When asked what he drinks, Orson Welles' character in steamy 1940s' thriller The Lady from Shanghai replies 'whatever is set in front of me'. The Dorchester's glamorous oriental parlour evokes something of that era, so try a perfect Singapore sling for size, followed by red lantern (rice wine, Tanqueray gin, Galliano, tea and red-date syrup with bitters) or the equally exotic yim sai (chamomile-infused gin, ginger liqueur, Martini Rosso, Bénédictine, bitters and Szechuan peppers). Arcane Asian ideas abound, although there are classics from every continent – from negroni and vieux carré to pisco sour (a good call at £12). Graze on plump scallop dumplings, BBQ pork buns and mango spring rolls while checking out the crowd – models, film stars, Asian businessmen and overdressed Dorchester dames all convene in this slinky, sultry late lounge.