Bars & Pubs

Perched beside a mini-roundabout and posh Hyde Park mews, it's easy to see why the Victoria has drawn everyone from Dickens and Churchill to the Dracula Society. A characterful interior is bookended by a pair of ravishing period fireplaces, along with ornate mirrors, old prints and vintage wallpaper above panelled walls. The L-shaped bar dispenses a quartet of Fuller's offerings, while a superior menu mixes the likes of steak and ale pie with butternut squash and sage risotto, alongside a well-chosen wine list at around £20 a bottle. Clientele range from older locals to foreign language students who have wisely chosen to brush up their English (drinking habits, that is) here.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9