Does Camden have a good nightlife? If you are a regular, then you know Camden’s lively atmosphere is known for the many pubs that bring the town to life.
Edinboro Castle beer garden is one of the most famed aspects of the region. At the same time, the Lock Tavern is famous for its beer garden and its long-standing site that is practically an institution in Camden.
But what about the bar scene? Is Camden good for bars?
The town is known for its outstanding street life, from the market clusters to the many bars that make for a hot live entertainment scene. Standing out include the Jazz Café for all jazz fans and enthusiasts.
With the huge abundance of bars in Camden, we have taken the duty to shorten the list to the top 12 bars you must visit when looking for great nightlife in Camden.
Whether you want a laidback cocktail bar or the best happy Hour in Camden with an incredible terrace for chilling, our best picks got you covered. Look at the bottomless brunch and cheap Camden bars on our list.
12 Best Bars in Camden
1. Bar Gansa
- Address: 2 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7HJ
- Phone: 020 7267 8909
- Known for: bottomless sangria or prosecco brunch
Bar Gansa is a hidden gem since the exterior and small space may make you believe it is not worth the cost. However, the wine and tapas bar set itself apart by embracing the spirit of Spain with its authentic tapas and beloved bottomless prosecco and Sangria.
Bar Gansa has been in business in Camden since 1985 and has made a name for itself as the go-to place for a vibrant night on Inverness Street. Immerse yourself in the Spanish magic with its impressive décor synonymous with lots of reds and yellows and classic rustic tables.
The fan-favorite Spanish bottomless brunch is available every Saturday and Sunday for booking between 12 pm and 6 pm. Select three tapas to go with your 2-hour bottomless Sangria or prosecco. Please keep in mind that the last sitting is at 4 pm.
2. The Blues Kitchen
- Address: 113-117 Camden High Street, London, NW1 7JN
- Phone: 020 7387 5277
- Known for: record-breaking live blues jams
Blues Kitchen is a contemporary bar that also serves as a restaurant. It is famous for its club nights on Friday and Saturday and one of the biggest collections of whiskey, bourbon, and rye in London. Southern-style BBQ is the order of the day, and their choices of wings, as well as burgers, are a must-try.
In 2019, Blues Kitchen was recognized by the Standard as the first bar to host a world record-breaking 100-hour charity jam. This happened a short while after the bar set the Guinness World Record of 50 hours.
Events and performances in the Blues Kitchen revolve around blues which has earned the name “home of the blues” among the locals. Check out their calendar for some of the hottest blues events and live shows they currently host. Get your tickets for as low as £3.39.
3. The Spirited
- Address: 180-188 Camden High Street, London NW1 8QP
- Email: [email protected]
- Known for: rooftop bar with a great view
Who wouldn’t want to drink at a rooftop container bar with quirky and whimsical cocktails? All the cocktails in Spirited have interesting names, like Groot (paying tribute to the Guardians of the Galaxy character), featuring ginger honey syrup and an infusion of CBD.
That is right, The Spirited has several cocktails with CBD, the cannabis chemical known for relieving anxiety symptoms. Another popular drink is the ‘Harvey Dent’ (from the Suits character), featuring Dry vermouth, a mix of apple, and Crème de cacao for a coffee feel.
Enter the Buckstreet Market venue to take in the breathtaking views of the Camden skyline from the rooftop bar, regularly filled with a lively crowd and serene ambience. Please remember that the Spirited is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and walk-ins are only from Thursday to Sunday.
4. Lockside Camden
- Address: 78-89 Walkway, Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AF
- Phone: 020 7284 007
- Known for: killer drag bingos and karaoke
Lockside Camden is a great bar to dance at, with a spacious dance floor playing live music ranging from house to R & B and dance beats till 3 am. It also hosts many events, from drag shows like the ‘Drag Bingo Bitches’ to the weekly ‘Killer Karaoke’ karaoke night every Tuesday from 7:30 pm.
Take your drinks at the outdoor terrace overlooking the West Yard in Camden Market and an Instagram-worthy view of Regents Canal. It is a great venue for a dinner night during the weekday.
Lockside serves as a restaurant in its on-site Evil Twin kitchen during the day. The kitchen dishes out Mexican delicacies, a wide range of craft beers, and the Lockside cocktail menu.
5. Near and Far Camden
- Address: 48 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AJ
- Phone: 020 3983 7250
- Known for: 100% gluten-free meals and popular bottomless brunches
Near and Far Camden is another great addition to the best rooftop bars in Camden. The venue, with its four floors. Serves as a bar and diner featuring 100% gluten-free meals.
As much as the impressive décor and fine interiors are picturesque, Near and Far is famous for its brunches. £39 gets you a tantalizing meal with 2-hours of bottomless drinks, including prosecco, margaritas, Bloody Marys, and Aperol Spritz.
Want more drink specials? Try the bar’s Happy Hour, available Sunday through Friday, where for just £12, you get two signature cocktails between 5 pm and 7 pm.
6. Be at One Camden
- Address: 55 Camden High Street, Camden, London, NW1 7JH
- Phone: 020 3841 8010
- Known for: over 190 choices of cocktails
Be at One in Camden is part of over 35 bars of the same name spread across the United Kingdom. Under the management of the Piper company, Be at One managed to become UK’s leading cocktail bar chain serving over 190 cocktails in each venue.
