- shoreditch - pub/club

4 oxford street - tags - fun awesome love it

bppp,

93 feet east - shoreditch - bar/club

150 brick lane - tags - grimey summer attractive-people

similar to vibe bar this place is spacious with a considerable amount of the sitting and standing space based outdoors. perfect for summer not so good for winter. the drinks are fairly priced and the tunes emanating from the speakers are likely to be of the house /electro variety. you are likely to find some cool good looking women here so it may be worth a pit stop (if your a straight male). the toilets are ghastly and women's queue often ends up round the block. its a little grimey and just like many places round the area don't expect glamour, think nylon inspired street hipsters but i wouldn't call this place pretentious. if you are on your way to T-bar or something similar then check this place out.

admiral hardy - greenwich - pub

7 college approach - tags - chilled young

considering going all the way to south east london? great! if your in greenwich there is only one place to go…the admiral hardy. it’s a quaint, character filled pub with a great crowd and reasonably priced drinks. most of the staff and people study at goldsmith’s (a very arty uni) or greenwich uni so its definitely a young vibe. i once got chatting to a pair of sisters about south east London. it was random friendliness, very rare in and a good conversation. there is some decent easy listening background music, usually stuff like amy winehouse. this place wont make your existence but it does the job. greenwich’s finest.

aint nothin but.... - soho - bar

20 kingly street, behind regent street - tags - cultural live-music sophisticated

what happened to live music eh? well if you want to listen to some smooth blues with a friendly crowd and simply revel in people’s talent this is the place to go. i turned up not knowing anyone, i just wanted to get out of the house. i ended up sharing a table with a 32 year old man from cape town, a 21 year old american girl from kansas and a 50 year old woman from edinburgh. it was probably the best bar chat with random people i’ve had in a long time. we sat, discussed and enjoyed the music, i remember the bassists were pretty superb that night. drinks are reasonably priced and the place is small, cramped with a good level of character. i recommend you turn up EARLY if you want a seat, say around 6 or 6.30pm otherwise expect to stand. its definitely a sophisticated crowd but not in anyway pretentious.

bar music hall - shoreditch - restaurant/bar/club

134 curtain road - tags - spacious dancing party

the most spacious place in shoreditch. if you want space to swing a cat, try here. the music is good electro and the crowd is full of the usual hipsters. They also serve that flavoured belgian strawberry beer that so many people love and costs a fortune. the toilets are so white and bright i was almost blinded at entry. the fact i am talking about the toilets sounds ominous but don’t be put off it’s a great place to take a group of friends or hold a birthday, the people are safe (cool) if not a little weird. personally its not exactly my thing because its too huge, huge places struggle to keep character. I would be happy to end up here but wouldn’t plan my night around it.

barrio north - angel - bar

45 essex road - tags - cultural character party

ive got a lot of respect for this venue. the decor is great being a mixmash of a rio street, spanish harlem and a touch of africa all delivered in a great space, though it is a little narrow. the crowd are relaxed and friendly and i found it easy to start conversations with people i didn't know. the drinks are a touch above average but not wallet busting. the music is eclectic and accessible to all but i woulnd't come here purely for the tunes its more about the vibe. a good place to come if you want out but don't want a long heavy one. bring your friends, call in advance and book out the cabin/bus seating area at the back which is perfect for a group gathering.

bedouin bar - farringdon - bar

57-59 charterhouse street - tags - date-potential cultual character

i once held an event here so you can guess i would like it. bedouin bar is themed around the north african desert dwelling nomadic tribe who live in tents. So it’s a little different, which is a good thing. this bar is great for holding birthdays or similar type events but i recommend you book a table in advance (its free) otherwise seating will be a struggle. the drinks are not cheap but not too expensive either, you could easily spend £30+ on drinks. the music is popular house but that’s largely downstairs. on the first floor you are free to talk unimpeded by the monotony of electronic bangs and whistles. its slightly sophisticated, not pretentious and a good place for a date, though i hear the food isn't great. I haven’t been to this place in a while, I might have to check it out sometime soon.

