Being the token American in the office, I have been appointed as the official ‘American in London’ blogger. My assignment for this week; to experience the London institution that is The Troubadour, from day to night.

First on my list of things to do; eat in The Café. The café itself has a cool and retro feel with random signs on the walls, white and yellow roses in Troubadour Beer bottles, and quaint little oddball tables and chairs strewn throughout the restaurant in no particular order. I am a bit ashamed to admit that I have never experienced true British fish and chips. Well, I have finally cured myself of this deprivation with the deliciousness that is The Troubadour’s Classic Fish and Chips. This was a good £13 but definitely worth it. The atmosphere when I visited at lunchtime was quiet and relaxed, though I am reliably informed that come the evening there is not a seat to be had!

The Club at The Troubadour has been recognised as a hotbed of emerging talent since it opened in 1954 and some of the greats launched their careers in this small and unassuming venue. I was beyond excited to be in a place that has hosted the likes of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and Elvis Costello. The Club opens at 8pm until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, with a later closing time of 2am from Thursday to Saturday. The unique cellar feel of the venue has been preserved with its low ceilings and recessed, hidden away seating areas. Wednesday night is The Troubadour Sessions Night, where up and coming artists are able to play their original songs for eager ears. There were 4 artists in the lineup this past Wednesday and two of them blew my mind. Sixteen year old Misty Miller was a favourite among the crowd with her original indie love songs (she definitely has a new fan in one of my friends who bought all of her songs on iTunes as soon as she got home!) My personal favorite was Miss Terry Blue, a funky, jazzy band, who really got the crowd going.

Around 10:50pm, we decided to get our last drinks order in and some potato wedges for late night nibbles - I don’t know what they battered these things in, but they were literally the most incredible wedges I’ve ever had, true praise coming from a yank!

The Club also offers poetry on Mondays fortnightly, acoustics on Tuesdays, underground bands on Thursdays, clubbing on Fridays and bands/DJs or private events on Saturdays.

Not in the mood for live entertainment? They have a fantastic gallery upstairs that you can rent out for a private party and they will fill it with an exhibit to your liking. 32 people can be seated for dinner or 70 people for drinks. Still not convinced? How about the Wine Shop? They offer a wide selection of fine wines and regularly host wine tastings. This place has something for everyone! Check them out at http://www.troubadour.co.uk/