Velluto

Drinking at Velluto is like stopping by the home of an affluent friend – it's cosy, elegant, expensively decked out, and the hosts are warm and charming. The exterior is dark and unassuming and more than a few punters have mistaken it for being closed on a quiet night. Inside, the gorgeous dark wood furniture contrasts with wide slabs of bare, polished sandstone and low lighting. A single violet tulip accentuates each table, a perfect example of the minute attention to detail Velluto brings to everything from its extensive wine list, sourced locally and adjusted by season, to its bar snacks. The Martini sits as an obvious speciality on a cocktail list that classes all other cocktails as "friends". Here you'll find all the usual suspects, such as the ubiquitous Bloody Mary. Celebrations are clearly a common event here, with 21 types of champagne on offer by the bottle and six by the glass. Thursday is jazz night and while there's no cover charge, the venue suggests booking in advance to avoid being left out in the cold.