Happiness Forgets

Too loud, we couldn’t hear each other. considering what you get, the cocktails are overpriced (9 pounds). Too much ice. Yummy but not worth the price. The staff was polite and helpful. Overall, I don’t think I will be coming back.

This place, not sure about all of the hype! It’s a nice bar, lots of nice alcohols, but the cocktails weren’t quite up to the classics. I ordered a Freemason. It was a sweeter take on a Martinez. However I think a Martinez was better, maybe just should have ordered that!
Extra star for atmosphere, as its chilled and without blasting music. No cover charges for shaky entertainment (you know who you are) or over the top cocktails. £9 was the most expensive one. Probably one of the top cocktail bars in London, although I have to say I understand why there are classic cocktails– they are the ones that stick over time!

Friendly staff
Tasty drinks
Relaxed atmosphere

This place had a lot of promise and I went there with a group of friends purely because of the good reviews.
As we went down into the basement bar, we were greeted by really friendly bar staff who seated us straight away. The place has an awesome, intimate, cosy, vintage feel to it with a great array of songs playing in the background so, I had high hopes. And then we ordered the cocktails…
The four of us ordered 8 cocktails, 6 of which were different, and only TWO of them were decent. As a cocktail lover, I know my cocktails and considering its location, bar staff who «looked» like they knew what they were doing and £9 cocktails, the cocktails were a flop. They really skimped out on the ingredients and even simple cocktails like a caipirinha and old fashioned were screwed up.
So, if you’re looking for an intimate, friendly place to cosy up to someone, this is great. If you’re looking to actually enjoy a good, well-​made cocktail, I would suggest going elsewhere…

It’s taken me a long time to write this review, because it took months for the stench of liquor (what I smelled like the morning after) to leave my memory. It is pretty much the best cocktail bar I’ve been to in London and, dear strangers, we did the whole Hoxton/​Shoreditch/​hipster cocktail thing a LOT. Small, a little grungy, very funny, wildly romantic, heavy beards, suspenders in tow. If you can stomach this modern day alternative stereotype, the drinks will blow you away (and blow a hole in your wallet… but it’s worth it). We sat at the bar for a good 2 hours. Time flew and the atmosphere was downright convivial. It was about conversation and not about pick-​up lines. It’s definitely a bar to go with people you know. Definitely check it out the next time you’re in London. It might be a struggle to stumble past the skinny-jean’ed out boys and barely-​dressed goth girls, but the potions will knock your socks off. And now, months later, Happiness certainly DOES NOT forget.

Happiness is hands down my favourite bar in London. Everything about it feels natural and not try-​hard. The staff are so friendly and extremely knowledgeable. They will happily go off-​menu to accommodate requests, and will take you on a boozy journey through educated suggestions if that is more your thing.
The atmosphere is relaxed, intimate and cosy. It would make a brilliant date night, or a perfect place catch up with friends. The music is never too loud that you struggle to have a conversation with the people you’re with, and the sitting only policy means you aren’t getting shoved out of the way by other customers and allows the table service to work effortlessly.
I have never ever had a bad night here. To fully get the most from your experience, I would sit at the bar. Start with a Clover Club. End with an Old Fashioned. Try everything else in between. A true gem.

Bueno bonito y barato, un bar sin pretensiones con excelente cócteles con una muy linda cristalería. Todos a un precio razonable nueve libras. Hay lugar para unas 40 personas sentadas. Estoy escondido en un sótano así que a veces es difícil de encontrar no se preocupen arriba hay una cafetería baja la escalera y te encontrás con el bar de tus sueños.
Yo lo recomiendo muchísimo de comer solamente hay aceitunas y frutos secos así que convendría ir con la panza llena.
Vengan este bar no se van arrepentir.

Wouldn’t have been able to find this tucked-​away little bar if it weren’t for Unilocal!They play chill music and they have a great cocktail menu. If you sit down at one of the tables, they give you a glass of water and keep refilling it so that you can truly enjoy your drink without chugging it because you’re thirsty from all the great conversation you’re probably having.
My favorite drink was Tokyo Collins — so lemony and delicious!

I couldn’t believe how busy this place was on a Sunday, but I can understand why as the cocktails we had were excellent. Another in the long line of not where you’d expect them to be and probably down some stairs Hoxton/​Shoreditch venues. Top quality drinks, highly recommended!

