The Natural Philosopher in Tower Hamlets

My favourite cocktail bar in London

Best cocktails ever (and i don't like alcohol)! Perfect for couples.

Very lovely place, balanced cocktails and amazing choice of the pickleback

First time there was so memorable. Josh is so knowledgeable about his craft. If you're looking for a unique atmosphere and a great time, this is your place. It's even better when there are some Canadians there 😉 Josh... We love you. Ps... Try the pickle backs... The whole list, all of them. They're delicious

We came here for our anniversary and had such a good time we stayed longer than planned…and maybe one too many picklebacks (which are a must have!) The drinks were great quality and the service felt like it was the extra mile whilst also giving the feeling you were in a cosy living room somewhere. Fully recommend this place and will try come back in the future!

Had a quick drink here before another event. Amazing cocktails and lovely setting. Service was by far the highlight- was super knowledgeable and very helpful but not intrusive- just right! And best of all I had dropped my wallet near the table and one of the guys ran after to hand it back- very much appreciated, thank you!

Drinks and service both great - would definitely go back!

Drinks were grey, service was great. Would really recommend to anyone into good alcohol and cosy vibes

An amazing venue and incredible staff! Had the most amazing time with my wife. Very chic with the menu and tasteful cocktails - kimchi brine is fantastic, one to order if its on the menu!

We accidentally had our 5 year engagement party there. It's a very unassuming bar where the cocktails and the atmosphere makes you want to stay. Couldn't recommend it enough.

Incredible service and drinks with an incredibly thought out menu. Decor is phenomenal and the music is always on point.

Loved it here, the cocktails were so good and Josh the owner was lovely!

Fantastic friendly and knowledgeable staff. Amazing cocktails, fantastic ambience, a wonderful experience all round. Dog friendly as well which is fantastic for London!

Lovely little speakeasy pub, lovely bartender and fantastic cocktails

Lovely cocktails, casual and welcoming people and place. Very comfy, inviting decor, a delicious happy hour to enjoy pre dinner, we had the Palomas and some of the signature cocktails which were fantastic. We could have spent more time there but had to leave for dinner and get back home for the dog. We hope to come back soon when in the area.

Lovely cocktails, exceptional service and friendly staff, groovy atmosphere.

josh was lovely and the cocktails were so tasty

It looks cooler in photos but it’s a definitely a good shout if you want cheaper cocktails with the happy hour options.

Fantastic bar - really well balanced cocktails, a wide but thoughtfully curated selection of drinks and the kind of unassuming but considerate service that keeps you lingering over a cocktail for a little longer just to enjoy the atmosphere.

A beautifully created menu of cocktails (including a favourite of mine - a house selection of picklebacks). Regular Happy Hours. Cosy seating (great for dates) and attentive service. Order food from Yard Sale Pizza for delivery to your table. This bar is a gem!

We had delicious cocktails after a night out and loved it here!

10/10 so demure, slay house down boots I will go here again bring all my friends and tip 30% love the owner he was the most slay ever support queer venues!!!

10/10 would recommend to anyone. They’re truly knowledgeable about their cocktails and they forage for their own ingredients. We wish we lived in the area so we could frequent regularly. Do not sleep on this place if you love fun cocktails. They change cocktails regularly and they really put their heart into each drink.

lovely bar! looks fantastic- playful decor. bar staff are knowledgeable and attentive. brilliant seasonal drinks, made with locally foraged ingredients

Such an interesting cocktail menu, touting locally foraged ingredients. Josh, the owner and mixologist, is very welcoming and more than happy to help with menu suggestions.

A hidden gem of East London! Small bar with a changing cocktail menu and picklebacks to die for - you have to try the soju & kimchi one! A big menu with a lot of original ingredients and flavor combinations. Josh, the owner, is very helpful and attentive and the atmosphere of the bar is lovely overall: dim lighting/good music. Perfect for a friends catch up or a date.

This is my favourite cocktail bar in the area!

I'm not really into cocktails but would absolutely recommend! Genuine flavour and chill mood

The cocktails were decent, but the room was uncomfortably warm and stuffy. Also the music wasn't in keeping with the theme, ambience and decor of the bar.

Was amazing, customer service was 🔥

Super staff, service and drinks! Xz

Very good bar! Super good cocktail, very pretty decor I can only recommend 😊

The bar itself is absolutely gorgeous. Very cozy and unique. The drinks though are very average. I would expect something more sophisticated than a basic 3 ingredient mixture poured on ice for the price they charge.

