Blow off steam at the Market Place – drown the stress of work in a tipple or two.

The Venue
Located in the quieter area of Fitzrovia, Market Place is a few short steps from Oxford Circus and Great Portland street. Guests arrive to an earthy, wooden, ground floor bar with big windows that open up onto a heated terrace, which is a particular draw in the summer with crowds spilling out on to the street and under the huge shaded tree. Downstairs, a dark basement bar features two large booths – great for large groups – and a small dancefloor, which is cramped and crowded at the best of times.

The Atmosphere
Don't mind the sea of suits on the terrace – the smart, thirtysomething crowd are here to socialise and unwind after a hectic day. The downside is they often come in their droves, which can make for an uncomfortable and rather irritating wait at the bar.

The Music
DJs from all corners of London play in the basement bar until a reasonable 1am on weeknights and 2am on weekends. Expect to hear anything from disco, funk, breakbeat, ska, rock‘n’roll, hip hop, reggae and classic party tunes.

The Food
The Market Place has a small yet satisfying menu of light tapas dishes at around a reasonable £5 per plate. Perfect appetisers include the chicken strips and salsa in Chicken Mole Poblano or the pastries filled with spinach, pumpkin, olives and coriander in Empanaditas Hortalizas.

The Drink
The Market Place are big on their wine, which comes in every colour, shape and form like the Malbec from Argentina, or Viognier from the Languedoc. Cocktails are also pretty assorted with the likes of Amazing Grace – a tangy blend of Blackwoods gin, Contreau, cucumber, mint, lemon, sugar and grapefruit.

The Last Word
When you’ve had one of those days where you’re counting the seconds until 5.30pm and the thought of having a chilled glass of wine is as exciting as a multimillion pound lotto win, then head down to Market Place to detangle the dregs of the day.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (9)