http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below 22 Below - London, 22 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HU, United Kingdom en http://cdn.trustedplaces.com/i/uploads/placepics/124895_59543e10.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below/154ap8
Review by thamshere

Rating: 4.00
Tags: rock, cool & smart, electronica
Popped in to get a happy-hour cocktail before heading to Ran, just down the road. We both ended up with the same one due to a short list to choose from, but I was impressed enough that I would have happily drunk them both. Not amazing but very tasty indeed.

We had a... um... well, it had raspeberries in it and it was the one at the top of the happy hour menu, on which all the cocktails were 4.50.

The bar is one of Soho's little oddities. Very hip, it combines alchohol with art. We walked in to find ourselves confused by voices coming from the walls, which after a moment we realised to be coming from the video screens at the end of the room - they were showing a selection of short films from the Rushes Short Film Festival. An unexpected but not unwanted experience.

After a while the films were abandoned in favour of music, which seemed rather loud for an empty bar. Of course, it was early Monday evening so I wasn't expecting a crowd. Best thing about going out on a Monday :)]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:04:18 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below/154ap82087068999 thamshere rock cool & smart electronica 51.51426 -0.1393311 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below/1z11s8
Review by sue

Rating: 4.00
Tags: cool, pop, cool & smart, young professionals, cocktails, trendy, relaxed
22 Below is a bar located close to Oxford Circus. The bar is small, with a relaxed vibe. Entrance is off the street, and then straight down stairs. They call themselves a 'bar, lounge, kitchen' - I guess because there is a bar, some lounge chairs (plus other seating options), and they also serve food. They don't mention that it is also a music venue - the night I was there a DJ was playing 80's music.&much to the delight of us "oldies" who could actually sing along with what the DJ was playing for a change!

I was there with a group of 10 friends and we rang ahead and were able to reserve a table so we could sit at the start of the evening and have some snacks as well. Food wise we opted for a Mezze platter and another sharing platter which were good quality, though not cheap.

Drinks wise, there were some interesting cocktails to choose from and a few wines by the glass, along with the other usual drinks. Drinks were a little on the pricy side, and no early evening happy hour.

It got pretty noisy later in the evening when the DJ turned up the music, making it hard to have a conversation unless standing right by the person and speaking loudly. I liked 22 Below and would pop by again for drinks, perhaps earlier in the evening when it isn't too noisy.]]> Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:30:50 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below/1z11s81840531227 sue cool pop cool & smart young professionals cocktails trendy relaxed 51.51426 -0.1393311 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below/1p91b8
Review by jennipenni

Rating: 4.00
Tags: cool, excellent mezes, delicious cocktails, sultry, cool & smart, electronica, house, sexy, trendy, friendly, relaxed
We were walking along and my pal Jo was SURE we were going in the wrong direction... I wasn't .... '22 Below' is a nondecript kinda place, that doesnt have a huge flashing sign outside... if you walk past the chalkboard with it's name on it.. you walk past it!

Decor is trendy and contemporary.. leather couches and dark wood, maroon walls with men in boxes singing away.

Service was good and bathrooms clean, modern and tidy.

These were some of the delicious martinis and cocktails they serve 22 below!

They are:
French martini
Zombie cocktail
Porn Star cocktail
Watermelon martini

The platters were delicious, full of delectable and moreish food.

Breaded king prawns, Duck spring rolls, Chicken on a skewer, veges on a skewer and quite a few mezes... absolutely delicious... just a pity we had to share it between so many people!

Only downer?? VERY smokey after a while. When I got home I stank to high heaven - even my woolen Irish bag stank and I had to wash it.

]]> Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:01:33 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1o12d7b/22-below/1p91b82006312247 jennipenni cool excellent mezes delicious cocktails sultry cool & smart electronica house sexy trendy friendly relaxed 51.51426 -0.1393311