Bars & Pubs

In place for nearly a decade, this bar-club-restaurant still does a roaring trade. There's a downstairs club (South Pole) and upstairs restaurant but the street-level lounge bar, its modest VIP area with cowhide seating off to one side, provides some 30 cocktails (£6-£7), Greene King IPA, Hoegaarden and Staropramen on draught (plus Peroni and San Miguel by the bottle), and quality bar food (North Pole burger, £7). High-end spirits - Grey Goose vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, Sauza tequila - are used in the martinis and tequinis, while the house bloody mary is a potent combination of Finlandia, a touch of red wine and all the sauces. Six wines by the glass complete the classily upbeat picture.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9