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London’s most romantic restaurants

With Valentine’s Day coming up, Square Meal has selected London’s most romantic restaurants for all occasions, from first dates to proposals to anniversaries. Secure a second date at intimate venues such as Chabrot Bistrot d’Amis or Arbutus, or plan for a ‘yes’ to that all-important question at the sophisticated splendour of Corrigan’s Mayfair or The Ritz. When love is in the air, let Square Meal help guide Cupid’s arrow…

Best cheap-and-cheerful restaurants in central London

Certain times of the year bring with them a financial backlash that prohibits gastronomic treats and other social splurges for most people. Don’t despair: with increasing numbers of the capital’s inhabitants dining out more regularly, London’s restaurateurs are waking up to the idea of serving good-value, good-quality food in a fun, casual environment. Dine well for under £30 with Square Meal’s pick of the best cheap-and-cheerful restaurants in London.

London’s best dim sum restaurants

From dumplings to steamed buns, dim sum has a dedicated following. Most people head to Chinatown to get their fix, although there are surprising finds dotted all over the capital – and just beyond. Dim sum has gone mainstream, too: the Ping Pong chain gives a user-friendly introduction to the delicacy. Aficionados should read on for Square Meal’s pick of London’s most authentic dim sum restaurants – just in time for Chinese New Year.

January sales shopping pit stops: good restaurants near Oxford Street

How do you avoid the hungry hordes when you hit the high street for a spot of sales shopping? Forget department stores, chain restaurants and the usual suspects: the streets behind and surrounding Oxford Street offer up some real gems – if you know where to look. Don’t let your fashion fizzle when it comes to food: here are Square Meal’s top 10 tips for lunching in style.

London’s 10 best healthy restaurants in which to detox in style

Even if you’re not dieting or detoxing in January, odds are your friends are. Don’t let your social circle stagnate for a month: instead, organise nights out at restaurants that won’t lead anyone astray. Whether you’re looking for calorie-conscious menus, determined to dine out in a more sustainable way, or striving for a bit of inner harmony, Square Meal has compiled the ultimate collection of healthy-eating and feel-good restaurants.

Best sustainable restaurants in London and the UK

Increasingly savvy diners are not only asking restaurants whether their roast chicken is free range, their tuna line caught and their scallops hand dived; more and more now want to know where ingredients have come from, what eco-credentials a restaurant possesses, and how establishments treat their staff in terms of training and tips. The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) awards one-, two- or three-star ratings to member restaurants that perform highly in these categories, and works with them to improve their sustainability. Here is Square Meal’s pick of the best SRA-certified sustainable restaurants in London and the UK, including Bumpkin (pictured).

Fire your imagination: London’s best winter pubs

Are the short days and cold evenings of winter reasons to be depressed? On the contrary, says Keith Barker-Main, as he sups cask-conditioned real ales in front of roaring fires. Check out his brilliant baker’s dozen.

Street eats: best street food in London

Whether you want a Korean-Mexican mash-up, a bistro lunch, or just a good old burger – London’s gang of mobile street vendors has got it covered.

Restaurants and pubs near London fireworks displays

Guy Fawkes Night is upon us, and what better way to brace yourself against the whizzes and bangs of London’s fireworks or warm yourself up after a night of standing in the cold than to pop into a local bistro, gastropub or wine bar for a restorative tipple or some rib-sticking winter food? Read Square Meal’s suggestions for the best food-and-fireworks combo in your area this Bonfire Night.

The BFI London Film Festival: restaurants near the city’s cinemas

The BFI London Film Festival (12-27 October) has pitched up for 2011 with a packed schedule, and will be showing films at various locations across the city, including Southbank, Leicester Square, central London, South Kensington and Brixton. If you’re looking to make a day or night of your trip to the flicks, Square Meal has suggestions for where to eat before or after the film – and why.

London’s best breakfasts and brunches

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you might as well spoil yourself. From breakfast meetings to weekend brunch, Square Meal has 10 mouthwatering suggestions for where to spend your morning – and 10 good reasons to get out of bed. Read on for a list of London’s best breakfasts and brunches.

The beautiful game: where to eat grouse in London

August 12 marks the Glorious Twelfth – the start of the grouse shooting season – and the UK’s chefs will celebrate with dishes that showcase the rich, dark meat of this beautiful bird, as well as other game dishes. Find out where you can enjoy roast grouse, be it with traditional bread sauce, game chips or something more avant-garde. Be warned, however, that some restaurants will not serve grouse until later in the month, so check before you book.

London’s best pizza

Give yourself a dose of la dolce vita this lunchtime with our list of the best pizzas in London. Whether you’re hankering after the flavours of a recent holiday, or yearning for the sunshine and sass of this Mediterranean food mecca, there’s nothing better than a pizza done properly. Here are the pizzerias that most deserve a slice of your lunchbreak.

