The Buffalo Bar

Buffalo Bar is a truly underground establishment where great bands play secret gigs in a dark, yet somehow appealing little venue beside Highbury and Islington Station. During the day it looks like an old abandoned cult headquarters but at night you enter down some steps into a small red room with a little stage, a dance-floor and a long corner bar. There is also comfy seating along the back wall and the toilets are utterly filthy. The bar drinks are a little overpriced at around £3 a bottle and flavoured vodka shots are available, also at a slightly inflated price. The effect of the place is very cosy and communal, the red lighting continually makes the place feel a little on the exclusive side for underground rock where standing on the front row of a mini-gig means having your face peering over the lead singers guitar.

Overall a tiny venue which actually pleases by its rugged edges, perhaps the prices don’t match the atmosphere but it up and coming, trendy in an underground way and friendly in the only way that islington really knows how to be, with even an old school pinball machine occupying a corner - 6/10