Bar 38 works for those focused purely on good drinks – other than that, this can be a pretty boring place.

The Venue
Bar 38 is hard to miss, located as it is right in front of the Broadway Centre. Despite the neon sign there are few clues as to its cocktail bar nature: it looks more like a Pret A Manger with the logo removed.

Due to the bare decor, this is a neat and tidy venue without much personality. Both the ground floor and the basement are furnished with chairs and tables made of light wood, a few booths and some couches, while the walls are graced by a few indistinctive prints. Not even the ground floor’s large window helps – only serving to reinforce the fast food chain look.

The Atmosphere
You get the feeling that Bar 38 is a compromise: it’s populated by Hammersmith residents trying to avoid the usual pubs in favour of a different drinks list.

However, unless it gets crowded, the venue is always pretty quiet: there is lots of room for conversation and privacy. The bar staff are reliable and friendly, and the place is kept spotlessly clean. The atmosphere is lacking though, and you may leave thinking that Bar 38 has little soul.

The Drink
The cocktails steal the show here. The selection is organised around the size and alcohol content of your drink. Most cocktails are well known classics and all are acceptably priced at £5 for one or £7 for two glasses. Pitchers are available at £11, while the shooters are worthy of some attention at £2.50. B52 seems the most popular choice with other favourites including Crime of Passion or the tempting Beam Me Up Scotty (Kaluha, Bols Banana and Baileys). Wine also does its part in populating the menu: whites include a good choice of Chardonnays while in the reds the Fleurie Roriteau deserves a try.

The Food
Even with the food, Bar 38 seems unable to make strong choices towards a specific taste or atmosphere: the menu is built around a contemporary selection of known international dishes meant to please everyone. Tempura chicken appears alongside nachos, baked camembert and sausage and mash. However, some of the ingredients seem particularly well sourced and dishes like the corn fed chicken in a spinach cream and the herb crusted cod salad, provides a pleasant bouquet of flavours. Prices are quite standard with starters priced between £3 and £4, sharers at £6-£9 mains at £6-£11.50. A decent selection of burgers, salads and pastas complete the list but the indistinctive quality of Bar 38 remains evident.

The Last Word
This bar should only be taken as a compromise for when the pub is not going to make your night but you cannot reach Central London. The end result will not be all smiles and satisfaction but the taste buds won’t be complaining.

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