Nightlife in Bloomsbury: A Guide to the Best Bars and Pubs

Nightlife in Bloomsbury: A Guide to the Best Bars and Pubs

The great thing about Bloomsbury is the fact it’s packed to the rafters with great things to do after sundown. As the night lights flicker on, everything comes alive around here, and that’s why writing this list of the best bars in Bloomsbury and surrounds was fairly simple, especially with two daughters to add some first-hand recommendations for the younger generation!

Whether you’re organising an event and overnight accommodation, or simply want to sample a slice of Bloomsbury’s vibrant nightlife scene during your stay at the Mentone, we’ve got pretty much everything here you could imagine.

From gastro pubs and tapas joints to dance clubs, activity bars and live music, here’s our take on the best nightlife to enjoy in Bloomsbury.

Top Tapas

We’ve got some of London’s best gastro pubs in Bloomsbury, but when it comes to tapas, Barrafina for me tops them all.

Barrafina is part of a small chain of five London venues. My most favourite tapas restaurant, the one at Coal Drops Yard King’s Cross is a 20 minute walk or 6 minute taxi ride from the Mentone.

It’s got an open kitchen, with a stunning marble-topped bar and leather stools where you can sit and watch the chefs concoct your meal.

There’s an amazing menu of small bites, tortillas, seafood and meats, as well as some mouth-watering veggie dishes like crispy aubergine with honey, beetroot and ajo blanco, and wild mushrooms with fried egg.

The wine list is a joy to behold too, with a huge range of sherries, Cavas and whites, reds and rosés from all four corners of Spain.

Barrafina Coal Drops Yard

Unit 85, Coal Drops Yard (Viaduct Level), London N1C 4DQ
https://www.barrafina.co.uk/restaurants/coal-drops-yard/
Email: info@barrafina.co.uk
Open Monday to Sunday 12-3pm & 5-10pm

Also part of the Barrafina family and located at Coal Drops Yard is the terrace bar, Parrillan. This is a lovely covered and heated terrace, sitting on the viaduct level of the former Victorian coal store and set amongst lush Mediterranean plants.

Again this is one of the best gastro pubs in Bloomsbury, serving Spanish tapas, rice dishes, soups and stews, as well as a variety of meat, seafood and vegetables, which you cook yourself on your own mini-grill.

Again there’s plenty of choice from the drinks menu with loads of sherries and Cavas by the glass or bottle. Plus there’s a dedicated gin and tonic menu, and cocktails by the glass and carafe.

Parrillan Coal Drops Yard

Unit 102, Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street London N1C 4DQ
https://www.parrillan.co.uk/coal-drops-yard
Email: CDYreservations@parrillan.co.uk
Open Friday & Saturday 12-10pm and Sunday 12-5pm

Late Night Clubs & Music & Dance Bars

If a night out in London to you means banging tunes and partying till dawn, then Bloomsbury won’t disappoint. Being a stone’s throw from King’s Cross and Euston means there’s plenty to entertain you.

Here are a couple of insider recommendations from the younger members of the Mentone management family, both of which offer private hire facilities should you be organising something momentous.

Egg London

5-13 Vale Royal, London N7 9AP
https://egglondon.co.uk/
Email: info@egglondon.co.uk
Open:
Wednesdays 10.30pm-4am
Fridays 11pm-6am
Saturdays 11pm-7am

This club in King’s Cross is an icon of London’s nightlife scene. A huge warehouse–style venue with a 24 hour licence, it’s renowned for pumping out top party vibes into the small hours.

There’s a late night kitchen so you won’t go hungry if you’re on an all-nighter, and you can book a VIP table in advance if you’re celebrating a special occasion.

A full schedule of themed events will keep you entertained, and the venue is regularly given over to a variety of private and corporate events too, from networking to award ceremonies.

For the best entry deals, book an online advance ticket.

