Fifty Five Bar

A cocktail that has both gin AND absinthe? Lord have mercy. The cocktail selection here is great, and considering how strong they all are you definitely can’t grumble at the prices. The happy hour allows you to order two for £10, however, be warned, they both need to be the exact same cocktail, or you don’t qualify for the deal. In order to ensure you have somewhere to sit, I’d recommend making a reservation — this place is fairly small and fills up pretty quickly.
The bar becomes very crowded, so getting your drinks back to your seat without spilling them becomes a struggle. The surface of the bar itself is so sticky and wet, that the napkin the bartender puts down for your drink becomes mush before the bottom of your glass even touches it. Pretty icky. The drinks themselves also take an eternity to make, so be prepared for a long wait if other people are being served ahead of you.
Fifty Five Bar is definitely worth a visit at least once, for the absinthe and gin concoction alone, but its lack of atmosphere and slow service prevents it from being somewhere I’d want to drink on a regular basis.

My go to bar! Cocktails are on point! They have such a wide and brilliant made selection of cocktails. You cannot fault them! 2−4−1 for the win! Great staff, great music and great drinks! Make sure you book a table as it gets super busy

Well I actually do like this place. I’ve been to a number of these types of places around London that have a cocktail menu the size of an encyclopedia, but this one is my favorite so far. The drinks were actually good and not weakened for happy hour purposes. Also, the guys actually know how to make a real margarita. It is a rare day when I come across a margarita in this town that is made with just tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, but here it was. Ok well actually it was supposed to be made with half lemon juice half lime juice, but I requested all lime juice and let the «lemon» part slip because they at least knew to use triple sec. Why Londoners think it’s ok to put lemon in a margarita I don’t understand. Café Pacifico does this, too, except they use all lemon juice and no lime juice. It’s wrong. But anyway, the margarita they made was great. No simple syrup or agave was added and it was nice and sour.
They also recommended a cocktail with vodka, strawberry purée, and lime juice for those who prefer cocktails a bit sweeter and not tasting much like alcohol.
On Saturdays, the happy hour is from 6 – 8 pm, which includes 2 for £10 cocktails of the same kind whether on or off their menu (the regular margarita, for example, is not on their menu). Their menu tends to consist of fluffy, multi-​ingredient cocktails, but they make the classic ones too upon request. There was outdoor seating, which is nice about twice a year in London, but this was one such time, so we sat outside. Inside is medium sized, but most of the tables are reserved from 6 pm on, so you might struggle to find a seat if you don’t book.
It also wasn’t as rowdy as some of the other bars of this type. Would definitely recommend giving this place a try.

Great place to catch up with friends and the best thing about it is its happy hour between 6 – 8. So we got 2 cocktails for £10. So that’s great for london

I was gonna give this place 3 stars, but on reflection of the whole experience it’s a definite 2, 2.5 at an absolute push.
And I don’t give out 2 stars lightly.
This was one of the few places the bf and I had booked to go to during a brief 3-​day trip to London, due to the 2 for £10 cocktails and general good reviews it had. I kinda wish we hadn’t! Upon arrival the place was practically empty (but it was like bang on 6pm on a Monday, so a lot of people hadn’t arrived for happy hour yet) and staff showed us where our reserved booth was. All good to start off with, the place looks pretty cool inside and the tunes were good too.
Here’s where it starts to go downhill. I skipped up to the bar having decided with the bf which cocktails to get (at this point we didn’t realise 2 for £10 meant two of the SAME cocktail, because they never mention it) and ordered a Strawberry Daiquiri for the bf, plus a Chocolate Martini for myself. Nope, couldn’t get the one I wanted as they were out of chocolate liqueur, so it was back to my seat to try and decide on another. I was gutted but excited about my next choice, the Show Me The Honey. NOPE. They were out of honey vodka so I couldn’t have that one either! I get that obviously it’s a busy bar at weekends, but I thought that was an extremely poor show — the staff weren’t hugely apologetic about it either which didn’t exactly help.
Finally deciding on a Russian Spring Punch (yay, they had all the ingredients for that one!) I ordered the drinks. The bartender said «you know it’s 2 for £10 yeah?» but again didn’t mention the fact that it’s two of the same cocktail for £10. Once he started making up the drinks I of course caught on to what was happening, whereupon he looked at me like I was an idiot for not knowing something they never openly tell you. Great. I begrudgingly paid for our drinks (I wouldn’t really have minded except the bf wasn’t sure if he’d want more than one cocktail and we now possessed four, plus I was really wanting to try a couple of cocktails instead of two of the same one) and went back to the booth, more than a bit deflated by this point.
The cocktails were… fine. The champagne in my cocktail wasn’t the nicest but it did the job of course. The atmosphere in the bar was… also fine. But that was it. Fine. It stayed pretty quiet the whole time we were there and I guess just wasn’t the whole cocktail bar experience I was expecting.
We then made our way to Cahoots where we had an absolute belter of a time and it totally saved our night, goes to show that sometimes you really do get what you pay for!

