Hoxley and Porter - Islington, London

Islington's Upper Street has been bejewelled with a treasure trove of resplendent drinking and dining options of late, and looks to become even more lustrous with the opening of Hoxley and Porter. Fashioned to resemble a deluxe train carriage from the halcyon days of African exploration, the room is one of a kind, featuring a cocktail bar that juxtaposes gold leaf with dark teak, natural light through leaded glass, bespoke wallpaper with exotic ephemera, and an aura of nostalgia worthy of a hipster's sigh. They have an exciting array of cocktails courtesy of bar manager Michael Prendergast (Powder Keg Diplomacy), with ingredients running the gamut from homemade falernum to absinthe-covered scorpions. The food menu is comprised of British classics with contemporary updates, but diners will have to be assiduous in their efforts to snag a table as there are only 28 covers!