Caxton Bar at St Ermin's Hotel

Given that New Scotland Yard is across the way, your purse should be safe from opportunistic street dippers, but expect to flex the plastic if you fancy sampling Caxton’s whisky & wine flights or a couple of rounds of good cocktails. From the ‘Empire’ selection, try Ceylon ice tea (a gin & Earl Grey-based cooler); from the ‘Americas’, go for the ‘three saints’ – a triple whammy of three different rums. Closer to home, check out a trio of ideas themed on headgear – the bowler, the tam o’shanter & top call the Welsh hat (built on martini rosato & vodka distilled in Cymru’s fair hills). The warm tobacco & toffee-toned room plays it safe, so head for the pretty summer terrace & alfresco bar if you fancy sipping a chilled Pinot Grigio with some fail-safe hotel food – think Greek salads & pitta pockets, charcuterie & seafood platters.