Vaguely inspired by famous road trip films, this new Old Street venue has something interesting to say and it is worth a visit, despite the fact that the area is already oversaturated with bars.

The Venue
Located only a few metres away from Old Street tube station, Roadtrip Bar’s decor is a mishmash of styles. There’s a black and white floral ceiling, retro leather armchairs, a wide array of outdoor furniture (including rattan chaise longues and classical metal chairs), industrial lighting and the centerpiece, an intriguing ram’s skull chandelier. Surprisingly, the mix works and if you have a faint deja vu that reminds you of The Elbow Room, Revolution or other bars, you would be spot on since Roadtrip Bar is owned by the designer of those venues.

This is a unique space which you’ll remember for both the eclectic interiors and the wide and pleasant outdoor terrace. Slightly more enjoyable during the day, the terrace is particularly nice. It’s covered entirely by a black canopy, and the different pieces of furniture give it a nice edge. The fact that it spreads over a particularly wide sidewalk rather than being directly on the street means that you can have a bite here without breathing exhaust fumes.

The Atmosphere
Far from being pretentious, this bar wants to be a friendly, lively and kicking venue. You will find a mix of people in their mid-twenties and mid-thirties, and whilst you might imagine everyone to be the average Shoreditch local, some customers are well dressed media types whilst others are students. The first group flocks to the venue at night and the latter tend to hang out here the whole day, since Roadtrip Bar sells sandwiches and beers during the daytime. The friendly staff will ensure things do’nt get out of control, no matter what time of day it is.

In the middle of Roadtrip Bar there’s a small stage, made of stacked wood, that hosts a long lineup of DJs and live acts. You will find the stage in use mainly on weekend, when you can listen to a mix of indie, hip-hop, rock 'n' roll, electro, country, punk, ‘80s synth and more. Saturday seems to be disco night, mixing in boogie, electronica and classics, while Sundays are more chilled with a medley of ska, rocksteady and dub. Essentially, this is an eclectic people pleaser, Shoreditch style.

The Food
A tiny corner of the same side wall is taken up by a minuscule deli counter. The space may be very limited but the goodness of the fresh ingredients is unmistakable. Whole loaves of bread are on display above the counter along with attractive sausages, healthy-looking tomatoes and cold cuts. The menu is inspired by New York delis and includes sandwiches (£2.90-£5.90), boards (£7.50-£8.50), potted dishes served with toast (£4.50-£5), salads (£3.20-£4.50) and bar snacks. From the selection of sandwiches, the grilled chorizo with piquillo peppers and the brie, apple and pickled walnut choices are popular. There are also salads, including a chicken, mango, avocado and almond salad and a goat’s cheese, pear and pomegranate salad.

The Drink
Most of the space of the side wall is occupied by the long bar, where an extensive selection of spirits is on display. Several types of beer are available, such as Red Stripe, Amstel and Peroni and bottles of Estrella, Sol, VB, Michelob, Lech and others. But stopping at spirits and beers means missing out what else they offer - a number of decent bottles of wines and a selection of classic cocktails. Although the quality of your cocktail truly depends on who makes it (not all the staff seem fully trained with the shaker) but the lack of knowledge is made up by plenty of smiles.

The Last Word
The Shoreditch crowd is spoiled for choice, but Roadtrip Bar has enough to cause some underground hype. Visit for a relaxed meal on the terrace, an evening cocktail or a night of drinking with a live DJ.

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