Bars & Pubs

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Central
The Social
An oasis of laidback cool amid the dross of the West End, this DJ bar is a firm music-lover’s favourite. Run by the chaps behind Heavenly Records it boasts one of the best stocked jukeboxes in town and has an ever-changing line-up of cutting-edge DJs and breaking bands. Open till 1am Thursdays to Saturdays it’s the only place where you can get great beer, beans on toast (served till 11.30pm) and the sort of vibe usually found over on the east side.
The Social, 5 Little Portland Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 7JD (7636 4992/www.thesocial.com). Noon-midnight Mon-Wed, noon-1am Thur-Sat, 6pm-midnight occasional Sun. Oxford Circus tube.

Ain’t Nothin But… The Blues Bar
A Soho institution, this authentic dive is identifiable by the eager hordes that throng outside trying to push their way inside for one last bevy and dose of the blues. Its small size belies its stature as a heavyweight music joint with everything from open mic nights to Sunday jam sessions. Deep South memorabilia covers the walls and the tiny stage plays host to acts both old and new. Even if the queue looks daunting don’t despair – it’s open till at least 1am every night so it’s highly unlikely you won’t make it in.
Ain’t Nothin But… The Blues Bar, 20 Kingly Street, Soho, W1B 5PZ (7287 0514/www.aintnothinbut.co.uk). 6pm-1am Mon-Wed, 6pm-2am Thur, 6pm-3am Fri, 2pm-3am Sat, 3pm-midnight Sun. Oxford Circus tube. Feature continues

Nueva Costa Dorada
Hanway Street’s myriad late-night bars tend to be the sort of places you don’t remember the next day. Except for this little flamenco gem which makes for rather a fun bolthole. Once the sound of clicking castanets and stomping heels has lured you in, make sure you try one of their excellent red wines and tuck into some late-night tapas. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself busting out authentic moves on the dancefloor before the night is over.
Nueva Costa Dorada, 47-55 Hanway Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1UX (7631 5117/www.costadoradarestaurant.co.uk). 5pm-3am, Tue-Sat. Tottenham Court Road tube.

Moose Bar
Theme bars are usually off our radar but this cowhide-bedecked, ski lodge-style outpost is owned by nightlife impresario Vince Power and as such comes with serious pedigree. Open till a respectable 2am on weeknights, with an extra hour at weekends, it’s enjoyably quirky with antler chandeliers, mountainous backdrops and a groovy basement bar where quality DJs spin till the early hours.
Moose Bar, 31 Duke St, Marylebone, W1U 1LG (7644 1426/www.vpmg.net/moose). 4pm-2am Mon-Thur, 4pm-3am Fri-Sat. Bond Street tube.

Long Bar
If you’re looking for a shot of late-night glamour then this hotel haunt will suffice. Despite no longer being the celeb magnet it once was, it still attracts a sophisticated crowd. Cocktails in the candlelit courtyard are a sophisticated end to an evening – and at £12 a martini, less ruinous than you might fear.
Long Bar, Sanderson, 50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG (7300 1400/www.sandersonlondon.com). 11.30am-2am Mon-Wed, 11.30am-3am Thur-Sat, noon-10.30pm Sun. Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road tube.

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