This former electricity power station has kept many of its industrial brick, steel and wooden beam features, giving it a laidback warehouse vibe. As well as the superior range of wines, beers and cocktails, the ground floor restaurant serves up some well-renowned Mediterranean cuisine. It's hugely popular with corporate players making the short trip from Liverpool Street, replaced by East End locals at the weekends. In the warmer months, drinkers spill out into the courtyard, closely guarded by a doorman, and you can guarantee a queue to get in at the end of the week. Once you've got past that hurdle, the next step is to negotiate entry into the members' bar upstairs, where a DJ spins house tunes to revellers that get to enjoy the extra comfy sofas and roof terrace.

Late ligging: Mon-Wed till midnight; Thurs-Sat till 2am

From the people who successfully brought the 'shish' to our culinary consciousness, Shish Bar & Lounge recently opened in North West London with a lavish new interior and an impressive cocktail list. Celebrating the great tea and coffee houses along the Silk Route, from China in the East to Rome in the West, Shish Bar & Lounge is a wonder-room of exotica. Authentic furniture and interior pieces blend together to create an eclectic melting pot of vibrant colours and rich textures. The cocktail list has also been given the 'star' treatment by Greg Akoka of Wonder Bars. He has waved his 'magic bartender-wand' over the drinks list and, meticulously infusing a range of exotic fresh juices (all peeled, pulped and pressed daily on site) with herbs and spices found along the silk route, has created tantalising drinks unique to Shish for example the Chinese Lychee and Rose Martini with Hendrick's Gin and the Hanging Garden Martini a gorgeous combination of melon and rosemary shaken with lemon and Hendrick's Gin topped with a champagne float. When the munchies strike you can order a range of delicious hot and cold mezzes and sharing plates. Throughout the week a programme of world music sees early-week pleasure-seekers off to a global start, and Friday kicks off the party at Shish on the weekend with a resident DJ playing a range of contemporary modern music to suit all tastes and styles.

Opening Times: Monday – Saturday; 5pm – midnight; Sunday 5pm-11pm