Barfly

I can’t comment at all on the downstairs as my journey took me straight up to the top floor where the action seems to happen. I was here to watch a gig by an up and coming band and for that reason alone Barfly gets a star.
It’s not the nicest place in the world but it wouldn’t feel right if it was. Good layout, very decent sound system and reasonable bar prices means that I’ll be back here for another gig as soon as I can!

Nice small venue that, with the right band, can take create a fabulous atmosphere. Easy to get to (chalk farm tube). You can see some great bands, friendly staff. Just the right venue for a weekend is music.

When I think of my teenage years, I think of the Barfly.
From the outside it’s hard to see the appeal. It’s small, it’s dark, it’s sticky but it’s so cool. I’ve never really spent any time downstairs because the live music is all on a little stage on the first floor and this is what I remember: a small bar, sticky red floors and some of the best goddamn music I’m ever likely to experience.
The Barfly has a talent for booking those little bands that hardly anyone has heard of but that somehow, you love. I’ve seen bands like Ambulance Ltd and The Like here and every time I’ve had a knock out night. Being in Camden, it sort of seems to absorb that cool vibe and it makes you overlook its flaws. The peeling paint, the weird men that stink of beer. It all doesn’t matter somehow.
If you want a night out where you try new things and mix with every age group, this is the place for you. Typically the haunt of graduates from school and university, it sometimes can feel a little ‘young’ but there are a fair amount of 40+ filling out the back row too. Sometimes you get weird acts, sometimes you get amazing ones, but without a doubt, you’ll remember your experience here.

It’s a bit grungy, dive-​y, dirty, smelly, and sticky, but I feel like that’s basically what Camden Town is about so I kind of love it! We came here randomly one night because it has live music and anywhere from 3 – 5 small bands playing every night!
We didn’t spend too much time at the bar downstairs, just got our drinks and headed up where the live music is! But the downstairs area looked like any standard dive bar, with loud music playing and smelled a bit like an old pub. There is also a bar in the live music room upstairs to get your drink fix!
The place was pretty empty when we first got there, around 9pm. It started filling up pretty quickly afte rthe first act. The audience ranged from younger people to couples who were in their 40’s, to single old men lingering in the back who looked like they were in their 50’s. We had absolutely no expectations for the artists we were going to see, and no idea who any of them were. We saw some pretty strange acts, including this one lady who sang like she was performing a voodoo chant. It was pretty awesome :)
It turned out that all the opening acts were leading up to a band that sang punk music and looked like they were in high school. It also seemed like a lot of the people standing in the front row were also in high school, and probably his classmates. And then I realized that the drinking age in London is 18, so they probably WERE in high school, or just graduated. All the older couples also started to make sense, cuz they were probably those kids’ parents…
I asked a British friend, and he only confirmed my suspicious when he said, «Oh yeah, Barfly! I had a ton of fun there when I was in College (aka senior year in the UK) l!»
It was still a blast, though :)
The one annoying thing is that the bathroom is extremely small, and if I remember correctly, there were only two stalls for the whole place. BUT! what is really awesome is that they offer free ear plugs! My bf usually can’t stand loud music venues and wants to leave after an hr or two, but since he got those earplugs, it was perfect! Every music venue should offer them!!!

Ugh. I wish I could have loved Barfly! It seemed like such a cool place from the outside, but I should have known from the minute I had to pay a cover that my expectations could only be un-​met (any time I have to pay, the expectations rise and the likelihood of meeting them falls).
First, cover, in Camden? Only because you can. Show love to the customer: I’ll spend the £5 inside on drinks if you don’t take it from me at the door.
Second, slowest bartenders I have ever experienced. I was five deep on a side, so you know, eleven us at the middle of the bar, standing there for ten-​plus minutes as the barkeeps only served the two ends of the bar. I was bleeping fed up by the time I got to order. I have no patience for being ignored when I’m not being rowdy and I’m trying to give you money for a drink that’s earning a 50% profit margin (oh gosh, I am a business school student!).
Third, crowd, crowd, crowd. Everywhere. Feeling like I’m constantly in the way. Going out a different door than I came in, only to have to hop over a fence… in a dress (thank goodness for gentleman friends to lift a lady!).
All in all, it’s not even close to my favorite place. You won’t catch me here again, unless I hear of some big changes.

Slow barkeeps. More of a live music venue… feels a little flat if there’s no action.

OH Barfly How I love thee. I love the movie, I love the cheeseball bar with drinks costing more than the average by about .50p and you though you don’t take card for less than £10 and even though you have some really predatory guys lurking around the joint, I can still manage to find the good in this place. Not quite sure if its the BayWatch theme music resonating my ears or the slippery floor i carry home with me. But every neighborhood needs a loud and douchy bar like this. I really did enjoy the cheese factor.

A decent place for drinks or a night out. The dancefloor downstairs creates a nice intimate space and upstairs is a bigger floor that gets packed up but is still fun. The prices aren’t too rough, but I didn’t find anything too standout about the place. It’s consistently decent but not much more than that.

