DK Travel : London : Bars & Nightclubs

Page
1
2
3
4

Absolut Ice Bar

Absolut Ice Bar London is the first permanent bar made of ice in the UK. The bar is kept at minus 5 degrees all year round and everything inside is made out of ice transported from the Torne River in Sweden.

The walls, bar, tables, and even the glasses are made out of ice. The Absolut Ice Bar is operated in 40 minute time slots and you are given a thermal cape with a hood to keep you warm during your visit.

Every six months the bar is completely re-designed with a brand new design.

The Absolut Ice Bar was such a great experience and was the talking point for the whole weekend!
Aquarium Bar's Roof Terrace

The Aquarium Bar on Old Street is horrible; it mostly serves as a place for the yellow shortsleeved beshirted chavs awaiting their entrance into the temple of vomitessness that is the Aquarium nightclub to drink the requisite number of pints that they can consider themselves attractive enough to pull. HOWEVER, it has a large, plain, very high up roof terrace, which is a sun trap all afternoon and surprisingly chilled. It's a very well kept secret.
Bar Chocolate

Cute, low-lit bar serving a myriad of cocktails. Mojitos are particularly good with lots of fresh mint.
Cafe Kick

This feels like the kind of bar you'd find in Barcelona down some dodgy alleyway but you'd visit once and you'd never want to leave! I love this place and wish it was my local. The table football is a major highlight but the drinks are fab and the atmosphere spot on.
Chai Lounge

a place to chill out with friends, have a cup of tea and a nice chat. Free wi-fi and lots of sofas to relax on a true East London atmosphere.
Christopher's

Slick bar and restaurant combo in Covent Garden. The restaurant is pretty nice but really you come here for the bar with its cool little booths, great cocktails and fab bar food. Its not cheap but after much research this is the best mojito I've found in Covent Garden!
Commercial Tavern

Although possessed of a dull and misleading moniker, the Commercial Tavern is a wonderful place to while away an evening. A cross between a Cath Kidston shop and eighteenth-century bordello on the inside, its narrow staircase up to the second floor and private room only opens up at 6.30, so be sure to be lurking round it if the downstairs bar is busy. With baby blue picnic tables outside in the summer and a relaxed atmosphere it's one of my favourite East End pubs.
Detroit

Dark and moody cocktail bar off Seven Dials. Mojito isn't bad but its not as good as Christopher's. A good place to start a mojito-crawl as there's usually enough room for a few of you to sit down.
Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes

I loved this place on first site because the owner had an original idea. It might have been a cost cutting experiment, but it was pure genius – don’t bother to renovate the outside of the bar at all. On approach it looks like a couple of dodgy old shops and hence the name was born Dream Bags (half of it’s an old bag shop) Jaguar Shoes (you can guess what they sold there). It all gives it the vibe of being a bit of a secret – although word got out long ago about this little gem. Once inside the nonchalance continues with the exposed brick walls, dotted with select pieces of artwork, and a couple of very well worn leather sofas. It’s Hoxton, so obviously the music is of the indie variety, but it’s well chosen and varied. There’s a good selection of drinks, especially cocktails - I had the best mojito of my life in this place (and I’ve had a few). I’ve got to admit that there can be a slight pretension in the air – but it is a London bar after all, so don’t let that stop you. If the Hoxton thing is your cup of tea, it’s definitely one not to miss.
Electrowerkz

A legal club that looks and feels like a grimey warehouse, Electrowerkz is London's fashionably hedonistic nightlife scene at its best.

Unlike many more expensive and trendy venues now found in the city center, it's all about music and fun in this Angel venue.

Different clubnights and guests regularly take control of the sound system, although you'll find the music is mainly a variation on pounding techno beats here.

Look out for the monthly Bangface event for a modern interpretation of 1990's rave culture along with acclaimed DJs from the worlds of breakbeat, electro and dub.