Happiness Forgets is a great little cocktail bar hidden away under Ruby In Hoxton Square. It’s actually pretty hard to find, and despite walking past a few times I would have had no idea it was there were it not for Unilocal.The bar is very small and dark, so you might be turned away if it’s too busy. Jazz music plays throughout the bar, alongside the clink of people enjoying cocktails. Speaking of which, the cocktails are excellent, I had a Tokyo Collins (a mixture of Gin, Yuzu Sake, and soda) which was fantastic, and didn’t take too long to arrive either. The cocktails are £9 each, which isn’t cheap, but is about average in my experience.
Overall It’s a great little place and should definitely be checked out!

Unilocal slightly let us down this bank holiday Monday. Having been to the Sky Garden we wanted to head East and try two cocktail bars I’ve been itching to visit for eons-​Callooh Callay and Nola in Shorditch. Both were shown as «open» on the Unilocal app but when we got a taxi there, it was clear that Callooh was firmly closed. As to Nola-​I think that was closed but despite standing on the very spot where Gmaps and the Unilocal App told me that place was we couldn’t find it-​if anyone knows whether Nola exists do let me know!
Anyway, I then used «nearby» on Unilocal and it came up trumps with Happiness Forgets. It was a short walk from Rivington Street to Hoxton Sq. Alex S had reviewed the place and told us it was underneath Ruby’s café. Honestly, I would never have known where it was without that. We entered and I noticed something immediately– it is DARK. I don’t mean the lighting is subdued-​no, think the very core of a black hole in space-​that sort of dark. I almost burned up the cocktail list by holding a tea light too close to it! That’s not a complaint though and I bookmarked the place mentally as the number one venue for a blind date-​I need all the lack of lighting I can get.
The place is quite small, with a bar on one side and a few tables and chairs (mismatched) around. Music plays discreetly and is quite interesting to listen to-​sort of fusion jazz. Now to the cocktails-​they didn’t disappoint. The list is small and there are no standard Mojitos and what not here. Each cocktail is a carefully constructed unique mix (or so it seemed to me). I love old fashioned’s so I chose a «smith & wesson» which came with single malt and lots of other things (see photo), some of which I hadn’t heard of. it was wonderful-​smoky, sour and sweet all at the same time. Someone else had a Tokyo Collins– a long drink with aged sake and fresh grapefruit juice-​really tart and refreshing. Another had one that I can’t recall the name of but is easily spotted as it has ginger as an ingredient. It was described by the waitress as «quite spicy». I had a taste and it blew me away-​it was indeed gingery but not so it overwhelmed the other things. All the cocktails seem to include «top shelf» ingredients which is good. They come in at £9 a pop which is not cheap but about median for cocktails. To me they were some of the best I’ve had.

I was in London for a total of four days. Two of those days were spent imbibing at Happiness Forgets.
After being denied access to some of the more popular cocktail destinations (Experimental Cocktail Club, Nightjar), Happiness Forgets was a breath of fresh air. Not overly stuffy, easy to get into, and nice tasting drinks. What more can you ask for?
It’s a subterranean haunt so it’s pretty dark. If you’re looking to enjoy some of the longer summer days, it might not be the best bet.

This place was an unexpected gem in Shoreditch. It came recommended by a bartender at Byron around the corner when we stopped for dinner. We had a hard time finding it, as it had the address 8 – 9, but it’s actually down stairs (find the sign that says happiness and it will lead you here) underneath Rubys. Me and my bestie both got the Tokyo Gin cocktail, which had gin, yuzu, grapefruit, and ended with a bubbly finish. It was so refreshing.

Lovely spot for a cocktail, down an unassuming set of stairs on the west side of Hoxton Square. You see a lot of dates here, as the atmosphere is more intimate but still buzzy. Dim lighting, good but not extensive cocktail list (that can be a minus or a plus) and the drinks are ace. Yes they’re expensive but you’re paying for atmosphere and quality.
I would recommend booking, or walking in in the early evening. The hosts are quite friendly and will tell you wait time and all that. Smaller parties will usually get seats faster.

