You are in two places at the same time. Think Congo meets the west. The Double Club, new art-installation-slash-club opened this month in Islington for 6 months in a space where you can linger between Congolese and western cultures. Art, food, and music exist in this single space encompassing dual worlds. The space is sub-divided by the restaurant, the bar, and the club. It is a refreshing place compared to the well-trodden West End stomping grounds.
The club entrance is off a narrow street, easy to miss if it is not being explicitly sought out. Security at the door was kind and the reception by staff was helpful, quickly taking burdensome coats to expedite the experience. The Double Club Bar is an open space with the candle-lit restaurant and throbbing club in view on either side from windows. Elements of Kinshasa are seamlessly juxtaposed with Western roots through the art covering the high walls as well as the furniture and the texture of the floor. On the particular Saturday night, the music – different from the club room – oscillated between African beats and Western grooves, depending on the mood of the DJ. The platform the DJ booth rests on rotates so smoothly that the dancer hardly notices while moving into the Congo and back to the West that is London.
Cocktails at this bar are noteworthy and memorable. The sensation of a hot climate seeps through the Jamaican Mule, which was heightened by Afro-Caribbean music playing at the time. One of the bartenders, Abu, is energetic and even offers to enthrall the drinker with inventive cocktails and shots not listed on the menu. One standout shot was the Bellini shot. So tasty. Specialty cocktails ranged from £7.50 while champagne cocktails were at £8.50.
The vibe of the club is not pretentious as the fashionable clientele ranged from those basking in the atmosphere, migrating over from the restaurant hosted and operated by Mourad Mazouz, appreciating the art, and enjoying the music. The Double Club is a chill venue to cross time and space while dancing to a global grove and indulging in its cocktail delights.
THE DOUBLE CLUB. 7 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NQ. Telephone: +44.207.837.2222
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