The Waiting Room

The Waiting Room offers some of the best cocktails in the city. That’s a fact. Their booze collection holds its own against any other, their glassware is a twinkling mass of vintage crystal cut coupettes and they’re sporting chef Neil Perry’s arsenal of snacks. Sure, it’s in the casino, but don’t let that hold you back. Once immersed in this richly carpeted room of plush banquettes, with heavy velvet drapes, silver tile mosaics and marble tables all picked out in soft pools of candlelight, you could be anywhere. Open from noon, you can take your mum for a proper afternoon tea of sliders, fancies and a lethal Hendrick’s punch, or slide in past bedtime for a gimlet and Perry’s Mexican-style finger-food fun. There’s a fresh and feisty kingfish ceviche, deep-fried pucks of manchego and jamon and quite the hot dog, with a super-soft bun, squiggles of mustard and tomato sauce as well as a jumble of raw-and-fried onion. Pair it with their fiery margarita, where smoky chipotle infused tequila knocks knees with lime and agave syrup. Or how about a Red Snapper? Beetroot, tomato juice, gin and plenty of hot sauce is garnished with salt and a celery stick. It's practically a health drink. Even if the jingle-jangle of the slot machine sets your teeth on edge, get over it purely for this great bar.

High Tea:

High tea is actually only meant to start at 5pm. Before that hour, it should be called afternoon tea. At the Waiting Room, they are returning to this tradition, serving what was always meant to be a fairly substantial and meaty snack.

Finger sandwiches, 'sweet things' and the usual suspects all make an appearance, but you also get some mini dogs and sliders, and Hendricks gin punch thrown into the mix.