Basement Club,
42-44 Kingsland Road,
Shoreditch,
London,
E2 8DA
0872 148 3668
The ViewLondon Review
It may be argued with some conviction that Anda da Bridge shares many characteristics with other bars in the Shoreditch area. Exposed bricks, loungy sofas, long tube-y things that probably have an important engineering or structural function, which are integrated into the general decoration, and cocktails.
Yet despite these common features, it feels entirely different to your average, reasonably pleasant urban drinking hole. It feels like a relaxed bar on the Mexican border, where anyone can come for one of your finest strong Capirinhas, bartender, and no questions asked.
This happy atmosphere is no doubt partly due to the incredibly varied crowd of regulars who frequent the bar. They range in age from whippersnappers of 25 via guys of a certain age and haircut who look like they are trying to buy or sell a map where X marks the spot where ‘ole someBuddy buried the treasure’; to righteous ladies of retirement age who have escaped their more traditional duties of cooking Chicken Jerk to come and emancipate themselves in the right way.
There are other attractive touches: the cushions are hessian covered, which looks a million times more interesting than leather, and is surprisingly comfortable, the music is hip hop and lilting reggae, with DJ’s from Thursday to Sunday playing reggae, calypso, Cuban styles, and the odd live (but strictly mellow) band.
Slatted wood shades on the window and stone coffee tables, which glint under the glow from the sparkling fairy lights, put you in mind of crickets singing in the endless summer dusk of a hot country in the lull between the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the evening proper.
There is a short but sweet cocktail list. These babies are strong and tasty, and a perfect accompaniment to the Caribbean and Spanish tapas and bar snacks. I had some delicious plantain banana chips with Mango relish. I was eyeing the specials board with its Jerks and Curries with some greed too.
Why stick in frosty Shoreditch when you can pretend you’re somehow hot and faraway, all for the measly price of a beer? Escapism can be yours Anda da Bridge.
Anda De Bridge has been reviewed by 4 users