Flipdog Bar Ignites Shoreditch with 1,200°C Poker Cocktail Innovation
Shoreditch has welcomed its hottest new bar, Flipdog, where cocktails are not just mixed but seared with a blazing 1,200°C poker. This experimental spot, perched discreetly on Old Street roundabout with only a small, unlit sign, operates on an exclusive, word-of-mouth basis. Backed by a top-tier team, including head bartender Igor Brovko from the world-renowned Tayer and Elementary, Flipdog promises a unique experience for discerning drinkers.
A Playful Approach to Experimental Mixology
Founded by award-winning Ukrainian bartender Artem Shapenko and industry consultant Alex Kostenyuk, Flipdog is a playground for innovative cocktail-making. Despite its high-concept approach, the bar maintains a lighthearted, fun-loving atmosphere. The signature hot poker, also known as a loggerhead or 'flipdog,' is plunged into drinks to create distinctive flavors and add theatrical flair.
Inspired by an obscure 18th-century North American inn technique, the searing process caramelizes liquors, producing a metallic, 'plasticky' taste that Brovko describes as intriguing. For a more appealing pitch, he highlights the 'Morning Platform' cocktail, a warm blend of bourbon, Disaronno, sherry, and coffee. "It should evoke the early morning vibe of waiting on a Eurostar platform to Paris, perhaps with a takeaway coffee and a cigarette," Brovko explains, making it a perfect and unique nightcap.
Menu Highlights and Affordable Indulgence
If the St Pancras station-inspired flavor isn't your style, Flipdog offers plenty of non-seared options. A standout is the Necta 2, a sweet and foamy concoction made with rum, soka, vermouth, and a special nectarine eau de vie, served in an elegant tortoise shell coupe. This drink is complex yet highly drinkable. With cocktails priced between £9 and £11, indulging in a tipsy evening is surprisingly affordable.
The bar also features a selection of small plates, though they're more accurately described as snacks, with each serving sized for one person. Recommendations include the popcorn chicken and octopus skewers, perfect for pairing with your drink.
A Two-Level Maximalist Urban Grotto
Flipdog is split into two distinct levels, each with its own menu. Upstairs offers a casual, drop-in counter space that will host popups this summer. The area is bathed in a spacey glow from silver, foiled wallpaper that invites touch. For a more settled experience, head downstairs to a maximalist urban grotto featuring velvet booths, perforated metal tables, and chaotic wallpaper.
Designed by Ukrainian muralist Waone Interesni Kazki, the walls are adorned with eyeballs, accordions, and repeated portraits of a buzzcutted man's head, which unintentionally resembles Brovko. This quirky, immersive environment enhances the spectacle of watching cocktails being seared with the iron poker, creating a wonderfully weird atmosphere.
