Ha! Ha! Bar and Canteen - Oxford

A cool town bar that's always busy. Part of the Oxford Castle heritage development, this open-plan branch is suitably stunning. Plush, seductive design features include a 'fire table' - a beautiful eight-seater table with an eye-catching flames rising from a bowl at its centre, neon halo mesh screens and soft wool-covered lamp shades.

Furnishings are as fun as they look, leather sofas encourage lounging, and high tables are rather conducive to (dare we say it) posing. The illuminated pink and yellow bar is gorgeous.

But on to the food; Ha! Ha! has refined the art of all-round menus; whatever the occasion, whatever your mood, there's a dish to suit - from nibbles, sharing platters, proper mains and figure-friendly options to their nemesis - naughty but oh-so-nice desserts like warm chocolate brownies. Yum.