Hot dogs, cocktails, ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll. Joe’s in Camden is effortlessly cool.

The Venue
Joe’s manages to do an American theme without verging into the painfully cheesy. And it always had to raise its game in an area where ‘cool’ is everything. Looking at the black, almost plain building, it’s only the cute swirling letters of the sign that hints at the fun inside – that and the large front windows offering glimpses of the Americana inside.

American theme bars and restaurants are becoming increasingly popular in London, but this one manages to make it borderline-funky. Sure, the giant, lit-up HOTDOG sign isn’t particularly subtle but it’s one of the few in-your-face touches that you’ll find here and fits in well with the swathes of wooden panelling that seems to cover any surface not filled with exposed brick. The seating is plentiful enough for the space and, although it may not openly invite you to settle in for the night, it doesn’t dissuade you for making a corner your own, either. However, the real focus of the space is the fantastic jukebox with an array of rock and American tunes that will put most jukeboxes in the capital to shame. Bravo.

The Atmosphere
Joe’s may have the typically moody bar staff but it does have an overriding sense of fun that’s hard not to be charmed by. The punters are upbeat and squeal in joy as THAT song comes on and you really won’t be able to help but start tapping your toe as you settle in for the evening. It’s the kind of place that has been built to tempt you in – that lit-up hot dog sign is hard to ignore, after all…

The Food
Nope, we couldn’t resist, either. The food menu at Joe’s is simple, popcorn, hotdogs. Done. And yes they are suitably huge (it wouldn’t be American food if it wasn’t the size of your face) with a slightly toasted bun, a long sausage with a pleasant peppery flavour that those grotty side-of-the-road vendors can only dream of, lashings of fried onion, ketchup and mustard. Yes, you can feel the arteries clotting as you eat it but who cares when it’s so damn tasty?

The Drink
The drink menu at Joe’s is similarly succinct but the prices and quality is excellent. They have a good choice of draught and bottled beer if you’re looking to keep it simple, with some rare and interesting American options like Orchard Pig Cider and Dark Star American Pale Ale. They have also pushed the boat out with the cocktail selection, which so easily could have been the same old overpriced drinks. Instead, they have a reasonable price tag of around £6.50 a pop and include some innovative and fun mixes. Be sure to try the Hubba Bubba, comprised of vodka, ice cream and lemonade. Yes, it’s a little like drinking a soft drink from your childhood (in a good way!) but after a couple of them you’ll soon realise that these are most definitely NOT suitable for kids. Of course, there’s also a focus on whisky as an ingredient, such as with the cutely named Bon Bomb, made up of Four Roses bourbon and ginger beer.

The Last Word
In an area already filled with quality bars it’s good to see that new openings are still able to create waves. Joe’s certainly does that.

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