Southwark

Southwark is a superb little neighborhood bar and restaurant, a true boon for Queen Village. You come in off the street and you’re greeted with a lively front room with an attractive vaguely retro mahogany bar at its centre. The place has a nice buzz and is always full of people enjoying a glass of wine or a well-made cocktail (their Philadelphia, with apple brandy, port, orange and ginger ale delivers a pleasing kick); they also stock a great range of gins and ryes. There’s a slightly more formal back dining room for working your way through the menu of inventive small plates. Service is said to be a bit hit and miss, especially at busy times, and this is worth bearing in mind but otherwise this makes an appealing detour from the city centre.