The Aubrey

Reached by its own entrance beside the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, The Aubrey is a Japanese izakaya and cocktail bar conceived as an eccentric collector's den. The rooms run dark and lacquered, with wood panelling, plush banquettes and walls layered with more than 250 pieces of art drawn from the Japonisme movement, so the mood reads part Georgian salon, part Tokyo back-bar. The kitchen sends out edomae sushi, robata and izakaya plates alongside a serious drinks list, with the bar treated as an equal partner to the food.

What sets it apart for an event is the after-dark character. DJs play nightly and through weekend brunch, and the long whisky-lined bar carries the energy of a night out in Ginza well past midnight. The space breaks into a series of distinct rooms, from an intimate wood-panelled private dining room under twin crystal chandeliers to a screened library of booth seating, an art-hung salon and a larger lounge, each able to be taken on its own or strung together for a standing party.

A late licence (1am on weeknights, 2am at weekends) and an in-house bar and kitchen make it a natural fit for a private, music-led night in Knightsbridge. The whole restaurant can also be booked exclusively.