Tucked into Redchurch Street, Mad Cats is Shoreditch’s answer to hi-fi cool with a soulful twist. Founded by Daniella Andriesz and her partner Ed, the bar brings together music, mood, and Mediterrasian flavours in one immersive package. From za’atar-spiked martinis to vinyl-only soundscapes, this space is as personal as it is genre-defying. We caught up with Daniella to talk about how Mad Cats evolved from dinner parties to one of East London’s most intriguing nightspots.
Mad Cats already feels like a Shoreditch classic. What inspired you and Ed to bring a hi-fi bar concept to Redchurch Street?
Daniella: It started in our flat. We used to host dinner parties – I’d cook, Ed would play records – and our friends would just… stay. We couldn’t find a place in London that gave the same feeling, where food, music and energy were all done with care. So we made one. Mad Cats is the natural evolution of those nights in our living room.
The design of Mad Cats oozes character—from vintage speakers to exposed brick. How important was creating the right atmosphere alongside the sound?
Ed: Every detail was considered to hit all the senses. We didn’t want something sterile or trend-driven – we wanted it to feel transportive. From the bronze jaguar handle on the door to the BBC radio drama in the bathroom, it’s meant to feel immersive and just a little bit surreal. The space has to hold the music, the food, and the people all at once.
You’ve got funk, electronica, and everything in between spinning here. How do you curate the perfect soundtrack for a Mad Cats night?
Ed: Music here is vinyl-only. It’s about ritual and emotion. We play everything from Japanese jazz to Arabic soul to Brazilian bossa nova, but it’s never just background noise. We spend hours finding the right record for the right moment – it’s discovery-driven, and the system is tuned for intimacy.
Cocktails like the Midnight Pounce and Peach Whiskers sound dangerously good. Which drink on your menu best sums up the Mad Cats spirit?
Ed: The ZaZa. It’s a tequila martini infused with za’atar oil – it’s bold, delicate, and a little unexpected. We always say it’s Lebanon in a glass. It captures what we’re doing here – classic ideas flipped with cultural depth and personal flavour.
Your menu blends Middle Eastern and Japanese flavours in such a bold way. How did you land on that particular food pairing?
Daniella: It’s not fusion for the sake of it – it’s us. I’m British-Chinese, Ed is Lebanese-Danish, and we grew up around these flavours. The dishes are a conversation between our cultures. Like the shishbarak dumplings – Lebanese filling inside Chinese-style wrappers. It took six months to perfect the recipe.
Ed: We like to call it Mediterrasian – it’s not pinned to one country. It’s personal, and it reflects how we eat, travel, and think about flavour.
Low lighting, old records, next-level plates… was there a specific experience or memory you were trying to recreate with Mad Cats?
Daniella: Honestly, we just wanted to recreate the feeling we had at home. That sense of warmth and discovery – we’ve even got the same wall lighting and glass lamps at home – the idea was to carry over that same warmth and intimacy into the space. Even the sake glasses are made from recycled glass recovered after the Beirut explosion – so every detail has weight, and memory.
We wanted it to feel like you’re stepping into something familiar, but just a little offbeat.
How do you keep the vibe evolving throughout the night?
We do evolve through the night. It starts as a dinner spot – great for date night – and slowly morphs into something more sound-led, vinyl-fuelled, immersive. The tempo and energy shift, but it’s always intentional.
There’s a definite sense of discovery at Mad Cats—music, flavours, even the cocktails. How do you keep the energy fresh for your regulars?
Ed: It’s all about curation. The music changes every night. We rotate records constantly. The menu evolves. We’re always testing new ideas. Some regulars have tried dishes we’ve never even posted online. That sense of “you had to be there” is part of the magic.
Listening bars are becoming a thing in London, but Mad Cats feels a little different. What do you think sets it apart from the crowd?
Daniella: We’re not just a bar with vinyl. Every part of this place was built by hand, by us, without big investors. It’s personal. It’s about relationships – between music, food, guests.
What does foldthe.world mean to you?
It’s about community and creating a space where like-minded individuals can come together.
What’s next for Mad Cats? More records, new dishes, secret events—or are you keeping us guessing for a little longer?
We’re keeping quiet on that for now :)
xxx
This interview is part of Foldthe.world series. Foldthe.world is a collectable art poster distributed around Shoreditch, combined with curated insiders map helping you to shorten distance and time made by TOANDPARTNERS productions and supported by Made in Shoreditch Magazine.
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