Stop by the ICA Cafe Bar

One of your author's friends once billed the ICA Cafe Bar as one of the best bars in London, an absolutely awesome place to drink with an amazing atmosphere and a massive range of drinks. In truth, it's just a reasonable bar on the Mall, a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square, but in that it already scores a hit as it's the only bar on the Mall and one of very few good ones in an area with a dearth of good places for a drink.


Another Peyton and Byrne establishment (their empire seems larger the more you look) it's well designed and is a good place to get a drink even if you're not tempted by any of the cultural offerings in the Institute itself. Time Out describes the bar as 'very much a bar, and a well-stocked, artily cool, late-opening one at that'. That's probably overstating it a bit, but it's very pleasant.

Thankfully, the ICA has also now dropped the ridiculous (though local authority imposed) £2 entry charge for the café and the bar which was in place until last year, and consequently entry to the bar is now free, as in any rational establishment (though drinks are still charged for). So if you're in the area and fancy a drink remember that this exists. It's too easy to get drawn into the Chandos or that Wetherspoons on Whitehall.

The ICA Cafe Bar is open Monday: 12 noon to 11pm, Tuesday - Saturday: 12 noon to 1am, and Sundays 12 noon to 10.30pm. For more information visit http://www.ica.org.uk/ICA%20Bar%20and%20Café%3B+15176.twl.

Click here to see the location on a map.

_{^Picture from flickr courtesy of futureshape^}