The north coast of Spain is much neglected but if you happen to like, say, the Yorkshire Dales (on a much bigger scale) then it's the place for you. In addition to fine mountains we also have caves with prehistoric paintings, the village where Spanish Modernism began (Comillas) and fine food.
We have lived here for ten years and would never live anywhere else. Try El Nuevo Molino in Puente Arce for excellent food and wines. Also, almost any bar will offer a Menú del Día for around €10 which includes three courses, bread and wine. Don't miss Cocido Montanés, a luscious bean stew, and very good cheeses.
Nice looking restaurant on one of the main streets in Cluj - just up from the cathedral.
Lovely meatball soup - through be warned the meat balls are in fact strips of meat. But the best was to come - hare chop. Strongly recommended.
Washed down with a large bottle of Ursus Black. And all-in including tip at 60 LEI. Awesome.
21 Decembrie 1989 nr. 22
Friendly and cheap local restaurant. The chicken soup was brilliant. And the wraps of meat with polenta for a main dish were not too bad as well. And with a bottle of beer the whole thing came to less than 40 lei.
Al. Ciura, nr. 6A
It's the ultimate way to book restaurants in NY and other parts of the US - inc. Chicago, Vegas and LA.
Once you've registered you can search for restaurants online to find great meals at some of the best places in NY (as rated by Zagat Guide).
You'll be surprised how many great places have openings at decent times - places you would not have dared to call!
I've booked some of the best places in Manhattan, lunch or dinner. Collected points - and then used them for another great meal!
An amazing bar and restaurant off Duke Street in Liverpool city centre, it's a former Victorian jail which makes for a very unusual setting to eat.
Despite its former use, the venue is incredibly stylish and cosy and you can still eat in the cells as well as in an elegant dining area upstairs where's there's also a champagne lounge. Food is fab and service is very good. Also very reasonably priced especially with the set meal on a weekday.
Campbell Square off Duke Street, Liverpool 0151 709 4195. Nearest train station is Liverpool Central. The restaurant can be walked to from the city centre along Hanover Street walking towards the Albert Dock. Perfect if you're going for a gig at the Arena!
This is a special restaurant located in a beautiful position in the middle of Lake Como, close to Menaggio and in front of Bellaggio.
It serves a special non democratic menu at about 40 euro from starters to desserts, every day it varies from seamenù, to traditonal menù, or literary one inspired by romance such as Montalbal and Manzoni.
The boss is very friendly and speaks a little English. But what you eat is really great. We have been during Easter twice and we had great cusine.
www.lamarianna.com
via Regina, 57
22010 Griante CO
Italy
Poeme is one of Bucharest's best restaurants, actually located in the Carol Parc Hotel.
International cuisine, excellent service, but moreover an excellent 'de luxe' atmosphere.
www.carolparchotel.ro
+40-21-3363377
Brîndusa is a fair way out of the centre, although not that far from the Civic Centre and 'House of the People', but it is worth seeking out if you are looking for a wholly authentic Bucharest culinary and drinking experience with no pretentious tourist frills or added kitsch. This is the real Bucharest, in the raw. A little further up the street, tucked away between Str. Vasile Topliceanu and Str. Motoc, you will find La Pietris, a rough and ready though highly picturesque beer garden and summertime hangout. Don't mind Rex the bar dog - he's very friendly.
Str. Elev Popovici Nicolae, on the corner with Str. Novaci, just off Str. Mihail Sebastian, the main road linking Calea Rahovei and Str. 13 Septembrie
On Peykhane, one of the streets running off Divan Yolu and about ten minutes' walk from Cemberlitas. Unassuming, bright diner, with excellent, cheap meals (pide, kebab, salad, soup), no hassle or hustling, friendly staff, and the best fresh bread we tasted in the whole city. 12-20 liras for two. Convenient for Sultanahmet hotels but out of the tourist beargarden.
Karadeniz kebab, Peykhane
I think it is the best restaurant in Istanbul. Wonderful atmosphere with friendly service. I was very impressed with the menu and excellent quality of the food. Some dishes are exclusive to the restaurant. The Destiny Special is a delightful combination of tender beefsteak with a cream and mushroom sauce, served with a cinnamon cabbage in red wine sauce. Also recommended is the Destiny cake made with spinach - it melted in the mouth and tasted just of vanilla and cream. Don't be put off by the green colour! Definitely worth a visit. Reasonably priced too.
Bereket Mah. Haci Ali Sok. No. 11/A, Galata-Byoglu, Istanbul. Can be found by walking down from Galata Tower or by climbing up the steps by the Oyak Bank near the tramway in Karakoy.
Terrific restaurant down a quiet street in historic centre of Ravenna close to S. Vitale. Manages to get the balance right between seriousness and informality, with real enthusiasm in its service and pride in its ambitious and eclectic cooking and selection of wines.
