Bars & Pubs

Once you've got used to the fact that this is a champagne bar full of chunky wood seating rather than chandeliers, the appeal of Amuse Bouche becomes clear. We're talking champagne quaffing splendour at non-intimidating prices. Staff will happily talk you through the range of bubbles, although the house champagne Jean-Noel Haton Brut NV over delivers at £5 a glass. For something a little more fancy, Ayala offers yeasty complexity in its Brut NV, and its 1999 vintage has fantastic depth of flavour. Small, themed plates of food include little soup servings and cones of fish and chips. There's a new Amuse Bouche in Soho, with a younger, more up-for-it crowd, but this is just as good if you have celebration in mind.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9