cafe 1001 - shoreditch - cafe/bar/club

1 dray walk by 91 brick lane - tags - chilled grimey dancing

one of my favourite places in shoreditch. They bbq food for you (yes you have to pay), offer free wi-fi and chilled surroundings during the day and host some impressive tech-house music in the evenings. what more could you want? there’s enough seating so you shouldn’t have to stand up all night. however, it is grimey and not the best place to come if you’re out on the pull. drinks are moderately priced, except for the cans they try and sell you next to the bbq, that’s just a rip off! The standard of music always impresses me at this place, come during the day and you may hear some jamie liddell, m.i.a and classic bluenote from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. at night things tend to go electro but I would say its largely accessible to everyone with an open mind.

casita - shoreditch - bar

5a ravey street - tags - date-potential cultural small

one of my favourite bars in shoreditch and the smallest bar i've ever been inside. Its likely the same size as your sitting room at home. its south american themed with the flags flying high across the ceiling. don't go here with more than two people there will literally be no space. despite the small size this place has oodles of character and the very friendly bar staff will be happy to pour you some fine cocktails or pop open beers from all over the south american continent. this is a good place for low key drinks on a date but it shouldn't be more than a place to pass by. i highly recommend it.

dollar grills & martinis - farringdon - bar/restaurant

2 exmouth market - tags - character expensive attractive-people

the name of this bar makes it sound like your going to be partying with bankers. fear not. The crowd is youthful, stylish and very attractive (and more likely media types). the main bar bit is downstairs in a crypt like caven, dimly lit with every group having their little section. i love it, it’s a great interior. i’ve managed to get seats here before with no booking in advance no problem. but if you want the best seats in the house call and get a table (i am pretty sure its free). saying that, there is enough places to stand but it will be a squeeze. this bar has very high date potential (your lady or boy should like it) and is worth considering however its even better for celebrating a birthday/event but expect to leave with a light wallet. It aint cheap boys and girls, it ain’t cheap.

electricity showrooms - hoxton - bar/club

39a hoxton square - tags - upmarket dancing expensive

compared to the rest of the shoreditch area the management have really made an effort with this bar. they didnt just slap paint on the walls. the revolving entry door makes you feel like your entering an exclusive hotel and when you enter you are likely to have a good time. This is definitely upmarket shoreditch and the drink prices match that description. if you want your good looking shoreditch crowd with a little more west end pretense check out this place. it also has a dancefloor but i've never graced it with my moves. it can get a little packed and the bar area is too narrow. Expect to wait for your drink but when you get it is likely to go down well unless your on a budget. the people are not as friendly as other shoreditch haunts but its better than the west end.

favela chic - shoreditch - bar/restaurant

91-93 great eastern street - tags - cultural international dancing

many of my friends love this place but i am not so sure. its good to hear those brazilian beats and immerse yourself in the decor of the continent but there's few places to put your drink down or sit. the place serves food until too late so when some people are relaxing and eating a nice meal the person next to them is bopping and sweating from the latin beats. its just not practical. besides that its pretty good, the crowd is international and generally quite friendly. the bar staff do a good job but the price of a drink is a bit steep for this area likely due to the fact you are edged towards the cocktails. it's definitely worth visiting but beware of the queues to get in, they can be quite fierce, this place fills up quick.

hoxton bar and kitchen - hoxton - bar/club

2-4 hoxton square - tags - attractive-people modern dancing

from the outside i thought this place would be a little staid but i was proved wrong upon my entry. i recommend you bypass the queue for the bar (which can get long) and go through to the restaurant which links to the bar through the back. i just saved you 15 mins queuing. genius. so what’s it like inside? a typical modern bar design, inside is nothing exceptional but i liked the crowd. you can wear what you want but this being shoreditch people make a little effort. a healthy female to male ratio may be enough for some but the music was also a delightful treat which was a mix of classic funk, soul and well known acceptable cheesey music like michael jackson. a spacious dancefloor at the back makes it a good place to start and end the night. drinks are a bit above average and they don’t serve corona. tut tut tut. worth a vist nonetheless.

john snow - soho - pub

39 broadwick street - tags - summer chilled character

generally speaking i am not a pub goer. but this is one of my favs in london. the pub is named after a man named john snow who helped track and defeat a cholera outbreak in soho many eons ago. this pub produces its own brand booze so don’t go in expecting to order a stella. despite this there is a good range of drinks. the staff are great but it’s impossible to get a decent seat in this pub so everyone spills on to the street around the pub. perfect for a summers day, not so good when wet.

