A rock stronghold in the middle of Camden, Bar Monsta can be a good address for anybody into that music but it is better skipped by everyone else.

The Venue
Located close to the tube station, in the very heart of Camden, Bar Monsta is nevertheless easy to miss due its location on the dark and not very frequented Kentish Town Road. This rock venue is made of a small, scantly furnished ground floor room with red walls and an upstairs balcony open for private functions or during the busiest nights. As is so common in Camden, Bar Monsta is not exactly pristine in its decor or glamorous in any way. While this is acceptable because of its rock nature, it still would be positive if they decorated and furnished the venue more thoroughly. As it is, it appears as a barely painted over former deposit of the nearby supermarket: not very appealing.

The Atmosphere
Bar Monsta can be enjoyed by most people into rock and metal - genres that the venue plays almost exclusively - with rare ventures into hip hop and RnB during almost deserted nights. The door policy is pretty strict, with no hoods and sportswear allowed. However, the crowd inside can be pretty heterogeneous and is composed of people enjoying the live acts very often walking the stage. Bar Monsta is mostly non judgmental and so are the cool bar staff, appropriately donning a Camden edge of tattoos, facial piercings and hair coloured in vibrant green and blue. This does not mean that the crowd is friendly though: quite the contrary, actually. An added bonus is the generous opening hours, extending every night until 3am. However, unless you are there attracted by the act playing for the night or are really into rock and metal, Camden has better options to offer than this small bar.

The Drink
There’s nothing worthy of special note: there is a regular selection of beers and spirits, conveniently displayed at the back of the bar. A drawback? For the adventurous drinkers, definitely so. For most of the population, though, drinking a Budvar is a perfectly acceptable way of spending a night out, but what is sure is that the place does not get extra points for its creativity or innovative concepts. Prices are average for the area, with beers priced at £3, spirits at £2.50 and selected drinks, usually including a beer or two, selling for £2.

The Last Word
If rock and metal raise your heartbeat, a tentative trip to Bar Monsta can be attempted if you select a good night. For everybody else, Camden is rich in better venues more worth your time.

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