Babel Public House

I like this place — there’s cool lamp shades and upside-​down hanging plants. The drinks are no-​frills good and the food is decent. The people are generally attractive and the staff is nice.
I’ve been here at two different times and got two different vibes:
1) Early afternoon on a weekend in spring, people here are catching up or on a date and it’s a very relaxed atmosphere where you can have conversation at a normal conversational volume.
2) Evening in summer. Lots of people here, even louder music. Sitting next to a friend and had to shout for her to comprehend me. Didn’t even bother trying with the friend across the couch.
One thing that detracts from the ambiance is the focus on safety here. Every 2 or 3 feet you see a warning sign about keeping your valuables close or to avoid having your PIN stolen. Seriously, the card readers come with such a cover over the numbers that I had to raise it up to eye level for everyone to see (including myself) when entering my PIN — which I think defeats the purpose of the cover. The place would get 1 more star if those those signs were taken down.

I came here on a hot day with Matt B. It was a really nice place and the other people there were friendly. I got a cider and Matt B got a beer and it was a low-​key place. I don’t think it would be quite as fun without hot weather, but England never gets that so I guess it’s not really an option.

The staff are very friendly, but the bouncers were pretty tough on the door. It was a hot night so we opted to stand outside on the terrace., however everyone was shuffled inside 30 mins after we arrived and it was so unbearably hot inside that we all left after our first drink. Music is top 40s and was very, very loud.

Went to Babel last night for a friends birthday to find when I went to the ladies toilets there was not one toilet with a seat on it and stunk of urine!!! It’s shocking seeing as the toilets are actually meant to be nice and you are paying a pretty penny for the booze in a packed bar! I was also almost not let back into the bar by security when I went out front for a cigarette, I had to convince the guy that I was not some random off the street but sitting with the big crew of people right in front of him, it also is obvious when I don’t have a coat on and can point at it from the door! Great bar staff though! Last words not a fan.

*Good people watching
*Inventive cocktails
*Attentive Staff
*Nice décor
Good place for a group of friends, a date. The furniture set up is made up of long couches and tables. Simple, but it lends itself to conversation. So don’t expect overbearing loud music to be played but an eclectic mix of music.
The head bartender Matt or Mathieu has a good knowledge of taste pairings and has an extensive cocktail list that makes this place an excellent choice to pay a visit to if you’re on North Cote and want a taste the handy work of a skilled bartender.

I’ve been in to Babel on a few occasions and it just doesn’t seem to improve itself on closer inspection. Even on a quiet Saturday afternoon, the music blasts to a near-​empty pub.
The seating is creative and comfy. It’s basically a big warehouse-​like space filled with some couches and coffee tables. But that’s all I can say for it. Not my cup of tea.

Eh. Too ‘cool’ for my taste. And too loud. And overpriced. But it is pretty…

Nice place to go for cocktails! The staff is really friendly and if you go there on week days do not hesitate to have a chat with them, they know what they are talking about in terms of cocktail. Really like the music, nice sofa, kind of place is hard to leave.

Babel is like most other bars on northcote road fitting in with the smart and trendy gastro esque type bars in the area. The range of beers and wines are good here and the atmosphere is friendly and cosy, however they like to have the lights turned down so low that they are almost off. Othert han that it is very comfortable and a great place to catch up with friends over a glass of wine. They also have a menu for food — I have only ever had small nibbles off this, but they were good and well priced.
The staff are also very friendly and happy to advise on their other menu — cocktails. They are very good. and they often have nights with deals or happy hours — the last time I was there I popped in fo a quick drink and was enticed by the mojito monday offer and 3 drinks and 3 hours later I finally made it out!

Over the past few years I have had a drink in this bar every so often. Yesterday I went for a pre-​dinner drink. Its had another make-​over and if you can get a couch to sit on its very comfortable. We got there early so no problem with that. The drinks menu was fairly extensive with your usual beers on tap and some good wines. We were having a good natter when they turned the music up which was a little over the top given it was 6:30pm. Apart from shouting to speak to each other the bar is a good place to go for a drink and a catch-​up. It can get unbearably busy at times though.

Babel is a safe bet on Northcote road. Its always pretty full, the alcohol is reasonably priced and it does a good selection of sharing style food and main plates. The interior, apart from a mural of the tower of Babel is a little uninspiring and I think it could do with sprucing up pretty soon too!

I took my mum here. She didn’t like it, but i did. Nice sharing plates and delicious chicken wings and houmus. Pretty expensive drinks, but what do you expect on Northcott road! Much nicer now that the smoking ban has taken effect. The old dear thought it was it a bit too boho and twentysomething for her liking. She was probably the oldest in the bar by about 30 years! Are there any people over 50 in Clapham? If so, i haven’t seen them…
Service with a smile and seconds from clapham junction train station. A good place for a quick drink after work but not a sunday drink with mum :)