Regent Street is pure, shimmering chaos at this time of year, so if you need to slink away somewhere you can neither see nor hear a peep of harried Christmas shoppers, The Retiring Room is the place to, well, retire. Open between 12 and 2.30pm, then again from 5.30pm, the underground bar at Bombay Bustle is a glamorous, moodily lit hideaway where you can sip invigorating cocktails and tuck into fiery Indian snacks to power you up before venturing back out.
The Paan Collins, a blend of sloe gin, St Germain, paan (betel leaf) liqueur and plum syrup is a bolstering herbal tonic, while meaty curry patta prawns, Bombay fried chicken and papadums with spicy tomato chutney will sate your appetite without overloading. Godspeed, festive shoppers! 29 Maddox St, W1S ● Words by Jenny Tregoning