6 Inverness Street,
Camden,
London,
NW1 7HJ
(020) 7485 9318
The ViewLondon Review
Lovers of trendy bars and funky music know to look no further than Camden Town, and Bar Vinyl has the added bonus of being a genuinely friendly place too.
The Venue
Walk down Inverness Street, just minutes from Camden Town station, and you're guaranteed to feel the music. There are record shops aplenty and several small bars with tunes floating out onto the busy fruit and vegetable market stalls. Bar Vinyl doesn't look like much from the outside - in fact it has the appearance of a rather run-down greasy spoon, with menus haphazardly stuck up on the wall outside. But inside it's a different story. Perhaps doing themselves a disservice by announcing this as a 'cafe' above the door, Bar Vinyl is a charming bar that stands out from the crowd straight away. It doesn't have the intimidating alternative vibe that you might expect from the area, but rather feels relaxed and welcoming, so whatever your style or scene, you won’t feel out of place. There’s lots to look at too, with colourful graffiti on the walls, giant butterflies on the ceiling and trendy looking staff at your service.
The Atmosphere
Bar Vinyl describes itself as a DJ-wine-bar, which paints a good picture of the ambience here. It’s not a crowded night club, it’s not a lifeless pub. It’s a small, cosy venue.
Staff are friendly and there’s table service so you can get comfortable while you ponder the cocktail menu, or grab a drink at the bar on the way in if you’re the type that knows what you want. You’ll probably be surrounded by a mixture of people – after work drinkers unwinding with a beer, groups of friends attracted by the ‘rest and recuperation’ Sunday breakfast (served all day and with a hair-of-the-dog Bloody Mary) and music lovers attracted by its reputation.
The Music
Throughout the week Bar Vinyl has music to suit the mood. On Sundays, expect a mix of hangover-friendly chill-out tunes. On Fridays, you’re in for a night of funk, electro and hip-hop tunes. Thursdays are pretty lively affairs too, with the regular night Why Am I So Beat dropping classic hip hop alongside dubstep and bass-heavy house.
The Food
There’s a good selection on offer, from spring rolls (£3.50) to burgers (£6.50), and they’re particularly proud of their pizzas. Feeling adventurous? Try a Hot Lips - spicy beef, jerk chicken, fresh chillies and pineapple. Prices are fairly reasonable although you might wait a while for it to arrive – by the waitress’ own admission, ‘the chef can be a bit slow,’ and, as such, your food might turn up on the wrong side of room temperature.
The Drink
Considering the bar refers to itself as a wine-DJ-bar, there’s not as much vino on the menu. Prices range from £3.50 for a glass of Spanish La Serrana Macebo to £4.00 for a Chilean Merlot. For beer drinkers, there’s the likes of Carlsberg, Corona, Becks, Budweiser, Staropramen, Stella and Guinness, for £3.50 a bottle or around £3.85 a pint. There’s also a nice list of tasty cocktails too, like Butterscotch Passion and Spiced Mojito (both £6.50).
The Last Word
Bar Vinyl is less pretentious than some of the bars in the area and is perfect for a couple of pre-club cocktails or for a Sunday hangover cure.