My kind of bar

A worrying-looking little chap approached me as I disembarked from a black cab at the new myhotel in Chelsea. He looked like he would be a dab hand at martial arts. Yikes! Hand-firmly-on-wallet time. This might be Chelsea, but muggers expect a better return for their efforts in this part of the world.

He turned out to be a friendly doorman for the place, and a doorman without a door to man. This was surely a first. He explained that the hotel wasn't quite finished yet, and guided me around the corner to a temporary entrance to the bar on Elystan Place. The bar was indeed finished and ready for business, despite its PRs insistence to the contrary.

The interior takes a bit of getting used to. They've tried to be different with the furniture (this building was a former police section house) but, in typical hotel style, what they've produced is a riot of fighting colours clashing with, rather than complementing the stark white walls, making it look like the interior of a beach hut. But curiously, our first reactions seeped away as the soothing atmosphere of the place enveloped us. High marks for the music system, then - we felt as though we'd been taken by the hand and guided into a little piece of heaven.

The wine helped. From the extensive list of global offerings (22 by the glass), we chose the one with the daftest-sounding name. This is by no means a scientific, or indeed reliable, way of choosing wines, but the South African Springfield Firefinch (£18) turned out to an excellent, gentle sauvignon blanc with typical grassy flavours and more than a hint of freshly podded peas.

I was so taken with the place I returned again the following evening to explore the cocktail list. The martinis were prepared with imaginative infusions of lemongrass, cucumber, ginseng and tea, and lychee. From the list of 'long drinks', my favourite was the Chelsea Green, a concoction of green tea with mandarin, shaken with blood orange and vodka. At £6.50 per cocktail, they probably represent the best value for money in London.

Bowls of olives and homemade chips are delivered to your table, or you can explore the bar menu that includes all-day English breakfasts (£9.50) and a chargrilled chicken ciabatta. I opted for an enormous croque monsieur at £4.50, while my mate Juliet enjoyed a substantial plate of Thai fishcakes for just £4.95.

Once again, we were absorbed by the place in spite of being regularly interrupted by some braying Sloane who had the William Tell Overture on her mobile turned up to maximum. I was tempted to offer Karate Kid bundles of cash to do something nasty to her but, uncharacteristically, I exercised restraint.

Nevertheless, I'll be happy to go back. Not for a wild night out on the pull, you understand, but for a relaxed evening with a couple of mates where we can natter over some assuredly superior drinks.

Myhotel Chelsea, 35 Ixworth Place, London, SW3 3QX, 020 7225 7500