keston lodge - angel - bar

131 upper street - tags - attractive-people character chilled

the thing that stands out about this place is the décor. Its actually original for london and difficult to describe. i think it’s a slightly kitsch 1960's living room type of style. the clientele are the usual angel young professionals but unlike clapham (which I hate!) these people have style, are attractive and know how to have a good time without throwing up by the roadside. i would also say they appear like the sort of people you could chat too. that means a lot in an anonymous city like london. i am not sure how much the drinks cost, a friend bought them but i don’t believe they were too expensive. the music is a little cheesy but that’s ok. dress reasonably smart and take a breath of fresh air in the back outside area when needed.

light bar - shoreditch - bar/restaurant

233 shoreditch high street - tags - chilled upmarket character

spacious is the name of the game here. a large outside section makes it perfect for summer. and inside you have your breathing space, though it can get a little busy on a friday. the bar staff are cool and the drinks are reasonably priced. its a great place to hold a birthday or similar event though I advise you to book a table in advance (its free!) they get eaten up quickly. the music isn't bad, just whatever's popular. definitely more a place for conversation than hardcore partying and they have a nice lounge and bar area upstairs. a largely more suit wearing (city boys?) crowd than shoreditch is used to but that isn't too much of a problem, there is a good mix and match of people and i haven't encountered any unfriendliness. In fact once a guy bumped into me in this bar and apologised. that's quite a big thing for london.

lounge bohemia - shoreditch - bar

1e great eastern street - tags - date-potential cosy cultural

i once went here on date its perfect for that but little else. Due to some sort of strange bar licence you are actually not allowed to stand in this place, you have to have a seat! Don’t dare try and pop in on a friday, there will be no seats and you will have to traipse back up the stairs. besides that I love this place, cool 60’s furniture and interior with a wide selection of czech beverages (it’s a czech themed bar). It also offers some uncommon finger food. i remember scoffing some quail eggs and caviar. if you book in advance you can get a cove for a group of friends which should cater for 5 or 6 but this place is more about sophistication than raucousness. enjoy.

old blue last - shoreditch - pub

38 great eastern street - tags - grimey live-music cheap

one word to describe this place would be grimey. in fact that’s probably the only word that could describe it. it’s owned by vice magazine (an underground hipster magazine focused on fashion, culture etc). i dare not categorize the music for fear of getting it wrong but i believe it’s what some people call indie, but decidedly underground. they have quite a few live acts on show and the booze is well priced. it’s the place for cool, alternative kids. i make it sound pretentious but really its not, it’s relaxed and chilled. Worth a flying visit if your tired of the sleek modern bar scene.

sanderson - long bar - soho - bar/restaurant/hotel

50 berners street - tags - upmarket character expensive

the only reason to go here is if you want to snare a hedge fund manager or dabble in some celeb spotting. a cocktail is £13-16 pounds and it doesn’t do beer or anything cheaper. this is financial suicide. i don’t have to tell you i only bought one drink. why was i there in the first place? well the décor is truly magnificent and the bar is attached to a world renowned hotel of the same name. plus pharrell was in town. my plan was to break out and sing right there in the hotel lobby and get a record deal. alas pharell never showed but I think I saw lindsay lohan.

t bar - shoreditch - club

56 shoreditch high street - tags - dancing grimey international

tech house electro heaven or maybe purgatory. Either way a good venue if you like your tech house otherwise stay clear. the decor is that typical shoreditch exposed brick style though they've carved out a red lounge area to the right to stop it being too harsh. you can usually find a seat in that enclave and enjoy a drink with a few friends. the crowd is quite international, ive met spaniards, south africans, poles and japenese people here. suffice it to say the person to your left is likely to be flying high thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere and vibe. bottom line don't come here to chill. come here to party.

