The best bars in Camden

This lively bar-diner on the main Camden drag celebrates American musical heritage in song, spirits and sustenance. Get in a mess with gumbo and buffalo wings. Then work your way through around 50 bourbons in a variety of categories, some used as bases for cocktails. The bar has since spawned other sister sites across town.

There’s a lot going on at Cafe KOKO, from gigs and events, to RnB bottomless brunches, album launches, art exhibitions, and spoken word sessions. Alongside all the entertainment is a food menu going big on authentic Italian flavours. The pizza menu is decent and booze runs the gamut from natural wines and cocktails and offers such as Double Marg Tuesdays, where you can get a margherita pizza and a margarita cocktail for £15.

Camden Assembly retains its reputation for seven-day championing of cool and upcoming talent, making it a destination venue for serious music fans and partygoers alike. But its ground-floor bar also welcomes in those who are just after a pint and a burger in a buzzing setting. 

Although Cottons is primarily a Caribbean restaurant doling out fried plantain and curried mutton to regulars, its bar holds a collection of 300 different rums in stock, with many weaved into original cocktail recipes. For Caribbean warmth try a Rasta Mule or a Cottons Pina Colada.

Camden Town Brewery might be playing with the big lads now, but their taproom remains a great place to visit. Sample the full range – from Hells to Gentleman’s Wit – and look out for regular pop-up events, such as Sarnie Party.

This Chalk Farm Road DJ bar, music venue, kitchen and poshed-up boozer is something of a Camden institution. It's certainly still pretty popular, too, given the size of the crowds continuing to squeeze themselves into the main bar, large garden, buzzy upstairs space and impressive roof terrace overlooking Camden Market. 

This first-floor boathouse-like venue makes great use of its location. You can gaze over the twinkling lights around the lock and the bobbing barges as you knock back Boilermakers. If it’s too nippy, the interior is long and artily loft-like.

Feel the heat at Made in Brasil, where the caipirinhas keep on coming – they mix a range of  different versions of the cachaça-based drink here. Happy hour is all night long on Tuesdays (or just between the hours of 4pm and 7pm the rest of the week) – luckily they serve up trad Brazilian meats and stews if you need help soaking up those cocktails.

The Scottish craft brewery’s first London outpost worships beer on a Camden backroad. Admit to a bartender you’ve no idea where to start and they’ll gladly guide you through the list, offering tasters – and what a list it is. Brewdog has since taken over the capital, but see where the London story began right here.