Mark's Bar at Hix Belgravia

Following the success of his Soho bar, restaurateur Mark Hix has just opened this second branch of Mark's Bar in February 2012 within the new Hix Belgravia restaurant.

This newer branch is an altogether more sober affair. The recently refurbished Thompson Belgraves hotel, an outwardly ugly lump of post-war architecture now run by the US-based Thompson luxury hotel chain, has recruited restaurateur Mark Hix and his team in attempt to jolly it up. Yet the result is of course more Belgravia than Soho.

The building's vaguely modernist glass, polished stone and brass have dictated the look, which still has echoes of a Middle Eastern airport foyer circa 1970. Some mismatched furniture has been carefully placed, a few copies of Mark Hix cookery books are located (unread) in the bookshelves, some worn-out rugs provide a failed attempt to give it that bohemian look. But our fellow drinkers were not creatives or socialites; they were mostly bored-looking middle management, plus a few well-groomed women who had gone to the trouble of donning high heels and ankle-length mink coats.

Seats in the bar have to be booked; we hadn't, and so spent the evening being shuttled from one position to the next, like colours on a Rubik's Cube, by the attentive and friendly staff.

The cocktails were excellent - bar maestro Nick Strangeway was much in evidence on our visit, strolling around and ensuring everything was tickety-boo. The cocktail list curiously kicks off with bottles of cocktails which are for hotel residents to take to their rooms - these bottles costing £25, enough for two to share.

A hibiscus-infused cocktail, the Bergameister, was sweet but beautifully balanced and fragrant of fresh bergamot; while a Temperley Sour smacked of apples and lemon juice (the base spirit is cider brandy). The choice of alcohol-free cocktails is particularly impressive, such as an espresso-based drink which looked, and smelled, very grown-up, quite unlike the sickly-sweet 'virgins' you find in most bars; but you'll not find many virgins here.