Head to Medicine for a no nonsense night where the drinks are reasonable and the crowd is friendly. It’s Shoreditch, but without the weird haircuts and skinny jeans that make you doubt the sartorial wisdom of London’s “trendy” quarter. Musically things are fairly mainstream on the ground floor and a little more edgy downstairs where regular DJ nights are hosted. The strangely complementary 70s mix of leather and big-print blood-red wallpaper gives a warm, cosy feeling that fits the atmosphere well. The sister site on Upper Street is smaller but no less appealing.
89 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3HX. Tel: 020 7739 5173. Web: www.medicinebar.net