Award winning Amika pulls in a Sloaney crowd keen to enjoy the plush surroundings and Balearic sounds, but it doesn’t come cheap with high drinks prices and cover charges.

The Venue
Located a two minute walk from the tube station on Kensington High Street, Amika is easy to get to. After parting with up to £20 for entry, you descend the steep twisting staircase into the main club area, which is divided into three rooms, each with its own unique feel.

To the left is the Chandelier Bar, which serves as the main room with a raised leather-bound DJ booth, tables with built-in ice buckets for the Champagne swillers, and overpowering chandeliers hanging from the tall ceiling. This room has a dark, gothic feel, and serves as the main dance arena; however, annoyingly, there is no actual dancefloor, which can make the room feel overcrowded. Opposite this room lies the VIP Champagne Room, accessed by members only by a swipe of their card to open up the sliding glass door and reveal leather banquette seating and cute ice-bucket tables as before. At the back of the club is the Cocktail Bar, a simply gorgeous room decked out all in white, with white leather banquettes, plush white cushions and simple pale walls. This room serves as a relaxing haven when it all gets too much.

The Atmosphere
Amika’s claims at unpretentiousness fall a little on deaf ears – they’d have to admit to being somewhat grandiose when one needs a swipe card to access a third of the club! The clientele can be predictably Sloaney given the Kensington location, and generally quite young although it also attracts every celebrity in town from Princess Beatrice to Jon Bon Jovi and supermodel Agyness Deyn. The vibe is exceptional though, with an upbeat crowd keen to dance around the tables and flash their cash. Even the bar staff are helpful and friendly, keen to make recommendations and occasionally offering drinks for you to try on the house.

The Music
Amika attracts some top DJs, including London club scene It Boy Sam Young - the winner of last year’s Best DJ at the London Bar and Club Awards, who boasts of DJing stints for Elton John’s birthday and the Sex and the City movie premiere among other gigs on his CV. The music is made up of a little RnB combined with a more upbeat Balearic dance vibe of house music and classic dance tunes. Just try not to dance!

The Drink
You wouldn’t need a crystal ball to predict Amika’s drinks prices are some of the most expensive in clubland. Cocktails are large but priced around a tenner, and with the Champagne (which seems to be the most popular thing to drink here) the sky’s the limit if you want to order a decent bottle. Most typical doubles with a mixer will cost nearly £10 each too, so it’s worth remembering the credit card!

The Last Word
This place has been much-celebrated since its launch in spite of lacking a dancefloor and the high prices, but those things don’t explain the full Amika experience. You’ll feel exclusive, be able to have fun and get down to the best tunes with the knowledge that not just anyone can come here.

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