The Coach Makers

Popular because of its late opening hours & its pared-back looks, The Coach Makers occupies a handy corner spot on Marylebone Lane. There are extra rooms upstairs & down, but most of the action takes place in the large ground-floor bar, with its stained glass, chandeliers & bare brick. Guest ales such as Meantime supplement draught Moretti, & there are plenty of wines by the glass or half-bottle – making food-matching an easier task. The menu is surprisingly varied, spanning anything from oysters every which way to buttermilk pudding or lemon syrup cake with cardamom custard. In between, expect the likes of homemade gnocchi, pan-fried lemon sole or more ambitious offerings such as rose-veal Schnitzel with tomato sauce & lightly pickled savoy cabbage. It’s all appreciated by a civilised, drink-focused crowd.