Concrete Cafe

Currently closed, Concrete was a really interesting little place. It is a cafe by day but don't expect that same atmosphere in the evening when it turns into a club. A loud club. The kind you can't even hear yourself think in.... Well, OK it wasn't that bad :-) but as it was unexpected it was a bit weird. However the staff on the day I was there were friendly albeit seemingly a bit frazzled and the pastry I got (the safe selection as I called it but you have to see the menu to understand) was yummy with my coffee. They apparently do drinks in the evening but I didn't stay long enough to find out if they were nice :-)

I love the location of Concrete - and the neon mixer outside the window - but even when I've been in for a cup of tea in the afternoon, the music is way too loud. Quite strange at 2pm to be sipping an Earl Grey and not be able to hear the person sitting next to you. In the evening, it's far more acceptable, especially when you have one of their lovely cocktails. Service-wise, I once had a problem with the card I was paying with, and oh my word, what a fuss one of the managers made!

The three things that make a bar a fave are (in my humble opinion) - ambience, music and drinks. Concrete has all three. Oh and a great location - the Southbank! The mixologists do an amazing Absinthe Mojito - easily one of my favourite drink in London. The service can be slow, but only because it is usually heaving. Highly recommended!

Moody and urban located inside one of the country's premier art spaces. Nice atmosphere with a pretty cool ambience (I didn't experience the excessive noise a lot of other patrons seem to have). Pretty shockingly expensive even for a café/bar in a gallery. The food did smell pretty good, though, so I hope I'll be back.