The Alchemist

You'll walk into St Martin's Lane and spot the kind of place that doesn't take itself too seriously but absolutely nails the execution. The Alchemist does that rare thing—it's Instagram-worthy without being insufferable about it. Expect cocktails that arrive smoking, garnished with things you didn't know were edible, and genuinely skilled bartenders who can actually chat while they work rather than just posing. It's the sort of venue where you can go for a proper night out with mates and not feel like you're paying for the theatre of it all; the drinks are genuinely good, and the atmosphere buzzes with people actually enjoying themselves rather than just performing for their phones.