This is a delayed review but this bar is amazing and I cannot recommend it enough! I took two friends here as the ingredients and atmosphere really appealed to me as a forager, it was recommended to me as somewhere someone had seen in passing and wow! Immediately this place has skyrocketed to a firm favourite, the bartender was so lovely and the drinks were phenomenal. It turned out be National Martini day when we went and it did not disappoint! Needless to say I am becoming a regular and know exactly what my first drink order will be.

Best bar I have ever been to, awesome atmosphere, some of the best cocktails I have ever had and the bartender was brilliant, very chatty and friendly. Spent 15 minutes talking to the lovely bar tender, recommended other bars to go to where I live and talked to us about how to describe the cocktail you want. Will go back again the first chance I have, brilliant experience

Very cozy, eclectic vibes. Ingredients being locally sourced mean you’ll have a great selection of unique flavors! True London!

A lively and welcoming little bar. The menu has been curated with love and care, with each drink annotated with a description of its lesser-known ingredient. The quality of the drinks matches this devoted approach. Everything we tried was perfectly balanced, every component selected to play its part. No two drinks were the same, all were excellent. The focus on foraged ingredients and sustainability sets the Natural Philosopher apart from others. The well delivered concept is combined with attentive, friendly and knowledgable service to make this venue a must-visit on any list of London cocktail bars.

My partner and I have been meaning to go to The Natural Philosopher for a very long time, and finally got the opportunity. The sustainable ethos was a big draw, but the quality of the drinks outshone even that. Service was impeccable, the menu was full of interesting information about produce and nature, and the location is packed with fun things to look at. Thank you for your hospitality!

This cocktail bar is amazing! Incredible options on the menu with really cool and unique twists. The staff are super lovely and accommodating and will make anything your heart desires. I don’t drink and the bartender made me an out of this world spicy margarita mocktail which I will be back to order 100 of! My partner loved the mezcal pickle back shot and old fashioned. Thank you ❤️

Been on my list to try for a while - Friend and I are both non-drinkers who wanted to meet up in the evening, and this place was fantastic for it. The mocktails were really tasty, and we both liked how instead of asking for a specific drink, you give the barman adjectives to work with!

Josh is a great host. I have to say that few places in London one would get such an amazing service. The Jabuticaba cocktail is really meaninful to me as I grew up around growers of the fruit. I had never thought, i would ever see this fruit in London. What a rare find and what a great drink.

I had an unforgettable experience at The Natural Philosopher in London! I tried the “Four O’Clock Fox,” and my friend had the “Help The Kelp.” Both cocktails were incredible, showcasing diverse flavors and plants from around the UK. Josh, the owner and cocktail extraordinaire, is truly talented. Highly recommend this gem for anyone looking for unique and delicious cocktails! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We stopped by after dinner at Bistrotheque. Met the owner, a lovey cozy place that’s pub like in intimacy but far more soothing in volume, comfort, and a sense of ease. Cocktails were very inventive and really hit the mark. Ingredients are foraged in east London and I even had a tequila pickle back. Great spot!

Had a night cap after dinner around the area, the server was very patient in helping us to pick our drinks. We did enjoyed the experience but favours are innovative and not what we re used to

Fantastic menu of unique twists and classics, and the pickle backs are a must! Great knowledge and friendly service!

Great selection of drinks, the staff were very friendly and happy to offer suggestions.

It's a fantastic hidden gem. Well worth a visit, the perfect date spot in my opinion. Drinks are perfectly balanced, and the decor is fire.

An absolute gem! Incredible drinks and Josh is a legend! Thank you for lovely drinks and vibes.

Creative and delicious drinks in a great setting - to suit anyone from the geekiest bar geek to your hot date. Independent, innovative, interesting. Go and enjoy!

Entering the Natural Philosopher is like descending into a cosy, clandestine drinking den. A quirkily decorated spot with a chill and buzzy atmosphere. The cocktails from their new foraged menu were unique and delicious. Service was brilliant and we all did pickleback shots with the owner and bar tender. Will be back for sure.

Genuinely never tasted anything so good when it comes to drinks. Lovely atmosphere, service, and vibe too!

What a hidden gem 💎 absolutely loved visiting! You MUST try a pickleback!

A quirky bar but beautifully strong cocktails - definitely worth a visit 🍸🍹

Sorin is great behind the bar, amazing service and knowledg.

Genuine, attentive service. Exceptional cocktails. Warm atmosphere.

