Bars & Pubs

'Grills & Martinis' runs the gaudy red neon sign of this incongruous slice of Americana set behind a black-fronted façade on the corner of Exmouth Market. And sure enough, Dollar steak burgers there are (£10.95), with cashew sauce, sweet-cure bacon and Dollar relish, along with Porn Star martinis (£8) of Cariel vanilla vodka and passion fruit purée - one of 20 cocktail options. A 40-strong wine list includes a Domaine de Charmoy Chablis (£29) and Viña Alicia Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza malbec (£42), and a surprisingly eclectic European bottled beer list has Salzburg Stiegl and Estonian Viru. Below ground, the evening-only Martini Lounge is red lit, seductive and packed with frocked up girls with Sex and the City complexes most weekends. As a touching reminder of less glamorous times (as the Penny Black - so named as it's right by the Mount Pleasant sorting office) 'Watney's Public Bar' remains etched into the main window.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9