This place used to be a kebab shop, until the son of the owner suddenly transformed it into an unexpected cocktail bar. In all aspects a family affair with serious cocktails and friendly service as its greatest assets, Mango Lounge is definitely a place to watch.

The Venue
Unassumingly located in Earls Court Road, Mango Lounge is a fairly dark affair when night falls. The lights are dimmed to create an intimate atmosphere for the cocktail bar occupying the ground floor. The decor is a down point but still a work in process, but it's pretty bare: wall couches and regular chairs and tables are not very inviting and only some mirrors and a couple of pictures on the wall help brighten up the experience.

However, the regulars do not seem to mind, especially when the small basement club opens and the DJ plays its mix of RnB, funky house, pop and old skool tunes. This long room, often rented for private use, is also not decorated in the most fashionable way: wall mirrors and a colourful dance ball are the only decorative elements but the space is fully functional thanks to a second bar.

The Atmosphere
One of the greatest assets of Mango Lounge is its familiar atmosphere. The young staff are all very friendly, extremely knowledgeable on their cocktails, and willing to accommodate any patron’s request. The crowd of regulars is made of fairly young Earls Court residents and, as such, it reflects the variety of the area: students, travellers, young business people and exhibition visitors flock here during the four hour happy hour or after 12am when the neighbouring venues close. With a late license stretching from 5pm to 2am every day except Sundays, it is easy to spend the night on cocktails and, on Friday and Saturday, dancing in the basement club, but you better behave: Mango Lounge has a zero tolerance policy meant to keep things enjoyable for everyone.

The Food
A family affair with the food offering, the dishes served here have that homemade quality you would expect from the dinner party of a particularly skilled friend. The menu, designed to provide a selection of nibbles chosen from Asian and Mediterranean favourites, is comprised of dishes as different as nachos, spicy lamb cakes, pan fried haloumi cheese, crispy duck rolls, crab claws and chicken satay.

The Drink
Mango Lounge has piled up an impressive selection of cocktails: you can expect impeccably made classics and innovative house concoctions, all for a decent £6.50-£7.50 price. Imagine a mixture of hazelnut liquor, vanilla vodka, Kaluha, Amaretto and fresh cream or the refreshing group wedding of vodka, peach schnapps, lychee liqueur, rosewater and mango juice. And the virgin cocktails, served with a metal straw, are just as fantastic. With a really vast selection of mixing spirits and strictly fresh ingredients (no cartoon juices, no syrups), this place is deadly serious about its cocktails, which are very likely the best ones in the whole of Earls Court.

The Last Word
The transformation from ugly duckling into posh swan is still taking place so do not expect the polish of Chelsea. However, the superb cocktails, friendly atmosphere and the realistic potential for a great venue make Mango Lounge worth a visit and not only in the far future.

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