London’s best coffee shops

Looking for an extra spurt of energy to get you through the working day? Make a pitstop at one of the capital’s top coffee shops. From full-on flat whites to creamy cappuccinos, our selection of London’s best coffee shops will have you going from 0 to 60 in, well, about half an hour or so.

Restaurants with retractable roofs

As much as we’re willing the summer to hold out and give us a break, there’s no knowing what the weather will do from one minute to the next. Many London restaurants have long since given up on the idea of offering sustained alfresco dining, opting instead to install a retractable roof. Here are some of the best restaurants and bars for ‘semi’ open-air dining.

Best restaurants for jazz and live entertainment

London has more than its fair share of restaurants that seek to entertain diners, as well as feed them. Find bawdy burlesque shows, sexy striptease, live music or dance, and all that jazz with Square Meal’s pick of some of the best restaurants and bars with entertainment in town.

London’s best beer gardens

Now that summer finally seems to have set in, London’s beer gardens are the place to be. Whether you’re popping into the pub for a quick after-work drink, enjoying a weekend lunch in the sun, or holing up in your local for a lost afternoon, here are 10 of London’s best beer gardens in which to spend the summer.

Pick up a picnic hamper from London's restaurants

Tired of spending your lunch hour cooped up in the office when you could be catching a few rays, or at least getting some fresh air? Pick up a picnic hamper or posh takeaway from one of London’s top restaurants and enjoy a spot of fine dining al fresco. Alternatively, treat yourself to gourmet food to go during a festival, road trip or another of this summer’s events.

Restaurants at London museums and tourist attractions

While force-feeding your kids some culture over the summer holidays or nourishing your own inner self, make sure you don’t neglect the needs of the outer one. Find a restaurant pit stop that’s worth its weight in gourmet gold at London’s top museums, galleries, gardens and other cultural attractions.

London’s best French restaurants

France is still regarded by many as a standard bearer for the ultimate in good food, and London has no shortage of Gallic bistros and fancy French fine-dining restaurants. If you’re yearning for a trip to the other side of the channel, here are 10 of the capital’s best French restaurants. Bon appétit.

London's best North American restaurants

Where do you go if you’re a homesick Yank in the UK or just in awe of all things American? No sweat, you’ve come to the right place – find diners to die for, cool cocktail bars and patriotic pick-me-ups with Square Meal’s list of the best North American restaurants in London.

London's best Sunday lunch

Use Square Meal’s list of the 10 best places for Sunday lunch in London to find the perfect spot for you and the family, from central restaurants to foodie pubs off the beaten track.

London’s best ice-cream parlours

Sunshine or no sunshine, the capital boasts plenty of purveyors of top-quality ice cream, all vying for our attention, enough to warrant more than the odd cone or two this summer. From the classic and cool, to the wacky and avant-garde, Square Meal has the inside scoop.

The world's weirdest restaurants

Fancy a different dining experience this summer? Bored of predictable menus and same-old service? Then this could be the list for you: we’ve scoured for the globe and found the world’s five weirdest restaurants, featuring everything from stir-fried horse penis to monkey waiters.

London's best vegetarian restaurants

If you’re a committed carnivore, vegetarian restaurants are probably not a consideration when you head out for lunch. But as a healthier, lighter and often cheaper option, there’s no better time to try some of London’s increasingly competitive veggie restaurants that National Vegetarian week, which runs from today until 29 May. Alternatively, plenty of vegetarian friendly restaurants offer commendable meat-free dishes.

London’s must-visit restaurants and bars

If you live for those ‘have you ever been to…?’ conversations, and love nothing more than letting rip with a good anecdote, then this is the list for you: a collection of must-visit bars and restaurants in London and beyond. Whether you’re after fun food, daring decor, or trendy toilets, make sure you don’t miss Square Meal’s pick of the capital’s most quirky restaurants and bars.

London’s 10 best afternoon teas

What better way to celebrate St George’s Day (and indulge during the Easter bank holiday) than to take a luxurious and dainty afternoon tea in a quintessentially English location? From tea sommeliers and finger sandwiches to cream horns and baby-pink fondant fancies, here’s Square Meal’s guide to the best cream teas in the capital.

Where to watch the London Marathon: best bars and restaurants

Limber up for a busy day in the capital this Sunday when, once again, London will play host to Marathon runners and their supporters. If you’re going along to cheer on the athletes, now’s the time to book restaurants and bars on or near the 26.2-mile course’s main viewing spots, such as The Narrow (pictured). Square Meal gives you a rundown of where to enjoy some refreshment without missing the event.

