Three Sheets Dalston

"Three Sheets’ intimate space is one of east London’s best spots for a cocktail. The Dalston bar is a must-book location given its size—unless, like us, you have a penchant for 5pm cocktails—but it’s very much worth the little bit of pre-planning. The changing seasonal drinks, like a foraged nettle-infused martini, all guarantee a delicious twist. But off-menu classics are done excellently too—and include one of our favourite martinis in London. There are a whole load of non-alcoholic drinks available if you ask as well. The Soho location is just as excellent." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, daisy meager

"Three Sheets’ on-menu earth martini, with vodka and a slice of beetroot, is super refreshing but the off-menu, classic gin martini is even better. It’s minimalist, chilled, and pared-back, much like the small Dalston bar. Order with a twist, the lemon peel oil pooling on the surface, for a confidently citrussy drink. Or make it dirty at their Soho location, with picpoul, a whisper of salt, and three olives. Our notes read ‘like iced water, goes down quickly, ordering a second is essential’. There’s nothing more written after that…" - jake missing, daisy meager

"If you’re out in Dalston looking to drink but, specifically, looking to drink good cocktails then Three Sheets is where you should be heading. It’s a tiny-pardon-me-type space that does coffee and sometimes sandwiches in the day, before moving onto the serious stuff in the evening. The menu ranges from drinks in the one, two, or three sheets (to the wind) variety and features old favourites with new twists, like the earth martini with beetroot. FYI you’ll want book ahead as not only is it box-sized, but it also gets shoulder-bumpingly busy." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing

"This small, atmospheric neighbourhood bar clocked in at #29 on the 2019 50 Best Bars’ list. This is also the best place in London to get a dry gin martini, with a twist. It is pure, glorious nectar — tip: don’t go with a friend who is prone to being late, as it’s too easy to down two, fast, and be pissed before they arrive. On their official list is an excellent earth martini, earthy flavours of beetroot, but a clean finish; the French martini is joyful, served pre-made from a wine bottle!" - Anna Sulan Masing

"Max and Noel Venning have expanded operations, most notably in partnership with wine bar and shop Top Cuvée, but their debut bar remains the essential visit. A weekly changing menu lists nine cocktails, split into threes. Three sheets, specifically. The flagship order is the “French 75,” packing verjus for acidity and moscato for sweetness into a carbonated, batched iteration of the classic cocktail, served tableside from a champagne bottle. Here, it’s more a case of iterating classics than redrawing blueprints, but that doesn’t make the serves any less compelling." - Emma Hughes, Anna Sulan Masing, Richard Godwin