Via Gamba, 12
48100 Ravenna
Tel/fax +39 0544 215393
The Mint was one of the places where Australia’s coinage was produced but now it mints mainly commemorative medals and the like – the 2000 Olympics medals for instance – but it stages a ‘Gold Pour’ half a dozen times a day. This is industry as theatre, as a bloke melts down gold (and they do use real gold, unlike other mints that have a similar attraction) and pours into a mould, plunges that into a bucket of cold water and then presents the finished article for the audience to admire – all of this done with an informative and witty patter. It was fascinating and the Mint also has a very upmarket gift shop and tea gardens.
This was, I reckon, the best cuppa I had for the entire nine weeks I was away from home – a fresh pot of Orange Pekoe made with leaf tea not bags, slices of lemon instead of milk, piping hot water for top-up and a plate of excellent scones with raspberry jam and cream - terrific.
On the excellent free tram circuit.
www.perthmint.com.au
Google map: tinyurl.com/m8rk28
Umami is a unique experience, based on the philosophy of Japanese cuisine of natural, seasonal ingredients, accentuated by the substance and tradition of French cuisine. With an international flavour, Umami offers the very best in modern Japanese cuisine and interior design.
The bar is well stocked with the finest booze known to mankind and excellent cocktails.
St. Kongensgade 59
1264 København K
Tlf. +45 33 38 75 00
mail@restaurantumami.dk
We stayed over at La Casa Azul which is right in front of the central market and we found this lovely new Gastronomik tapas bar/restaurant called Tapa2.
We were amazed at what we got - five courses of pure delight, all served with different drinks to wet the palette.
The owner Eduardo Phillips Blanco (you would be surprised to find out he is English, with that name) and head chef Michael Baering not only provided and served some of the best food we have ever eaten but also entertained us.
Our meal cost us 35 euros each and that was with all drink included, they do a deal with three tapas dishes and a bottle of vino for 15 euros most nights though.
Find them off the beaten track, near La Lonja, not the best setting but the restaurant is cool and funky and it hasn't copped on with the Spanish yet.
Carda6, Barrio del Carmen, Valencia
+34 663 875 903
www.tapa2gastronomik.es (not up and running yet)
Great environment. Excellent cava selection. Even though there might be a queue the line moves quickly - we were out the door and it took us less than 20 minutes to sit down (can't book). I preferred it to the sister restaurant - the flagship Commerce 24 (too sterile for me).
tapaC24
diputacio, 269
08007 barcelona
Maru is a small and cosy Korean restaurant, which offers quality sushi. You’ll get a good portion of nigiri for about £5, you’re not stuffed but not hungry anymore as well. You can choose this place for a late dinner - they serve food till midnight. Korean sushi is a nice option, if you don’t like the typical Japanese sour rice; it comes with a well flavoured smooth sauce.
I especially liked the atmosphere, they haven’t chosen the typical Asian interior and it matches will with the small size of the place and friendly people working there.
It is a place to meet for a date, as well as for a business lunch. If you want to show up with a group, I recommend to book, as the space is very limited.
Rigaer Str. 74, 10247 Berlin
+49 30 26545652
Di-So: 12-24h
Fantastic bar and restaurant: whether it's the fabulous food, chatting with the great owners and bar staff, having a beer in the treehouse or a swing in the hammocks - you won't want to leave!
right on Sihanoukville Beach
This website is about the real Budapest, and gives very interesting background details about the history, culture and architecture of this beautiful capital which is slowly losing some of its unique features (old presszo bars, neon signs, dingy borozos) as it changes into a modern European metropolis. Written by a Hungarian speaker, the articles featured go behind the facade and into much more detail than a guide book could manage.
It has a wealth of information for people who really love Budapest and want to know the city better.
Check out the recent story on the Trabants - really interesting!
It is a high quality, excellent restaurant, one of the best within the National Park.
in the village square of Broughton-in-Furness,
www.beswicks.co.uk/
I shall recommend everybody to contact Rahim Langoo to enjoy Kashmir as I did. It seems to me unnecessary to look for any other place/host when you visit Srinagar. It would be difficult to enjoy my visit as much as I did had I chosen anybody else.
The Fantasia Houseboat is very well heated always, and Nageem lake is much more quiet and restful than Dal lake. Excursions take you to the centre and to the other lake and the city is worth visiting. Very near (60 Kms or so) you have Gulmarg and Panhalgar covered with snow, streams of water on the valleys, ponies drinking from them. One may also enjoy a trip on the lakes in a Shikara (row boat) comfortably installed (with some blankets when I was there).
The homemade food is very acceptable because one does not go there counting on a Michelin star restaurant. And if you are lucky enough to have Rahim himself as guide it is a complete experience: helpful and gentle, discreet, not imposing his knowledge, allowing nice, interesting conversations, with good manners and humour. And he's a very good driver, very careful also, which is a tremendous advantage in India.
Rahim will also collect you from the airport.
Rahim Langoo
Houseboat Fantasua
Nageen Lake
Ashai Bagh
Srinagar
Mobile: 00-91-9906737847
E-mail: rlangoo@hotmail.com
Daily flights from Delhi to Srinagar