Hoxton est le coin à la mode pour sortir. Aussi quand j’ai repéré sur Unilocal Hapiness Forgets, je me suis dis qu’il fallait absolument y faire un tour…
En effet, le bar n’est pas simple à trouver: il faut s’approcher du ruby’s et faire attention au sous-sol…Mais une fois chose faite, un accueil jovial vous attend à l’entrée ainsi qu’une atmosphère festive.
Après, j’avoue avoir été un peu déçue: je n’ai pas vu le côté jazz de l’endroit (les lumières tamisées, ça suffit pas…) Et le bar en lui même n’a rien de spécial côté décor.
Néanmoins, les cocktails sont bons — mon alter ego à la liqueur de sureau avait du panache — et pas spécialement plus chers qu’à Paris, tous à £9 (soit environ 12 €).
Un bon bar du côté d’Hoxton square, somme toute.

Happiness Forgets is a handy little cocktail bar should you be in the area. The top end of the price spectrum you expect a lot and in many ways it delivers. The cocktails are tasty and well presented and just the right end of ‘strong’. The bar staff are generally well mannered and though our waitress was a little inhospitable, we were all waved goodbye by the bar staff on our way out. Though I’d favour Calloo Callalay over HF, I’d happily come back!

I like the atmosphere in the low key basement space. The staff are attentive and the bartenders really know their stuff and have enthusiasm to match.
Proper cocktails just well made. Unpretentious too.
It can be crowded but like to go at off peak times.
One of a few ‘go to’ cocktail bars in my book.

I had an excellent Halloween experience in London at Happiness Forgets. Thank goodness for the map feature in the Unilocal App, because I had trouble finding this basement bar. I showed up early and found a spot at the bar. The bartenders were having a great night behind the bar and were very friendly. They were on top of their game and made every classic cocktail I could throw at them. The perfect storm was the best version of a dark & stormy that I have ever had. Of all the bars I went to while in London, Happiness Forgets was the one that felt like I would frequent if I lived in London. They have a great thing going here!

Forgeddaboudit!
I’m a chancer, I’m a prancer, I’m a triangle toast, in soft-​egg, poking lancer.
I had formerly been invited to drinks, a Pubby place, full of suits with their ties round their heads watching football on the other side of the square. Drinking Beefeater gin and tonics in plastic cups outside among my fúmer friends, I thought, come on people we don’t need to live like this. Follow me.
I hadn’t made a reservation, but risked frogmarching my clan across to the other side, to Happiness Forgets, where on previous occasions apart from having my drink poured down me by the server before he’d almost reached my table, I had had lovely times. It was one of my friends birthdays. I smiled sweetly and explained to D Maitre that we couldn’t possibly drink mainstay bottom shelf liquor on such a salubrious occasion across the road, when there was a plethora of fancy stuff in the darkness here we wanted a part of.
A couple left after short time of us loitering politely and half a dozen of us clambered cozily around a padded bench meant as a table for two. We settled in with as I’d promised them, much more better drinks.
I even asked if they could make something ridiculously fabulous, with some sort of pyrotechnic in it for the birthday boy and the bar tender happily obliged.
A waitress elegantly delivered the fascinating, sparkling wonder of a drink, something lethal in a hollowed out pineapple alight with gun powder sparks spraying joyfully around the table whilst a group of friends tunefully wished another friend Happy Birthday.
«Haaappy Buurrrth…»
We began as it glowingly arrived illuminating our corner, when said waitress turned on her heels and clipped to us.
«Please don’t sing!»
I flicked my eyes back to her and sang with clenched teeth…
«DAAAAIIII TOOO YOOOUUUAAAA… HAAAAAAPPPPEEEEE BUUUURRRRRTHDAAAAIIIIII TOO YAAAUAUUOOOOO…»
I/​we continued, me spitting out vitriol with each word almost enough to extinguish the flames before B-​Boy got to make his wish.
Mannn! Happiness Forgets how to have fun!
Next time I’m performing as the Pied Piper of party time, I shall be siphoning my masses to somewhere else that does know how to have fun.
Happiness Forgets! Then you go and spoil it all by saying something stupid…

