|
clubs + bars : our favourites
DJ Lord Ant B's Gimme 5 Alternative
Drinking Dens
Since the close of the fabulous Dive Bar we have been
looking for some great alternative drinking dens, and here we share with
you our favourite five.
Alaphet / 61 Beak Street, W1 / 12pm - 11pm (mon-fri)
/ 4pm - 11pm (sat)
The old dame of new media land has an easy going unpretentious kind of
vibe. Art works bedeck the ground floor space, whilst the basement bar
sports sleep inducing leather car seats and a floor mural of Soho which
has become its trade mark over the last half decade, since it has been
around.
Alphabet make a night out as easy as ABC!
Dragon / 5 Leonard Street, Shoreditch, EC2 / 12pm
- 11pm (mon-thurs) / 12pm - 12am (fri) / 2pm-12am (sat)
The mighty Dragon bar has managed to make a name for itself as being one
of the trendiest bars in London. The bare brick interior is dimly lit
with Chinese lanterns and windows draped with voluptuous red velvet. Meanwhile
down stairs the dark space is filled with 'comfort zone' swallow you up
sofas.
This is a super cool place to listen to heavy dub and get well and truly
slayed!
Lab / 12 Old Compton, W1 / 12pm - 1am (tues-sat)
/ 12pm - 10.30pm (sun) / 12pm - 11pm (mon)
This must surely rank as one of the ultimate cocktail bars in the capital.
The only snag is that it is also one of the tiniest! Run by the guru of
mixology, Douglas Akrah, this 'mazin place is not short of regulars. The
funky 70s inspired interior is dark and tight. Downstairs its all luxury
leather loathers that become ram-jammed with a musical back drop of DJs
dropping dope beats and tunes six nites a week.
It's a real good mix!
Notting Hill Arts Club / Notting Hill Gate, W11
/ 6pm - 1am (mon-weds) / 6pm - 2am (thurs-fri) / 4pm - 2am (Sat)
If arty farty has been synonymous with slighty skuzzy then this place
is well and truly Picasso in the pudding. DJs play in the exposed cupboard
under the stairs which separate the two cave like spaces. On one side
there is the circular bar which is surrounded by lounge lizard seating.
While on the other is a small stage which can often feature live bands
and art happenings!
Like it's late artistic license!
Smersh / 5 Ravey Street, Shoreditch, EC2 / 5pm
- 11pm (mon-fri) / 7pm - 11pm (sat)
This basement bar is pure Eastern European culture condensed into two
intimate small shell like rooms. Russian map line the walls, while vodka
and Eastern bloc beers flow freely as they would in their native land.
This authentic iron curtain clad bar is raw, and slightly rough around
the edges.
It's name derives from the ex-Soviet secret service organization. It's
a perfect hide away retreat should you need to go under cover in Shoreditch.
Shh, don't tell no-one! AB
club/bar home
top of page
|
