3 Chapel Market,
Islington,
London,
N1 9EZ
0872 148 0821
Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.
The ViewLondon Review
A hip, late night cocktail bar serving up some of London’s most superlative cocktails.
The Venue
Geographically, Anam sits on a quiet stretch of Chapel Market among the clutter of market debris. Spiritually, it belongs in a trendy side street in downtown Manhattan. The intimately small, two-floor cocktail bar has all the trappings of the sublime New York bar scene but is located on an off-the-beaten-track road in London’s Islington.
The bar evokes a '70s era basement look, which is expressed through technical art, comfy red leather booths, mirror ball lighting and erotic-red undertones. The decor is retro-chic with plasma screens, incense candles, exotic foliage and a revealing fish tank that separates the male and female toilets, adding a curious note to the lavatory experience.
The Atmosphere
The clientele at Anam falls somewhere between trendy post-work suits and late-night Islington regulars hunkering down in their best hush-hush local. Before the crowds get heavy you can find intimate liaisons and small groups of friends chatting over the cool sound of crushing ice. However, be warned, during the night's peak hours, snagging a seat - or, better yet, a leather couch - becomes a crazy game of chance.
The Music
If there was ever a bar that catered for great soul music then it is Anam. An impressive CD selection pumps out a blend of ‘60s and ‘70s soul music from northern soul to modern day classics and motown. DJs (on the scene most nights around 8pm) are known to throw down anything from classic disco, plush funk and soulful house to dubstep and dancehall.
Friday and Saturday nights are key with resident DJs and guests mixing a soulful kaleidoscope of tracks that could champion the bar staff’s tricky blend of work over at the bar.
The Drink
Anam is deadly serious about drink. Step to the bar and you will find smartly attired mixologists stirring and shaking a selection of potions that are handily defined in the wooden novel-like cocktail list (there are 41 cocktails in total).
A large glass of Adam and Eve (a fruity elixir of fresh blueberries with Zubrowka vodka, peach liqueur, lime juice and a Chambord float) resembles a piece of art with cascading berries acting like little jewels in a sea of peachy juice. More complex is the sharp, blood-red American Psycho (a heady cocktail of assorted American whiskies, grapefruit, Absinthe, Maraschino, port and nutmeg), which is by no means blended for the faint hearted. The Shy Rosie (featuring the nutty charm of white rum, Cointreau and Frangelico hazelnut liqueur spiced with tangy pineapple juice and pomegranate syrup) is a ridiculously addictive blend that can be yours for just £7, priced similarly to other cocktails on the menu.
Alternatively, the wine and draught lines are nearly as satisfying. Bottles of Becks Vier, Peroni, Sol and Magners are reasonably priced at £3.50, whilst a bottle of Atlas Cumbres Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentinia will set you back just £17.
The Last Word
A heady mix of down-home neighbourhood bar and sexy lounge, Anam offers a warm and sexy atmosphere in a way that many of the joints on Upper Street just aren't capable of matching.
Anam has been reviewed by 15 users