informed

Mains + Martinis

Sumptuous drinks and dining in what was once an old London police station. The last word in luxurious bar food at a London landmark. And the chicken dining experience that keeps on giving…

Claridge’s Bar

Claridge’s, Brook Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4HR. claridges.co.uk (£££)

The vibe: Yes, you should head to Claridge’s Bar for a birthday or an anniversary, but the thing is it makes every occasion, with friends, partners or parents, feel like a celebration. Smart red leather bar stools, comfortable cub chairs, natural wood and discreet Lalique lighting combine for pure elegance. Add in the inviting informality, and dressing up or keeping casual both fit the bill.

The food: One of many reasons we love this bar is that you can order any dishes from the hotel’s Foyer & Reading Room restaurant, and enjoy them without leaving the comfort of your table. Canapés like the Prawn Tempura with carrot, chilli and soy dip and the Duck Rolls with peppered blackberry sauce are ideal cocktail accompaniments. But for sheer decadent indulgence we suggest sharing the Lobster Wellington with sauce Américaine, green salad with avocado and truffle French fries. Its arrival is jawdropping – the pastry is perfectly lobstershaped and within lies all the sumptuous meat of a whole lobster. One of the very best things we have ever tasted.

The drinks: Order your favourite classic cocktails here and rest assured they will be exceptional. Hence we started with a couple of sublime Dry Martinis, impeccably balanced and chilled. But make sure you also try some of the bar’s original creations. We went for The Royal Stag (Dalmore 15-YearOld Whisky, Campari, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, chocolate bitters and roasted almond) and The Mayfair (Rémy Martin XO, Carpano Antica, Laphroaig 10-YearOld Whisky and Disaronno Amaretto). Both were rich, luxurious and delightfully in keeping with the surroundings. And both were utterly delicious.

Happily, the entire restaurant menu is available to enjoy seated at the bar

It’s bustling, energetic, and part of the entertainment is watching the multitude of staff effortlessly weave around each other Atrium Bar at NoMad London

NoMad London, 28 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7AW. thenomadhotel.com (£££)

The vibe: Taking up residence in a listed building that was once the Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station, NoMad has arrived in London in wholly original style. It feels like London viewed from a New York perspective, with the exemplary NoMad attention to detail. The hotel itself, restaurant and bars, are all beautifully designed, adorned with countless original artworks, and it’s a joy simply to be there. But our destination was the intimate and elegant bar that adjoins the NoMad restaurant.

The food: Happily, the entire restaurant menu is available to enjoy seated at the bar. The small plates are a dream. Take the Avocado Soup with crab and lime granita: how can something this simple be so sublime? Or the Sea Bream Crude with radishes, mint and pickled strawberries, a masterclass in how to bring together ingredients in a way that makes you feel as though you’re tasting them for the very first time. Again, absolutely faultless and highly recommended.

The drinks: NoMad Classics, Classic Cocktails, Atrium Cocktails and Soft Cocktails combine to offer nearly 30 drinks, and there will be ongoing seasonal additions too. From the NoMad Classics, the Walter Gibson (Boatyard Gin, Absolut Elyx Vodka, viognier, pear eau de vie, beeswax and picked vegetables) was an example of NoMad’s hallmark attention to detail, as the pickled vegetables served on the side as garnish choices were bursting with flavour and took the drink to another level. Meanwhile, the En Pointe (Plymouth Gin, manzanilla sherry, Lillet Blanc, kirschwasser and dill) from the Atrium menu brought together flavours with the deft touch of an accomplished chef, to sensational effect.

Humble Chicken

54 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4SJ. humblechickenuk.com (££)

The vibe: Although there are a handful of tables outside, we preferred the main option of sitting at the counter to enjoy this Japanese-style tapas experience. It’s bustling, energetic, and part of the entertainment is watching the multitude of staff effortlessly weave around each other, while at the centre of the action chef Angelo Sato skilfully prepares a succession of skewered delights.

The food: Divided into Small, Ocean, Yakitori, Bigger and Sweet, the menu is designed for sharing. From Small, the Endomame Korroke is a cute and tasty pea lollipop with sansho salt. And from Ocean, an oyster served with fermented persimmon, citrus kosho and burnt fat is a small work of art. The Yakitori section, though, is where things get really interesting. With options that include Neck, Breast, Shoulder, Tail, Wing, Inner thigh, Soft Knee and Cartilage, it’s the chicken that keeps on giving – all enhanced with a selection of spices and sauces. All subtly different and equally delicious. From Bigger, we chose the Hakata Pork Belly with daikon, egg yolk and mustard, an interactive dish as you mix the egg yolk in to create the finished, extremely delicious sauce.

The drinks: The cocktail selection is fairly limited but seeing the Lychee Martini (sansho peppercorn vodka, bianco vermouth and lychee cordial) made us smile. It was too sweet for us but we did love the ShishoHi (London Dry Gin, distilled shisho leaves and tonic water), a delightful take on a G&T, and the Lemon Turbo (barley shochu, yuzu sherbet, lemon, lemongrass soda and Asahi Super Dry), a refreshing half-cocktail, halfbeer creation. There’s also a range of five sakes. Give them a try to switch things up a bit. We liked Ancient Mountain.