The Henderson Bar & Kitchen

You're in Notting Hill, wandering past the colourful Victorian terraces of Pembridge Gardens, when you spot this discreet entrance. Inside The Henderson, it's all warm lighting and properly considered design — the kind of place where they've thought about how you'll actually want to sit. The cocktails are technically sound without being show-offy, and there's a real kitchen behind it all, so you're not just drinking on an empty stomach. It's part of The Laslett hotel but you don't need a room key to belong here; locals pop in for an evening drink and find themselves staying for food.