Set in the new Hilton London Bankside, The Distillery Bar is a well-appointed spot whose designers have made a good fist of transforming a potentially bland glass box into a destination nu-Edwardian-styled cocktail lounge. Its interesting drinks list is big on homemade aromatics, infusions and flavourings, drawing on the site’s past as home to Stevenson & Howell, manufacturers of cordials and essences. Orgeat (almond) syrup, for example, informs A Star of the North, one of many gin-based ideas using a range of over 50 premium British and international brands. Pleasing decorative touches include a display of vintage coloured glass soda siphons and a feature wall of 16,500 pre-decimal copper pennies. That’s £68.75 in today’s money – about the cost of a couple of blue cheese Vodkatinis and some snacks. Order club sandwich, Caesar salad, or meze such as five spice-dusted pork belly. Craft beers and wines by the glass add allure.