Bar Local (Fulham)

In Bar Local, where cocktails are king, there's a decent, eclectic menu of tall drinks that won’t break the bank awaiting you. The house speciality is the mojitos and you can have them spiked with vanilla or laced with pineapple. Don’t expect a pint of Best here, though you can enjoy a delicious, faintly citrus-y Hoegarden.

Bar Local is a popular meeting spot in this Zone 2 corner of London, and has a welcoming vibe. Tables and banquettes line the bright, warm walls and the music policy, on the right side of hip, is never intrusive; although on Fridays and Saturdays they have some excellent live jazz to set the tone for the weekend. On weekdays it’s simply a chilled spot.

Like all decent home-from-home bars, Bar Local has a good menu. It’s no gastro-pub but the fare is enjoyable. Great fat burgers, freshly made from 100% beef and served with lashings of bacon, cheese and caramelised onion will certainly satisfy the hungriest of customers. But, if burgers don’t tickle your fancy, the menu, though modest, had plenty of alternatives including chilli, chicken burgers and bread selections. A popular favourite is a plate of the huge, fat hand-cooked chips: fluffy, crunchy lumps of potato just right for dipping in mayo.

Fulham residents are clearly very satisfied with Bar Local. It’s a good place for a drink or a meal but, most importantly, it’s best shared with friends.