london bars

8/7/2019 London Bars

1/8

SECTION: LONDON'S TOP DJ BARS

NIGHTLIFE | 1

London's Top DJ BarsAn evolution of the clubbing concept, the capital is full of stylish and sexy DJ

bars. For a chilled-out alternative to the full-on clubbing experience, try one ofour Top 10 recommendations.

LONDON'S TOP DJ BARS

93 Feet East

150 Brick Lane, E1 6RU93 Feet takes a simple DJ bar formula and applies it perfectly. The garden

is enormous, the vibe deeply laid back and the music policy sheer eclectic

excellence. It may be looking a little rough around the edges these days, but

money saved on decor has been well spent on securing top line-ups. Everything

always seems a bit half-hearted in the early part of the evening, but stick it out

until the afternoon crowd have gone home, and it all kicks off. Two spartan

rooms provide ample space for dancing, which is what everyone will be doing

once the evening gets into gear.

Address: 150 Brick Lane, E1 6RUPhone: 020 7247 3293

Nearest-

Station:

Shoreditch Tube


Bar Rumba

36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ER


2/8


NIGHTLIFE | 2

Concealed in a particularly squalid and touristy corner of Piccadilly Circus is

the bar that has kept the UK's Urban scene alive in the West End since the

early 1990s. Thursday night's Movement has been the West End's biggest

drum 'n' bass weekly for a full decade, and Tuesdays offer authentic reggaeton

sounds straight off the plane from the barrio. The big boys come out on Fridayand Saturday, and there are few major names in UK Urban who haven't played

here, while live PAs from US stars are also a regular feature. In an area filled

with cheap imitations, Bar Rumba is the genuine article.Address: 36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ERPhone: 020 7287 6933

Nearest-

Station:

Piccadilly Circus tube


The Big Chill House

257-259 Pentonville Road, N1 9NLFrom the outside, the building looks spectacular, a floodlit white townhouse

that puts the grimy environs of King's Cross to shame. The interior is equally

shiny, with three floors of New York-ish glamour - lots of cosy nooks, low

benches and a cream and grey colour scheme. Odd bits and pieces from the Big

Chill Festival add a quirkiness that sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill style

bars. It's also far enough away from Old Street that it has a certain identity of

its own, attracting dedicated Big Chillers rather than passing trade. A comfy

terrace adds to the summery vibe. The soundsystem is excellent, the cocktails

are delicious, and (as you'd expect from owners who started out running

festivals) the music policy is entertainingly quirky.Address: 257-259 Pentonville Road, N1 9NLPhone: 020 7427 2540


3/8


NIGHTLIFE | 3

Nearest-

Station:

King's Cross St Pancras Tube/Rail


Boogaloo

312 Archway Road, N6 5ATThe Boogaloo has succeeded in breaking the all pervasive contemporary pub

blueprint, fashioning a popular alternative with a great atmosphere - and not

an inch of light pine to be seen! Inside it looks aged and comfortable with an

inviting slightly living-room feel about it. Bar staff peer out from behind the

rickety wooden bar over a mishmash of sofas, chandeliers and convenient pint-resting shelves. The centrepiece of the pub is its magnificent jukebox, home

to over a hundred albums. Boogaloo has a strict policy of only stocking the

machine with albums over ten years old (to make fully sure they stand the test

of time). It's terrific to see the punters picking out their own soundtrack to

the evening, rather than a set by yet another DJ Nobody. If you need a little

guidance on what to put on, there's always the celebrity choice list, nominated

by a different musical luminary each month. Shane McGowan, Bobby Gillespie

and Badly Drawn Boy have all selected playlists in the past. In the evenings

live bands and DJs take over, with different nights featuring jazz, rockabilly,

country and folk, and punk. The best time for celebrity-spotting is their eye-

wateringly difficult music quiz, which attracts a huge crowd of geeky indie

band-members.Address: 312 Archway Road, N6 5ATPhone: 020 8340 2928

Nearest-

Station:

Highgate Tube



4/8


NIGHTLIFE | 4

Cargo

83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AYCargo were the pioneers of the multi-tasking MDF concept (that's Music-

Dance-Food, not cheap fibreboard) and boast one of the most imaginative livemusic line-ups in the capital. Fuel up with some of their lovely street food, wile

away a summer afternoon in their courtyard and groove till the small hours

under the refitted railway arches. The music policy covers the full spectrum of

London's underground, with a focus on hip-hop, breakbeat and world music.

