Swans Bar at Maison Assouline

Sir Edwin Lutyens built 196a Piccadilly as a banking hall in 1922. Since 2014 the Grade II-listed rooms have held Assouline's first international flagship, a bookshop and cultural salon opposite the Royal Academy with Swans Bar at its centre. The bank's proportions survive — tall windows, dark panelling, a carpet printed with letterforms — and the walls now carry book spines, framed pictures, sculpture and vintage furniture chosen by Prosper Assouline.

Swans Bar runs the length of the ground floor in lacquered red, with cocktails built around the travel titles, champagne and fine wine, and light plates served through the day. It holds 36 standing or 20 seated and is let on its own in the evening, six until eleven. Hired with the ground floor and mezzanine it seats 60, or 120 for a reception.

The Grande Salle is the private room, one floor up: 840 square feet of panelling and arched cabinets, seating 38 or 70 standing, speakers already fitted. Larger events use both floors, guests received in the bar before the dining room upstairs is opened. External caterers are allowed, there is a working kitchen on site, and the licence runs to 11pm.