There’s good tiki and there is bad tiki – Trader Vic’s is the former for us BarChicks, in fact it was the first tiki bar in London and is the creator of the Mai Tai (well… the San Francisco Trader Vic’s, but hey, same group!). This bar has been around since 1963 so these guys of all people should know how it’s done.

The place is huge, managing to hold about 200 in the weekend, things tend to be quiet in the week which makes this a nice hideout from the manic London streets if you fancy a drink in the early evening.  Head down the stairs to the left of The Hilton’s lobby and you enter a dark tiki haven; with huge boats on the ceiling, odd faced masks on the walls, and whole lot of wood.

The menu is chock-a-block with everything from pitchers of whatever tropical tipple you require, to sangria, wines and even Pisco Sours. If you’re really feeling wild go for the treasure map of seven cocktails (but will set you back 60 big ones). Cocktails tend to be about £9/£10.50, and on offer are the usuals like Planters Punch and a Trader Vic’s Grog. BarChick loved the London Sour, which has been on the menu since the bar opened. Oh and the Mai Tai is still going strong so if you’re stuck for choice you can’t go wrong.