Without Papers, a Shoreditch bar where seasoned Italian hospitality folk have it all sussed out

Left to right: Mediterranean Gimlet and Cannoli milk punch.

Without Papers, which describes itself as a "British-Italian cocktail pub", first opened last summer with an impressive, and very Italian trio behind it. Marco Piroli, Massimiliano Bosio and Gaetano De Simone (originally from Rome, Milan and Naples) have two decades worth of bar experience at places like LAB BAR, Floradita and more behind them and they've built something which has clearly become a local hit over the past year, as it was packed when we visited on a Wednesday night. 

We didn't spot that cute martini icon until we were editing these photos

Taking inspiration from their backgrounds in Italy (the abbreviation for the bar is no coincidence) as well as their lives in London, the signature drinks here are very much a mix of British and Italian culture. The bar menu itself is presented in a facsimile of a passport, and you can opt to go down the British or Italian route for the signature drinks, or a tight list of classics. 

The Farmer's Board with a little bit of everything (£24)

From the moment they took out the glasses for their English twist on a martini from the freezer, we knew we were in good hands. Cannoli milk punch was a drink made with Two Drifters Pure White Rum, Amaretto Adriatico, pistachio and clarified ricotta, while the Mediterranean Gimlet used a Sicilian Grillo in its mix. Those were from the 'Made by a Wop' section and - crucially - the milk punch comes with a custard cream ice cream sandwich.

The 'Cheers' part of the menu delivered an excellent Mar-Tea-Ni made with Boatyard vodka and Earl Grey tea, while the WOP Rum Punch from the classics selection was a perfect summer hit with pineapple rum, red wine and cherry in the mix. 

They keep it pretty simple on the food front, using their contacts in Italy to serve up a range of cheese and charcuterie platters. Our tip: don't miss out on the nduja and sourdough. The nduja is served in one of those pottery contraptions that you normally see essential oils in, with a candle underneath. The candle slowly warms the nduja, making it perfect for spreading on the bread. 

Co-founder Marco Pioli behind the bar

It's a decent-sized bar and bigger than it looks from the street, with plenty of tables at the back. If you're looking for a good deal, there are promotions on throughout the week, like half-price food on Monday and 50% off bottles of wine on Wednesdays, as well as live music on the weekend. But what we particularly liked was the broad mix of punters here. Maybe it has something to do with the strong beat of hospitality that pulses through this venue, with every single person who popped their head in the door being given a proper welcome. 

This trio spent a long time working in other people's bars before setting up their own place. And all that experience shows. Without Papers is an absolute gem of a Shoreditch bar and we can't recommend it highly enough.