Tipped

Friend of Barrio

September 20, 2008

I LOVE Barrio North! We're so lucky it's popped up just round the corner from our house. Having been 'friends of Barrio' since it's inception it's great to see that it's really taken off. Popping in there for a nightcap mojito last Friday night I was delighted to find it buzzing with a good crowd, fantasticly eclectic music pumping and the usual excellent cocktails. It's a chilled unpretentious place where anything goes despite it's increasingly upmarket crowd. And anywhere with a caravan inside is alright in my book.

Tags: cocktails,

Fun, Latin/tiki bar

April 15, 2008

Barrio North is loud, fun and happy. It’s been nice having a good bar in Islington amongst all the great pubs. Sometimes you just don’t feel like going to a pub – or I don’t. I really enjoy foofy cocktails and Barrio North really knows how to make them. Their drinks menu is huge and the bartenders pride themselves on being cocktail-maker extraordinaires. Their margaritas are my favourite and I even love their tequila sampler. Beware though. They go down too easy. Their nibblers are really good too. Great guacamole.

The music has been hit or miss. On a Saturday night it wasn’t my style – more Top 40/Pop – but other nights it’s been Latin or House and they usually have a DJ. It just depends on the night. The place gets packed out on the weekends so go early unless you want to queue for the one out/one in policy.

Tags: Latin, DJ, cocktails, tequila, groups

Lively Latin Vibe

February 25, 2008

Barrio North is a fun place with some great design details and amazing drinks. The space isn't huge, but is well proportioned and the decor is a mixture of influences, from the vibrantly coloured tiles in the front to the faux-graffiti on the walls by the bar to the amazing camper nook - they have literally brought a classic camper inside the restaurant to house a large table ringed with couches. I was even impressed with the toilets, with the mens room being wallpapered with old She-Hulk comics.
The bar specializes of course in South American cocktails, from the caipirhini's (I have no idea how to spell that) to mojito's and the classic Cuba Libre. They also have San Miguel on tap, for a tasty (if a bit anachronistic, but for the Spanish name) frothy beer. The bartenders also clearly have a fun time with their work, tossing and spinning bottles all over the place.
Prices aren't super cheap, but not outrageous either. There are pretty good sized platters that can be shared amongst a group of drinkers, although there is also a more full menu that I've not tested out yet. Generally speaking, this is a fun, lively bar in Angel and worth a visit.

Great great grrreat!

February 12, 2008

I love this bar-from the great and very unique drinks to the drawings on the wall and the fun staff who always seem to be enjoying themselves on busy nights!
The bar itself has so many different quirky bits and bobs about it that you would never see in another bar...a caravan?? What a great idea!
Artwork protected/displayed behind a cage and random artefacts/dolls/hats/bags hanging around the place. Its almost like Favela Chic, but with a much cooler vibe and less Brazilians!
The music is great from well-known DJs to up-and-coming artists, plus there's always something on like tasting sessions, dance lessons, they're even having a capoeira/breakdancing dance-off for Easter!
I know I sound like a massive fan, but I live in the area and when this bar first opened I was very sceptical, but it is officially my local now and with my 10% Friends of Barrio application, hey, the drinks are cheap!
You gotta go!

Tags: DJ Bars, cocktails, dancefloor,