Bar review: Citizen Park, Kingsland

A jug of Coco Nuts at Citizen Park. Photo / Joanna Hunkin

Address: 424 New North Rd, Kingsland
Rating:

First drinks: Took a while to decide on as we sized up the various concoctions on offer. We settled for a jug of Coco Nuts - white rum, limoncello, coconut puree and lime juice. The 500ml jug ($26) might seem a little underwhelming when it first arrived but was surprisingly potent. They also do a tasty sangria mix as well.

The vibe is: Super-relaxed. We arrived early evening on a Saturday, as the afternoon session crowd tailed off and those up for a night out arrived. Whether you're in jandals or high heels, anything goes.

It smells of: Sunscreen, as everyone makes the most of the spacious outdoor courtyard. It's a sunseekers' honeytrap.

On the stereo: The obligatory funky house mix everyone seems to play these days. The speakers line the wall nearest the main bar, so best avoid that area if you want to actually converse with your friends.

Room for improvement: Though the staff were well-meaning, the service was somewhat inept. Multiple people kept asking us the same questions. Also, they serve water in plastic tumblers, which is cheap and unnecessary, particularly when all other drinks are served in real glass. This isn't a late night club in King's Cross, we can be trusted with proper glassware.

The perfect spot: To soak up the sun on a lazy afternoon and enjoy a jug or two of tasty cocktails.

Most redeeming feature: The space. Both inside and out, Citizen Park has room to spread out. It caters for large and small groups and never feels too crowded.

- TimeOut