This bar gets better every time I go in. It has a fun, rock and roll vibe and it's a great place to get chatting and meet new people. Whether I go alone or with friends, I always leave having had a great night and meeting lots of people. The bar staff are all awesome and the tequila selection tastes great!
This is the best bar in Angel by far- highly recommended.

This bar has gone from strength to strength since the management change. Friendly & competent bar staff, a great Bourbon selection and a good variety of (generally very well made) cocktails. Not to mention a great music policy (especially the old school classics of CatBeat, every Thursday) and an entrance policy that stops the place becoming like every other bar in Angel, staying true to the Dive Bar vibe.

This is a great little place to hang out. Can't beat the dark and dingy atmosphere, or the rock and roll on the jukebox. They've a nice selection of whiskeys and bourbons, though the only member of staff who seems to know much about them is the manager. Best night to be there is Sunday night, as its not too crowded, and the DJ plays some great tunes. And despite whats mentioned in some of the other reviews, the bar staff seem alright to me.

The major downfall of this place is the door staff. They really don't care what you think. Either you're dressed too smart or you don't have a girl in tow or its a private party, they will find an excuse not to let you in. Its not worth attempting entry. Why can't they just let people in who want to come in! Idiots I say.

Racist bar. Never seen them let black or asian people in, even when they're clearly rock kids. Racist management who think this is London 1961 rather than London 2011..

If I could only rate zero stars. Bar staff is really bad at their job. (especially the actual manager call Barry) owner really needs to look into investing some customer service training for his manager!

Very badly run bar. Bar staff are idiots. door men even worse. An absolutely awful vibe. The awesome jukebox does little to deal with the absolutely appalling customer experience you'll enounter in this place. Go there at all means if you would like your night ruined.

I think my friends may have been living In Islington too long, when they said the bartender was rude I thought he was really busy and obviously a little under staffed. However if this bar was round the corner from my house i guarantee I'd be staying in Islington for a while too. Amazing juke box, good looking crowd, two walls decorated with BRA'S (I can only guess from excited customers or the bar staffs conquests, probably both) and dark enough to roll in or out early or late, after pounding the whiskey's for a few hours. My friends say that it gets super busy at the weekends, it's only small so i would imagine its pretty cramped, not a problem for me being pushed up against a group of pretty, bra-less, cocktail swilling ladies. Now if I could just find a way to lift it up and plant it nearer to my house...

been to slims on many a Friday night with friends and cant fault it staff spot on drinks awesome great crowd nice vibe . Cant understand the reviews im reading on this website . It was only when i mentioned this bar to a mate that he got back to me mentioning this website and had he looked up the same bar.This bar ROCKS and if a few Muppet's don't like it well good they can @#*$ OFF somewhere else.Ignore this website and go down and make up your own mind im sure you will not be disappointed.

Its an amazing hidden away bar that you would miss if you blinked. Dark and dingy and nothing more. Bringing friends back here.

Abused by waiter. Unfortunately this review system does not allow me to give zero stars - I would if I could. Do not go to Slim Jims Liquor Store. Have been there a handful of times and generally had terrible and rude service. However last time I was there I experienced the worst attitude from one of the bar staff of any bar I have ever been to, bordering on abusive.

I went to Slim Jims on Saturday night (09.02.2010) for a few drinks with friends, and sat in a booth which had been booked by someone else, after having asked the waitress if we could sit there until the booking arrived - which she said was fine. About ten minutes later a glassey came over to collect glasses from the table and cracked it at us for sitting there, even after I told him that the waitress said it was ok. He accused us of lying and saying that we were that booking and got very very aggressive. I asked him whether there was a problem, and he said 'there will be an f-ing problem if you lie to me'. Absolutely disgusting behaviour towards a group of three girls - I am 100% sure that he would not have reacted that way if it had been a man he was talking to - given that his behaviour probably would have seen even the most relaxed man punch him out.

I suggest that the manager/owner give the staff a training session in how to treat paying customers - its not a good idea to alienate local young patrons. In future will head to wax jambus instead, may be busy but at least you dont get a side of abuse when you order a cocktail.

I love Slim Jim's. I love the diner style booths, the jukebox with the occasional truly obscure song that you have to wait twenty minutes to listen to, the non generic whisky... I could go on for ages. I suppose what I love most is the vibe and, as 'vibe' is a bit of a tricky one to define, I'd recommend you try it out for yourself.

