Simmons - bar review

The buzz: A fun bar with a retro spirit, minutes from King’s Cross.

The deal: It’s like a house party in the living room of an eccentric aunt, with royal memorabilia, board games, great wallpaper and mismatched furniture. But it’s not all twee — there’s a skull-shaped disco ball and an impressive display of beer cans from all over the world. The tables are wooden school desks covered in graffiti, and cocktails are served in teacups by nice men in tweed jackets. Downstairs there’s a Sega Mega Drive games console.

Good for: Lively after-work drinks, a world away from the clean-cut bars of the revamped area around King’s Cross.

Order: The refreshing Apple-Tea-Ni, with rum, lime juice, sparkling apple juice, mint leaves and slices of Granny Smith apple. It’s served in a teapot, and is meant for sharing.

By the way... Happy hour lasts for five whole hours — from 4pm-9pm, Monday to Friday — and drinks are a steal at £2.50 each.

Find it: 32 Caledonian Road, N1, simmonsbar.co.uk