The names Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Striling have been nightlife lexicon on the London scene for almost a generation. With recent hits with Maggie’s and Barts, their latest venture is one of the largest to date inspired by the English love for all things kitschy Italian. Bunga Bunga I found along a lively intersection just south of the Thames where neon lights promise a bar, pizza and karaoke. Inside, a first floor bar does classic pub culture with an Italian twist with walls adorned in whimsical Roman landscapes for evenings that promises a lively scene and plenty of laughter.
An adjoining pizzeria offers a proper sit-down restaurant adorned by a chandelier of Vespa helmets and pizzas named after each of Berlusconi’s feminine conquests that are as yummy as they sound. Late weekend visitors make their way through the Sistine Staircase, which is exactly what you might imagine, into the Eurovision Room with proper stage offering karaoke system and DJ booth as well as a cocktail bar with signature drinks named after various Eurovision song winners.
Tips
Great midnight pizza scene and Friday evening pub crawl, this quirky bar hotspot is a worthy destination even for those that never go South of the Thames.
Last Word
While open from Thursday through Saturday, the upstairs karaoke lounge is only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30pm or during the week via private hire.
