Born in the USA?
BEING AN AMERICAN tourist in London can be tricky. You have to master the tube, deal with the whole "pounds" and "pence" situation, and get used to shrimp-flavored chips which the locals quaintly call "prawn-cocktail crisps". It has its advantages though — you get to enjoy a really unique culture, check out some truly beautiful architecture, and, of course, enjoy all of the dreamy English accents.
After you've stuffed yourself with enough fish and chips and ridden the London Eye a few times, you might find yourself wishing for the cheers and whistles of the basketball game you're missing back home, or your favorite live band. There might be a craving for some American food, and a longing for the atmosphere of your local college bar. Fortunately London has something for everyone, even the most homesick of Americans.
Texas Embassy Cantina
While trekking up and down the Thames on a seemingly endless walking tour, you might find yourself in dire need of a margarita and some enchiladas. Immediately you sadden, thinking nowhere in London could possibly rustle up some Tex-Mex food the way you like it. Well mosey on over to Trafalgar Square and look no further than the Texas Embassy. With killer cocktails and food that would make any Chili's cower, this is the best restaurant to get your fill of the American south without having to dig out your cowboy hat.
Average Price Range: Moderate
Find it at: 1 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DL
Tube Station: Picadilly Circus or Charing Cross
www.texasembassy.com
The Sports Café
Located in the heart of Picadilly Circus, this lively bar is perfect for football lovers of any kind, whether it's the game with quarterbacks or centre-backs. Featuring SKY HD, ESPN, ESPN America, DIRECTV, over 100,000 foreign channels and Pay-Per-View, they can broadcast over 32 events simultaneously. With great deals on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights, they keep the pitchers of beer flowing and the buffalo wings cheaply priced. If it weren't for the packed dance floor downstairs and the live DJ, you might find yourself forgetting you're across the pond. If you're in the mood to catch the game, grab a few drinks, and maybe bust a move, this is definitely a place to check out.
Average Price Range: Moderate
Find it at: 80 Haymarket, London, SW1Y4TE
Tube Station: Picadilly Circus or Charing Cross
www.thesportscafe.com
O'Neills
Unless you're one of those brazen backpackers who wander from questionable hostel to hostel all over Europe, you've most likely landed in London with a few other people or a big group. O'Neills, located in Chinatown, has something for everyone. From live cover bands to live DJs and fist-pumping music on a giant dance floor, even the whiniest member of your group would be hard-pressed to find something they didn't like on the three individually-themed floors of this bar.
Average Price Range: Moderate
Find it at: 33-37 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6PU
Tube Station: Picadilly Circus
O'Neills
Koko
Sick of the routine pubs, but not in the mood to rave to techno until 6 a.m.? A nightclub and former theater in Camden Town, Koko is one of the coziest clubs you'll find while staying in London - and a favourite with us yanks. Incorporating the appeal of a live music venue with all the fun of a dance club, it has a great atmosphere for anyone feeling nostalgic about their favorite American music spot. The drinks are a little pricier and the cover a drag, but once you make your way through all three floors of Koko and enjoy a great live band, you won't regret it.
Average Price Range: Moderate
Find it at: 1a Camden High Street, London, NW1 7JE
Tube Station: Mornington Crescent
Koko
The American Bar at the Savoy
If you're lucky enough to be on a business trip or at a meeting where your company is picking up the tab, head to this bar for some of the best, and priciest, cocktails in town. One of the earliest establishments to introduce American cocktails to Europe, this place not only has history, but plenty of style. Maybe it's the live pianist playing American jazz from a baby grand piano seven days a week, but the atmosphere is glamorous to say the least. If you're in the mood for a splurge, The American Bar is the place to be.
Average Price Range: High
Find it at: Strand, London, WC2R 0EU
Tube Station: Covent Garden
The Savoy London (LondonNet)
Quinn Keaney, July 2012
Photos: Koko by Quinn Keaney (Copyright Quinn Keaney/LondonNet)
Texas Embassy by neilt (Creative Commons License)
