Bars & Pubs

At the forefront of London's bar revolution in the late 1990s, Alphabet still does little wrong; but it could, perhaps, do with a little contemporary competition. Having cornered the market in bar floor designs - although the street names are fading from the downstairs A-Z map - Alphabet is going big on Amazonian antioxidants. Acerola and acel berry are blended with various flavours (guava, papaya, mango) to create a Latin Passion (£6.50) or a Batida (£6.50), and Sagatiba Puro Velho cachaça and Boru vodka are used with abandon. Sixteen varieties of wine (eight by the glass), quality bites (Alphabet platter, £10.50) and bottled continental lagers (Warsteiner, Peroni) attract a savvy, urban clientele.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9