Locke Bar & Lounge

You'll find Locke wedged into Newham's Yard, one of those proper London corners that still feels like a secret even though everyone's discovered it. It's the kind of place where the bartenders actually know what they're doing—proper spirit knowledge, not just pouring—and the cocktails taste like someone's thought about what's going into your glass. The room's got that sophisticated-but-not-stuffy vibe, all dark wood and low lighting, which makes it feel intimate even when it's rammed on a Friday. The food's solid enough to justify staying longer than one drink, but it's really about the booze.