Bar Termini Centrale - Removed from website August 2021 (closed) - Marylebone, London

We've been noticing a funny little trend recently, which is that London restaurants inspired by other countries and cuisines are often almost better than their  respective inspirations. Nuno Mendes, for instance, nails Portuguese food so effectively that it's hard to find anything that compares in his home country, while Western's Laundry does the same with French neo-bistros and Barrafina the same with Spanish counter dining. Now, we wouldn't be so bold as to claim that the best Italian classic cocktails in London, but we haven't yet tried any in Italy as finessed as Tony Conigliaro's at Bar Termini.

If you haven't tried the bar in Soho, we recommend you hasten down. But if you prefer to drink al fresco or want a little more room to stretch your legs than the jewelbox original, pull up a pew at their second Bar Termini Centrale on Duke Street in Marylebone. Borrowing inspiration from the old school cafes you find at train stations in Italy, the room is all Art Deco signifiers with plenty of creams and sky blues mixed in for good measure. With fifty covers and an expanded food menu, it's a lovely place to waste an afternoon, or morning for that matter, as cocktails are served throughout the day.

There's a wide variety of pre-batched negronis that do not faff about. We were particularly taken with the bergamot and pink peppercorn varieties. For those who like a good bellini, the one at BTC is likely the best in London. The house Aperol spritz, spiked with rhubarb cordial, is ideally suited for a hote summer day or for hair of the dog purposes. Paired with a plate of salty smooth charcuterie, there's not a bum note played.  We suggest you train it over to Marylebone. And if you're after a respite from the Oxford Street fray, this is one of your finest options.

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