Best Camden Bars

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By Scarlett Welch Editor, DesignMyNight Scarlett has covered the UK's best restaurants, bars and events for DesignMyNight since 2023. She holds an MA in Media & Journalism, with bylines in The Crack magazine and South London News, among others.

With its status as a Rock 'n' Roll haven forever in check, people from all over the globe flock to Camden for its lush live music, riff cavorting culture and band tees. But there's more to NW1 than just gigs. A haven for liquid nooks and cracking bars, this north London spot boasts some of the city's most sought after nights out. Whether you fancy watching a local metal bad, hoofing creative cocktails or settling down for steak and sizzling drinks, Camden has it all, and so does our list.




3 Locks Brewery

Wander down Hawley Wharf and you'll stumble upon this gem of a bar: 3 Locks Brewery. Its orange and monochrome interiors are home to ten taps of fresh, draught beer brewed onsite, plus plenty of wines and spirits. Choose from its signature West Coast IPA, lager or porter and pull up a chair overlooking the canal. 

Lock Inn Camden

Happy hour!

While it's got the feel of a typical pub by day, by night Lock Inn Camden is a whole different story; a vinyl haven with a turned-up tempo until late on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Better yet, there's also a rooftop terrace with a retractable roof for any good weather basking, alongside everything from contemporary cocktails to own-brewed craft lager and handcrafted spirits available to drink.

BOXPARK Camden

A social hub and event space all in one, BOXPARK Camden is a top choice for drinks on the high street. This iconic venue is made up of stacked shipping containers, boasting a huge amount of both indoor and outdoor seating.

They host all kinds of fun events, from DJ sets to quiz nights and comedy. There's a creative cocktail menu to choose from, as well as tasty street food from the likes of Black Bear Burger, Dub Pan and Birria Taco.

Rum Kitchen

Ma Petite Jamaica Rum & Reggae Bar can be found on Inverness Street, close to the tube station, slinging out a cracking selection of rums from all over the world. Whether you're drinking them neat or mixed into a tropical cocktail, you can do it in colourful surrounds. While enjoying the drinks and reggae rhythms, you can also get stuck into a tasty menu of buttermilk fried chicken, Caribbean-style kebabs, halloumi burgers and much more.