Setting up shop in the space formerly occupied by well-loved Haggerston hang-out Pamela, Ellie’s has given the Kingsland Road venue a lick of paint and some softer lighting but kept the ethos roughly the same: an easy-going neighbourhood drinking spot that’s big on vibes and low on unnecessary pretence. We went on a Wednesday evening, where groups of mates were sat under their glowing green sign, sipping on potent £8 martinis and munching on paper-wrapped takeaway from the next door chippy (there are plans, we’re told, to open a rotating kitchen residency in the near future). On a balmy summer’s night, their open front and pavement tables are a welcoming place to work your way through Ellie’s punchy cocktail list, from a pleasingly tart raspberry daiquiri to an always-welcome spicy marg. With rows of stools pulled up to the bar, an excellent playlist of alt throwbacks, and a ‘kitchen at the party’ feel to its small-but-cosy confines, you can easily imagine the weekends getting far looser.
Order this
On Wednesdays, their all-day happy hour deals include a £5 Guinness and £6 spritz. Ellie’s go-to, however, is their martini: we went dirty and gin-based, and felt pretty giddy after just one.
Time Out tip
Need something to soak up the cocktails? Dalston’s plethora of Turkish ocakbasi grills are just a short stumble up the road.