267 Kingsland Road,
Hackney,
London,
E2 8AS
(07809) 425905
The ViewLondon Review
In the heart of Dalston, Russian bar is busy, cheap, open late and very, very messy.
The Venue
On Kingsland Road, away from the Vietnamese restaurants and the well-known but overexposed Shoreditch haunts, the Russian Bar is unassuming yet still draws a crowd. Despite the name, nothing seems strikingly Russian about the venue, unless you associate drunken youths with a slight air of pretension dancing in a dark, crowded room as a typical Russian experience.
The look is either an attempt at looking effortless, or literally no effort has gone into it. Dark walls, a few scattered small sofas and a wooden-paneled bar with an eerie glow of red creates a look that is simple and basic. The tiny dance floor just about contains the thrusting energy of the crowd, but if you’d prefer the smell of fresh air to musky dance odours, downstairs is much quieter. With more seating, a small bar and even a pole for the more adventurous/inebriated, it’s a much more comfortable area.
The Atmosphere
The dingy bar doesn’t create a glum atmosphere for the clientele; instead they’re well up for it. The crowd seem pretty content with whatever the DJ puts on, pulsing their bodies in the constricted dance areas, while others clamber to the bar, or attempt to have a conservation by yelling over the crowd. Some just turn up, look good, know it, and pose. The busyness doesn’t seem to phase anyone, unless you’re in the achingly long queue for the ladies toilets; otherwise the mood is relatively buoyant.
The Music
Mostly house and techno beats shudder through the venue, with a few indie and grimier beats thrown in, depending on the night in question. Unless you’re part of the underground minimal resistance, don’t expect to have heard of many of the guest DJs but do pretend to know they’re big in Berlin etc.
The Drink
Nothing fancy is served here and the goal of the bar is to get their unfussy customers drunk for a reasonable price. The entry is never too steep, and this is echoed in the drinks. Single house spirits and mixers are £3.50, with the basic selection available, plus there’s a couple of beers on tap as well as a limited bottled stock for £3-£4. Wine is also served, but is only worth drinking if you are already intoxicated enough not to care about your taste buds.
The Last Word
Not at all Russian, but perfect for Dalston, this late-night DJ bar is unpretentious and laidback, but it’s also cool in a nonchalant way.
Russian Bar has been reviewed by 4 users