Not a cocktail person by habit, but here I make an exception. Every cocktail was excellent, staff on form. Two-for-£10 happy hour until 8pm makes this worth visiting.

Fancy a cocktail (or four;)) after work? Bar55 will be your prime destination if you seeking excellent cocktails, awesome atmosphere and really good looking food (apparently it also taste great but I’ve never ate there anything. YET;))
2−4-£10 on cocktails on happy hours (not 2−4−1 anymore since few years already) it’s a great value especially if you’re going out with friends — you can then exchange cocktails between you all (the 2−4-£10 cocktails must be the same). The bar can get quite crowded, especially between 6pm and 8pm, but it’s totally worth the wait and surprisingly most of the time you’ll find your place anyway.
The guys at the bar are super friendly and can advise you if you have embarras du choix — and it’s understandable as there is soooo much choice that you will need good few minutes just to go through the menu;) My advise? Don’t miss the Zombie and its tasty flames (spoiler much? naah…)
Overall this is my absolute fav Camden location for after work drinks! Unrivalled quality and super wide selection of cocktails, topped up with good music and a hint of barmans’ humour is the best recipe for a good time in Camden.
And if you’re a true cocktail lover go there for Sunday Session — Happy Hours all night long!:D

Came here a couple of times, good for a 2−4−1 cocktail after work, also has a kitchen and the food that is served is quite decent as well

Have you ever wished you could have a delicious milkshake with an alcoholic kick? Fifty Five is where you can get it! Amongst my favourites is the oreo cookie cocktail. So delicious! The inside is a little small but as long as you get there early enough (and why would you want to miss happy hour??) you’ll find a seat. Especially nice in the summer when the weather’s nice as you can sit outside and indulge. There are other cocktails too which are almost as good, and pretty reasonably priced for a central location. Highly recommended!

Awesome place ad staff and delicious drinks. Go for happy hour after 6pm!

I like a good happy hour, but I love a good Saturday happy hour! I haven’t tried their food so this review is only for their drinks. In the heart of Camden, Fifty Five offers 2 for 1 cocktails Monday through Saturday. It gets super packed, but there’s an upstairs area which is usually slightly less crowded.
Their bartenders are knowledgeable, very nice (even though you can tell they’re extremely overworked during happy hour), and can make strong delicious cocktails.
You can also book tables so it’s convenient if you’re planning on having a night out with a sizable group.

I was suppose to go to The Diner but the waiting line was 25 minutes. While waiting I decided to go to the 55 and I’m glad I made this choice.
I love the music they play there and the atmosphere is really nice and cozy. it is a place to bring your boyfriend or girlfriend or also have a happy hour with friends.
they have many many options for cocktails, a little bit pricy but worth it. I will definitely come back.

It was my first time visiting this bar and it’s definitely somewhere I’d check out again but only during happy hour.
2 cocktails for £10 is a decent deal in anyone’s book and a few of the cocktails definitely packed a punch but most were slightly on the sweet side.
Biggest downside was how busy it gets although that was to be expected. If you want to visit on the weekend make sure you phone ahead and book a table. You won’t regret it.

I personally love this place — it is my staple Camden go to pre dinner. Happy hour is 2 cocktails for a tenner served up by enthusiastic and educated staff. The menu is a cocktail loves dream book — everything from your classic old fashioned through to your weird and wonderful fruity numbers. Gets very busy and a bit loud (as you can expect) from 5−9pm but well worth a visit. I have been many a time and have yet to be disappointed.

