Gento Torigata’s journey in cocktail-land has so far taken him from Jigger & Pony in Singapore to London’s excellent Kwãnt, but now he’s doing his own thing in an intimate bar in a Shoreditch backstreet. Waltz is tucked behind a discreet black door, just a few minutes walk from busy Old Street.
When you walk in, you meet the 8-metre-long bar immediately, as this space is intimate, heavily inspired not just by Gento’s expertly realised Japanese mixology but also by Japanese style. It’s similar to the kind of spaces that give Tokyo’s bar scene so much variation and personality… only this one sits snug in the graffiti-colored streets of East London.
The Ambience and Drinks at Waltz Cocktail Bar
The space is moody, radiating a kind of low-lit glamour that makes it feel immediately chic. Gento Torigata and his small team of mixologists are turned out in their finest waistcoats, and there’s a soundtrack spinning from vinyl. If it’s full, you’ll likely need to stand to the side of the bar, where you’ll be handed the Standing Menu, a restricted menu of aperitif cocktails, made specifically for the wait.
Waltz promises a seasonal evolution, with new drinks appearing often. Recent additions have included a blend of sweet potato shochu, mirin, Toki whisky, and woodruff, and a summery concoction of Haku vodka, rye whiskey, and rose water shaken with watermelon sorbet. But there’s an evergreen section on the menu where you’ll find drinks like Waltz’s excellent Matcha Old Fashioned.
Waltz joins a growing list of fantastic East London cocktail bars, creating a vibe far from the pageantry and pomp of the West End. There’s Tayer & Elementary nearby on Old Street if you’re looking for one of the (official) world’s best bars. A short taxi ride away, arguably the best late-night bar in East London: A Bar with Shapes for a Name, is usually full until 4 am with East London creatives, serving fantastic cocktails in Bauhaus-themed interiors.
The majority of Waltz’s space is reserved for walk-ins, but groups of 4 can book a table here: waltzbar.uk.
If you’re looking for a more traditional London drinking experience, try our guide to London’s best pubs or explore beautiful places for afternoon tea.