Simmons Bar Euston Square

31 University St, London WC1E 6JL
https://www.simmonsbar.co.uk/venues/euston-square/
Email: info@simmonsbar.co.uk
Tel: 020 3879 9252
Open:
Monday to Wednesday 4pm – 11pm
Thursday to Friday 4pm – 1am
Saturday 3pm – 11pm

If you’re looking for lively bars near Bloomsbury London, this music and cocktail bar located in the University of London in Euston Square won’t disappoint. Expect a diverse variety of tunes, from hip-hop, disco and funk to 80s and 90s classics and cheesy party favourites.

Simmons isn’t your usual nightclub. Its neon signage, SEGA Megadrive and fireplace centrepiece make it a pretty cool place to hang out for the evening.

If karaoke’s your thing, there’s the opportunity to hire your very own private karaoke room with over 50,000 songs, suitable for 5 to 50 people. The venue also offers private hire with a range of function rooms for 30-200 people, all with their own private bar and standalone sound systems.

For smaller parties, you can reserve an area of the bar including tables, chairs and standing space for your own cosy do.

Bar Salsa Soho

96 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0JG
https://www.bar-salsa.com/soho
Tel: 020 7379 3277
Email: salsacharingcross@stonegategroup.co.uk
Open:
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 4pm-2am
Friday: 4pm-3am
Saturday: 1pm-3am
Sunday: 1pm-2am
Monday: 4pm-3am

If you’re a lover of the Latino vibe then you’re probably going to enjoy Bar Salsa in Soho where they literally party till dawn to a non-stop Latin and Reggaeton soundtrack, or so I’m reliably informed by my daughters.

There’s a nightly schedule of events, plus Salsa dance classes every night, a cocktail menu featuring more than 50 varieties, and menus to suit all occasions, including tapas and sharing planks.

So if you’re looking for the best bars near Bloomsbury London to really let your hair down, perhaps give Bar Salsa Soho a go, just a 25 minute walk or 10 minute taxi ride from the Mentone Hotel.

Activity Bars

If you’re more a gamer than a dancer, an activity bar will be right up your street. For us, some of the best bars in Bloomsbury for a fun night out with a difference include:

Flight Club

Flight Club is a global chain of activity bars based around the concept of ‘social darts’. Not heard of it? Neither had I till it came to Bloomsbury, but now it’s a firm fixture and we have more than one of them nearby.

Reinvented for the 21^st century, Flight Club offers a range of multi-player darts games designed to keep you hooked. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned player, you’ll love the atmosphere and amazing Instagram-worthy settings. And the cocktail and food sharing menus aren’t bad either.

Flight Club Islington

56 Upper Street, London N1 0NY
https://flightclubdarts.com/location-islington
Open:
Monday to Wednesday 11am-12am
Thursday 11.30am-12.30am
Friday 11.30am-2am
Saturday 11am-2am
Sunday 11.30am-11.30pm

Flight Club Islington, a 6 minute taxi ride from the Mentone, is an intimate venue with five oches and loads of seating. The décor is something else, combining classic darts heritage with British pub nostalgia and fun of the fairground with its charming carousel horse.

The stunning Orangery behind the bar is decorated with grandfather clocks, and the whole place really is just something else. Guaranteed you won’t stop snapping selfies for your first 15 minutes.

Flight Club Bloomsbury

55 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BS
https://flightclubdarts.com/location-bloomsbury
Open:
Monday to Wednesday 11.30am-12am
Thursday 11.30am-1am
Friday 11.30am-2am
Saturday 11am-2am
Sunday 11.30am-12am

Flight Club Bloomsbury, again about 6 minutes in a taxi or a 20-minute walk from the Mentone, is another outstanding-looking venue, designed around a show-stopping carousel theme that you’ll not see in any other bars in Bloomsbury.

I can promise you won’t have seen anything like it, and it’s no wonder it won Best Activity Bar in the London Lifestyle Awards. Again, get ready for those Instagram shots.

Boom Battle Bar Oxford Street

70-88 Oxford St, London W1D 1BP
Tel: 020 7286 0404
https://boombattlebar.com/uk/london-oxford-street
Email: oxfordstreet@boombattlebar.com
Open:
Tuesday & Wednesday 11:30 am–11:30 pm
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11:30 am–2 am
Sunday 11:30 am–10:30 pm
Monday 11:30 am–11:30 pm

As bars near Bloomsbury London go this one is a gamer’s paradise with its fantastic selection of activities letting you battle it out with ‘dates or mates’. Augmented reality darts, beer or Prosecco pong, shuffleboard, ‘crazier’ golf and karaoke booths await, as does a drinks menu and selection of street food, wings and burgers.