The cocktails are amazing and delicious, and the menu is extensive. But on a Sunday night when I went they only had three bar staff on for an absolutely heaving place. The wait at the bar was around 30 minutes, and a number of people had clearly set up camp at the bar, making it so much more difficult for the rest of us. The bar staff were obviously rushed, but that was no excuse for being rude. They also had a clear policy of serving women first — especially the pretty ones. The bouncers were also incredibly rude, the music too loud for a bar (it’s not a club but you still couldn’t talk to the person next to you), and I certainly won’t be going back no matter how good the cocktails may have been.
If you want a night spent queuing at a bar and doing very little else, while being too crammed, hot and unable to talk to your friends, and being served by rude staff, then this is the place for you. The only reason I gave it two stars and not just one is because we also went at lunchtime (before going back in the evening) and the girl behind the bar then was polite and helpful. If the place just employed an appropriate number of staff for the number of people they’re serving, and turned down the music a little, it’d be a good place.

The place has got character. And quite a few characters.
Quite taken aback when the heavily tattooed bartender voiced his disdain for bad tequila. He made menacing gestures with his elbows. But he did make nice drinks.
And there were waiters, kind of. They collected empty glasses and sometimes delivered drinks, but weren’t allowed to take orders. No explanations, pretty funny.
In all a great hideaway off the busy Camden strip.

This is the best cocktail bar in london with over 150 different cocktails to choose from and even better at happy hour you get 2 for the price of one. What’s not to love?
It’s quite a small venue and it gets busy quite quickly so if you are with a group and are going during happy hour I recommend booking a table in advance to guarantee you a seat.
Just watching the bartenders make the cocktails is amazing, how they can remember all those cocktails off the top of their heads I don’t know and they make a few simultaneously.
There is something for everyone here and the prices are great, even better during happy hour.

I love this place. I haven’t ever been outside of happy hour but as the happy hour times are so generous this may be why. There are 260 cocktails to choose from, so it would be difficult to not find at least one that you like. The staff are amazing, I don’t know how they remember all of the drinks, and make them so quickly, often many at a time. It does get busy towards the end of happy hour so it plays to get up to the bar in time. The food is also great, delicious chilli cheese fries and pulled pork sandwiches are just some of what’s on offer.
It is free to book an area and it is worth it if you are in a group, it can get really busy particularly on Friday evenings. Although if someone doesn’t turn up within 20 minutes of their booking the table becomes free for use so I have often been lucky when I have chanced it without a reservation.
The only difficulty I have had here is that I struggle to decide between a drink I know and love, or trying something new. Luckily this is easily remedied as the staff are pretty good at giving advice, and I have never met a cocktail here I didn’t like.

I came here with some friends on one of the 2−4−1 happy hours and the place was absolutely packed. I would easily say that the wait to be served particularly toward the end of the Happy Hour period is around 30 minutes. So order early, order quick and order in volume, as you won’t get served again when you’ve reached the bar. The bartenders however do their best, but as humans can only physically make drinks as quickly as their hands allow. Expect some sarcasm and dour humour whilst you wait.
Other than the crowd at the bar, the place is pretty loud but has fantastic atmosphere. The cocktails are West End Prices, but 2−4−1 cancels that out. The banana cocktail is absolute yum alongside the Oreo Cookie and many others I can’t even name.
Definitely worth a try if you’re in Camden Town.

Bounty martini made with fresh strawberries, bespin cross and lemon grass Collins. All their drinks are amazing and the bar tenders are patient in some ways in making the most complicated drinks on the menus.
Plus their never ending list of drinks makes you harder to decide while you’re already tipsy. And what’s the lesson learned there? Just try everything.
As for the crowd, it’s a bit of a mix here and there. Mostly people getting out of work but less of those ‘Camden punkers’ if that’s a more appropriate description. Not the coolest with a few youngsters and mostly middle-​ish aged. But who cares, drinks are cheap and good.
To sum it up, go for their happy hours and JUST DRINK! Oh, and do get there early on weekends if you want to find a table!

Bin zum ersten mal in England und zufällig in diesen Pub rein! Die Leute sind super nett und Hilfsbereit, da mein English etwas mager ist :-) hab mich sehr wohlgefühlt!!!