Portobellos' go-to eating, drinking and socialising spot

Word the wise: Officially a restaurant, we like it best by night when the red leather booths fill with a cool cocktail drinking crowd. Queues for a table can be long, so sit at the bar instead.

Talk of the town: A fire in June 2012 gave them a much needed opportunity for a revamp reopening with a fresh menu and new look in December.

This central Portobello pitstop is the go-to venue for many locals; that place you always seem to end up any time of day or night because it does everything you might want whether that's a big American brunch while reading the free papers on offer or a late-night speciality ale.

Adjacent to the independent Electric Cinema, this is one of the best movie theatre bars in town with a retro American diner feel. Upstairs is Electric House, a members only club where some fun parties happen for those with an in, but who needs exclusivity when you have such an all-rounder available downstairs.