Salt Yard - Tottenham Court Road

Flexibility is the key to this gold-standard 'charcuterie bar and restaurant' a couple of minutes stroll from Goodge Street tube station. Call in for a glass of red wine and a plate of cheese, a coffee and a slice of soft chocolate cake with Frangelico ice cream, or even just a perfect Martini and a handful of Marcona almonds.

True to its billing, the Salt Yard is renowned for dazzling platefuls of Spanish and Italian charcuterie: jamòn Iberico de Bellota (the ham from semi-wild, acorn-scoffing pigs) is carved to order at the bar, but the range also extends to delicate prosciuttos from Alto Adige, Tuscan salamis and gutsier, paprika-infused chorizos - as well as a great collection of artisan cheeses.

Jump to the full tapas menu and you'll find a selection of delectable morsels well beyond the usual tapas bar clichés. By-pass the tortillas and patatas bravas in favour of char-grilled quail with yellow beans, wild garlic leaves and hazelnuts, almond-crusted hake with dragoncello (tarragon) and broad beans, or asparagus with gazpacho dressing and Manchego crisps.

Homemade cantucci with a glass of Passito dessert wine is a fine way to finish, or you might prefer Calasparra rice pudding brûlée with rhubarb ice cream. The wine list is a jewel basket full of Spanish and Italian gems from forward-looking producers.