Kanaloa - Shoe Lane, London, EC4A 3BQ
Walk over the wooden footbridge that’s fringed with foliage and the bar area unfurls in front of you. Wicker tables transport you straight to an upmarket Hawaiian holiday resort and the long bar on your left leads your gaze through to the small flight of steps at the far end. More tables in the elevated seating area allow greater privacy and a bird’s eye view of the rest of the bar. Downstairs, the dedicated club area has tables dotted around the ample dance floor although you’re going to have to get your credit card out as they come with a minimum spend of £500.

Sister bar Mahiki’s appeal is that it’s fun and friendly – you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with royalty on the dance floor but you won’t have to mind your Ps and Qs. Kanaloa is just as down to earth. The regulars may be rarefied but the camaraderie is the kind that you find in a high-end, all-inclusive Polynesian resort’s bar and it’s what makes Kanaloa so enticing. From strangers high-fiving you on the dancefloor to the staff’s genuine smiles, it’s reassuring proof that in the capital carefree can be every bit as cool as cutting edge.