Milk & Honey

Members' clubs have traditionally been the reserve of crusty old 'chaps' whiling away their lives away from their boring wives sitting in St James' and decrying the parlous state of the nation. Thank goodness for the new breed of members' clubs where smart bright young things can escape from the cheek-by-Tessa-Jowell pile 'em high sell 'em cheap London bar culture. However, having been to more than my fair share of W1's clubs I can say without hesitation that M&H is the best of the bunch. If you're too cool for school, don't apply. If you pronounce the word 'media' to sound like 'meeja', don't join. If you are fully paid-up to the celebrity star culture and regularly read OK, Heat, Reveal etc, don't even book a table in the downstairs bar.

Milk and Honey is different. The service is personal, attentive and polite. The bar tenders are so good at their art that you wonder if they took first class degrees from Oxbridge in industrial chemistry. It's an excellent place to take friends, girlfriends and clients and the prices are far from astronomical. Meanwhile the food is outstanding. I have been a member of M&H for nearly six months and go regularly: I have never had a bad experience. Some people complain about the 'pretentious' rules - but what other place makes you think about who you know worthy enough to take there? What other place makes your boss try to muscle you into taking him along with you and a business contact? There really is nothing quite like M&H anywhere else in town.

Old style, gentleman's club appearance. The most comfortable leather armchairs in London and superb cocktails. For a late evening treat I love this place.

Personally I found this place pretentious. From what I know, an old NY speakeasy used to be a place for illicit thrills and debauchery - unfortunately no-one told this to the bar staff. One barman thought the fact he could mix a good drink meant he could tell me to keep my voice down when I laughed at a friend's joke. Get over yourselves, you are only a bar and I'm paying you to serve me alcohol.

Still a very special place even though it has been around for a few years now. After a hard day's work in London it is a great place to relax and unwind with your friends while sipping (or gulping) some of the best made cocktails in London. The entrance is very secret! No signs on the doors announcing what's behind the big black door with the small window. The ground floor is great but the basement is better if there are several of you. But if you are 2 or 3 people then try and get upstairs to the Red Room (members only!) Big comfy leather sofas. The music is very laid back and the whole mood is that of a NY speakeasy.