It seems there’s no stopping Chris and Jeff Galvin when they set their mind to something. After two careers spent in some of the finest kitchens in the country, the brothers finally teamed up in 2005 to launch Galvin Bistrot de Luxe (now closed), and thus, one of the most celebrated restaurant empires in the country was born.

Galvin Bistrot and Bar (formerly Galvin HOP and before that Café à Vin) is the brothers' ode to the bistrots found in Paris and Lyon. With distinctly French dishes on offer (think soupe de poisson, steak au poivre with frites and apple tarte Tatin) and in-house terrines sitting alongside charcuterie and bread from some of the best suppliers in the capital, there's plenty to choose from in the relaxed, ambient surroundings.

Wines are, of course, be mostly French, but there are bottles from other parts of the world and a decent craft beer list. The large tanks of unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell also remain from when the building housed the Galvins' previous venture.