8-9 Hoxton Square,
Hoxton,
London,
N1 6NU
(020) 7613 0325
The ViewLondon Review
Self-described as a ‘seedy little basement bar’, Happiness Forgets lives up to the description while managing to maintain plenty of originality and style.
The Venue
Located beneath the streets of Hoxton Square, Happiness Forgets has a lot in the way of competition. Polished similarities are evident between itself and its neighbours, but once you’ve made the descent into its brooding basement, all of the other options above are forgotten.
The décor is a mixture of simplicity and luxe, with cushioned benches arranged in intimate groups against exposed brickwork and blood red walls that heighten the subterranean sensuality of the place. The room is almost exclusively lit by candlelight, and the design, which is considered and contemporary, has an interesting array of framed vintage fair bits and bobs on the walls.
The Atmosphere
First it’s about adjusting your eyes to the light, but once the immediacy of that problem is overcome, the music begins to filter through, allowing a true sense of the place. Phrases like ‘rare grooves’ and ‘rarities’ come to mind for some reason and it’s not surprising to know that one half of the creators of the bar is a DJ/promoter as the soundtrack consistently delivers.
It’s all about having the right people in a bar like this, and you can see that couples in the candlelight and cocktail-appreciating conversationalists are the types it is best suited to.
The Food
The bar doesn’t cook its own food but works in partnership with Yelo, the Thai canteen above. Main meals of curries and stir-fries all cost about £6 and the quality is high. The salads are particularly special, with the grilled rib-eye steak with chilli, spring onion, garlic and pepper standing out.
The Drink
You know a place aims to please when cucumber-infused water gets served to the table the moment you sit down. Beyond the complimentary though, there are some imported bottled beers and a short but sweet wine list - but it’s all about the spirits and the cocktails here. Try a Tanqueray gin and tonic for a refreshing long drink or delve into the list of curious concoctions. There’s the Perfect Storm, a blend of Skipper's dark rum, honey, fresh lemon and ginger juice, shaken up with a rare plum brandy, and if you like odd names there’s also the Ward Eight, Tantris Sidecar and an Eastside Fizz. Each drink costs £7 or £8, and although the list is concise, the barman will create off-menu from his oeuvre upon request.
The Last Word
Rare drinks, handpicked music and an effort to invite an individual clientele show an adventurous streak in this charming little basement bar.
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