Founded by a pair of passionate hosts and music aficionados, Selin Duren and Cem Ozden, Chiave brings together handcrafted cocktails, curated sounds, and a welcoming vibe that embodies the essence of East London
What inspired you to open Chiave Shoreditch, and what vision did you have for the bar from the start?
Chiave was born out of a dream of creating space where people could feel at home enjoy crafted drinks and quality music from talented artists. Our love for hosting, connecting people and music fuelled the concept. From the very beginning, we envisioned a welcoming environment, where like-minded people could get together, creating a sense of community and shared experiences.
How did your journey in hospitality begin? Did you always dream of running your own place, or was it something that happened organically?
Our journey in hospitality started as a natural extension of our passion for organizing events. Before Chiave, we were already hosting gatherings that brought together DJs who inspired us, travelling to various cities like Berlin, Istanbul, NYC, and Miami. This allowed us to see firsthand how people connect over music and shared experiences. Having our own space to curate had always been a dream, and once we discovered our cozy spot on Redchurch Street, everything fell into place.
Shoreditch has such a unique vibe – why did you choose this area for Chiave, and how does the neighbourhood influence what you do here?
The vibrant and artistic energy of Shoreditch drew us in – making it the perfect location for the bar. When we were living in Milan and coming to London for Cem’s DJ gigs, so we always stayed in Shoreditch. A funny coincidence was when No.36 was occupied by Patty & Bun – we enjoyed burgers at the very spot that would eventually become Chiave. We’ve lived in Shoreditch since moving here in 2021. We love the local restaurants, cafes, and shops, and feel fortunate to have become part of the local community in a big city like London.
What were you both doing before opening Chiave? Did any of those experiences shape the way you approach running the bar now?
We were running our record label and event series Fake Society in Milan and Istanbul before moving to London in 2021. Leading up to the opening of Chiave in 2023 we continued doing events at Lion and Lamb in Dalston. Our expertise in nightlife as DJs and event producers, combined with our strong ties in the music and arts scene was instrumental in shaping our vision for Chiave. Our key motivation was to create an intimate space we can enjoy with our community, that champions true craftsmanship and artistry through music and cocktails.
The name ‘Chiave’ (meaning ‘key’ in Italian) is intriguing – what’s the story behind it, and how does it reflect your ethos?
After spending eight years in Milan, the decision to choose an Italian name for our bar felt natural. The name Chiave holds a special significance for us; it symbolises the opening of doors, the unlocking of personal spaces, and the creation of a welcoming environment. In choosing this name, we aimed to provide a home away from home for London’s diverse and vibrant community, a place where everyone feels they belong.
Shoreditch is packed with great places to eat and drink – when you’re not at Chiave, where are your favourite spots to hang out in East London?
For cocktails we love Space Talk and Satan’s Whiskers. For nightlife, we’re regulars at Lion and Lamb of course, and 17 Little Portland Street. For food or a date night, we love Brat which is on our street, as well as Sodo Pizza.
The menu at Chiave is pretty creative. How do you go about designing your drinks, and do you have a personal favourite on the list?
Our menu creation is deeply rooted in our Turkish heritage, with majority of our team being Turkish. Our menus are refreshed every season, as we create new fusion cocktails that blend traditional Turkish ingredients like Raki, Turkish coffee and sumac, with global influences and modern techniques. For example, we might pair the bold flavours of Raki and Salted Caramel Vodka or incorporate the earthiness of sumac with Tequila and Mezcal for our unique take on a Margarita. Each cocktail is named after a song that we love, and believe capture the spirit and mood of the cocktail.
What’s been the most rewarding part of starting Chiave so far? And what’s been the biggest surprise?
The most rewarding aspect of starting Chiave has been witnessing our vision materialise and being able to share it with our community. It’s humbling and surprising to receive daily feedback and see how our hard work, attention to detail, and dedication resonate with our guests. The recognition of even the smallest elements we’ve carefully crafted fills us with gratitude and reinforces our commitment to providing an exceptional experience.
If you could sum up Chiave in three words, what would they be?
Bold, Elegant, Cozy
Finally, what’s next for Chiave Shoreditch – any exciting plans we should keep an eye out for?
It’s still to early to say as it feels like we just opened the bar, however we always find ourselves discussing new ways to grow Chiave’s footprint.
chiaveshoreditch.com
@chaive.shoreditch
36 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DP
READ THIS ISSUE OF BEAST MAGAZINE
Tag us with your copy of Beast magazine @beastmag_london on Instagram