Bars & Pubs

Impressively located slap on Trafalgar Square, Albannach (as opposed to 'sassanach') specialises in Scotch whiskies and cocktails thereof. A map in the menu explains where these Highland and Island malts come from, the pages brimming with 17-year-old Glengoynes (£9.50), 12-year-old Cragganmore (£7.50) and 29-year-old Auchentoshan (£50). The imaginative cocktail list (£7.50-£8) includes a Shetland Pony of Blackwood's Shetland gin, citrus, peach and passion fruit, and an Islay Punch with Bowmore Darkest, lime and bitters. Among the native dishes are organic Scottish salmon fish cakes (£6.50), shallow-fried haggis parcels (£4.50) and, improbably, a meat-free scotch egg (£5.50). Kilted staff, illuminated reindeer and too many loud office groups detract from the quality on offer.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9