Little Fires is a bar and tasting kitchen on Bethnal Green Road in Shoreditch, launched by a creative collective drawn from the worlds of hospitality, design and music. Rooted in the flavours and rituals of Oaxaca, it brings agave spirits, open-fire cooking and vinyl culture together under one amber-lit roof.
Set across two floors of a Grade II-listed building, the ground level is painted in ochre tones and warmed by reclaimed timber, marble accents and low-slung leather banquettes. Downstairs, a hi-fi listening bar pulses to sets of ambient, cumbia, jazz and dub, curated to match the mood of the night. The space moves seamlessly from afternoon glow to after-dark intimacy, with each corner offering its own rhythm.
The food menu is tight, seasonal and focused on small plates with big Oaxacan flavour. Think sope with handmade masa, corn ribs, zicatela shrimp ceviche, and bluefin tostadas. There's also chilli lime chapulines - crunchy toasted crickets with citrus and garlic. Larger plates on the Little Fires menu, meanwhile, include a range of tacos and traditional Oaxacan dishes. We're talking queso birria tacos with slow-raised beef, a rich broth, and cheese; adobado chicken tacos, fried fish tacos, and enfrijoladas - corn tortillas with black bean sauce, crema, cheese and salsa. Created in collaboration with chef Rodolfo Castellanos, the dishes are designed to pair perfectly with the drinks.
The cocktail list, developed with mezcal bar Sabina Sabe in Oaxaca, showcases bold, imaginative takes on agave classics. There's the 'Night Shift, with chilli cacao washed tequila, mezcal, espresso and coffee liqueur; a 'Last Rites' avocado-washed tequila number; and a tequila hibiscus sour. Wines are usually natural, and non-alcoholic options such as fermented fruit coolers are given equal thought.
Saturdays at Little Fires Oaxacan brunch with traditional plates that are actually eaten for breakfast in southern Mexico. Expect huevos rancheros, chilaquiles with quail egg, and tetela with mole. Pair your breakfast plates with juice, coffee, or something with more of a bunch, including Bloody Marias, and Michelada beers.