7 Low Life
This misfit bar is as laid-back as they come. Cocktails are served
sloppily but endearingly in chunky glasses – an unpretentious treat.
Low Life, 34a Paddington St, W1U 4HG (020 7935 1272) Baker St tube.
8 Nordic
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You’ll have to search out the hidden entrances on Newman Street and
Newman Passage to descend into this Scandinavian bar. It boasts a
strong selection of vodkas and beers – Faxe and the splendidly named
Red Erik on tap – to wash down with the smorgasbord or steaks.
Nordic, 25 Newman St, W1T 1PN (020 7631 3174) Tottenham Court Rd tube.
9 Sevilla Mia
Hanway Street itself is a tucked-away secret – and this rowdy tapas bar
exemplifies its furtive delights. The cellar gets cramped, but it’s
perfect for after-hours Latin partying.
Sevilla Mia, 32 Hanway St, W1T 1UH (020 7637 3756) Tottenham Court Rd tube.
10 Café in the Crypt
A cavernous self-service café hidden in the centuries-old Crypt at St
Martin-in-the-Fields church, this is a great place for lunch on a
budget. The daily-rotating menu offers large salad platters as well as
more substantial options such as salmon fillet with new potatoes and
cabbage. It’s like the nice bits of school dinners.
Café in the Crypt, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Duncannon St, WC2N 4JJ (020 7839 4342) Leicester Square tube.
11 Cork& Bottle
In among the sex shops of Soho, behind a discreet glass door, a narrow
spiral staircase winds down to two small rooms decorated with art
nouveau posters for Moët and Mumm. It’s a gorgeous space – small tables
sit on a red-tiled floor and the alcoves reach under the street. Owner
Don Hewitson has compiled top wine selections from the Rhône,
California and New Zealand.
Cork & Bottle, 44-46 Cranbourn St, WC2H 7AN (020 7734 7807) Leicester Square tube.
12 Jerusalem
This basement bar is done out in Gothic style – fat candles and velvet
curtains – but it’s the beer and food that keep it busy. Expect Leffe,
San Miguel and Hoegaarden on tap, Belgian bottles, and dishes ranging
from lamb shanks to a Thai platter. To nab a lunchtime table, get there
early.
Jerusalem, 33-34 Rathbone Place, W1T 1JN (020 7255 1120) Tottenham Court Rd tube.
Time Out London magazine (Issue 1832)
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