Zack, the usual doorman, is a sweetheart and as long as you are reasonably polite and not dressed like an idiot getting in should not be an issue.

Slims should be a good bar.It looks great (in a dirty way), it sounds right (great jukebox selection) Good drinks (Decent, if not not the best bartenders in town)

This review is mostly based on the weekend vibe, as far as I know, its more relaxed during the week.But the more I visit, the more it feels like its a victim of its own coolness.

This is evident in the door policy and bouncers.For such a scummy looking dive, you wouldn't think you would have much trouble getting in, especially if you're dressed decently, but time and time again, I've had to argue my way through the door as I was simply not given a reason why I couldn't enter.

Finally, when you do get through the doors, it filled with, like, 90% well dressed Islington-ite estage agent types playing Guns'N'Roses over and over and over again on the Jukebox.

Not exactly the proper rock and roll vibe I was looking for, more like a theme bar. Which is a shame because it has the potential to be something really special - instead I feel deceived when I'm inside.

Its like a Rock bar for people that dont actually listen to Rock music but insist really really hard that they do because they're wearing a Led Zepplin t-shirt from HMV.

Like I said, this review is based on my experiences on the weekend, and during the week, it has a more genuine atmosphere.

There are other places in town, on Upper Street, Essex Road and Holloway Road that do the same thing much better on Friday and Saturday, seek them out insted.

i used to like it here. in theory it should be good but its not.

the bar staff are the biggest bugbear. they are so far up their own behinds its actually quite funny.

they are charactures of themselves. smug little indie trolls who bleed the scene they so desperately want to be a part of.

they are constantly guilty of souring the atmosphere with their mardy attitudes.

Slim Jim's is great. I'm a regular and I just keep coming back, door man knows me well now. The place is a bit of a secret, hope it stays that way.

Slim Jim's Upper St Islington Bar appears an inviting prospect,but the heavy handed door policy,is more akin to Prague and Warsaw rather than the more gentille Islington,they seem to tell porkies at will about their prescribed opening hours depending on what whim takes them at the time,don't waste your journey as I did!
Great premise doesn't deliver avoid like the Black Death!Go elsewhere plague free

Its true, this bar is a complete dive. I have had the worst customer service experiance here, that i have experianced anywhere. The drinks that i managed to have there were not that nice compared to the other bars on the same street. The decoration is equivlent to a hard rock cafe. It was a truely dire experiance.

I liked the sound of Slim Jims following an article I read. I decided to go down with a few 'locals' who hadn't been yet. We came away thinking that If you like good music, good booze and engaging bar staff, I recommend it thoroughly.

If you don't like the above, maybe a Pitcher and Piano is more for you.

This place is great.

I was getting pretty fed up with Upper Street in general, but this has definitely made a difference. The drinks and general atmosphere are so apart from anything you see around the area. It us small but it seems only right that the place has this slightly narrow and enclosed feel to it. And the jukebox provides hours of fun

I will be going back for sure.

I went down there the other day and had a brilliant time !! Nice booze, great tunes, what more do you want ??

I went here on the weekend and it was so much fun! The bar staff were really friendly and made me and my mates laugh so much while they were making our Slim Jane's - rose vodka, peach puree and lemon juice creations which were so good and moreish we drank them all night!!

The music was a nice surprise - more rocky than i would normally opt for but was nice to hear something different for a change other than commercial house/pop/r'n'b etc.

In short, their claim that they are 'Masterful purveyors of Good Times' is definitely one they live up to!

Went to this place over the weekend and couldn't see why so many people have given it a bad rating. Great selection of whiskeys and good beer. This unfussy bar and its staff make you feel well at home and it really jumped with the good crowd that was there.

Great place to get lost and make new friends :)

I went to Slim Jims last week and thought it was fantastic - great atmospheric bar and thought it was actually one of the more original places ive been in London for a while. A very welcome asset to Islington.

went there for a birthday party. reserved tables in advance only to find we had one booked at the back of the bar and one at the front!? this meant about 6 of us could sit whilst the other 9 had to stand.the bartenders are seriously arrogant. asked for woodford reserve and got told "we dont do commercial bourbon..." so just told him to recommend one (dont know what it was but not woodford standard).the music is good from the jukebox but if a song is selected that the bar staff dont like they skip it!

