London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [160]
SHOREDITCH
Bars
Book Club.
Light and friendly, the Book Club is a fine example of Shoreditch’s fashionable industrial chic with an extra dose of culture on top. White tiles, bricks, and big black and white photos set the tone and there’s a separate room for table-tennis. Breakfast is served morning weekdays, a full lunch menu is offered through the week, and a modern menu of cocktails accompanies music, book launches, and workshops in the evenings. | 100 Leonard St., Shoreditch | Ec2A 4RH | 020/7684–8618 | www.wearetbc.com | Mon.–Wed. 8 am–midnight, Thurs.–Sat. 8 am–2 am, Sun. 10 am–midnight.
Dance Clubs
Cargo.
Housed under a series of old railway arches, this vast brick-wall bar, restaurant, dance floor, and live-music venue pulls a young, international crowd with its hip vibe and diverse selection of music. Long tables bring people together, as does the food, which draws on global influences and is served tapas-style. | 83 Rivington St., Shoreditch | EC2A 3AY | 020/7739–3440 | www.cargo-london.com | Free–£20 | Mon.–Thurs. noon–1 am, Fri. noon–3 am, Sat. 6 pm–3 am, Sun. 1 pm–midnight | Old St.
333.
The last word in dance music for the trendy Shoreditch crowd. Fashionable bright young things dance to drum ’n’ bass, twisted disco, and underground dance genres. There are three floors, each with its own theme. You can chill on leather sofas at the relaxed Mother Bar upstairs, open from 8 pm daily, which always has DJs. | 333 Old St., Shoreditch | EC1V 9LE | 020/7739–5949 | www.333mother.com | Free–£10 | Fri. and Sat. 10 pm–3 am, bar Mon.–Sun., 8 pm–3 am | Old St.
CHELSEA
Jazz and Blues
606 Club.
Expect a civilized Chelsea club that showcases mainstream and contemporary jazz by well-known British-based musicians. TIP You must eat a meal in order to consume alcohol, so allow for an extra £20. Reservations are advisable. Sunday lunchtime jazz takes place once or twice a month; call ahead. | 90 Lots Rd., Chelsea | SW10 0QD | 020/7352–5953 | www.606club.co.uk | £8–£12 music charge added to bill | Mon. 7:30 pm–12:30 am, Tues.–Thurs. 7 pm–12:30 am, Fri. and Sat. 8 pm–1:30 am, Sun. 7 pm–midnight | Earl’s Court, Fulham Broadway.
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Bars
Fodor’s Choice | The Blue Bar at the Berkeley Hotel.
With low-slung gray-blue walls this hotel bar is ever so slightly sexy. Immaculate service, an excellent cocktail list—try the Sex in the City—and a trendy David Collins design, make this an ideal spot for a secretive tête-à-tête, complete with jazzy music in the background. | Wilton Pl., Knightsbridge | SW1X 7RL | 020/291–1680 | the-berkeley.co.uk | Mon. 4 pm–1 am, Tues.–Sat. 9 am–1 am, Sun. 4–11 pm | Knightsbridge.
NOTTING HILL
Bars
Beach Blanket Babylon.
In a Georgian house in Notting Hill, close to Portobello Market, this always-packed bar is distinguishable by its eclectic indoor-outdoor spaces with Gaudí-esque curves and snuggly corners—like a fairy-tale grotto or a medieval dungeon. A sister restaurant-bar-gallery offers a slightly more modern take on similar themes in an ex-warehouse in Shoreditch (at 19 Bethnal Green Road). | 45 Ledbury Rd., Notting Hill | W11 2AA | 020/7229–2907 | www.beachblanket.co.uk | Mon.–Sat. noon–midnight, Sun. noon–11:30 pm | Notting Hill Gate.
Dance Clubs
Notting Hill Arts Club.
Rock stars like Liam Gallagher and Courtney Love have been seen at this small basement club-bar. An alternative crowd swills beer to eclectic music that spans Asian underground, hip-hop, Latin-inspired funk, deep house, and jazzy grooves. What it lacks in looks it makes up for in mood. | 21 Notting Hill Gate, Notting Hill | W11 3JQ | 020/7460–4459 | www.nottinghillartsclub.com | Free–£8 | Weekdays 7 pm–2 am, Sat. 4 pm–2 am, Sun. 4 pm–1 am | Notting Hill Gate.
MAYFAIR
Bars
Fodor’s Choice | Claridge’s Bar.
This elegant Mayfair meeting place remains unpretentious even when it brims with beautiful people. The bar has an Art Deco heritage made hip by the sophisticated touch of designer David Collins.