Notting Hill. What does it mean to you?

Edgy, multicultural and of the moment. Or bankers, residents' committees and peroxide PRs.

Let's face it, Notting Hill is East London's polished older sister and Chelsea's scruffy kid brother in one.

So why oh why does it lose out so in the bar stakes? With all of about five (count 'em) dedicated style bars in the whole damned hood, us poor west Londoners are forced into the depths of the West End for clean, honest debauchery more often than not.

So every self-respecting über lush should be pleased to hear about Montgomery Place. Sounding a little like the spin-off of Beverly Hills 90210, it's actually very chi-chi. Sleek noir interiors, bijou and polished, it's the second venture from the team behind Battersea's Dusk (and look what a stir that caused), and the cocktails and food are predictably delectable.

Taking its inspiration from the middle of last century, mixes follow suit, carefully selected and historically aware, think Havana cocktails and Vertiginous mules.

All we need now are some Hemingway-esque thinkers and we're almost there.