The music is also far too loud. its not a bar for dancing (as there is no room anywhere!) so why have the music too loud to be able to have a conversation??the layout doesnt make any sense either. the bar itself takes up nearly half the space available in the bar. they also have bar stools along the length of it so you cant actually get to the bar to make an order.this could of been a cool bar but its ruined by the bar staff, the booking system, the drinks list, the layout...... not much left then!

Growing up in LA and having this be touted as a classic LA dive bar I can assure you its NOT. Getting there at 10:30 we were told to wait outside because it was too full. No one waits for sh*tty dive bars...thats the point of them, especially not when its -1 outside.

Finally let inside (def not full) just was we were about to walk off I get to the bar and ask if they have Makers Mark since I cant see it behind the bar. Told no I ask what kind of bourbon whiskey they DO have (since you know they're supposed to have a decent collection of whiskey...which is why we went in the first place) and I'm shown three options none of which I consider to be Makers or Woodford Reserve quality.

Too lazy to figure out an alternative and already given lip by the bartender whos 'first night it is so gimme a break' we order our drinks with whatever whiskey hes holding (why bother to ask for a suggestion since he obviously knows nothing about them)...drinks took forever to make.

Taking a sip, sour is more like super sugar with a lemon twist, cant taste whiskey at all and the other drink ordered on the rock was served on the rockS. Thoroughly aggravated by now after waiting for door and slow bad drinks we hang around for a bit before moving on to a better bar around the corner.

The jukebox might be great if you could hear it, the people certainly weren't anything to write home about, and the bartenders were SH*T. So in the end, not worth the effort, if you're ever in LA, and maybe the owner should do some research, go check out Seven Grand and The Association downtown or the Daily Pint in Santa Monica. Proper bars that know what to do with their whiskeys and which to stock.

slim jim is a hot spot. Juke box is great. The drinks are classic, and they're okay price wise too. The bartenders are very good at what they do! The crowd is usually really nice, chatty, and good for circulating. I always feel like I can talk to anyone there. Doorman forgot his name is on the door always makes sure I get home safe, with a nice taxi man.

What I love about Islington is it's lack of pretention. Unfortunately with this new bar - you couldn't get any more prentious (especially the manager/bartender with the crazy hair). For going on about how great their music is...you can't even hear it unless you are standing right next to the jukebox. THE DRINKS TAKE FOREVER!!!!! The staff are incredibly moody.....go back to Camden and try and be 'cool' there please.

The music and drinks were great. Unfortunately, the bar staff seemed like they were from Mars (totally miserable!!!) particularly the "bar manager" who insulted my female friend for shaking some maracas along with the music. His words were " people have come here to listen to music not to some moron playing maracas". This was the last Friday before Christmas where most people were merry and having a good time. Shame on him! I am well traveled and never have I heard a service person be so rude to paying clients. Shock horror, appalling service! beware!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best juke box in North London. Music is differnet than the rest of Upper street and is definitely Rock with some roll. Bottled beer was chilled just the way it should be COLD. Will be back again and again

Slim Jim's is ROCKIN!! I had so much fun the last Saturday night. Music policy is quality Rock n Roll. Drinks were good and the staff were a lot of fun. Having my girlfriends birthday there next Friday, should get us in the Xmas spirit. Angel needed a bar like this, long may it last!!!

Went to Slim Jims for a friends birthday and we all ended up being very disappointed. The bar was absolutely packed, they let in far too many people that you could not turn around without bumping into someone. It took almost 25 minutes to get a drink at the bar and drinks seemed some what watered down. The crowd is somewhat pretentious in there, never expected that in Angel, being going out down the Angel for years and this place was definately clicky. Will not be going back again and will definitely not recommend to it anyone.

Damn! We (people who live within walking distance of Slim Jim's) didn't really want everyone else to discover it! The ViewLondon review is very apt indeed. That's exactly what it is - ideal weekday watering hole, striking a very happy medium between a cosy pub and a trendy bar with excellent cocktails - that is also a good place to end up on a weekend. Get the bartender with the wild hair to make you an Old Fashioned.Wish they did some bar snacks...