Betty's on St Helen's square is a Yorkshire institution and rightly so. Sitting in the Art Deco glazed dining room watching the world go by is a rare treat. Rare because the outdoor queues can be most off putting.
If it is windy and raining I recommend a trip round the corner to Little Betty's, located on York's prettiest medieval street - Stonegate.
The food, service and quaint ambience remain in Little Betty's but the queues are shorter and indoors. The upstairs rooms even have one extra special treat - open fires.
Sandwiches and cakes are available to takeaway from shops in both tearooms.

Betty's, St Helen's Square
Little Betty's, Stonegate

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A lovely park by the river, essentially the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum. If the sun is shining you can't beat grabbing a sandwich or salad (nearby Deli De Clare recommended) and joining the office workers, students, young families, couples and parties of (mainly French) school kids on the manicured lawns. Choose to sit in the shadows of medieval ruins, by a timbered tudor lodge or in the shadow of mature trees.
An awful lot cheaper and more enjoyable than being ripped off in a tourist trap.

Entrances on Museum St and Marygate.
Deli de Clare on Lendal by the Museum St entrance.

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Part of me is loathe to share this tip - it's my restaurant. No trip to Madrid is complete without lunch here for this former Madrid resident.

A local neighbourhood restaurant, sandwiched between the traditional madrileno working class district of Lavapies and Plaza Santa Ana.

Don't be put off by the long menu translated into English and German as I initially was. If you arrive on a Monday or Thursday lunchtime the queues of Madrilenos, business men in suits to builders in boilersuits, waiting for their cocido and paella specials will convince you it's not a tourist trap.

The service is at times brusque. I ate here at least once a week for a year and only during my last week in Madrid did the waiters show me any familiarity - and I lived next door.

The food is simple but good. There are a selection of menus at various prices to suit any budget.

The atmosphere is pure Madrid. TV blaring in the corner, twice as many tables crammed in as should really fit and shouted conversations echoing off the tiled walls and wooden floor. You do not come here for a relaxing lunch. But all the same don't come here if you are pushed for time. You can be out the door in 40mins having eaten a 3 course meal or waiting for your dessert 2 hours later.

Try the pollo al ajillo. Or the grilled asparagus. or the fried aubergines. or just about anything!

Enjoy.

C/Amor de Dios
M. Anton Martin.

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A museum with fascinating artefacts from every era of Spain's history - starting with prehistory.

Amazing Moorish and Visigoth exhibits. There are reproductions of the famous Altamira cave paintings in a specially constructed grotto outside.

The museum is also right by the Jardines de Descubrimiento with impressive modern fountains and sculptures celebrating Colombus' discovery of the new world. More famously this is where the Giant Flag flies - a Spanish national flag the size of a tennis court.

Just behind Jardines de Descubramiento, to the right.
M. Colon.

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By far the best sit down fish & chips I've had in an English seaside resort.

43 Westborough
Tel: 01723 376 109
www.mother-hubbards.co.uk/

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