The Back Room

Where Legendary Atmosphere Meets Friendly Service

Ah, The Back Room—a Hard Rock bolt-hole that promises the nostalgic charm of rock legends and surprise customer service features they sometimes bring. It sits a stone's throw from the pulsing heart of the main café but fear not, my discerning palate found sanctuary here, gnawing past the odd faux pas that life threw my way. Enter beneath its hallowed arches into a place laden with what seems to be the ossified graffiti of AC/DC scrawled across the furniture, bridging past an era that perhaps peaked when punks roamed on wheels rather than skateboards.

The drinks flow generously here, greased by the practiced chatter of bartenders Callum and Dan, whose tales of London's vibrant music history breathe life into this snug alcove. Drinks, both reasonably priced and potent, curl ’round the base of your fingers as you eye the curious montage of memorabilia calculate which Cure song might cyclically haunt your Tuesday afternoon. Indeed, encountering the coiffed archetypes of poor taste—the rude bartender or the existential quest to duel overcharged rounds—is offset by highly stylized pizzas made to pacify finicky progeny. And though reservations may drive themselves into their operatic dramas, if you're hungry enough and your sense of ironies well-honed, the kitchen does sate quite satisfyingly. Tarry long, for if conversations about old riffs don't tug you into delight, then surrender yourselves to the drinks and undeniable conviviality—it more than compensates for any sidesteps encountered along this perennially charming detour. — Penelope Savory