Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen Bar / Restaurant

Covent Garden / Soho, London –

Part casual country pub and part swanky Parisian saloon, Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen is a little subterranean joint serving up Middle Eastern-inspired comfort food and a spirited after-dark cocktail scene.

Descending stairs that look more like a fire escape than the passageway to a bustling eatery, executives from the nearby media district and a dedicated crew of festive young regulars find themselves in a dim underground cavern decked out with velvet curtains, exposed brick walls, and rustic candlelit tables.

Moroccan lanterns hang low from the thick-beamed ceiling, while fancier corner booths entice romantic couples to snuggle in over lamb couscous and share a few bottles from the substantial European beer list.

If the cozy single-room layout induces claustrophobia, adventurous twenty-something professionals can always adjourn to the “Secret Garden,” a medium-sized patio where ale-chasers and pickup artists nosh on lamb burgers and slurp Jeru Coolers in a breezier setting.

Midweek is usually quite relaxed, but quiet conversation and low-key dinners give way to retro beats come Thursday nights, when tables in the main dining room are pushed aside to make room for a booming DJ-led dance floor.

Between its multiethnic menu and its divergent vibes, Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen provides patrons with a dynamic mix of culture, cuisine, and music that’s every bit as eclectic and vibrant as the ancient city itself.