The Driver

 

Proving that King's Cross is far from the dive so many people claim, The Driver is a stylish, multi-purpose boutique venue, and certainly the area's only four-story building with vertical living wall covering its exterior. For those peculiar green credentials alone, The Driver has pole position over its neighbouring waterholes and eateries. The ground floor houses a relaxed drinking and dining area in the gastropub mould; upstairs a smarter restaurant space caters for fine diners during the week before the tables are cleared for a dancefloor on the weekend. The third floor is a kind of Philippe Starck love-in with its lounge of fancy chairs and accessories, while the third floor is a VIP area for "discerning guests". Above all this, an open air roof terrace looks and feels as if it's perched above the Mediterranean rather than the sprawling King's Cross metropolis. Brought to you by the people behind Pacha and the now defunct The Cross nightclub, The Driver is an excellent example of how to transform an otherwise uninspiring building into something with great allure and potential. The obvious concern is that the place is trying to spread its net too far - but you know what, it might just work.