Located below Wright Brothers’ South Ken restaurant, The Mermaid Bar taps into the DNA that has made the aforementioned seafood specialists such a hit – handsome 1930s-inspired decor, faultless hospitality and, of course, some of the best oysters in the capital. You can take a pew at the marble bar or hunker down on a dark banquette amid deep-emerald walls and moody lighting; either way, expect to be entertained. The bartenders don’t throw everything at the list, instead opting for a dozen well-crafted cocktails pitched at the seafood – witness a Smoking Tommy with Rock Oyster whisky, agave syrup and lime juice or a Grey Goose Martini with Choya saké, served with pickled ginger and an oyster. A fistful of Champagnes is crowned by a marvellous 1999 Salon Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc, perfect for the plates of bivalves on offer (available at a pound each during happy hour).