There are also live tunes followed by top DJs most nights of the week.Address: 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AYPhone: 020 7739 3440

Nearest-

Station:

Liverpool Street Tube/Rail


East Village

89 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HXOpened in 2007 by DJ/promoter Stuart Patterson, East Village reverses the

Shoreditch trend towards drinking and socialising; by midnight, pretty much

everyone in the club is on their feet and dancing. There's not really much

choice, since the sound-system is stunning, and there's no corner of the club

where you can get away from it. It's a smart space, with an underlit bar that

stretches the length of the top floor, and a dressed-up crowd. Patterson is

part of the Faith crew, who've been putting successful nights in other people's

venues for the best part of a decade, and the music in his club is as good as

you'd expect, with big name DJs almost every weekend.Address: 89 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HXPhone: 020 7739 5173


5/8


NIGHTLIFE | 5

Nearest-

Station:

Old Street Tube/Rail


Favela Chic

91-93 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HZFor the London incarnation of Favela Chic (whose sister bar has been

energising the Oberkampf district of Paris for a decade) they've stripped

everything down to the bare boards to recreate the spirit of Brazil's shanty

towns. Scarred discarded timber, battered old doors, scrawled graffiti and tatty

religious icons have been slung together by someone with an eye for design.The soundtrack includes some great live bands and DJs who throw out the odd

Brazilian-tinged remix or a classic samba record. Caiparinhas and caiparoskas

rule the roost, but they find space for other Latin blends like the mojito and

some supremely drinkable Argentine plonk. The overall effect leans far more

towards Shoreditch than Sao Paulo, especially once you factor in the laughably

fashion-concious crowd, but huge queues testify to the great party atmosphere

inside.Address: 91-93 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HZPhone: 020 7613 5228

Nearest-

Station:



Ginglik

1 Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8PH


6/8


NIGHTLIFE | 6

Ginglik is a club nestling under Shepherd's Bush Green, in a former public

toilet. Supernaturally friendly staff, and the hard-to-spot entrance have given it

a real local feel - and cheap membership ensures that many of the good-looking

crowd are in every night, know each other, the musicians and the staff. It has

a defiantly old skool appearance, with lots of UV art to remind people of theheyday of rave, but the entertainment is bang up to date. Ginglik plays host

to comedy, live music, kung-fu and science fiction movie nights, and lots of

excellent DJs.Address: 1 Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8PHPhone: 020 8749 2310

Nearest-

Station:

Shepherd's Bush Tube


Herbal

10-14 Kingsland Road, E2 8DAHerbal is a longstanding favourite with the Old Street crowd, a trendy but

friendly venue set over two large floors with a sophisticated music policy,

good-looking crowd and laid back atmosphere. Party night is every night

except Monday and you can expect plenty of dance-floor action fuelled by a

great bar. It's not unusual to see D 'n' B, breakbeat, house and reggae legends

at the decks, and there's always an intimate, friendly feel to the place. This

consistently packed bar/club gives you the feeling that you've stumbled upon a

friendly, messy party.Address: 10-14 Kingsland Road, E2 8DAPhone: 020 7613 4462

Nearest-

Station:

Shoreditch Tube


7/8


NIGHTLIFE | 7


Plan B

418 Brixton Road, SW9 7AYWhat really makes Plan B stand out as a party venue is the crowd. Brixton

is the capital of South London's nightlife, and this is its best DJ bar, with a

friendly, open atmosphere and a hugely diverse set of regulars. The decor is

DJ bar by numbers, all exposed pipework and polished woods, but it's a well-

designed space, with seating round a cool sunken dancefloor and a great sound-

system. Friday nights are hip-hop, soul, funk or reggae, while Saturdays offer

harder dance sounds. There's something going on most nights of the week, aswell, and entry is often free if you arrive early.

Address: 418 Brixton Road, SW9 7AYPhone: 0870 116 5421

Nearest-

Station:

Brixton Tube


Plastic People

147 - 149 Curtain Road, EC2A 3QEPlastic People boasts the best sound-system in Shoreditch. This friendly space

serves up seriously fresh music to a loyal crowd. Their no-frills clubbing

formula has won them a legion of devotees and provides a welcome contrast

with many of the overly slick ditchland bars. This is one of the most musically

diverse venues in town, and you'll hear any or all types of jazz, funk, house,latin, electro, Afro beats and hip-hop - depending on the night. The musical

standards are consistently high, and the people often scarily fashionable, but


8/8


NIGHTLIFE | 8

there is nothing pretentious about the place and the crowd have come to get

down.Address: 147 - 149 Curtain Road, EC2A 3QEPhone: 020 7739 6471

Nearest-

Station:



T Bar

The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJThis swaggeringly cool dance music space is housed in a former tea warehouse,

with no attempt made to disguise the space's industrial origins. A long bar has

been set up (offering surprisingly good cocktails), and there are a few sofas and

low tables by the walls, but mostly T Bar offers grimy bleak chic - something

that helps it to be a bit less infested with suits from the City than other venues

in the area. Free entry and an absolutely phenomenal music policy, focused on

techno, and cutting-edge house ensure long queues on Friday and Saturday

nights. It's a particular favourite with Sunday ravers as well.

Address: The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch HighStreet, E1 6JJ

Phone: 020 7729 2973Nearest-

Station:

Shoreditch Tube

london bars

Documents