The exterior of Cocktail Trading Co, a cocktail bar in Clerkenwell

Cocktail Trading Co

Top choice in Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields


In an area famous for its edgy, don't-give-a-damn attitude, this exquisite cocktail bar stands out for its classiness and cocktail confidence. The drinks are truly unrivalled, from flavours to presentation – bottles presented in envelopes, ice cubes as big as Rubik's Cubes and so on. The decor is reminiscent of a colonial-era gentlemen's club, just warmer and more welcoming.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields attractions

1. Old Truman Brewery

0.26 MILES

Founded here in the 17th century, Truman's Black Eagle Brewery was, by the 1850s, the largest brewery in the world. Spread over a series of brick…

2. Columbia Road Flower Market

0.27 MILES

A wonderful explosion of colour and life, this weekly market sells a beautiful array of flowers, pot plants, bulbs, seeds and everything you might need…

3. 19 Princelet St

0.32 MILES

This grand 1719 town house was originally occupied by a prosperous Huguenot family of weavers, before becoming home to waves of immigrants, including…

4. Dennis Severs' House

0.35 MILES

This extraordinary Georgian house is set up as if its occupants – a family of Huguenot silk weavers – have just walked out the door. Each of the 10 rooms…

5. Christ Church Spitalfields

0.38 MILES

This imposing English baroque structure, with a tall spire sitting on a portico of four great Tuscan columns, was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and…

6. Hackney City Farm

0.53 MILES

If there's a less bucolic landscape than Hackney Rd, we can't imagine it. All the more reason to bring a slice of the country to kids who have only ever…

7. Museum of the Home

0.54 MILES

These beautiful ivy-clad brick almshouses, which are closed until summer 2020 for renovations, were built in 1714 as a home for poor pensioners. Two rooms…

8. Whitechapel Road

0.55 MILES

The East End’s main thoroughfare hums with a constant cacophony of Asian, African, European and Middle Eastern languages, its busy shops and market stalls…