If you like combining great sounds with delicious cocktails, The Drunken Monkey is sure to please.

The Venue
The Drunken Monkey sits on Shoreditch High Street, on the corner of Great Eastern Street. With an Oriental-style decor that’s visible from the outside – think red lanterns, dimmed lighting, large mirrors and exquisite paintings – you can’t help but step inside to take a look.

The front area of the bar is tabled for people wanting to combine picking at dim sum with dancing by the DJ, whereas the back area is like a secluded restaurant – perfect for a more formal meal or if you’re on a date.

The Atmosphere
The staff at The Drunken Monkey are probably the friendliest in the area. They’ll greet you when you enter and you’ll instantly notice that their good spirits have rubbed off on the clientele. The dimmed lighting gives the place a secluded vibe and the DJ keeps the mood lifted. Music varies depending on the night of the week, but expect to hear an eclectic mix of electro-funk, hip hop, deep house, jazz, dub, rare groves and soul from Wednesday to Sunday.

Although the crowd is made up of typical young trendies from the Shoreditch set, be prepared to see more than just your fashionable East Londoner in here. The venue’s close proximity to Liverpool Street means that non-Londoners venturing into a cool part of the city for a night out are frequently attracted to this place.

The Food
Eating at The Drunken Monkey is always a great experience. Food and wine are presented on the same menu and you can pick and mix a huge range of dim sum, priced from £2.50 upwards. Food includes a selection of every kind of steamed dumpling you could think of and a large selection of grilled and fried food such as won tons, spring rolls, tofu and prawns. The venue has no qualms in recognising that the dishes might arrive at the table at different times, so don’t be put off if someone you’re with gets their food first.

The Drink
Many of The Drunken Monkey’s customers visit the place solely because of its extensive and fantastically named cocktails. These are priced at around £7 and include everything from your classic mojito and margarita to their own brand of Monkey themed drinks. The bar also serves a variety of martini cocktails, bellinis and shooters. All drinks are prepared with fresh ingredients so you may have to wait a while for your cocktail to be ready. However, watching them squeeze the fresh juices makes them taste all the more pleasurable when you take your first sip.

Where some cocktail bars neglect their choice of beer and wine, The Drunken Monkey doesn’t and there’s an extensive list of both. A pint of draught beer costs around £3.50 and there’s something to please everyone, with Spanish beers like San Miguel served alongside Guinness and John Smiths Extra Smooth. Bottled beers are at a similar price and include Tiger, Corona and Heineken as well as litre bottles of Cruzcampo, Brooklin and Theakstons Old Peculiar. The Drunken Monkey has regular promotions on drinks, including its infamous happy hour.

The Last Word
A classic Shoreditch venue that perfectly combines cocktails and dim sum with great music.

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