Jerusalem is a discreet basement bar, a stone’s throw from the capital’s busiest shopping districts.

The Venue
Jerusalem is situated on Rathbone Place, a few minutes’ walk from Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. It’s an area packed with various bars and pubs, however if you haven’t got a map with you, you’ll be hard pushed to locate this one. It’s a basement bar, noticeable only by one sign outside, with dark stairs leading to what looks like a fire escape entrance. From the street you can’t see inside, and you’d be forgiven for thinking the bar was actually closed. However, once you go down the stairs and enter the room, you can finally see it’s very much open for business.

The bar consists of one large room and it actually feels like you’re stepping into a boudoir, with its dim lighting, plenty of seating options including comfy leather couches, and a raised dining area at the back. There’s also a medium-sized patio garden at the back which is quite a rarity for the area.

The Atmosphere
Jerusalem has a certain ambience about it, which you’ll either love or hate. It’s dark, it’s romantic and it’s cool. For a hardened CAMRA drinker it’s probably their worst nightmare; for a group of twentysomething office workers it’s great for a night out. The bar is situated in the middle of the media district, so expect to see a lot of workers from the local agencies pouring into after work on Thursday and Friday evenings. At other times it’s pretty quiet, especially in the summer when people are favouring the street-level bars and pubs. In the winter it’s busier as it’s a great downstairs hideaway that has the fortune of being able to host around 200 people. There are residents DJs playing until the early hours from Thursdays to Saturdays, and you can also reserve tables, or hire out the whole bar on request.

The Food
The bar has a diverse and interesting menu, with many Middle-Eastern dishes to complement its name. For starter why not try Jerusalem bread with hummus, babaganoush and olives for £3.50. Main dishes include catch of the day with chips, mushy peas and salad, or tuna Nicoise salad with new potatoes, green beans, olives, egg and anchovies, both costing £10.50. There are slight variations in the menus for lunch and dinner, and some dishes can be purchased for a lunchtime special offer of two courses for £10 (Monday-Thursday).

The Drink
No real ales on draught here, but a substantial selection of European beers are available including Moretti, Heineken and Kronenbourg, all priced around £3.70, along with a great range of bottled beers such as Tiger (£3.80) and Sagres (£3.70). Drinks here are slightly above average compared to some of the pubs in the area, but quite typical for a London bar with a late licence and DJs.

The Last Word
With its DJ sets, cool surroundings and central location, Jerusalem is a very popular basement party venue, especially with workers from the local offices and agencies.

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