I’ve always wanted a place where I could listen to good live music but not pay a fortune to a cover charge so I could go regularly and also be able to reserve a table where I could be served so that I wouldn’t have to fight shoulder to shoulder to get a drink from the bar every interval! Nightjar is the place where my dreams came true. This dim lit Old Street bar provides live music three nights a week; Wednesdays – FREE, Thursdays – £4 and Saturdays – £7. It is the perfect place for couples and small groups to chat over drinks and great music, which starts at 9pm.
Last Wednesday we enjoyed a musical feast thanks to Hugo Simmonds and his vintage piano tunes. We were lucky to be seated right by the piano (you can see our view from the main picture). It was my first time in Nightjar and I was impressed by the cocktails booklet – it would be injustice to call it a menu. They did a great job tracing back the origins of the cocktails and categorizing them according to their periods as pre-prohibition, prohibition, post-war and Nightjar signatures. I tried Airmail (rum, orange blossom honey water, fresh squeezed lime and champagne) from the Post-war menu, it was very refreshing! I think the hard work and the research and development behind the drinks menu explains the prices ranging from £8.50 to £10. We thought it would be a bit pricey to go experimental and have a couple of cocktails from each period so after one cocktail each we converted to basics; beer and moderate wine.
Food menu consists of cheese and meat boards and tapaslike appetizers. We went for the mixed charcuterie platter, olives and artisan bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. If you are in for some action you can ask for tiger prawns which will be flambeed in vodka on your table by the chef himself for £8. The thing is you can’t really be greedy with your order especially if you’re sitting at one of the couple’s tables because you simply don’t have space for many plates! Speaking of space, there wasn’t much between the tables either. I don’t know whether it was the heat of the moment or lack of space but the couple next to us were literally sitting on top of each other at some point.
Not that I didn’t enjoy the intimate feel of the place but I think removing a few tables would be a good idea. At least for the sake of a romantic night out for the couples. After all it’s already dark inside and with a few too many drinks who are you to blame if you end up sipping someone else’s pre-prohibition cocktail? To me this was the one and only downside of Nightjar, I can’t complain about anything else.
Yes, London is bustling with gigs, music venues, bars and clubs but it’s not all that easy to spot these gems. Sometimes it’s just a narrow door leading down to a dark staircase. Here I am giving you the hint: if you’re into soul/jazz/swing or the ’40s music check out Nightjar on 129 City Road.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Tonight: Four Roses Speakeasy/Dom Pipkin
Following dates: www.barnightjar.com/music
Reservations necessary. email: table@barnightjar.com
or
Use the reservations form on http://www.barnightjar.com
129 City Road Lon EC1V 1JB
020 7253 4101