We went with a group of friends to the Natural Philosopher last night for my partners 30th birthday and we had the best night. Josh and Sorin are so kind and knowledgeable and gave us the best experience and definitely a night to remember! The picklebacks are incredible, the cocktails are delicious! Thank you so much guys 🫶🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great drinks, unique bar great hosts.

The cocktails are amazing and the staff is very knowledgeable about the drinks! Service was great and cocktails had a perfect amount of alcohol. It’s a very rare find ✨ Also I love that the foam on some cocktails were explicitly written that it’s vegan foam!

Amazing cocktails, reasonable price for London cocktails but definitely worth making the most of the happy hour. Such a discreet, quirky setting. Perfect for a date night or a group setting!

Very cute cocktail bar with some amazing drinks. Potentially the best cocktail in Bethnal Green. Staff are friendly and the vibe is great. The only thing is they used to have the terrain menu which was inspired by foraging in different terrains in the UK which was the most inspired and incredible cocktail menu ever - the new menu is slightly shorter and I miss the old one! Still fantastically made drinks in a gorgeous spot all the same!

The best quality cocktails - I mean these guys don’t mess around and are always changing the menu based on the season. Beautiful atmosphere and decor, and the staff, Josh and Sorin are a vibe - providing amazing service. Absolutely love this place and it’s a hidden gem. Must visit.

Really great place, very quirky and fun and amazing drinks!

It's cute, it's intimate and the drinks are stunning. Josh is really doing great work down here, between spreading the gospel of quality picklebacks and a cocktail program that would make most firms green with envy this is not one to miss.

I had my birthday party here. Josh and Sorin were so welcoming and were excellent hosts. The vibe and atmosphere were perfect and we enjoyed every minute of it. Highly recommend!

Cozy bar with a lot of interesting cocktails. They are not very boozy and a bit overpriced for the experience. Excellent service, though

Great cocktails and lovely staff

Cute little place. Shame the staff is so rude.

Loved this place, great cocktails, atmosphere and service ❤️

A quirky venue with intriguingly delicious cocktail menu - as a pre dinner option it was perfect! Thank you

Great place for an evening with friends, excellent service

Such a great cocktail bar - friendly service, great atmosphere and excellent cocktails!

Great cosy cocktail bar for unusual drinks and a good happy hour! One very efficient barman managing everything really well. We had a great time and will be back. Don’t miss the pickleback shots!

Great cocktails! We also had a pickleback for the first time

I visited for happy hour with a date and loved the whole vibe of the place. Comfy, interesting decor make it the perfect joint for enjoying good cocktails. We had Old Fashioneds, a Negroni and a Daiquiri and each drink was delicious. Will definitely come back to try more of their specials from the extensive drinks menu.

My original comment was ""Very pricey. Check the prices before you order any food or drinks"", and my response to their reply is below. I originally gave two stars, but I DOWNGRADED THEM to one star after their reply below. Let me start by quoting your reply, and then I will answer with inline comments. ”Response from the owner a day ago Hi John, Struggling to believe you've actually been to our bar as we're the cheapest cocktail bar in the area and also we don't serve food aside from some olives and nuts. Not to mention you've said check the prices when the prices are clearly written on the menu. Its sad that's your only comment also. Nothing about the service, the drinks, the atmosphere of the bar. Our small business doesn't even make a profit and last year we lost £20,000 so in fact we should be charging double what we do to even continue operating with any longevity. But there's always someone such as yourself who decides in a sea of 5 star reviews to bring the mood down and make comments on something they have no clue about. If you want whetherspoons prices and whetherspoons quality, go to whetherspoons.” My reply >>>Struggling to believe you've actually been to our bar as we're the cheapest cocktail bar in the area and also we don't serve food aside from some olives and nuts. Not to mention you've said check the prices when the prices are clearly written on the menu. I most certainly have been. My friends suggested meeting there. Also Google Maps asked me to contribute and write a review after I left, which I have done. I'm sorry I did not do a price comparison survey like the large supermarkets do before going into your premises, maybe you should put that on your terms and conditions. My friend and I both had a toasted sandwich, so I find it very strange that you think that you do not serve food. We both remember eating there. Next time I will take a photo. I did not look at the drinks menu as I only ordered “a glass of house red” to drink. It seems like I can quite easily dismiss you reply. >>>Its sad that's your only comment also. Nothing about the service, the drinks, the atmosphere of the bar. Pardon me, I didn't realise I had to comment on everything. If you want me to add something, then the toilets work and were clean. >>>Our small business doesn't even make a profit and last year we lost £20,000 so in fact we should be charging double what we do to even continue operating with any longevity. Might I suggest you go into a different business. >>>But there's always someone such as yourself who decides in a sea of 5 star reviews to bring the mood down and make comments on something they have no clue about. If you'd care to look at my Google reviews, I actually leave five stars for most places. I do have a clue about prices! Would you like me to dig out my credit card receipt? >>>If you want whetherspoons prices and whetherspoons quality, go to whetherspoons. If you want to engage in a written discussion, I suggest you go away and read a grammar book first. Looking forward to your reply, but not expecting one as you don’t have any substance to your argument. My review has already got two likes and 500 views

