Manetta’s - Mayfair, London

Alright, let's be frank. Mayfair has always been a cut above the rest when it comes to cocktail bars, and this is no less the case when it comes to Manetta's. Nestled in the belly of the svelte Flemings Hotel on Half Moon Street, it offers a masterclass in sophisticated sipping. Exhuming the spirit of the 1930s when it was a favoured haunt of artists, writers and scholars, the dark and sultry atmosphere is compounded by a luxurious design that puts many neighbouring bars to shame.

Orchestrated by interior designers Tully Filmer Ltd, it features a striking glass-fronted, marble-topped bar with sumptuous red-velvet upholstered high-top stools and art deco wall sconces emerging from rose-hued wall panelling. The finely wrought room has a colour scheme of rose gold, jewel red and black carried through the upholstery on the Sheraton sofas, as well as in the portraits of literary luminaries such as Agatha Christie, Gertrude Stein and James Joyce painted by Sussex artist Kate Boxer.

The cocktails match the setting with a savvy selection, alongside wines from world-class sommelier Andreas Rosendal and snacks from Michelin-starred Shaun Rankin. The best thing is that Manetta's is still a relatively well-kept secret. For an intimate assignation or quite catch-up there's nowhere better.