Parasol, Dalston
An underground cocktail bar where 1980s New York meets East London.
May 2026
I visited Parasol on a Friday night, when Dalston’s Kingsland Road-Stoke Newington Road intersection was just about to start up for the night. It was just after 8:00 pm, but walking down Kingsland Road, you’d think it was much later. Crowds of East London’s chicest residents were already making their descent onto the scene – weaving from bar to restaurant to bar.
If you ever think you’re cool, you’ll be humbled in Kingsland Road.
But, don’t let that put you off visiting – there’s so much more to Dalston than well-dressed people. Particularly, a whole host of top-notch cocktail bars.
Parasol, Dalston
It’s unlikely you’ll stumble across Parasol. It’s one of those places you have to be in the know to know about. Basement bar, with dark grey exterior and a super small entryway. It looks like the entrance to the flats above it (and at some point it probably was). The only way to spot it is an umbrella icon above the door.
Head downstairs and through the storm curtain, and what you’d initially expect to be a tiny, dimly lit space seems to instead go on forever. Bar on the right – back-lit, chic and simple – then plenty of seating directly in front of it, with booth seating around the outside. I found myself in one of the booths which overlooks the main bar area. Ideal for people watching, going incognito, or a romantic date night. At the end of the room, there was a whole area for functions – separate from the main area, but not in a way that feels totally isolated, or as if you’re in a completely different venue.
Parasol manages to get the balance between cocktail bar and easy dive bar just right. ‘80s New York was before my time, but if I had to guess what it was like, I think Parasol has captured a sense of it.
Drinks at Parasol
Cocktails at Parasol sit around the £10 mark, which feels increasingly rare for London – especially for drinks this well executed. The menu sits somewhere between playful serves and classic cocktails, and each drink is backed by quality spirits, which they list on the menu. That’s something that I always appreciate, knowing exactly which brand of spirit is my drink – it makes all the difference.
On the night I visited, Parasol had a special menu in collaboration with Grey Goose, including a £9 Grey Goose Martini and a £7 Vesper Martini (unheard of in London). I started with the East 8 Hold Up, a mix of Grey Goose Vodka, Aperol, Passion Fruit, Pineapple and Lime – light, easy-drinking and a refreshing start before I browsed through their signature menu.
From their main menu, highlights included Disco Biscuits, made with Woven Scotch whisky, late harvest Riesling and biscuit tea soda, alongside the Korean Jesus, which combined tequila, mezcal, plum soju, gochujang and sesame into something savoury, smoky and slightly spicy.
For something a little sweeter, the Kinder Bueno (Few Bourbon, Hazelnut, Cacao Blanc, Clarified Milk) is a no-brainer. It leans into dessert-cocktail territory, but surprisingly, comes in the form of entirely clear liquid with a white chocolate button on top.
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Another favourite was Air Mail – a mix of aged rum, brioche, honey and Champagne. Rum and Champagne would never be a natural pairing in my brain, but they worked perfectly together in this – my favourite of the night.
What stood out most was how naturally wine threaded its way through the cocktail menu at Parasol. Beyond having a solid wine list for a cocktail bar, Parasol also incorporates ingredients like Late Harvest Riesling, Sauternes and Champagne into several of its signature drinks – a welcome surprise.
Why Parasol works
Beyond the cocktails themselves, what makes Parasol stand out is how easy it is to spend an entire evening there. It has the energy of a late-night cocktail bar, without the air of exclusivity that often comes with London’s cocktail scene – the kind of place you stop into for one martini and accidentally stay until closing.
Dalston has no shortage of excellent cocktail bars, but many now come with central-London prices attached. What Parasol does so well is sit somewhere in the middle of cocktail bar and pub – quality cocktails, genuinely good value, and an easy-going atmosphere. In London, that’s surprisingly rare.
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