The service is world-class since the company invests £5,000 to train every staff member in the bar for nine weeks.
Walk in for their 2-4-1 cocktail happy Hour from 5 pm to 7 pm from Monday to Thursday and from 4:30 on Fridays. Try their shots for £5 each, or take one of the favourite cocktails like the June Bug, Singapore Sling, Matt the Rat, and Cuban Pussy.
7. Simmons, Camden Town
- Address: 7-9 Kentish Town Road, London, NW1 8NH
- Phone: 020 3879 9250
- Known for: five-hour happy Hour
As part of the Simmons empire, you won’t get anything less of world-class service at Simmons Camden Town. The bar close to the Camden Town tube is distinctively known for its neon sign décor and a one-of-a-kind five-hour happy hour.
Happy Hour runs from 4 pm to 9 pm, Sunday through Friday and only includes discounts on select drinks. Get bottles of beer for just £2.5 or two cocktails for £10.
8. BYOC Camden
- Address: 11-13 Camden High Street Basement, London NW1 7JE
- Phone: 020 3602 5719
- Known for: 1920s theme and bring your own drinks concept
If the 1920s Prohibition Era theme does not get you excited and buzzing, then the BYOC concept will. BYOC – for Bring Your Own Cocktail, is a unique concept you do not see everywhere.
You may be wondering: if I can bring my own drink, then does that mean I can have fun without paying for anything at all the entire night? Well, not quite.
BYOC Camden charges a fixed £35 entrance fee for a 2-hour reservation. However, you can get the fee down to £30 if you book for Wednesday or Thursday.
Also, remember that you are required to pay the fee in advance and cannot forgo the entrance fee since alcohol isn’t sold in the bar.
Related: Best Things To Do In Camden
9. BrewDog Camden
- Address: 113 Bayman Street, London, NW1 0AG, England
- Phone: 020 7284 4626
- Known for: international craft beers and dog-friendly service
Craft beers are the order of the day at BrewDog Camden. A lot of people ask, does BrewDog just sell beer?
And the answer is no; despite the many selections of beers the company has had since 2011, the bar serves a great range of spirits and wine. If you are looking for cocktails, then BrewDog is the choice.
The best craft beers from all over the United Kingdom are here, with brand-new selections dropping in weekly. Unlike most bars, the food in BrewDog Camden is to die for, with lots of fast food choices like the popular buffalo hot winds, burgers, and bowls of salad.
10. Jazz Café
- Address: 5 Parkway, Camden, London NW1 7PG
- Phone: 020 7485 6834
- Known for: live jazz bands and events
The Blues Kitchen is the heaven for blues and R & B lovers, whereas the Jazz Café is the heaven for live jazz lovers. Bands grace the stage at Jazz Café from 9:30 pm every day to perform several sets till almost 1 am.
For over 30 years, the café has hosted many prominent artists in the business, including Amy Winehouse, Adele, and D’Angelo. With a capacity of more than 450 guests, Jazz Café hosts weekly events celebrating different music genres and artists.
Related: Best Jazz Bars and Clubs in London
11. Made in Brasil
- Address: 12 Inverness Street, London, NW1 7HJ
- Phone: 020 7482 0777
- Known for: Brazilian & Latino culture with all-night Tuesday happy hour
Made in Brasil brings Brazilian & Latino nightlife plus culinary flavours to the heart of Camden. The exterior is colourful and illuminated at night with hues of green and yellow that make you feel like you have entered the Emerald City.
Brick walls and wooden accents give it a homey feel that is not pretentious or too on the nose. Many go into the vibrant interior for the traditional Brazilian cuisines, but the excessive cocktail list is hard to ignore at the house of Caipirinha.
Happy Hour is available every day from 4 pm to 7 pm but goes all day on Tuesday. Get their signature cocktails for £6.95 or the discounted beers and wines for £4.50.
12. Crossroads Bar
- Address: Junction of Royal College St & Camden Road, London NW1 9NN
- Phone: 07377514428
- Known for: world-class hospitality and quirky cocktails
Dubbed ‘Your friendly neighbourhood bar’, Crossroads in Camden is named after its location at the crossing of Camden Road and Royal College Street. The 25-plus-year-old bar is exceptional in terms of hospitality and sustainability
The quaint bar space is decorated in mystique black and has limited seating made from wooden tables and chairs reminiscent of an old cottage.
World-class hospitality isn’t the only great thing about Crossroads; their cocktails are quirky, with interesting options like the pea-based Sugar Snap Pea cocktail.
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Final Thoughts
Camden has many immerging trendy spots, and a list of all the vibrant nightlife places to visit will be endless if we start diving into it. However, if the above list does not meet your needs, then the below honourable mentions are worth a look into:
- Camden Brewery Bar – the place to visit to know the Camden brewing culture. There are also beer tours for those looking to try new selections of beer and know a bit of history about them.
- All about Eve – the 1950s-inspired bar serves exciting cocktails with a vintage feel and is a great private venue for celebrations and events.