The Thousands

Sure, Dexter has its tough side. The Bloody Marys are a peppery concoction of kicks and wallops that will cure a hangover with the swift bitch slap exclusive to Vitamin C. But the bar’s only true sociopathic streak is found in Killers, the book of murderers’ profiles propped up on the counter, which has enough literary msg to keep you there all day anyway.

The name may remind you of a serial killer, but Dexter is really quite lovely. There’s a generously stocked bar of European beers, Pipsqueak apple cider, spirits and absinthe that, if you ask nicely, will be served on fire. Booze aside, the breakfasts of green eggs (not the Dr Seuss but the we-love-chickens kind) or beef and bean stew are hard to argue with.

While the menu is all prepared with love, the entire café is designed to never let you go. There are deck chairs out the back with super-convenient pulley-outey things to rest your drink on. The upstairs quarters are furnished with sofas, a record player and backgammon. And you know what else will make love-hearts pop out of your eyeballs? Wireless internet. (Aroooogah!)