Dalston Jazz Bar
That's Entertainment Dalston Style
Earlier this year I was invited to a friend’s birthday. The venue he described absolutely baffled me. What do you mean you pay what you like? What do you mean you don’t choose? How can an establishment set up a deal where you can, technically, leave without paying a pence? I was so sure that there was going to be a catch, and was typically apprehensive. It was in Dalston, Kingsland – a very far journey from where I lived, though I had been there before. Its name? The Dalston Jazz Bar.
It. Is. So. Cool!
It’s a relatively small establishment, and if you’re planning on going on the weekend it’s a good idea to book, but make sure you arrive on time. Your seat will be given away to those who are waiting at the door, even if a partial amount of your party is there. They do try to accommodate everyone, though, so even if you do get your table taken away (like one party did, for us – sorry!) you’ll be offered a seat outside. So, rule of thumb – book and arrive when you said the booking was for. After that, it’s back to being cool.
My favourite part about the night are the live jazz performances. It’s such a small place that it’s impossible for it not to feel intimate. The musicians are jammed right against the window, giving maybe a foot of space between them and the table closest. You can chat with them on their break, or just listen to their absolutely seductive tunes and watch your dinner being made from the open kitchen.
The food comes in sets – you simply say you’d like some more, or you’d have enough. There’s even dessert, too, and the last time I went they served the best lemon cake I’ve ever eaten. It wasn’t pretty, and, to be honest, there’s not a lot typically pretty in this establishment at all, but it’s authentic in a way most of London isn’t. Fair warning though: you can eat some pretty crazy stuff, so go with your adventurous set of taste buds.
Then, if you think that the bar can’t get any better (and by then you’re stuffed and lulled by the beautiful music) it becomes a club. The food stops being served, the kitchen closes, the tables are mostly cleared away, and then the head chef/owner becomes your DJ for the night, playing the most popular music from any and all genres, selected from his massive collection of CDs. It’s just fun. I completely and utterly with all the sincerity I can muster recommend going there – particularly for a group night out.
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