Bars & Pubs

Famous for formerly being the Camden Palace, where music legends did legendary things, KOKO is opulent in an unashamedly old-fashioned way: high ceilings, claret and gold gloss paintwork, and plenty of Greek gods holding up columns. The place is all about highs and lows (it started life in 1900 as the Camden Theatre), and it's nearly impossible to avoid getting lost in the many stairwells as you try to drunkenly navigate from one tiered balcony to another. Punters here are a decidedly unpretentious bunch happy to indulge in Club NME's indie-focused Friday nights and the occasional Saturday night Guilty Pleasures cheese-fest courtesy of Sean Rowley.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9