London's top 10 tapas restaurants

Spanish tapas are having a moment. With Capote y Toros (from the team behind Cambio de Tercio) opening this week, and José Pizarro’s ham and sherry bar launching in Bermondsey Street in May, as well as the success of recent arrivals such as Opera Tavern (pictured) and Morito, it’s a good time to be serving up a taste of the Spanish way of life in the capital. Here are 10 top tapas bars not to be missed.

London's best Mother’s Day treats

Show your mum she’s worth her weight in gold this year, by treating her to a lazy brunch, gourmet set lunch or decadent afternoon tea. Square Meal has chosen its three favourite options from each in order to help you make your mum feel special this weekend. Don’t forget to book in advance, and remember to check out the Mother’s Day offers on our special offers page for more ideas.

London’s 10 best pop-up restaurants

Do away with your preconceptions: supper clubs in 2011 are an altogether more spruced-up and luxurious experience than their anything-goes, boho ancestors. From slick, one-table affairs to fine-dining tasting menus cooked by superstar chefs (at The Loft Project, pictured), there’s something for everyone in London’s underground dining scene. If you decide to turn your back on Michelin stars for one night, you’ll still be riding sky-high with 10 of the best pop-ups.

10 best restaurants and bars for… views of London

Hurray for British summertime – it’s all downhill from here, with lighter evenings giving way to later sunsets. Make the most of London’s beautiful skyline with Square Meal’s pick of the top 10 restaurants offering unmissable views. From the go-to places for vistas of the river, to the places that capture the capital’s iconic landmarks from their best side, we map out the city as you’ve never seen it before.

West London's 10 best riverside restaurants

Square Meal has scoured the four-mile stretch of west London's riverbank, from Putney Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge, for perfect pubs and favourite restaurants at which to enjoy the river views - or watch the all-important Boat Race when the time comes. Here are 10 of the best, including The River Café (pictured).

Top five bars and restaurants for Irish craic

The main St Patrick’s Day celebrations pass in a flurry of lurid green felt hats, temporary shamrock tattoos and many, many pints of Guinness. But if you’re hoping to celebrate Ireland’s national day with a touch more dignity and sophistication, look to London’s Irish-owned restaurants (such as Corrigan's, pictured) or visit Square Meal’s suggestions for the pubs and bars serving the best stout in town.

London's best bars for non-alcoholic cocktails

Whether you’ve decided to stay off the sauce for Lent, are shunning booze as part of a de-tox, or just prefer to go out on the town without getting plastered, there's no need to take the fun out of your bar ordering. Check out Square Meal’s pick of the best juices, teas and mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) on offer at London’s bars.

London's best pancake destinations

You don't have to stop tossing pancakes just because Shrove Tuesday is over. Make them a fixture of your breakfast table with the help of Square Meal's top five pancake joints. Whether you choose a stack of American-style pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, or a delicate French crêpe with a hint of lemon and sugar, treat yourself to a flippin’ marvellous feast.

No reservation? No problem

Restaurants with a no-bookings policy divide opinion at Square Meal: some of us hate to queue in tense anticipation, unsure of whether our dinner will be worth the wait, while some of us embrace the spontaneity that this dining model affords our social lives. If you’re stuck for somewhere to eat out this weekend, or want to take a chance on something new, here’s our pick of the capital’s 10 best restaurants taking no reservations.

London Fashion Week: 10 most fashionable bars and restaurants

The fash pack might not be renowned for its love of food, but you can be sure its movers and shakers will be out in force in the capital’s restaurants and bars, seeing and being seen, during London Fashion Week. Square Meal reveals the top 10 trend-setting destinations for keeping up with the crowd.

Top 10 child-friendly restaurants in London

Taking the family out for a meal you'll all enjoy can be a tricky business. Whether you’re after a restaurant that will keep your offspring entertained without sending you up the wall, a hip place that will give you street cred with your teens (such as All Star Lanes, pictured), Square Meal has the answer, with its pick of the best family-friendly restaurants.

London's 10 best roof terraces

Come summer, some drinking dens are guaranteed to put you on top of the world. We've searched out 10 of the best rooftop bars in London, from famous haunts such as Kensington Roof Gardens, to bijou suntraps you won't have heard of. Pack your Prada shades, roll up the sleeves and soak up the sun, drink in hand, before the summer inevitably turns bad.

London's best alfresco restaurants and cafés

The British really know how to make the most of a sunny spell, whatever season it happens to fall in. If the sun is shining, whether it's summer, winter, spring or autumn, make the most of it with Square Meal's run-down of London's top park cafés, waterside restaurants, pub gardens and alfresco courtyards. After all, it could be here today, rain tomorrow...

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