A fantastic hideaway from the trials and tribulations media workers are facing at the moment, Southwark Rooms is the obvious choice for after work drinks in the heart of the publishing district.

The Venue
Southwark Rooms is an appealing site, a sprawling corner building with a few outdoor benches and a large, welcoming glass frontage beckons you inward. Upon entering, you’ll find an attractive, well put together bar complete with olive-coloured walls interspersed by one large wall covered in brown retro-style wallpapering. Exposed brick adds a rustic, down to earth edge that is so trendy at the moment. This simple styling is contrasted by large gilt mirrors adorning most of the wall space, dark black wooden flooring and dark wooden tables offset by cream leather chairs. If you fancy settling in for the evening then a tucked out of the way low sofa with big cushions is ideal. A large chandelier-style light fitting hangs boldly over the space, casting its light and glamour over the room. The bar is located at the far end and is a simple dark wooden affair with a range of spirits showcasing what the cocktail menu hopes to do. More exposed brickwork and simple rustic wooden shelving behind finishes it off nicely.

The real pierce de resistance, however, is downstairs in the cocktail lounge. A more decadent offering, this basement lounge has a small area for dancing and a sexier appeal courtesy of the ornate golden-hued wallpapering and Buddha statuettes. Although the lighting is dimmed, it’s not a dark, claustrophobic basement bar. Brown leather sofas lend to the lounging feeling of the space and a large screen plays whatever you want if you hire it out for a party. Red walls and spotlighting add a seductive appeal, lifted by the light flooring and ceilings. A second, well-sized bar sits down here and offers the same choice of drinks as the main bar upstairs.

The Atmosphere
The most refreshing thing about Southwark Rooms is the total lack of pretension. Given its close proximity to big publishing houses, the lack of egos is refreshing and there’s a pleasant mix of media types chilling out after work and numerous suits from London Bridge looking to drown out a long working week with a drink. This is further highlighted by the friendly, genuine staff who offer an efficient table service as well as entertaining by the bar. Although it’s clear there are a lot of regulars who frequent Southwark Rooms, new faces won’t be made to feel awkward.

The cheesy music that plays in the background (think Dirty Dancing and Footloose tracks) helps to loosen any feelings of pretension that may have crept in. As the night wears on everyone gets up for a boogy and you might feel a little like you’re at a wedding judging from the dad moves and poor shapes being thrown about by drunken suits, but it’s all tongue-in-cheek and is an amusing end to your evening.

The Food
There’s a strong menu of well-priced grub at Southwark Rooms that impresses on quality and price.

Starters double up as tapas if you’re in the mood to snack on a few smaller plates. The tempura prawns with a sweet chilli dipping sauce (£4.50) arrives as several large, plump king prawns covered in a crisp, light batter without a hint of greasiness. The prawns are slightly sweet and perfectly cooked and the sweet chilli sauce has a homemade appeal that helps to bring out the sweetness of the prawns. Also good is the chicken satay (£4.50), arriving as thick pieces of tender, succulent chicken breast on sticks with a peanut dipping sauce, which is rich and almost creamy with a strong peanut aftertaste. If you’re looking for a lighter starter then the hummus with flatbreads is highly recommended with pleasantly charred pitta breads alongside a rich, creamy, almost smoky hummus.

Mains are equally good. The green Thai chicken curry with rice (£8) is particularly nice. A generous portion of a creamy curry with thick pieces of chicken in a lightly spiced, delicate sauce and a side of fluffy rice is surprisingly decent given the bar doesn’t specialise in Thai dishes. Also good is the pasta salade tiede with sundried tomatoes, rocket, spring onions, cucumber and feta cheese with a vingerette dressing (£7), which comes as a huge portion of cold penne, perfectly cooked, and a generous helping of salad that doesn’t rely too heavily on leaves. The sundried tomatoes and feta add a pleasant tang to each mouthful and the spring onions and cucumber cut through with an uplifting freshness. The vinaigrette dressing is light and brings out the flavours of the salad rather than hiding them. Given it’s a salad, it’s surprisingly filling.

The Drink
Cocktails are the name of the game at Southwark Rooms with a good selection of well-priced concoctions with a fruit skew. If you like bubbles then try the Champagne cocktails such as the Rossini (Finlandia vodka, strawberry puree, sugar syrup, Mercier Champagne; £8) a delightfully sparkling cocktail with a tart raspberry aftertaste and a sweetness from the syrup. Alternatively, the French 75 (Bombay Sapphire, Lemon, sugar syrup, Mercier Champagne; £8) has an almost lemony aftertaste with a clean, crisp flavour. Although syrups are used, fresh fruit is also utilised so the overall balance of flavours isn’t manufactured.

The Porn Star Martini (vanilla vodka, lime juice, passion fruit with a shot of Champagne; £7) is a great example of the drink with a sweetness courtesy of the passion fruit and an underlying creaminess from the vanilla vodka, cut through by the lime. The Champagne shot on the side is good whether you want to sip it alongside the drink or pour it in, and it’s one of the cheaper examples of this popular drink across London. If you like sweet cocktails then try the Treacle (Bacardi, sugar, bitters, apple juice) with a strong treacle-like aftertaste and a syrupy, sweet flavour and conistency. Alternatively, the Hemingway daiquiri (Bacardi Oro, grapefruit, lime juice, Maraschino liqueur; £7) is a nice take on the standard daiquiris usually on offer at bars with a sweetness that is less blatant than the Treacle. The only slightly disappointing cocktail is the mango mojito as the flavours are lost and it’s slightly insipid.

The Last Word
Southwark Rooms is the kind of bar you wish you had near your office. If you’re lucky enough to work nearby then it’s worth making this your local. One of the best bars in the area.

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