Simmons Bar | Liverpool Street

You're walking down Widegate Street, past the usual City din, when you spot this Victorian building that feels like it's stepped out of a different London entirely. Inside Simmons, it's all exposed brick, dim lighting and the kind of bartender who actually listens when you describe what you fancy rather than just pointing at the menu. The space breathes – there's room to move without feeling like you're queuing at the bar, and the crowd's a proper mix of after-work suits and people who've come specifically for the drinks. They nail the classics, but the real draw is watching someone who knows their craft make something interesting from what you didn't even know you wanted.