I am slowly coming to realisation that Shoreditch is just a place of bad service.
I booked a table for a Friday night for 3 people. When arrived (on time) we were given a tiny table that could fit 2 people who are keen to cozy up to each other. Looking at a couple sitting opposite us which clearly had a table for 4 people I asked a waitress to change the tables explaining that in no way our table was designed to fit 3 people at a time. I hate being mean but after she told me that it is Friday night and our table can normally fit 4 people (on top of one another?!) — I insisted. With a sour face she went to the couple and asked them to swap tables.
Cocktails were… standard. Nothing really stood out.
Another thing — the place really seemed to attract couples on a date. If you’re after that sort of thing — by all means go. The place can be seen as nice & cosy if I wasn’t that annoyed at poor service at the beginning I would probably appreciate that more.
Kudos to one of the waiters who actually realised we were there and was very nice & friendly and prompt in bringing our orders.

Was in London for the 1^st time and what does a Unilocaler from across the pond do, set up a UYE to meet some Unilocalers from London (Hi Smaïn & Yinnie!!), so that’s exactly what I did, after some research and awesome help from Alex S, I picked Happiness Forgets. So the place picked, time & date set next thing to do was to show up!
Now before I left for London I did email Happiness Forgets to see if I could get a reservation, but sadly I could not, they only make reservations for ½ of the bar and were booked on the night in question but did tell me for the other half of the bar it was 1^st come 1^st serve if I wanted to take my chances, I felt as if things were in my favor so I went for it :)
I arrived around 6pm and got a table for 6, but was told by the server I could only have the table till 7 since they reserved it out to someone else. Oh ok, that’s fine. Happiness Forgets is a cute little bar that is downstairs from the main street, it is dimly lit but gives it a more intimate feeling, I really liked the vibe of the place.
After checking out the menu I went with the Cherry Jam, I don’t recall what all was in it, but it was a pretty looking cocktail and tasted great too! I though the cherry garish was a maraschino cherry (on the sweet side) so when I ate it I was shocked to find out my cherry had been drinking a bit, that drunkin cherry haha
7pm came and tabs were paid up, but at this point the only one concerned about leaving the table on time was me, the server never once gave me the «your time is up» look & never made me feel rushed. If back in the area I wouldn’t mind stopping by and trying another unique cocktail.

I found happiness in a basement, which I haven’t forgotten despite all the yummy cocktails I’ve ingested.
My fiancée and I paid a visit twice and really enjoyed the good service and friendly atmosphere. The girls from HF even recognized us the second time and were superfriendly as well.
Somehow, with each visit we were lucky to find table for two, with comfortable chairs. HF has a nice interieur and a big bar. The drinks I Ioved were The Baptiste and Tokyo Collins.
Prices are quite low compared to other cocktail bars, and the excellent service provided by the ladies of HF makes it worth every penny. I love it and on our next trip to London we will definitely visit this place again! If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands: Clap! Clap!

Et un bar à cocktail un !
Découvert grâce à Alex S, le CM de Londres et j’ai envie de dire: Merci du bon plan ! Alors oui, je dois avouer que le bar est difficile à trouver ! On a fait 2 fois le tour de Hoxton Square avant de se rendre compte que le bar était en sous sol. Si vous voyez le restaurant Bill’s pas loin, c’est que vous y êtes presque.
Une fois arrivée, ce qui m’a beaucoup plu, c’est l’atmosphère jazzy qui règne dans ces lieux. D’ailleurs, merci à la serveuse de nous avoir trouvé aussi vite 2 places alors que le bar était full. Une fois assis, on nous apporte immédiatement un verre d’eau concombrée (vous aurez compris hein), petite attention qui nous change de certains bars en France où on nous regarde comme un OBNI (Objet Buvant Non Identifié) quand on demande un verre d’eau en soirée. Ce sera un Perfect Storm pour moi et un verre de vin rouge pour l’Homme. Le vin était bon mais jeune et pour mon cocktail, bon… mais un peu trop chargé en gingembre, du coup impossible de discerner les autres saveurs, même celle du rhum. Mais bon, no matter, on est bien installé, l’ambiance est feutrée, la musique jazzy à souhait et les briques apparentes apportent un charme fou à ce bar. Que dire de plus? Ah si ! Les prix sont élevés: dans les 10 £ en moyenne le cocktail et quand vous faîte la conversion en €, ça fait outch !
Bön à savoir: Possibilité de grignotter des olives ou un assortiment de cahouettes/​noix, payants aussi.