Happened upon this place as it looked beautiful from the outside. The cocktails were delicious, so creative and well considered. The owner Josh was a delight! Was the highlight of a short work trip with friends. Would go back again in a heartbeat!

Very cute and creative menu, will come back

Came in to try the new menu last night and was not disappointed! Would highly recommend.

Delicious and interesting cocktails in really cool atmosphere! Staff super nice and welcoming. Big recommendation!

Had a lovely time when I visited with my husband on Saturday, the drinks were stunning, I would recommend more than one member of staff - having said that the Service was still outstanding just a little on the slow side!

What a creative place! Truly spectacular drinks that you can't find anywhere in London, with careful thought to balancing flavors, seasonality, and pushing the envelope. Not only do they coax beautiful flavors out of the products, the staff and owner are beyond kind and fun. Can't wait to check out their next menu!

Innovative and outstanding cocktails. Cool interior design. Really special place. Highly recommended!

We visited The Natural Philospher as the final stop on a rum tour. It was brilliant! The owner, Josh Powell, gave us a great introduction to the place. It looked amazing, totally not what you expect looking at the front of the building. All the staff were super friendly. Definitely worth going the extra distance out of Central London to visit this wonderful gem!

Booked The Natural Philosopher for the after wedding party and to say it was incredible was an understatement. The vibe is top tier and the staff are amazing! As soon as you enter you are transported and the drinks start flowing in this super cool space. Our guests have been talking about the cocktails for DAYS! We will definitely be booking the space again and highly recommend it to anyone.

Beautiful bar with amazing cocktails and atmosphere

Great bar for afternoon drinks, thanks to Josh for the best service and top entertainment! X

Delicious cocktails, helpful mixologist and fun quirky bar! Will return ASAP.

Sorin was fantastic in making recommendations of what drinks to try. Great to see a cocktail bar with such a personalised service, we'll be back soon.

Venue was cosy which should have made for an intimate atmosphere, unfortunately the music was so loud it was hard to hear eachother speak even across the small table between us. Cocktails were unique and delicious but be warned if you are planning on going for happy hour that the drinks offered at 2 for £14 include only a very limited range of standard short cocktails such as a Tom Collins and the more unusual drinks are not on offer.

Great drinks, great place, wonderful service

Really cool little bar. Great staff and delicious drinks. Will definitely be back

An incredible little stop with some of the best cocktails in the city served by some of the best bartenders. Everything we tried was 10/10 and cannot recommend enough. If you haven’t been you are truly missing out!!!

Wonderful, hidden cocktail bar. Great, weekly changing menu and an exceptionally friendly bartender. Among the best cocktails we've had.

Excellent. Guy who runs it is a welcoming alcohol nerd. Highly recommend.

Great cocktails in a slightly eccentrically decorated place. The menu changes weekly and I had the "white tea" which was lovely. The service was a bit hit and miss as it was really hard to get the attention of staff at certain times but they were friendly.

The very funny and nice bartender (aka plant daddy) gave me a cocktail making lesson

Fantastic cocktail bar with amazing decor, run by passionate people who knows how to pour a perfect cocktail to blow your mind! If you’re looking to explore flavours or a gem spot for a date - that’s the one! ❤️🍸

I had a first date here that went fantastically well, thanks partly to the friendly, informal atmosphere and the helpful staff. I don't even drink much, and I loved it. Highly recommended.

A delightful spot that has great ambience, friendly and helpful service, and a refreshingly different (but still delicious) range of cocktails. I recommend this wholeheartedly and am already excited for the next time I visit.

Such a cool spot for a date or catching up with friends. The cocktails were tasty and service was great. The drinks bar was one level down from the floor!! quirky art surrounds the cosy chairs and sofa’s - a lot to see.