The Swan & Edgar

A beguiling little place on a quiet street near Marylebone Station, The Swan & Edgar feels like a special discovery every time. Reading is a recurring theme, with the bar seemingly fashioned from paperbacks, & pages from the Financial Times printed on the chairs, though a passing look at the menu before heading upstairs to the restaurant is the literary limit for most punters. Lit by candles in teacups, the bar is a serene setting for something hoppy (perhaps Beck’s or Asahi beer) or a carafe from the well-spread wine list. Croque madames are a popular source of snack ballast, although the more-evolved restaurant menu offers everything from lamb cutlets with boulangère potatoes to cod with Asian flavours. Service has charm, although its eccentric languor can slow things down.