Ray’s Bar – review: new Dalston cocktail spot is perfect for the 30-something crowd

Mix and match: a selection of cocktails on offer at Ray’s

Dance Tunnel on Kingsland Road was much loved as a independent club. It had a short lifespan, but punched above its weight with its unpretentious atmosphere and high quality bookings, who played to a small audience crammed onto a sloping dance floor, complete with strobe lighting and occasional smoke machine.

After citing difficulties operating in the current licensing environment, Dance Tunnel closed and the management, who also run Voodoo Ray’s pizza and Dalston Superstore, have reopened the space as Ray’s Bar, a late night cocktail joint.

The space has been carefully revamped in a vintage style reminiscent of the type of dive bar David Lynch might frequent: low lighting, black leather booths, polished reflective surfaces. There’s a DJ booth and small dance floor (“vinyl only, weird disco” notes the manager). The owners want this to be a bar in Dalston for the 30-something crowd, who are in search of a less rowdy vibe than neighbouring places and a door policy that ensures there isn’t overcrowding.

“We want this to be the sort of place where you can leave your coat and bag at the table and have a dance without worrying about it,” the manager explains.

The cocktail menu is divided into aperitifs, mains and desserts, a gimmick that doesn’t quite work given each section has a selection of light, strong, and sweet.

We start with the Shady Pine, a lemon coloured gin, Strega, egg white and rosemary mixture and the Pink Flamingo (Campari, prosecco and grapefruit). I like the Shady Pine, with the medicinal taste of rosemary. The Pink Flamingo unfortunately tastes of watery Campari and languishes on the table. Following that, the Tunnel Dancer is a smokey, chilli infused triumph of a whiskey drink and my favourite of the evening.

It is usually only served after midnight – an affectation I hope Ray’s will soon drop. Finally, the Labyrinth is a mixture of mezcal, vermouth and dark chocolate. I believe mezcal should be served everywhere, but this cocktail fails to make a great impression.

Got the look: Ray’s Bar’s snazzy interior

For food, you can order whole pizzas from Voodoo Rays upstairs. They are ample but £20 plus, and only come in one size.

Customers also have the option of getting slices from upstairs, but awkwardly, have to queue and settle a different tab. Although I’ve raved about Voodoo Rays in the past, both service and the slices I have this evening are slightly on the cold side.

By the time we leave, a small crowd has filtered in, giving the place warmer, buzzy atmosphere. Speaking of buzz, the cocktails are strong enough that I forget my bag in the booth and have to sheepishly return to retrieve it.

Although Ray’s has many of the components of a successful nighttime business, the food and drink menus need a little tweaking. However with the winning team behind this operation, I have no doubt they will turn it into the low-key late hours bar Dalston has been crying out for.

Ray’s Bar
95 Kingsland High St, London E8 2PB