171 Portobello Road, London, W11 2DY (Map)

The first London outpost of the team who conquered Leeds with such iconic bars as Angel’s Share, Jake’s and Oporto, The Portobello Star is the bar everyone’s now talking about. Headed up by the renowned Jake Burger (see Gintime Feature) whose love of fine spirits is legendary, the cocktail list is based on one of the first ever published cocktail books, The Bartender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas. Lots of Gintime gins here and, as Jake is a major gin fan, lots of delicious ways to drink them too. The Star opens early for coffee and apparently the best brownies in London. It stays open late on Friday and Saturday with great sounds and a bit of a party atmosphere. It’s a bar that barkeeps love so what more can we say?

Tel: 020 7229 8016

Kensington, Greater London W11 2, UK