Mad Cats is a Shoreditch hi-fi bar that’s full of boxy white t-shirt-wearers snacking on Japanese-leaning small plates and chatting underneath handsome, mahogany subwoofers. Something about being this close to so much vinyl will make you feel 70% cooler, even if your own record collection doesn’t extend beyond the ‘evermore’ album. The lighting, which is power cut-levels of dark, sets the scene for intimate catch-ups at the bar—our favourite place to sit so you can watch sochu spritzes being made and DJs leafing through record sleeves. The food mostly falls under the category of serviceable, with some standouts like the tender beef short rib and refreshing cauliflower salad. But it’s plenty good enough to pick at while listening to some music, or your friend’s blow by blow recap of their week.