Your guide to the clubs, bars, and live music spots shaping

London at night is whole different city. If you just follow the crowds, you’ll end up in a random club in Leicester Square wondering why the DJ hasn’t moved past blasting the same Drake songs on loop. Thankfully, london has a deep network of Black-owned, Black-centered spaces that keep the culture ALIVE. It doesn't matter if you are looking for basement clubs running on Afrobeats or live jazz spots that make you wanna dress up and tap your feet, black London after dark is where it is at.

So, here are some spots I highly recommend.

LA Lounge (Tottenham) / Corner Store & The Book Club (Shoreditch)

Forget tourist clubs. This is where Afrobeats and amapiano hit. The Corner Store and The Book Club keep the energy alive week after week. No fake hype, just dancefloors where you’ll actually break a sweat.

LA Lounge

Location: 3A Tottenham High Rd, N15

The Book Club

Location: 100-106 Leonard St, Shoreditch, EC2A

Satan’s Whiskers (Bethnal Green)

Don’t be fooled by the divey exterior. Once you step inside, you will actually see one of the most stylish cocktail bars in East London. The playlist is strictly hip-hop and R&B. The perfect spot where you can post up in a booth with your new hallmates.

Location: 343 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E2

Brixton: The Heartbeat of Black London

In some ways, Brixton is like Harlem. Think of Brixton as the borough where nightlife stays rooted and the energy is unmatched. It’s might actually be the only place in the city where you’ll consistently find Afrobeats, reggae, and proper food at 2am.

Phonox

Location: 418 Brixton Rd, SW9

 Rum Kitchen Brixton

Location: 437 Coldharbour Ln, SW9

The Jazz Café (Camden)

For live music lovers, Jazz Café is THE spot. You’ll find Afro-fusion collectives, R&B vocalists, soul bands, and DJs spinning until late. It’s big enough to feel like a proper night out but intimate enough that you’re close to the stage. Perfect for when you want live sound to lead into a party.

Location: 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1

606 Club (Chelsea)

An underground jazz sanctuary that’s been running since the 1970s. Every night, you’ll hear soul, gospel, funk, and Latin sounds from musicians who live and breathe the craft. It’s not a “mainstream student night”. It’s a space for people who actually LOVE music.

Location: 90 Lots Rd, Chelsea, SW10

Legacy: The Four Aces (Dalston)

The club itself is unfortunately not around anymore:/ But The Four Aces definitely deserves a mention. Back in the day, it was the beating heart of reggae, jungle, and lovers rock in London. The spirit of that venue lives on in every sound system party and every DJ night celebrating Black music across the city.

Location: Dalston (now a historic site)