144-145 Upper Street,
Islington,
London,
N1 1QY
(020) 7226 7660
The ViewLondon Review
A welcoming and truly relaxed Upper Street watering hole, Wax Jambu makes up its own rules and has fun, so the punters do, too.
The Venue
Wax Jambu sits right in the middle of Upper Street, in between Angel and Highbury and Islington stations, and is easy to spot courtesy of the large, very modern Wax Jambu sign. Upon entering, you’ll immediately get the impression that this is a cool drinker’s bar with a main downstairs area and a private upstairs bar for parties.
The decor is very rustic but stays on the right side of stylish. A narrow entryway widens out to reveal exposed brick walls and plenty of luscious black leather seating. This is offset well with heavy wooden tables, made from large tree sections and kept really basic with a nice, back to nature vibe. There are also heavy stools made from sections of tree trunks. The bar itself continues the theme, with a raw wooden underbelly topped with a gleaming surface upon which sits the draught pints with gleaming rows of spirits neatly lined up behind. The gleaming wooden floor finishes the look nicely, seamlessly meshing modern with rustic.
The Atmosphere
The friendly staff are well trained and very fast with orders, which helps keep everything moving. Wax Jambu has a very laid-back feel for a cocktail bar and this means there’s a real variety of clientele, typical of Upper Street in general. It’s a midnight close in the week, open until 2am Fridays and Saturdays when it gets packed early. People are lively and there’s a fair bit of jostling, but that is really a part of the atmosphere here. The owners aim is for everyone to leave ‘pretensions, frowns and troubles at the door’.
The Music
The tunes played here are diverse, with Wax Jambu unafraid to experiment. Classic albums and modern soul spin out during the week to suit the cocktail-sipping regulars and couples. The weekends are all about dancing so there’s a welcome reception for traditional RnB, rock and electro floor fillers for a relaxed and tipsy crowd. Popular nights include Genre, where the DJs are specifically asked to move out of their comfort zone. Wax Lyrical also hosts regular acoustic events here and there’s an open mic night, which really works in this intimate venue.
The Food
The menu at Wax Jambu matches the drinks offering with its individuality and bold flavours. Instead of stock burgers and chips or tapas, this bar presents a healthier selection of crepes, salads and sarnies. The kiwi and salmon salad is a gorgeous combination, complemented perfectly by the raspberry and feta vinaigrette, priced £6. The door stop sarnies are each £5, and options include bacon, brie and cranberry melt, and a fish finger sandwich with parsley and tartar sauce. Treat yourself to a crepe as well - sweet or savoury. The banana and nutella crepe is particularly irresistible.
The Drink
The cocktails deserve their good reputation and the list is full of one-off originals - the fruits of labour of the owners and their chief bar staff. The old classics are equally well done - the Caipirinha is just as it should be, refreshing and with a punch of real lime. Most of the drinks here are quite light and citrusy; this isn’t about heavy drinking, just indulging the tastebuds. Northern Lights is Wax Jambu’s take on a Cosmopolitan, and the added passion fruit twist gives the drink a deliciously deep and tangy flavour. Coming in at an average £7 a cocktail, it’s not too expensive either, and the vast choice will ensure you’ll find something to tempt you. Best of all, they have a large choice of premium spirits, which lend the drinks a crisp taste of quality.
If you prefer your spirits to be less fussy then they offer a bottle service on all their premium spirits, ranging from £80-£1000. Best of all, they throw in a range of bottled mixers to accompany your selection so you can enjoy rounds of drinks with a group of friends in a cost effective way. A small but well formed selection of wine and Champagne completes the selection well, covering all the bases. There are also five interesting beers on draught including Grolsch, Carling, Birra Moretti, Grolsch Weizen and Guinness (£3.20-£4) and twelve bottles to choose from. If you don’t finish your drinks Wax Jambu offer a unique option – drinks lockers. Lock up a half bottle of wine so you can come and finish it in a few days. Great for the credit crunch.
The Last Word
It’s easy to see why Wax Jambu is so popular; it’s small but perfectly formed and always manages to put customers in a good mood.
Wax Jambu has been reviewed by 11 users