Lonsdale

This sleek, trendy Westbourne Grove drinking den may look like any number of smart London bars, but its renowned cocktail list tells a different story. Sidestepping the usual international blends for a carefully studied & skilfully executed 14-page retrospective of metropolitan mixes, it tracks back from modern concoctions (a rose-petal martini, perhaps) to more unusual offerings such as the whiz-bang (a time-honoured blend of Scotch & vermouth with a dash of absinthe). At weekends, resident DJs crank up the ‘relaxed, cool’ vibe, when the lively front bar becomes a dance floor & the hot-to-trot crowd spills upstairs. The glowing dining space at the back also feels part of the action, with its thoroughly global line-up of small, ambitiously priced dishes ranging from tuna tataki or seared teriyaki mackerel to crisp salt beef or bangers & mash. The compact but carefully chosen wine list holds its own too.