You'll find Doon beyond the spiral staircase of the glam Scottish bar and restaurant Albannach. Luxurious and stylish without that ‘aren’t we cool’ arrogance that many of London’s popular hang-outs have, this is a sexy, cosy club that will tempt you to stay up way past your bedtime.

The Venue
Conveniently set on a corner of Trafalgar Square, Doon is the perfect place to escape from the maddening crowds just outside. Dark and brooding, the winding steps take you into an urbane underground setting as the deep reds and tunnel-like ceilings contrast the glow of the gleaming bar. If there are at least ten of you then you can book one of the Vaults; old bank vaults transformed into cavernous booths that seat up to 20 guests, complete with table service and LCD screens that offer a great hideaway.

The Atmosphere
This is somewhere that despite it’s central location, laid back attitude and free entry (except Friday and Saturday), still feels like you’ve discovered a well kept secret. The incredibly friendly, kilt-wearing staff are welcoming and great at suggesting cocktails you’ll enjoy, whilst the people around you consist of either couples having a quiet drink and a cuddle in the shadows or small office crowds that are winding down their day.

The Music
The DJ keeps the music chilled out and enjoyable until later in the evening when he entices you onto the dancefloor (essentially just the middle of the room). The music itself is a good mix of dance and well known tracks - the bar staff are even honest enough to admit that this place is not afraid of a bit of cheese every now and then. The soundtrack suits the age range down to the ground.

The Food
There are no bowls of peanuts and packets of crisps seen here; this bar knows good food and delivers it with style. From their Bar Bites menu, assorted unusual dishes are £4.50-£5 each. However, the best way to get a taster is to order a Trio Plate at £9 by choosing three different snacks. Try the bacon and Arran cheddar risotto balls that melt in your mouth with their soft texture; herb encrusted Scotch eggs make a novel choice for bar food; or, if you want something more familiar, the hand cut paprika potato wedges dipped in barbecue sauce.

If you've never tried venison or haggis before then now is the time: venison sausage in honey, thyme and chilli has a fantastic herb flavour that is great with any one of the provided dipping sauces, whilst the shallow-fried haggis in filo pastry is perfect for all you haggis virgins - the pastry perfectly contrasts the rich taste of the haggis that is reminiscent of those good Cornish pasties you had on holiday when you were little. Even olives are given the Doon treatment as they are stuffed with a creamy goat’s cheese - a great accompaniment to any cocktail.

The Drink
Whilst draught beers and an extensive selection of Scotch is upstairs in trendy Albannach, the specialty of Doon is the cocktails. If you can’t decide what you'd like, ask one of the talented staff to give you ideas as they really know their stuff. The Fish House Punch is a great one to start with as it’s easy to drink with peachy tones, whilst a Mosquito has got a bit of bite with a strong mint flavour that’s sharp but refreshing.

The Jamaican Jaffa is much darker with its rich coffee liqueur that’s subtly combined with rum to make a sophisticated twist on what feels like a comforting and energising glass of good coffee, presented with three coffee beans floating on its creamy surface. Dark and Stirry does what it says on the tin, with a pungent aroma of an aged rum with whisky and ginger beer undertones.

The Last Word
Chatty bar staff, gorgeous decor and delicious cocktails make basement club Doon somewhere you’ll want to keep to yourself - like most indulgences, it’s too good to share.