In a former life MBargo was a cheap and cheerful Triangle hangout called The Phoenix, famed for its £1 a pint nights, the bar is sorely missed by Bristol’s barflies. However, since its reincarnation, it is now a stylish, upmarket bar, complete with dancefloor, DJ and late-night hours.

The Venue
With its marble tables, comfortable leather sofas and plasma screens, MBargo is the perfect daytime hangout, given that it is open from midday, as well as being party central in the evenings. It is a fairly small place and the two bars are always pretty packed come night time but the laidback ambience lends itself well to both the students and professionals who hang out there.

Come 10pm, the music is turned up and the dancefloor is awash with anyone keen to show off their moves. They playpredominantly soul and funk, although their DJ sets are varied through the week and depends on what night you head down.

The People
The fact that MBargo is open until 2am Sunday to Thursday and 3am Friday and Saturday means the bar sees a wide range of punters including early evening pre-club drinkers as well as those who want to boogie the night away in a not too hectic environment.

Here everyone, from the bar staff to the hordes of students, has chosen Mbargo because of the atmosphere and at no time is this more apparent than on a Sunday night when the bar hosts live music from 9.30pm. Getting there early is advisable as the high standard easily explains just how packed it gets.

The Drink
Another reason Mbargo is usually so busy is that most of the drinks are an absolute bargain. There is a range of 13 classic cocktails on the menu, which will set you back about £4 each, and the wine list features 18 different bottles, starting at £6.90 for the house.

As well as imported bottled beers, there are beers on tap and you certainly can’t go wrong when drinks offers include a pint of Fosters for £1.50 from Sunday to Wednesday.

The Last Word
It doesn’t have its own outdoor smoking area and it’s worth getting in before 10pm at the weekend to avoid paying entry (they only charge Friday and Saturday) but these are minor flaws in what is one of Bristol’s most popular bar/club hybrids.

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