Nadine Brown sips on inventive cocktails alongside small plates with a Caribbean twist.

Where is it?

A short walk from Highbury and Islington station in North London, it’s also close to the Almeida Theatre if you fancy pre-show drinks and elevated nibbles.

What did you eat and drink?

Little Bat is the sister bar of the much-loved Callooh Callay – a staple bar in London’s Shoreditch that’s been serving imaginative cocktails for the past decade – so we knew we were in safe cocktail-shaking hands. For those who love a classic, head straight to their martini menu. Whether dry, dirty or wet, they all come in a perfectly chilled, frosted glass. Feeling a little more adventurous, we opted for the ‘Back to the Future’, a blend of Torres brandy, Hennessy VS Cognac, elderflower liqueur, mint, lemon and intriguingly, shiso. We also ordered up a ‘Gold Digger’ made up of pear liqueur, muyu jasmine, Champagne and bitters. Both were great, but the latter had real wow factor, with a sugar cube coated in edible gold dust dropped in for shimmering results.

To complement the drinks menu, James Cochran has stepped in as chef consultant to create an equally dynamic collection of dishes. His Vincentian and Scottish heritage influences the menu. We particularly enjoyed the curried cauliflower with pineapple hot sauce, coconut and coriander, which had a subtle heat that didn’t leave a spice-phobe like me scrambling for water. It’s hard not to love a crispy hash brown and James’s came topped with aged beef tartar and a confit egg yolk. Lush. We also couldn’t get enough of the watermelon salad. Combined with heritage tomatoes, mint, feta and sesame seeds, it was a boon for a scorching summer day.

Your verdict?

A well-stocked bar and inventive small plates are hard to beat in a space that’s perfect for casual catching up and laidback first dates. Go for the clever cocktails, stay for the chilled-out vibes.