Although the lure of late night partying in Clapham is only a stone’s throw away from Balham, there are some advantages to a night out in SW12, and one of the best places to go out in the area is the all-rounder, Firefly.

The Venue
Conveniently situated a couple of minutes away from the tube, this is a small bar bursting with character. A large glass front with outdoor seating greets you and, when you step inside, it’s like you have entered a whole new world. You hardly notice that Firefly is on a busy main road; you just sit back and chill without any care in the world.

The bar section has cosy booths, ideal to sit and chat in, and with its exposed brick walls and gothic features, this is where you come to party, whereas the back is the place to eat. Firefly has a red theme to it, with red furnishings and warming, flickering candles that help to create an air of mystery and a boudoir feel.

The Atmosphere
During the week it gets busy (without becoming too packed) and it has a great buzz to it, but come Thursday and Friday, it becomes rammed with people celebrating the weekend with a well deserved drink. Typically you will find locals in here who are in their late 20s to early 30s. At quieter times, the bar staff, who are very friendly and spritely, provide customers with table service, which is lovely touch.

The Food
Firefly offers a menu for people of all states of hunger, whether you are just in the mood for a nibble or you are ravenous. The starters include dishes from around the world like Mexican nachos (£6.50), spicy lamb samosas (£4.25), grilled chicken satay skewers (£5) and mini Cumberland sausages (£4.95). If you can’t decide what to have then your best bet is one of the three platters: Mezze (£13.50), Oriental (£14.95) and Firefly (£14.95). As you’d expect these give a selection of small bites and are a good way to share with your friends.

For those of a hungrier disposition, then the mains are definitely for you. There are burgers, sausages and mash (all £8.95) and pies – good British grub. Burgers start off at £8.50 for a halloumi one and go up to £9.95 for a lamb or Firefly burger. The Firefly burger is a thick patty which is freshly made and has coriander and fresh chillis chopped into it, to give it a bit of a kick. The meat is juicy and with the added toppings, ranging from 50p for cheese, bacon and egg and £2 for an extra patty, you can have your burger just how you like it. The chips that accompany it are thick with the skins on them for extra crispiness. The homemade pies - beef steak and ale and chicken and mushroom (both £7.25) - are particularly special. The beef pie has a soft flaky pastry and is set in its own ceramic dish, with a rich filling. There are plump, succulent mushrooms and tender beef drenched in a thick indulgent gravy. This is the ultimate comfort food and a side of creamy mash (£2.75) seals the deal.

If you can squeeze in dessert (all £4.25), then the Belgian waffles with maple syrup are phenomenal. The waffle is warm, soft and gooey - and unbelievably tasty. The sprig of mint goes beautifully with it and goes some way to offsetting the sweetness of the dish.

The Drink
The tipple to have at Firefly is definitely a cocktail. Happy Hour, which is between 6-8pm, Monday-Friday, means you can get 2-4-1 cocktails on the classic cocktails menu. All priced at £6.95, you can expect to find the usual suspects like a Mojito, Margarita, Daiquiri and Cosmo. The Dark and Stormy is especially good as it has a ginger zing to it and is very refreshing. Other cocktails on offer are the Firefly signature cocktails (all £6.95), with Bramble, Black and White Russian and Long Beach Iced Tea amongst the selection. Champagne cocktails consist of raspberry and strawberry Belinis and a Kir Royale, all of which are priced at £7.50.

The wine selection is of a reasonable size with some decent bottles on it. The house, a Chilean Sauvingon Blanc or a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is £4.10 for a small glass, £5.20 for a large and £14 the bottle. The house red tastes predominantly of blackberries and cherries and, although the description says easy drinking, it is actually quite complex and heavy on the tannins. If you want something that is really easy to drink, the 2009 Shiraz (£4.50/£5.50/£14.50) is your best bet. For something a bit more fancy, then the Chilean Pinot Noir (£22.50) is a good choice. For the whites the 2008 Wild Rock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (£6.80/£8.95/£24.80) and the Sancerre (£29.50) are great options.

If you want a bit of fizz in your life, then try a glass of Prosecco for £6 a glass, or £25 the bottle and, with the Michel Forget (£7.50 a glass /£33.50 a bottle), you can dream about living the high life. But perhaps the Moet (£45) and Laurent Perrier Rose (£80) might help with the fantasy.

For the beer lovers there are four beers on tap: Peroni, Becks Vier, Guinness and Warsteiner and some in bottles, such as Asahi, Vedette, Corona and Leffe Blonde.

The Last Word
Firefly has a great buzz and you are guaranteed to have a good time, thanks in no small part to the impeccable service. Settle in for a few cocktails during happy hour and any notion you had of going up the road for a night out in Clapham will soon become a distant memory.

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