119 Essex Road,
Islington,
London,
N1 2SN
0872 148 0191
Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.
The ViewLondon Review
A mainstay on Islington’s party strip, Embassy Bar continues to pull in the partygoers of the area.
The Venue
The modest grey frontage of Embassy Bar appears along Essex Road, the entrance set slightly back off the pavement to allow for a moderate outdoor space with five or six bench-style tables.
Once inside, you’ll find the space is quite narrow but stretches the length of the room so you’re never too far from the bar, which also houses the resident DJ. There are some small round tables and comfy leather armchairs if you are early or lucky enough to bag one, otherwise it’s a bit of a squeeze. Decked out in a very seductive, contemporary style with lots of black and red, sparkling chandeliers and velvet cushions, the decor is plush but comfortable.
The room underneath is cavernous with its own bar, DJ and a small mixed seating arrangement along one side between the dancefloor and unisex toilets. Just one negative – the ceiling is very low so watch your head if you’re over 6ft!
The Atmosphere
There’s a great party vibe at Embassy Bar at the weekends, full of people up for a night of drinking and dancing. Best of all, there’s a serious lack of pretentious attitudes for this type of Central London venue. A relaxed but nonetheless fun air to the mid-week crowd through to the more up for it weekend groups give this club a lively atmosphere and the friendly staff and easy on the eye decor all contribute to bringing a general good feeling to your night on the tiles.
The Music
There’s great music on both floors, the resident DJ at street level entices you in with his mix of reggae, bashment and club classics whilst the equally talented DJ downstairs plays an eclectic mix of funky house, RnB, hip hop, pop, broken beats and raregroove - you name it, you’ll probably hear it at some point. The DJs are of a high standard, delivering a wide range of genres to keep everyone happy and on their feet throughout the night.
The Drink
Not too overpriced for the calibre of bar and area. Cocktails are £6.50 and include the classic apple martini – a fruity blend of apple vodka with Manzana Verde and apple juice; and a unique lemon meringue martini (Absolute citron vodka shaken with drambuie, sugar syrup and fresh lemon juice), which tastes more like a sweet dessert than an alcoholic beverage.
If cocktails aren’t your thing then there are four or five white wines, red wines and Champagnes to choose from, as well as a rose and a prosecco with an average price of £15 for wine, and a range of prices for Champagne from £32 right up to £125!
The Last Word
A must if you’re looking for that intimate party venue to enjoy with a group of friends (who aren’t particularly tall if you’re heading downstairs!). Embassy Bar is a decent, unpretentious choice.