APT. Disco

A high-gloss, low-light hangout in the Northern Quarter, APT. Disco brings with it more than a whiff of 1980s Manhattan nightlife.

Tucked above Science & Industry (and by extension, above Cane & Grain), this late-night bar occupies the old Liars Lounge space. But gone is the tiki kitsch, replaced with velvet banquettes and disco-drenched energy.

Inspired by the now-mythologised ‘fern bars’ of Upper East Side New York – sleek, plush watering holes decked out in greenery, mirrors, brass and a general feel of flirtatiousness – APT. Disco is a knowing homage to a time when cocktails were colourful, music was soulful and getting dressed up for a drink was half the fun.

The original fern bars of the 70s and 80s (the original TGI Fridays was one, believe it or not) were a kind of pre-club paradise, a little swanky, not too serious, and always geared toward social chemistry. They catered to the single, the ostentatious and the curious, all hanging plants, low-lit backbars and glossy optimism, maybe with bit of Gordon Gecko yuppie-ness thrown in for good measure.

APT. Disco bottles that same spirit with a drinks list that knows how to have fun. Expect upmarket takes on Tequila Sunrises, Lemon Drops, Long Island Iced Teas, and Harvey Wallbangers, each one a nod to a golden age of going out-out.

The playlist is equally committed, with DJs spinning disco and floorfillers beneath a mirrorball so large it might need planning permission. Add in Keith Haring prints on the wall and you’ve got a place that feels retro in all the right ways.