Take a walk on the wild side at Funky Munky. The cheap drinks, easygoing atmosphere and DJ nights make this a local to go ape about.

The Venue
Funky Munky is something of a sanctuary from the wilderness of the high street outside. Banana yellow walls and chunky timber tables made from reclaimed wood create a jungle chic style that even Tarzan would appreciate.

Candles drip wax into the old tequila and rum bottles they’re wedged into, casting a rustic campsite glow over the golden room. The mood is mellow and homely with magazine and newspaper racks to peruse with your pint or latte. That is unless it’s a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night when jungle fever takes over.

The Atmosphere
This colourful, laid back venue on Camberwell Church Street is a popular bar and students from the nearby Camberwell School of Art are the frequent clientele. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming and Funky Munky has possibly the friendliest bar staff in London.

Open until late, Funky Munky is an ideal destination for a night of boozing and confabulation without having to face the herds - or the prices - of the West End. During daylight hours the atmosphere is extremely laid back and the bar is punctuated with couples mulling over the weekend papers and groups of left-wing students sitting against the wall emblazoned with the anti-fascist slogan ‘No Pasaran’. After dark, towards the tail end of the week, DJs take over amping up the intensity of the Munkey. There is an upstairs bar that can be hired for private parties, and on Sundays between 3pm-7pm the venue is transformed into the Sunday Swap Shop - a vintage and secondhand market to trade clothes, records and bric-a-brac.

The Food
In credit crunch times, venues like Funky Munky are a shining beacon in the darkness. The kitchen is open Tuesday-Sunday and with meals starting at just £4.50, it’s cheaper than hitting the supermarket for ingredients. The menu is made up of hearty favourites including nachos, steak burger, club sandwich, Greek salad, fish and chips, sausage and mash, chicken, leek and thyme pie as well as daily specials.

Beware: the kitchen can be as laid-back as the atmosphere and when you order you may just find the chef has popped out to buy supplies and you’ll have to leave empty-stomached.

The Drink
Cocktails are £6 and 2-4-1 between 5pm-7pm daily, which draws a large and diverse crowd, from the mojito-mad, to cosmopolites and the margarita-clique. The cocktail menu spans all eras and tastes with daiquiris, mules, minty mojitos and saccharine caipirinhas. There is a wide choice of local and imported beers and the wine list has a good, affordable range of plonk from budget to mid-range. Flash your student card for even better prices - students can get a pint or spirit and mixer for £2.50.

The Last Word
Perfect for party animals and Sunday sloths alike, Funky Munky is an eccentric venue to chat art and politics with your pint or to head for a sweaty night out with your prime-mates. Just don’t go ape if the chef goes on a hunt for food.

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