Dirty Martini Minories (Bar)

Top 10 things to know about Dirty Martini Minories bar:

1) Is London one of the most expensive cities in the world? Not if you know the right places to go, like the crowd-pleasing Dirty Martini bars championing innovative cocktails throughout town.

2) The Minories bar is arguably their best location: a short stroll for City workers near Fenchurch Street; a meander for tourists checking out the Tower of London and Tower Bridge; and within hipster distance of Aldgate’s trendy East London vibe.

3) £1.2 million was spent refurbishing the venue, and it definitely “feels” extravagant. With perfectly arranged brickwork, tall ceilings and hip wall murals that the Saatchi Gallery would happily accept, this is a bar everyone wants as their local.

4) Sharing really is caring in these budget-conscious times. With dreamy food platters at two for £20 during happy hour, this could be post-work dinner as well as drinks. Make sure you invite your friends along.

5) Juicy beef and cheese sliders; hearty fried buttermilk chicken; cosmopolitan options like Korean samosas and chicken korma skewers; you name it, they probably have it; and yes, all appear on their distinctively dirty platter.

6) Cocktail lovers know #LondonisOpen for business when you see Dirty Martini filled with joyous imbibers every cocktail hour. It does help when dirty dozen cocktails, bottles of wine and martinis are all half price.

7) Dirty Martini is as world-embracing as their clientele, thanks to cocktails such as the Passion Palmer; devilishly delightful Italian Solerno blood orange liqueur, Campari and exotic papaya juice mixed with Absolut Blue vodka.

8) Even though drinks are extremely affordable here, that doesn't mean you can't be a diva. Their Diva cocktail is made with Beefeater 24 gin, Disaronno Amaretto, prosecco before it’s sprayed with their fragrant “diva” perfume. It is a cocktail that tastes as enticing as it smells.

9) Not only does Dirty Martini prove London isn't expensive, but also that it’s one of the most customer-friendly cities in the world. Service is telepathically attentive: they disappear when you want to indulge in a private conversation but magically approach when you’re thirsty for your next cocktail.

10) The venue has just the right level of mood lighting where everyone looks like the next Hollywood superstar; so you might pick up more than just a bargain at Dirty Martini Minories....read more