This was kind of a weird joint. We went out dancing, and started out downstairs listening to music that’s impossible to dance to… www​.youtube​.com/​w​a​t​c​h​?​v​=​-​c​H​B​3​R​bz1OI
Nothing against the style of music, but it’s not something you go out and dance to. The crowd seemed similarly confused, although there was a good amount of people there.
After a bit we discovered an upstairs room that played more top 40 stuff. It was a definite improvement, but it was 99% «heard it before» stuff that wasn’t anything unique.
No real involvement in the bar either.
Someone stepped on my glasses here while I was «raging» to «killing in the name of»
:(
:(
:(

It’s your average dive-​ish music venue. But I love it!
I have seen two concerts here. One of them being Pearl and the Bear (New favourite!) The other I will detail a bit more.
The other day I saw Niki and the Dove here. The intimate feeling I got from them was much more energetic when I saw them a mere weeks before that, at the 02 Academy Brixton opening for Miike Snow. Granted, they were just the opener. But they can not do a large theater well. But put them within inches of your biggest fans and you have one kickass show. I’m sure this pertains to every artist who graces their stage.
I am sure I will be back!

I went to this bar with a buddy to listen to some live music.
There was a 5 pound entry to go upstairs where the band performed.
The top area was cozy and the crowd was good. Drinks were moderately
priced in my opinion. The band only played 5 songs or so. I was hoping
the experience to be a little longer since they were a decent band.

Great spot for seeing live music (they have a small stage area upstairs).
They play some of the best cheesy music downstairs where you can dance away to your hearts content!
Not a bad spot at all.

Had many a crazy night in this place when I lived in Camden (about 6 years ago.).
On wkend nights the place is a damn sweatbox, which was sometimes a good thing:). The live stage upstairs is intimate to say the least. bands r on and off, but every famous or up n coming band will have played the Barfly at some point.
If in Camden you have to check this place out. well at least once, you’ll either leave having had a great night or be cursing the hot, stained dive.

Was in the area and went to check out this bar for a quick drink because the venue looked pretty chill on the outside. It was about six o’clock and there was only one other occupied table… very very dead and boring atmosphere.
Drinks are moderately priced… I think I would definitely enjoy this place on a gig night for the live music, but other than that I don’t know what else Barfly has to offer on an un-​booked weeknight.
Drunkards at the table next to us could not compose themselves. They literally broke and shattered a total of 3 glasses on the floor under a half-​hour span… quite juvenile and annoying. Someone show these wankers to the door.

I haven’t been to any gigs here but only to enjoy a few drinks. Didn’t really think much of the place — small and overpriced drinks. I really had to sip carefully in-​case I spent a fortune here! And where are the bloody seats?! There were 1 seat to 5 persons. Confusing stuff.
I would love to check out a few bands here — the crowd seem pretty cool. However for a few drinks after work — I suggest a nice/​cheaper pub.

I would definitely give this place a second chance, maybe on a gig night, but for now, 2 stars is all.
I just can’t STAND when boys automatically think that you want their tiny penises rubbed up against your lower back JUST because you’ve hopped onto the dance floor and are gyrating a bit yourself. Puhleeez. If I wink at you, give you the signal, try to talk to you, then yes, by all means, have at my lower back. Otherwise, stay the F$#K back — I’m trying to get my groove on.

Sweaty sweaty boys in skinny jeans boppin to live bands on stage, smelling the blood, sweat and tears of the performers. This place is a dirty music venue that does not pretend to be anything it’s not. Cheap beer and snakebites, cash only bar and a mix of people like you’d never expect.
You’ll find a lot of unsigned acts playing, some good, some terrible but most full of passion and great to watch. If you love gigging, this is not a place to be missed.

This is a good venue for discovering new bands. I went on a night with 4 unsigned acts. One sucked, one was ok, and two were awesome. Wish i could remember their names :/​Its small so you can enjoy the music but still feel apart of a crazy crowd. All the bartenders were speedy and nice.
It is pretty hipstery slash-​too-​cool-​for-​school giving it the «air of cool» effect (you know when you’re just being yourself having a good time and you feel like everyone thinks you are a weirdo) but overall its a fun night out.
Not sure about cover charges. night i went was free, but probably depends on who’s performing.

Wanna know what’s worse that walking into a bar full of collar popping 21-​year olds and realising you’re the oldest one there?
Walking into the same bar in the UK. Because instead of 21, they’re all 18.
MY god, I’ve never felt older.
Tonight’s adventure in 21-​derland (Perhaps 18-​y-​town?) proved to be a gyrating mass of sweet hot hormones, and I must say, they were all having a terrific time, so I must give credit where credit is due. And then politely decline.

The barfly in my opinion is an awesome venue! I have had so many good nights there that I can’t help but love the place. The crowd is only midlly annoying and poserish, and some of the bands they have had on there have provided legendary nights.
I used to go there a lot when I did not live in London as loads of up and coming bands would gig there. I remembering discovering Larrikin Love there (R.I.P) and having a rowdy, sweaty jig of a night. I also saw Jamie T there, when he used only play with his bass guitar and it was a brilliant night. The upstairs part where bands play is intimate and gets crowded, the atmosphere is always great, I also once went to watch a band play there at 8 a.m. That was wierd.
The bar are downstairs is also tiny, prices at the bar are moderate. It is a good place to have a drink or a dance after you have watched a band play, or simply to go to as a bar. They normally have a few good DJ nights on in a week. They always have things going on, so check out the website. There is also a barfly in Manchester and in Leeds.