the big chill - shoreditch - bar

dray walk off brick lane - tags - chilled character alternative

the big chill is perfect for anyday when its not raining. About a third of the space is outside so if your feeling the summer heat, you may want to check this place out. that being said they do have an awning that protects one from the rain. it’s just a good bar. accessible, friendly and attractive staff, drinks are just about reasonable and the music always continues to amaze me. Most of this area is solid electro but i’ve heard quite a bit of afrobeat, reggae and alternative sounds coming from these speakers. You can have a conversation without shouting and everyone is just there to have a good time. one snag is the lack of space due to these huge columns they have inside the bar to support the ceiling but that’s not too much of a problem. be prepared to queue just a little bit for your drink, nevertheless a solid venue.

the gramaphone - shoreditch - bar/club

60-62 commerical street - tags - chilled date-potential character

classic. i love this place. upstairs is chilled, relaxed and candlelit. not in a cheesy romantic way but in a way of style and sophistication while some old reggae track plays in the background. its not too flash or too grimey its that perfect equilibrium. great for a date or perfect for relaxing with friends. the tables and chairs are somewhat limited so i would try and get there at least before 9pm. prices are reasonable and as the night progresses the downstairs club section opens up into a cavern like interior. down there you may find some hard hitting electro or some soul/funk vibe. i truly think this is one of shoreditch’s hidden gems, partly because its off the beaten track. a must visit.

the old queen's head - angel - pub

44 essex road - tags - dancing party attractive-people

from the outside i raised my eyebrow and didn't expect much it just looked like an old pub, but when i stepped inside it was bangin' and bangin' is a word i rarely use. if you're here to party then head straight upstairs and have a good time. the decor is that living room kitsch style that seems quite popular these days. the people are friendly, good looking and fun loving and the drinks are not obscenely priced. i had a very good time here. there are also some comfy seats in the corners if you wish to take a break with a table to place your drink down. it may be a little grimey for angel standards but compared to some shoreditch haunts its positively demure. enjoy.

the social - soho - bar/diner

5 little portland street - tags - chilled cheap live-music

whenever anyone insists on meeting near oxford street i tend to take them to this place. its reasonably priced, the music is always tolerable if not enjoyable and the bar staff are always friendly. in fact i remember having a very interesting conversation with the dj about the london music scene for a good 10-15 mintues. this place is free flowing and easy. there’s also a diner/restaurant upstairs that makes all manner of sandwiches i woulnd’t bother ordering. skip the diner head straight downstairs and enjoy yourself. a good place for a few drinks but nothing too heavy.

three blind mice - shoreditch - bar

5 ravey street - tags - chilled cosy underground

small and pokey and a few steps underground this place has character. the crowd is your usual shoreditch lot but a little less pretentious. a few seating areas will likely need advanced booking but feel free to stand up and have a random chat with people at the bar. they are all friendly. i wouldn’t recommend going here with a group of more than 6 or 7. though a little grimey, i wouldn’t rule it out for date potential. definitely worth a punt and a good place to start before moving on to something else in what i lovingly refer to as the ditch (shoreditch).

vibe bar - shoreditch - bar/club

91 brick lane - tags - chilled grimey summer

this bar is spacious, relaxed and chilled but there is a happening dancefloor if you feel the need to get down. vibe bar was my first introduction to the area many eons ago and i still love it. feel free to grab a meal at the numerous curry houses on brick lane and end up here. its a little grimey for some but not for most. don't bother dressing up or expecting glamour. its great in summer and comes into its own when your with a group of friends. they've usually got a bbq going as well so feel free to grab a bench outside and dig into your south african seasoned burger. the music is always enjoyable not too commercial but not too underground, it usually ranges from electro to funk to good hip hop (no 50 cent). drinks are not too extortionate but they ain't dirt cheap either. a staple night out could well include this place. p.s. about a third of the bar is outdoors.

zigfrid - hoxton - bar

11 hoxton square - tags - date-potential quirky expensive

i was taken here on a date here way back in the spring of 2007 and went a few months back with a friend. the décor is second to none. funky, creative, quirky and a funny portrait of bill gates and his team in microsoft’s very early days. you can also get some decent food here too. bar staff are friendly and the door men are largely alright, though not all the time. the music is easy going electro. so what’s the catch? you guessed it, the expense, plus its gets too rammed on a friday. you will need to go early and clinch a seat and there’s not much space to stand around. Expect to pay about £4-5 for a pint. i would recommend this place during the week (much more quieter) and good place for a first date if you want to splash some cash.