Darwin's Bar

Darwin's calls itself a gin parlour rather than a gin bar, and means it. The theme runs from Charles Darwin's work as naturalist, geologist and biologist through to the shelves: an eclectic collection built around discovery, and the evolution of some of the best gins produced to date.

Everyone is a G&T expert now, which is rather the point - the staff here set out to be as knowledgeable as the people who make what they pour, and the offering is constantly adjusted and improved. Add imaginative small plates and a cosy room on Magdalen Road, and it works as well for an evening's exploration as for a single drink.