Located just 6 minutes from the Mentone Hotel in a taxi or a 25 minute walk, Boom Battle Bar is best booked in advance. It also caters for private stag and hen parties, birthdays and corporate events.

Food & Entertainment

If you’re going out in London, why not make a night of it and combine a good meal with some great entertainment? There are plenty of restaurants and pubs near Bloomsbury that offer a fantastic dining experience plus music and variety.

Here are a few favourites:

Albert’s Schloss – London

20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EU
https://albertsschloss.com/location/london/
Tel: 020 8165 0000
Open:
Monday to Friday 9am-2am
Saturday 9am-3am
Sunday 9am-10.30pm

This is one of my personal favourites, a Bavarian restaurant about a 10 minute taxi ride from the hotel with a fantastic alpine menu, beer by the tankard and live music and cabaret seven days a week.

The show-time performances with guest acts are brilliant, and the food is out of this world. Try the Bavarian Feast with roast pork knuckle, chicken schnitzel, German sausages, pork belly Schloss Kraut and pickles, or one of the many schnitzels like the Cordon Blue, Tyrolean or Caesar. There’s even a fresh in-house bakery.

They also cater for private events. Have a look at their virtual tour to get a feel for the place. You’ll love it!

The Blues Kitchen Camden

111-113 Camden High St, London NW1 7JN
https://theblueskitchen.com/camden/
Tel: 020 7387 5277
Email: bookings.camden@theblueskitchen.com

Open:
Monday & Tuesday 12pm – 12am
Wednesday & Thursday 12pm – 1am
Friday 12pm – 2.30am
Saturday 11am – 3am
Sunday 11am – 1am

This live music and dining venue is about a 25 minute walk or 7-minute taxi ride from the Mentone. They host live music in the bar every night, with resident musicians playing a mix of blues, soul and R&B.

Entry is free every weeknight, and weekends before 9pm with no need to book in advance.

Food wise they offer lunch, brunch and supper, with small plates and a £10 lunch offer. Special mention has to go to the Shrimp taco bowl, blackened salmon, sweet potato and pumpkin curry, and the St Louis pork rib. There’s also a variety of burgers.

Cafe KOKO

74 Crowndale Rd, London NW1 1TP
https://www.cafe-koko.co.uk
Tel: 020 7388 3222
Open:
Tuesday to Friday 5pm-12am
Saturday 12pm – 12am

This lively day-to-night eatery and music venue in Camden is only a 20 minute walk or 7 minute taxi from the Mentone. Combining authentic Italian cooking with a modern twist, with expertly curated music on a constant loop courtesy of live acts or DJs, Café Koko is known for its jazz, soul and Brazilian sounds.

The café is relatively new – opened in 2022 – but it’s already become another iconic venue in this part of London. Head along for brunch, lunch, a late-night pizza or their signature and almost legendary NY-style cheesecake and experience the Italian trattoria culture that’s become famous in LA and New York.

Definitely a good place for a special celebration, with party bookings welcome for 10-50 people with a set menu.

Planning a night out in London? Book your stay at the Mentone Hotel and enjoy our unlimited, complimentary breakfast, for the perfect pick-me-up after a night on the town!

Looking to book a hotel room in Bloomsbury to coincide with your night out in London? Maybe you’d like to make a block booking for a private party or corporate event? The Mentone Hotel would be delighted to welcome you, as well as point you towards all the best bars in Bloomsbury and other nightlife around town.

Close to a variety of attractions, the Grade II listed Mentone is situated in the beautiful gated gardens of Cartwright Gardens. We offer more than 40 rooms including singles, doubles and en-suites.

Please get in touch to check availability. All direct bookings benefit from a 10% discount and unlimited complimentary breakfast, ideal after a night on the tiles!

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