If you need to throw off the shackles of a stressful working week and love to dance the night away to a bit of Britney or Beyonce, then apt is the place to be.

The Venue
With its bright maroon and yellow signage and giant umbrellas heralding an ideal area for banished smokers, it’s hard to miss the entrance to this City bar. Chances are there’ll also be hoardes of people standing around or queuing to get into this popular nightspot that ticks all the boxes for a great weeknight wind-down or a flirtatious night of drinking and dancing. Just a short stumble from Mansion House station, apt has three bars (one upstairs for the chill-out crowd and two downstairs where the DJ kicks off). The sleek, shiny and modern decor, with mirrored walls, leather couches and trendy barstools, is not by any means unique but design touches like the funky glowing marbled tabletop upstairs add some personality.

The Atmosphere
apt is a typical City haunt, packed as early as 6pm on a Friday night and pumping with cashed up twenty-to-thirtysomethings downing the flowing drinks until the early hours of the morning. The apt bar upstairs, with comfy white leather benches, high tables and smooth burgundy walls, is chilled and chatty while the party mood reigns downstairs. Staff cope well with the heavy load of partygoers and are friendly and accommodating.

The Music
This is a late night bar and there’s plenty of room in the cavernous club and lounge bars downstairs to give your dancing shoes a whirl. You won’t be alone as the party classics and pop tunes come thick and fast with the DJ taking requests all night. Upstairs in the lounge bar is a more relaxed combination of pop and RnB (at a volume where you can still enjoy a chat).

The Food
apt has a surprisingly large evening menu – there are snacks great for sharing at the beginning of the night and more hearty favourites like the Aberdeen Angus burger and Angel Hair Pasta available at great pub prices. Off the nibbles menu (a steal at three for £10), the baked camembert topped with sweet onion chutney is deliciously gooey and divine when combined with the crunchy baguette, but could be served warmer. The roast mini Cumberland sausages are tasty little morsels, but use the too-sweet grain mustard and honey dip sparingly. Sharing platters priced from £12.95 are perfect as a kickstart to a night of drinking for larger groups or functions. There is also a lunch menu with salads, sandwiches and traditional British comfort food available from noon.

The Drink
Like any self-respecting City bar, apt has a decent choice of deluxe cocktails, wines and Champagnes. If forking out £48 for a bottle of Veuve Clicquot is not your style then you’ll love the great deals at Happy Hour when you can get up to 50 per cent off some food and drinks. The cocktail menu consists of old favourites mixed with some newbies – the Passionate (a tangy mix of Smirnoff vodka, Absolut mandarin, passionfruit puree and orange juice) is a house original and can be enjoyed for under £6. Bottled beers on offer include Brahma, Becks and Corona and are priced from £2.50–£3.50. Otherwise, there is a sufficient range of tap beers and spirits. Be aware that they serve doubles and charge for your mixer – a double spirit will set you back around £6.80.

The Last Word
It’s not the trendiest or most original bar to be found in the City, but that’s not a bad thing. apt is not too pretentious or exclusive and promises a great night out if you’re in the right mood.

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