Nestled slap-bang in the middle of central London - just a stone's throw from Soho and Oxford Street - Nordic Bar offers a hearty taste of Scandinavia from the streets of Fitzrovia.
The Venue
Head downstairs into Nordic's basement bar and you are greeted by a minimalistic set-up of wooden benches and blue fairy lights, designed to make you feel like you have stepped into a quaint Scandinavian ski lodge. The benches are arranged into cosy corner booths, which are ideal for after work groups and catch up drinks with friends. Sport is a big deal at Nordic, with the big matches shown on TVs around the bar and a ping-pong table towards the back, making Nordic the perfect spot for a fun-filled party.
Another huge plus point is the happy hour, where beers are just £2 and a bottle of wine is a tenner between 5 and 7pm every day. Cocktails are 2-4-1 all night long on Mondays and Thursdays too, so a few drinks in Nordic definitely won't mean a delay on paying your rent.
Nordic is a sports haven basement bar known for its rustic Scandinavian interiors and ping-pong tables.
Ambience
The mood was lively and fun, with groups unwinding after work or competing in heated ping-pong battles to decide who will be crowned office champion ... all in good fun of course! The bar staff were friendly and attentive, and Nordic's table service policy ensured the bar never became too crowded.
Be sure to take a chance on the shot wheel while you're here too. Nordic was alive with excited revellers at the bar throughout our stay, cheering and whooping as their shotting fate was decided. The wheel injects a sense of fun when it's your turn to get the rounds in and can open your mind to luscious drinks you've never heard of previously.
There's a strong party vibe to savour, as guests take shots determined by the wheel!
Food and Drink:
As you might expect, food and drinks are also of the Nordic variety, with the kitchen serving up some hearty Scandinavian favourites in the form of Swedish meatballs and mashed potato. You can also grab a tasty burger or a more traditionally English fish and chips if you so desire. For larger groups there's a choice of sharing boards; none of which would be complete without the addition of a good old smorgasboard filled with crayfish, herring and Norwegian cheese. We couldn't resist sampling the traditional Swedish Meatballs which were a delicious treat brimming with authentic Scandinavian flavour.
Nordic places a lot of focus on its cocktails, and with favourites like the Snowcones and Bloody Vikings it's really no wonder. If things get a little wild later, you can even try Sex in the Snow! We opted for the giant Nordic Porn Star Martini, a huge sharing mix of vanilla, passoa and passion fruit, topped with prosecco and presented in a giant martini glass. This colossal sharer offered a refreshing communal drinking experience that really hit the spot. Next time around I'm going back for the Nordic Sundae with vanilla vodka, double cream and Scandinavian chocolate, it's a lavish sweet treat well worth checking out.
Obviously no Scandinavian themed bar would be complete without stocking a few Swedish ciders, and Nordic also stocks beverages from closer to home in the form of London based brewers Pistonhead, so there's plenty here for everyone.
Come for a smorgasbord of treats washed down the hatch with a few innovative creations.
Summary
Nordic is an ideal spot for a fun-filled party or for a few drinks with friends, and sports fans can catch all the action in a lively atmosphere. It's open until 2am Thursday-Saturday so you can relax and unwind as long as you like and it's also an easy, neutral spot for anyone trying to get home afterwards. Given it's bullseye central London location, Nordic also offers exceptional value for money, particularly if you catch the happy hour or 2-4-1 cocktail nights. Lastly, Nordic is relaxed, unpretentious and more than anything else it's fun; and that's really all most people want from a bar.
