.Flip Dog: The Experimental Cocktail Bar Bringing Fiery Mixology to Old Street

In the ever-evolving nightlife landscape of East London, a striking new cocktail bar has arrived. Located  just off the Old Street roundabout. Flip Dog, located at 104 City Road, is already attracting curious drinkers, cocktail enthusiasts. Shoreditch nightlife regulars eager to experience one of the capital’s most unusual new bar concepts.

At first glance, Flip Dog might look like another sleek addition to the city’s thriving cocktail scene. However, step inside and you’ll quickly realise this bar is built around something far more theatrical — a centuries-old drinking ritual that literally involves fire.

A Historic Building Meets Modern Mixology

Set inside Imperial Hall, a striking Grade II-listed building on the Old Street roundabout, Flip Dog blends heritage architecture with contemporary bar design.

High ceilings, dramatic lighting and polished bar counters create a space that feels equal parts classic cocktail lounge and experimental laboratory. It’s the kind of venue that feels perfectly at home in the creative corridor linking Old Street, Shoreditch and Hoxton — an area that has become synonymous with London’s cutting-edge nightlife.

The location alone places Flip Dog in strong company. Within a short walk you’ll find some of East London’s most iconic venues, but Flip Dog offers something that few others do: a piece of forgotten cocktail history revived for a modern audience.

The “Flip Dog” Ritual: Fire, Steam and Caramelised Cocktails

The bar takes its name from a historic tool used in early American taverns known as a “loggerhead.”

This iron rod features a heated metal ball on the end which is dipped directly into a drink. When the hot metal meets the liquid, it hisses, steams and caramelises the sugars, creating a rich flavour and dramatic visual effect.

The technique dates back to the 19th century “Flip” cocktail, traditionally made with rum, ale and molasses. The hot iron would froth and caramelise the drink, transforming its texture and taste.

At Flip Dog, the ritual is revived with a modern twist. Bartenders carefully heat the metal tool before dipping it into specially designed cocktails, producing a short burst of steam and aroma. The result is a drink with subtle caramel notes and a theatrical flourish that turns cocktail service into performance.

The Vision Behind the Bar

The creative force behind Flip Dog is Artem Skapenko, an award-winning mixologist known for pioneering cocktail venues across Europe.

Skapenko previously co-founded celebrated bars including Loggerhead, Mad Bar’s House and Hram in Kyiv, all known for pushing the boundaries of cocktail culture.

With Flip Dog, he brings that experimental approach to London — combining historic techniques with modern craft bartending. The result is a venue that feels less like a typical bar and more like an immersive mixology experience.

What to Expect from the Drinks Menu

While the flaming loggerhead technique is the headline act, the menu at Flip Dog goes far beyond a single gimmick.

Expect a line-up of cocktails designed to highlight flavour transformation — drinks that evolve as they’re heated, infused or aerated. Rich spirits, dark sugars, spice and smoke are likely to feature heavily, making the menu particularly appealing during London’s colder months.

There’s also an emphasis on storytelling through drinks, with cocktails referencing historical recipes while introducing contemporary ingredients and presentation.

In other words, this is a bar built for people who love the craft of cocktails just as much as the drinking.

A New Destination for Old Street Nightlife

Old Street has long been a crossroads between the tech-driven energy of Silicon Roundabout and the creative nightlife of Shoreditch.

Flip Dog slots neatly into that ecosystem — offering a destination cocktail bar that appeals to both after-work crowds and late-night explorers.

For anyone already bar-hopping across East London, it’s the kind of venue that makes for an excellent first stop or late-evening discovery.

And with its visually dramatic cocktails and distinctive concept, it’s also almost guaranteed to become an Instagram favourite.

Why Flip Dog Shoreditch Is One to Watch

London’s bar scene is famously competitive, yet venues that introduce a genuine new concept tend to stand out quickly.

Flip Dog does exactly that by combining:

A Historic cocktail techniques rarely seen in modern bars

Theatre and performance behind the bar

A prime Old Street location in the heart of East London nightlife

Mixologist with an international reputation

For cocktail lovers and nightlife explorers alike, Flip Dog represents the kind of discovery that keeps London’s bar culture exciting.

Quick Facts

Flip Dog Shoreditch

 104 City Road, Old Street, London

 Experimental cocktail bar

 Signature drinks prepared with heated “loggerhead” technique

 Instagram: @flipdog.lnd

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