5 stars
Frances Lincoln, £9.99
Man walks into a bar... and then another bar, and another, and another. Fear not, this isn't a case for Alcoholics Anonymous. The man in question is Euan Ferguson, who gallantly (and anonymously) covers the pub and bar scene for Time Out London, and he's just written a diminutive but hugely informative book called Drink London: The 100 Best Bars and Pubs.
As readers of his work online will know, Ferguson has a remarkable ability to summarise the essence of a place - history, décor, ambience and liquid offerings - in very few words. Inevitably, most places are in the centre of town, but over a third are outside it, ranging east, west, north and south. Our favourite feature: the Index has tick boxes for those who, like us, plan to drink our way methodically through every single den of delight. As perfectly made and served as a Duke's Martini.
by Richard Ehrlich
Drink London: The 100 Best Bars and Pubs, Frances Lincoln, £9.99
