Jimmy Liks

Freshness and quality are watchwords at Jimmy Liks, both restaurant and bar. The set-up is pretty simple: a room divided in two with eatin' on one side and drinkin' on the other. The light is feather-gentle and comes from low-burning candles, with earthy browns dominating the colour scheme inside. The cocktail list is expansive and not cheap ($16 is the least expensive item), but you get what you pay for. The zippy Mekong Mary is an exceptional concoction of tomato juice, chilli, cucumber and nahm jim, with just a little heat – and a little sweetness – to keep things interesting, and is the antidote to every boring Bloody Mary you ever drank. It's best drunk before the ice has a chance to melt and dilute one hell of a combination of flavours. Signature cocktail the Lik combines Aperol with fresh blood orange and sparkling wine, and is sweet and tart with a hint of spice. The wine list, like the restaurant's food, favours freshness, and clunky, oaky, club-you-over-the-head reds don't have a huge role. Most wines are available by the glass for $9–$21.