Shochu

For those of you who aren't too well up on your Japanese beverages – sheesh, you really should get out more – shochu is a distilled brew that closely resembles vodka. The bar claims it's a health drink, but judging by the troupe of Romanian clog dancers throwing somersaults in Itchy's forehead the next day, we have serious doubts about the restorative properties of 20% proof. The décor is a little bit 'O'Neill's-meets-Hakkasan' –think stacks of logs, low seating and a permanent twilight atmosphere. Mind you, if you're after a job in advertising, you should make this a regular haunt. We reckon the place was full of Saatchi execs chewing the cud on expense accounts. They've got a pretty comprehensive cocktail list and a huge selection of shochu infusions. You can also order food from the Roka restaurant upstairs. It ain't cheap, but then again neither are you.

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