlty Fizz impress with their unique flavors—all at reasonable prices. While the atmosphere is charming, service experiences can vary, with reports of occasional rudeness. The bar's menu, though limited, allows for classic cocktail requests. Overall, this hidden treasure strikes a harmonious balance between delightful drinks and a warm, welcoming vibe, making it an ideal spot for gatherings.
Was Anonym at Happiness Forgets a mag?
I also noticed that some of the cocktails were quite similar. In fact, the last two seemed almost identical as they were simply poured straight from the bottle into a glass. View all feedback.
What Anonym dislikes about Happiness Forgets:
I had heard a lot about this place from various lists of speak easies and best cocktail bars in London. The place doesn't really live up to its billing though. I mean don't get me wrong the cocktails they do do are nice and the atmosphere is great especially since the place gets pretty packed on weekends. However, the menu is not very extensive I really thought there would be more of a selection of cocktails on offer... View all feedback.
Reviews from various users
Last update : 10.08.2025
One of my favourite cocktail places in London. Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 5 Price per person: £20–30
So happy to have discovered this hidden gem. Incredible cocktails, amazing ambience, and attentive&friendly service. Will visit again! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5
Last update : 27.06.2024
Do not visit this place if you are looking for a relaxed drink with a friend. I have been coming to this bar on and off for 10 years without any issues. However, when I brought my friend for the first time, we were met with rude behavior from the two women working that day. The girl with short brown hair and the head bartender were caught gossiping about us within minutes of our arrival. They made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. When addressed, they denied it and made us feel like we were being judged unfairly. It was a disappointing experience, especially since it was my friend's birthday. We will not be returning to this establishment.
Such a cosy neighborhood bar in Hoxton! 11 pounds per glass for all concoctions. I am not very convinced with their drinks, but it's just a lovely place welcomed by lovely lady and a bar man! It's in the basement! Instead of ordering classics, you can ask for their signatures.
Best smelling toilets in Hackney! This is such a cool little place with great cocktails. Have ordered from the list and off menu — always well crafted. And of course, be sure to stop into the loo. It smells divine (no jokes it is a delightful lemon verbena style scent .
Visited in January 2024: Cosy bar, but lacked some attention from server. The barmaid and server were too focused on 2 of the guests at the bar losing some focus on the rest of the clients. Me and my partner both had a shaken cocktail that should have definitely been double strained. The chunks of ice in our cocktail didn't help the flavours slthat already had some issues of being perfectly in balance. We visited on a week day, on our next visit we will try visiting at a busier time, as this might have been the reason for a lower focus.
That’s truly a hidden gem among bars in London. Located in a cool area, it’s difficult to spot, but very warm once you get in. The atmosphere makes it very cozy and the quality of the cocktails, as well as the service offered by the bartenders and the waiters, take your experience to a whole different level. Must visit!
Last update : 06.03.2024
Visited a couple times since I moved in the area and it’s such a nice little hidden gem in the hearth of Hoxton. A serious cocktails business with really nice signature drinks and a boss of a bartender lady that kept rocking our drinks out! My personal favourite was perhaps the Two Barrels! Very well balanced and beautifully served with this clear ice stone, beautifully carved. Upstairs restaurant looks great but that experience is still to come! Would recommend the visit.
Speakeasy hopped the entire time I was in London, and this was easily one of my favorites. There are no gimmicks to enter, no pretentiousness, just a wonderful speakeasy with incredible drinks. Not too loud, quite comfortable and homey, mysterious vibes, and bartenders that are obviously on top of their game. I told them the type of cocktail I enjoy (whiskey, smokey, not too sweet), and they concocted the perfect drink the Louis Balfour. Cannot wait to return once I am back in London!
Yep. I can safely say, I have a new fave craft cocktail bar in London. I love intimate basement bars, especially when they have a stellar drinks menu, and this one fits the bill. And if you want something created off-menu, I bet if you give the bartender your desired flavor profile and spirit choice, they'll whip up something amazing for you, just like they did for me. We came here for pre-dinner drinks, and ended up with perfect cocktails, engaging conversation, and just the right atmosphere to build anticipation for dinner. Cheers to that!
This place is amazing for cocktails. The service is incredible, one of the cocktails was a little bit strong for me and they picked this up from my reaction straight away and offered me a new one!!
This romantic bar is absolutely charming. The candlelit cellar creates a wonderful atmosphere. The staff is fantastic! We arrived 15 minutes before our reservation time and were seated right away. We were unsure what to order, but the bartender was so skilled in recommending drinks based on our usual go-to cocktails. The drinks were lovely, unique, and reasonably priced considering the great experience. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be returning.
Last update : 26.10.2023
Friendly staff and tasty cocktails. Great vibe. Thanks for letting me taste the Amer Picon and letting me know where to find it!
Great experience. Cocktails were some of the best we had in London. Staff was energetic, friendly, and masters of their craft. Our bartender even recommended other good cocktail bars in the area. Extremely welcoming environment with a customer base that was the same.
This bar is one of the best cocktail bar in London! The atmosphere is very cosy and intimate. It is the perfect evening for a date or with friends. It looks like a speakeasy, with little candles on the tables and the decoration. There is not too many tables, so the place is not too noisy. The music playlist is quite chill, with sometimes rock beats. The cocktail menu is original and interesting, and it's worth testing something new! Glasses are very cute and the liquor quite tasty. They also have beers, wine and cider. I would definitely come back!
Great drinks, great service and lots of fun to be had. Highly recommend! Plus they have ice that literally says “Happiness Forgets” on it, how cool is that?
Last update : 12.11.2022
Basement bar. Quaint cocktail bar with red ceiling lamps and tea lights on the tables. Original cocktails and interesting local croud.
The restaurant is located in a cellar and has a cozy atmosphere with low lighting that creates an excellent ambiance. The music selection is top-notch. The cocktail menu is diverse and offers about 10-15 high-quality options. The service is very professional, and I recommend making a reservation in advance.
I had heard a lot about this place from various lists of speak easies and best cocktail bars in London. The place doesn't really live up to its billing though. I mean don't get me wrong the cocktails they do do are nice and the atmosphere is great especially since the place gets pretty packed on weekends. However, the menu is not very extensive I really thought there would be more of a selection of cocktails on offer. The good thing is you can always ask for any of the classics, they are always willing to oblige. The other bummer about the place is the food or the lack of it. They used to have a place upstairs from where you could order in but it has since shut down and they don't...read more
This is one of the best cocktail bars in London; intimate, low key and rare. Probably not for everyone but that is a good thing. Highly recommend this place
Happiness Forgets is a place where happy memories are made, whether they’re remembered the following day or not. With its quirky furniture and 40s/50s jazz music, this small candle-lit bar doesn’t lack ambience. Now, let’s discuss drinks. Seeing as the founder, Alastair Burgess, trained at award winning Pegu in NYC, it’s not surprising that this spot makes killer drinks. There’s the Perfect Storm that mixes dark rum, lemon, and ginger juice with honey and a dash of plum brandy; or Baptiste, which is made of cider, cognac, lemon and maple syrup. Best part: cocktails are only about £8 each. Make sure to book ahead.