Brilliant Corners

Half bar/kitchen, half late-night music venue, Brilliant Corners has all the dreamy intrigue that its name implies. Far enough along Kingsland Road to feel separate from Shoreditch's stylish chaos, but not so far up that transport becomes an issue (give Clapton a miss), Brilliant Corners is that magical type of bar that's whatever you want it to be: a dimly lit date spot, a casual nook for people-watching, or an under-the-radar, behind-the-heavy-curtain (literally) performance space for serious patrons of London's arts landscape. Its twice-monthly jazz night Played Twice is quickly making a name for itself — keep an eye out for nights like Miles Smiles, a springtime playback and reinterpretation of Miles Davis's seminal 1967 album.