The Crackberry Times » Fitzrovia

Annex 3

crackberry — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:19:53 +0000

A stylish haunt tucked away along Little Portland St. There is no way that the combination of colours, materials and styles found within Annex 3 should fuse together into anything remotely tasteful. Somehow though, the odd 60s wallpaper, glittering panelled walls and miniature merry-go-round have been put together with a camp psychedelic flair that makes the place distinctly classy. And whilst the décor is impressive, the best thing about this place is the cocktails. Look hard enough in the menu and you’ll find cocktails to share served from goldfish bowls that ooze intimacy and romance. First date perfect. Worth booking.

6 Little Portland St., London, W1W 7JE. Tel: 020 7631 0700

Crazy Bear

crackberry — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:55:43 +0000

This cool little venue is a bit tucked away, but make the effort of finding it as it is a fantastic venue for settling in with a few of your best mates and drinking away an evening. The trick is to book one of the booths downstairs, then start piling through the menu of superior cocktails. The dark, plush interior feels just like an intimate club should do – relaxing, informal and mysterious. Upstairs there is a very respectable Thai restaurant, and if you start feeling peckish, then they’ll serve a variety of tempting bar snacks to your table.

26-28 Whitfield Street, nr Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 2RG. Tel: 020 7631 0088. Web: www.crazybeargroup.co.uk

Shochu Lounge

crackberry — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:19:17 +0000

Shochu Lounge is the other side of Japan – refined, secretive luxury. The subterranean bar of the restaurant Roka, this place is kitted out with dark wood and leather in a rustic minimalism that is achingly cool. An awesome date venue with tables hidden away in alcoves and bartenders hand chipping ice off blocks set in the bar. Worth booking a table so that you are assured a place to sit. Do go and try their speciality shochu cocktails, at £9 a pop it is on the pricier side, but well worth it for a treat.

37 Charlotte St, Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 1RR. Tel: 020 7580 6464. Web: www.shochulounge.com

Bam Bou

crackberry — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:27:33 +0000

Dominating the south end of Charlotte Street this Georgian House reeks of old London but step inside and you are transported to French Indochina. Caprice Holdings know what they are doing and Bam Bou is no exception. With a touch of mahogany and the whiff of colonialism in the air Bam Bou has a dark corner for every occasion. The tastes are upmarket South-East Asian and despite the preponderance of similar cuisine up and down Charlotte Street, this is top drawer. And from top drawer to top floor, the Red Bar is a great place to round off an evening or to kick off a first date if you can manage all those stairs.

Price: £40pp. 1 Percy St, W1T 1DB. Tel: 020 7323 9130. Web: www.bam-bou.co.uk