Must-see restaurants in Western Europe

  • Den Ouden Heere

    South Holland

    Set over two floors with a buzzing pavement terrace facing Lisse's main square, this bistro and cocktail bar is a popular spot for dinner or late-night…

  • Samphire

    Kent

    The shabby-chic jumble of tables and chairs, big-print wallpaper and blackboard menus create the perfect stage for meticulously crafted mains containing…

  • Midi O Halles

    Troyes

    Whatever is fresh at the market that day lands on plates at this contemporary brick-walled bistro-cafe. Appetising no-nonsense day specials such as cheese…

  • La Table d'Oste

    Toulouse, Gers & Vallée du Tarn

    Duck, pork and beef feature heavily on the menu at this local favourite in a peaceful street near the cathedral. In the hamburger Gascon, different…

  • Single Track

    Trotternish

    This turf-roofed, timber-clad art gallery and espresso bar will be familiar to fans of British TV's Grand Designs – it was featured on the Channel 4…

  • Ely Wine Bar

    Dublin

    Scrummy organic burgers, nine-hour braised beef cheek and perfectly charred steaks are all on the menu in this basement restaurant. Meals are prepared…

  • Veladouro

    Pinhão

    Wood-grilled meats and fish are the speciality at this schist-walled restaurant by the riverfront. On sunny days, the vine-shaded front terrace is the…

  • Pantry

    County Clare

    A former home-economics teacher gets top marks for this cafe-bakery, where breakfast features organic porridge with cinnamon stewed apricots, lunch brings…

  • Sosban

    Swansea, The Gower & Carmarthenshire

    A winning collaboration between some Welsh rugby internationals and a food writer, this upmarket restaurant occupies the cavernous, church-like confines…

  • Red Door Cottage

    County Antrim

    Fronted by a fire engine–red door, this little cottage sits 200m off the main coast road along the side road to Ballintoy Harbour. Everything is homemade:…

  • La Petite Ardoise

    Fontainebleau

    Framed by an awning-shaded terrace, the 'little blackboard' has a beamed-ceilinged interior, stone walls and a scrumptious variety of daily changing…

  • Le Bulot

    St-Malo

    This laid-back neighbourhood bistro has a modern feel with tasty views over the Port-Solidor in St-Servan (best appreciated on sunny days from the…

  • Adventure

    Bath

    This cool cafe-bar offers something for everyone at most times of the day: breakfast cappuccino, lunchtime soup and late-night beer and cocktails. There's…

  • The Breakfast Club

    Bordeaux

    Be it beans on toast, a boiled egg with soldiers, crumpets dripping in melted butter or a classic fry-up (poetically listed as 'Morning Glory' on the menu…

  • Asian Glories

    Rotterdam

    Modern Cantonese, Szechuan and Beijing dishes dominate the menu at this upmarket eatery. Its chefs are good at what they do – the Peking Duck is excellent…

  • La Quincaillerie

    Brussels

    A central Victorian stairway and station-style clock dominate this brasserie-restaurant. Wooden box-drawers, gleaming copperware and a green wrought-iron…

  • Le Pesage

    Brussels

    Overlooking the old racecourse in the Drohme Park, le Pesage restaurant by Lionel Jadot (JAM hotel) looks as if a pop bomb had exploded. Amidst the green…

  • Nama

    Bordeaux

    A refreshingly creative, Franco-Japanese cuisine is cooked up by the duo of chefs at this street-smart restaurant with age-old exposed stone walls and…

  • Bertinet Bakery

    Bath

    The flavourful fillings and light pastry of the pasties at baker Richard Bertinet's take-out shop could change your view of that foodstuff for good. You…

  • Breakfast Club

    The West End

    This fun and friendly original branch of The Breakfast Club chain has been successfully frying up since 2005. Full Monty or All American brekkies are the…

  • Longchamp Palace

    Marseille

    A classic neighbourhood bar and bistro, the Longchamp Palace teems with convivial locals, especially after work. Stained glass windows that might have…

  • Plateau

    Brighton & Hove

    If you are looking for some imaginatively fashioned tapas, the Sussex chorizo, roast bone marrow and mozzarella with peas, mint and lemon really hit the…

  • Banketbakkerij Van der Linde

    Medieval Centre & Red Light District

    A long line regularly snakes out the door of this narrow, generations-old shop where everyone is queuing for – wait for it – vanilla ice cream. That's the…

  • Van 't Spit

    De Pijp

    Van 't Spit does one thing – free-range chicken (half or full), marinated overnight and spit-roasted over a wood-burning fire, with optional sides such as…

  • La Sergenterie

    The Jura Mountains

    Carve up pizzas or twirl hunks of bread in fondue beneath 17th-century stone vaults of this cellar restaurant, just off Poligny's main square. Menu…

  • Crêperie de Josselin

    Paris

    With dark timber furniture and painted plates and screened by lace curtains, Josselin takes its name from the eastern Breton village crowned by a 14th…

  • A Travessa

    Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela

    This 17th-century convent cranks up the romance with its serene cloisters and brick vaulting. Chef Nuno Coelho whets appetites with fresh wood-fired bread…

  • Coup d'Œil

    Paris

    Traditional decor (exposed brick, patterned tiles) meets contemporary design (wave-form timber ceiling panels) at this striking wine bar. Cider-steamed…

  • Kunitoraya

    Paris

    Some of Paris' best udon (thick Japanese noodles) is what this buzzing brick-walled address is all about. Grab a seat at one of the communal tables and…

  • Populus

    Paris

    Opened in late 2019, Populus is that easy-to-miss 'secret spot' that locals like to recommend. It's somewhat off the beaten track, in a surprisingly quiet…

  • Three Q's

    County Wicklow

    This elegant restaurant is a Greystones favourite. Daytime dishes include beef-brisket baps, felafel wraps, grilled-chicken salads and corn fritters with…

  • De Drie Harinkjes

    Friesland

    On nippier days, kick back at this fish restaurant inside a historic garage at the old harbour. Its 1st-floor dining room and roof terrace dish up…

  • Bass & Lobster Foodhouse

    Jersey

    This smart, family-run restaurant is as sustainable as it gets: its fish, meat, seafood and dairy are locally sourced, its wild herbs foraged across…

  • Le Kashmir

    Rouen

    A block from the waterfront, Bollywood pop plays over this cheerfully decorated space, complete with hand-painted camel skin globe lamps, bright colours…

  • Chez Toinette

    Montmartre & Northern Paris

    The atmosphere of this convivial restaurant is rivalled only by its fine cuisine (seared duck with honey, veal with chanterelles, sole meunière, poached…

  • Crêperie Le Moulin du Diable

    Strasbourg

    Ah oui, there are crêpes and then there are proper Breton crêpes – and this nicely snug bolthole definitely falls into the second camp. Filled with a…

  • Steep & Filter

    Yorkshire Dales National Park

    This craft coffee and tea house has a minimalist interior and Skipton's best coffee. The provenance of its rotating beans is chalked up on a board, along…

  • Portcullis

    Stirling

    Built in stone as solid as the castle that it stands below, this former school is just the spot for a pint and a pub lunch after your castle visit. With…

  • Spyglass Inn

    Isle of Wight

    When a beachfront pub is this bedecked with pirate paraphernalia, ships' lanterns and lifebelts, you tend to be wary of the meals. No need. The seafood…

  • Pierowall Hotel

    Orkney

    The heart of the Westray community, this refurbished local pub is famous throughout Orkney for its popular fish and chips – whatever has turned up in the…

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