Freud Bar, Covent Garden

Freuds is cocktail heaven. Tiny, permanently crowded, industrial, friendly, rank toilets (the mens is practically outside in a lean-to under the stairs, which can be quite perilous in the depths of winter), lovely, wonderful, heavenly cocktails. Everyone has their favourite, mine is the Pimlico. The Long Island Iced Tea will get you loaded just by glancing in its direction.

Surprisingly, it�s also quite nice during the daytime, when it is not particularly crowded, and sells light food and coffee (though they will, of course, also make you a cocktail � it�s what they do).

15 May 2009 16:32

The Museum Tavern, Bloomsbury

It's round the corner from the British Museum and it sells Old Peculiar and Taylor's, what more can I say?

The Museum is one of my favorite pubs in London, despite the near certainty that you won't get a seat, and the fact (or perhaps because of the fact) that it hasn't had an upgrade in years. Nice pub, nice people, nice area, lovely beer.

15 May 2009 16:16

Jerusalem Bar, Fitzrovia

Don�t really understand the negativity around this place. Sure, it�s expensive, but then it�s a central London bar not a pub in Rickmansworth. The toilets might stand for a revamp, but then there�s also no guy in there expecting you to give him two quid to hand you a towel either.

I�ve generally used this bar as an early evening watering hole, when it can be quite quiet and you can actually have a chat. The service can be a bit slow when it gets busy, but the staff have always been friendly to me. They also let you know which bourbons are on offer, which is useful information.

The ambience of the place is somewhere between Belgo Central (alas, without the range of beer) and Hrothgar�s Mead Hall. There is a fine collection of hard liquor. And the Nordic is just around the corner if you�re on a crawl.

15 May 2009 16:10