Establishment Bar

Establishment is a cavernous, white-brick bar with columns running off into the distance until you reach the wrought iron doors of the terrarium-like Gin Garden. The bamboo plants and wall gardens make you feel like you’re out in the open but lofty glass ceilings mean you get al fresco drinking without any of the bothersome weather considerations. Stay in the Gin Garden if you are looking to be fed as well as watered. The food menu is a crowd-pleasing mash-up of typical pub fare and Thai food and there’s a lunchtime roast with all the trimmings that is very popular with the city workers. Back up the front of this barn-sized watering hole, the suits have the run of the place. Be prepared to look sharp if you are heading here because they can be sticklers about the dress code. The wines by the glass can be a little hit or miss and stubby wine glasses aren’t helping things, but really this is more your gin-and-tonic, vodka-and-soda kind of joint, so order something built and you can’t go wrong. On Tuesdays they have a salsa night and Saturdays are given over to the R'n'B club Sienna, but stop in for a drink at the tail end of the working week and you’ll be sharing the bar with a sizable contingent of the finance and legal staff of this fair city.