The ever-popular Oscar Bar at the Charlotte Street Hotel packs in the media and trendy Fitzrovia types thanks to its great food, funky bar, and staff who want to go that extra mile to ensure you to have a great night out.

The Venue
The Charlotte Street Hotel is located a few minutes walk from Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road tube stations, with the Oscar Bar just to the side of the reception area on the ground floor.

Once inside the bar, expect to be riveted by the fascinating Kit Kemp designed interior, the highlight of which is a wall-length mural depicting various London scenes. The furniture is comfortable and functional but decorated with bright stripes and clashing patterns, as well as smart dark woods and a gleaming bar with tall stools for casual customers. The big open kitchen dominates the restaurant area, and during the summer months the drinking crowd spills out onto the pavement from the front of bar’s large open glass doors.

The Atmosphere
The Oscar Bar attracts a cool crowd from the neighbourhood offices - particularly media and fashion workers - as well as wealthy foreign tourists staying at the hotel. There’s a buzzing atmosphere with conversations struck up easily and plenty of Champagne and fine wine being ordered by the moneyed patrons.

The staff stand out when compared to many bars as there is no attitude or pretentious frowns; instead they welcome you with an informal greeting, chat to you about what you’ve been doing that day, and are sufficiently well trained that they’re confident enough to make recommendations from the menu and answer questions on it with knowledge and authority.

The Food
With a modern fusion menu, Oscar Bar certainly has something to suit most tastes. Try the grilled asparagus and parmesan crisps if you want something fairly light and healthy, priced at £9. The salty tastes of the parmesan are a good accompaniment to the asparagus, which is available during certain times of year only. Truly divine though are the Irish rock oysters - you can choose how many you fancy, paying £2 for each. It’s a cliche but they really do taste and smell so fresh that they make you think of the ocean instantly, although whether their renowned aphrodisiac qualities exist or not remains to be seen!

The main courses are all served in very generous portions, so make sure you have an appetite before attempting one. The oven roasted cod with butterbeans and chorizo is a huge meaty slab of delicately flavoured fish, and the accompanying salty and creamy flavours are served in good proportions to maintain balance. The lamb rump with tomato and herb crust is another sizeable effort, with a delicious fine layer of fat coating the lamb and a rich, sweet flavour from the tomatoes. Main courses cost between £15 and £28.

The Drink
Oscar Bar has a well stocked wine cellar with an emphasis on the quality of the selections and the choice of around a hundred vintages. The staff are confident enough to make knowledgeable recommendations, and rather than snootily naming a wine from the list without explaining to you why it matches the food you ordered as many sommeliers do, they take the time to explain what flavours in the wine will complement the tastes and textures of your meal. They recommend a robust Chablis (£28) to match the fish dish, advising that the creamy texture and honey flavours stand up well to the salty fish.

For those who visit just to drink, the wine list will take some perusing to make your choice, and there's also a comprehensive cocktail list. Alternatively, the competent bar staff can whip up new creations at a moment's notice.

The Last Word
Oscar Bar is a hotel bar as it should be – informal and welcoming with a great menu and staff who are keen to explain their products with intelligence and aplomb. Worth a try, especially in the summer months when it gets really busy.

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