Mark's Bar at Hix

As thesaurus.com doesn't recognise “louche” and thinks I am looking for either douche, lecher or sloucher I have to hand it to the previous reviewer that “louche” is absolutely the correct word For Mark's Bar at Hix and there is no alternative (although I think this is a perfect venue for both lechers and slouchers). I love this dark, divey atmosphere, surprisingly as usually I would feel uncomfortable in such a “cool” place but everyone is super friendly (probably because you have to bunk up on tables and if you're sat, like me, on one of the squashy sofas and your head appears to be nestling up to the bum of some poor girl on a bar stool behind then the only thing to do is smile and down another cocktail). The cocktail list is one of the more interesting and unusual ones, even for cocktail-loving London, but for me it's a failure of over-complication: every cocktail is constituted of so many ingredients, many of which are off beat or unknown with utterly unhelpful descriptions, that I find something which puts me off almost every one of them. Only one appealed (or rather didn't contain anything unappealing) but I did enjoy it: a refreshing sweet and sharp sherry cobbler served over plenty of ice. It takes an age for drinks to come, a fault no doubt of slow barmen dealing with convoluted combinations rather than the waitresses who seemed friendly and efficient enough to me (extra water came when asked and our orders were taken swiftly, twice, despite it being the busy Saturday 7/8pm slot). A key ingredient in getting a venue properly louche (and profitable?) is assisting patrons in throwing as much liquor down their throats as humanly possible in the shortest time available and in this I think Mark's Bar should heed the old KISS adage. Still, emerging from a dim basement into a light summer city evening makes me feel like a properly dirty boozehound so full marks anyway for seediness.

This is a good bar, and managed properly it would be a great bar. The drinks are consistent, importantly. The feel of the place is satisfyingly louche. The atmosphere is often buzzy and friendly, yet sometimes it seems like the customers are younger and drunker than usual; I will allow that this is an impression I get borne of my increasing years… For me, the only real problem is the service, which can be surly and patronising on the front desk, and can be haphazard downstairs – sometimes excellent, but too often too casual.

I have visited Hix's Bar twice and have the same experience on both occasions, rip off price food and drinks, average to sullen service. I really like the design of the space and the atmosphere is good but I would suggest you go to BobBob Ricards if you want something in the local area which is of a good quality for a more reasonable price. Lyndon

Subterranean room, all browns, cream and leather. Great space though. Service impeccably efficient and friendly. He's the man who got The Ivy the reputation it still has, so the menu is full of family favourites and the food beautifully cooked and presented. Which it was. Good place to take mates, girl friend or wife.

Mark's bar was funky – I would say a bit shabby chic possibly. They even squeezed in a pool table..very rare to have such entertainment in a credible bar. Service was intermittent, when we caught the eye of the right person it was great but others seemed chaotic and would not allow you to catch their eye. A slight annoyance but didn't detract from our evening. We found a cosy corner and drank cocktails and had bar snacks until the last train was ready to depart, a fun evening and a good atmosphere. I do recommend this bar. Bar snacks were impressive, we felt like we had a bit of a tapas treat, but we did pay for it… all in all cocktails and bar snacks added up to over £150 for two people…ouch! Ah well, we may have been slightly refreshed by this point! Welsh Rabbit (sic) fondue was veeery nice.

A little gem. Unlike the other high-octane bars of it's ilk, it was plesantly down to earth: leather sofas and stools by the bar, idyosyncratic decoration and a plesantly dimly lit interior. The amazing cocktail menu is full of curious but (at least what we tried) tasty drinks – well made and subtle. The food served is also quirky but delicious: we shared a generous hunk of Oyster Ale fruit cake and blue cheese, which made a curiously fine accompaniment to our wine. A lovely chilled bar for a discerning drink or two, but if you want you cocktail experience to make you feel like a minor celeb, go somewhere else.