This is the kind of neighbourhood bar that Bethnal Green does best — a proper pub feel with serious cocktail chops. The Sun Tavern leans into its Irish roots with an impressive whiskey and poitín selection, punch cocktails, and London-brewed ales, all served up in a knowingly grungy space with creaky wooden floors and dim lighting. Come for the whiskey, stay for the espresso martinis and the rowdy, good-time crowd.
A knowingly grungy Bethnal Green pub with serious Irish whiskey, poitín, and punch cocktails — packed with locals even on weeknights.
It gets packed even on weeknights — arrive early (before 7pm) to grab a bar stool, especially if you want a spot for live music nights.
A proper East End pub with serious cocktail chops
The Sun Tavern is what happens when you take a proper East End pub and hand it over to people who actually care about cocktails. The vibe is knowingly grungy — creaky wooden floors, dim lighting, bar stools — but it works precisely because it doesn't try too hard. It feels like a neighbourhood bar first and a cocktail bar second, which is exactly why the locals pack it out even on weeknights.
The drink menu is where things get interesting. There's a serious Irish whiskey and poitín selection that you won't find in many places in London, alongside punch cocktails and classic mixed drinks. The espresso martinis have a reputation for being among the better ones in the area, and the bartenders are the kind who'll happily remake a drink if it's not hitting right for you. They also pour fine ales from London breweries, so there's something for everyone.
Bar snacks are simple but tasty — don't come expecting a full dinner, but do expect something to soak up the whiskey. Live music and DJs add to the rowdy pub energy on the right nights. It's a stone's throw from Bethnal Green tube, making it dangerously easy to pop in for one and stay for five.
Le Sun Tavern, c'est exactement ce que Bethnal Green fait de mieux : un pub authentique avec une vraie culture du cocktail. L'ambiance est grunge assumée — planchers qui craquent, lumière tamisée, tabourets de bar — mais c'est précisément ce côté sans prétention qui fait son charme. C'est d'abord un bar de quartier, et c'est pour ça que les locaux s'y entassent même en semaine.
La carte des boissons mérite le détour. On y trouve une sélection de whiskey irlandais et de poitín impressionnante, rarement vue ailleurs à Londres, accompagnée de punch cocktails et de classiques bien exécutés. Les espresso martinis ont leur petite réputation dans le coin, et les barmen sont du genre à vous proposer de refaire un verre si celui-ci ne vous convient pas. Ils servent aussi des ales de brasseries londoniennes, donc il y en a pour tous les goûts.
Les snacks sont simples mais efficaces — n'espérez pas un vrai dîner, mais de quoi accompagner le whisky. La musique live et les DJs renforcent l'ambiance rowdy les bons soirs. À deux pas de la station Bethnal Green, c'est le genre d'endroit où on entre pour un verre et on en reste cinq.