Dover Street Restaurant & Jazz Bar

Smoky basement jazz may be a thing of the past, but aside from the addition of a few no-smoking signs, nothing much changes at this 28-year-old Mayfair institution. And why should it? The tried-&-tested formula combines functional decor & nightly live music (dinner jazz while you eat, dancing jazz from 10.30pm) with two huge well-stocked bars, making it ideal for large groups. The kitchen is surprisingly ambitious for a live-music venue, with starters such as terrine of foie gras & langoustine sitting alongside more pedestrian options. Similarly, main courses include medallions of venison served with poached pear, red wine, pommes cocotte, parsnip puree & prune sauce, as well as grilled salmon with new potatoes & mangetout. Note that Saturday is best avoided unless you’re with a hen party.