The Bridge

BARCHICK SAYS

This coffee bar feels as though you’re sitting in an old treasure chest: the walls are filled with odd titbits, gramophones, street signs  and a whole bunch of old sporting magazines (mainly boxing - the owner’s into it, you have been warned). The till itself looks like it’s come from the circus: it’s huge, vintage and over the top - they must have hit some serious markets to fill this place.

Sit here with a coffee or grab a beer from the Coca Cola Smeg fridge (or a shot of Ouzo). There’s a TV in the corner, old jazz music playing and a lack of light from the outdoor world, so you could easily lull away a whole day in here. If you’re peckish there’s baklava and Turkish food to pick at, but no real food menu.

This place is owned and run by a Cypriot family, their cousin even did the décor. During the day you feel as though you’ve walked in on a Mafia meeting, it’s the family hang out and we don’t blame them.

If there are a few of you, take your drinks upstairs and enter the boudoir (which they’re very proud of), it’s like something out of Moulin Rouge up there. The lamps are china scantily clad women, with velvet plush sofas and a lot of elaborate throws and robes, it’s super sexy. This is a hot spot for magazine photo shoots, you’ll probably be shown the underwear shoot in an old, worn magazine - it’s their prized possession.

07/08/2012

ADDRESS

81 Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 0NQ, UK Tel: +44 20 3489 2216

OPENING HOURS

Sunday 09:30 - 18:00
Monday 07:30 - 21:00
Tuesday 07:30 - 21:00
Wednesday 07:30 - 21:00
Thursday 07:30 - 21:00
Friday 07:30 - 20:15
Saturday 09:30 - 18:00

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