Welcome back to London Baby! I apologise for the long break – it wasn’t really planned, but summer was busy!  Lot’s and lot’s of great places waiting to be introduced via a blog post. Today’s has been on the list for long- and it continues where i ended in the last post – cocktails! This time not outside (having said that, Midnight Apothecary has moved inside for the winter now!) but in a great little cocktail bar.

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The Gibson has been probably one of the best secret tips of Old Street. Opened only last November, it is at 44 Old Street (located West of the Roundabout so out of the main Shoreditch Party Zone) between Goswell Road and Golden Lane (opposite Look Mum No Hands). Owner Marian Beke is no stranger in the London Bar world and is considered one of the best bartenders in the world- having previously been Chef de Bar at the Night Jar near Old Street (which has ranked in the Top 3 Cocktail bars of the world 2011-2015). With The Gibson, he has opened his own place aiming to be a small neighbourhood place where people have a good time, leave happy, and come back.

This has been more than achieved. Its a small space (~45 people), turned from an extremely run-down corner bar into a speakeasy, sending the patrons on a time travel from  Edwardian London to the 1920s and beyond through an extensive menu of currently 48 cocktails (see the menu here) . The Signature Cocktail is The Gibson (no surprises here!) – A Martini with Tanqueray Gin, Mancino Secco and Pickled Onion. As you see below, all of the cocktails are prepared to a stunning masterpiece and they taste absolutely fantastic! See below a selection of the drinks i had (and you can see why I had no time to post here!!)

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Sitting at the bar, you can see why – the bar is beautifully stocked with not only alcohol, but dozens of little botlles of bitter, spices, garnishes, glasses in all shapes and forms. Seeing Marian and his team at work is absolutely awe inspiring. The service is absolutely great as well. Even at busy times, Sarah, Francesco and Simone are at hand to recommend a cocktail to your taste, bring free pickles and make sure you are absolutely happy and content at all times – not to be taken for granted these days! Last but not least, there is live piano music on Fridays and Saturdays from 9-11pm.

In short, go and get your tastebuds tinkled and spend a cozy night at the Gibson – the secret times are going to be over very very soon, because ……(drumroll….) The Gibson has been placed at Nr. 6 of the 50 best cocktail bars in the World last week during the London Cocktail Week …

The Gibson is open Monday – Saturday from 5pm, closing at 1am during the week and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.