Arden Hotel

Directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company’s cultural attractions, the revitalised Arden Hotel & its dapper Waterside Brasserie naturally play to packed houses. Surroundings are chic, contemporary & accented by blocks of bold-patterned wallpaper, while window tables overlooking the river are best bagged early – otherwise head out onto the terrace if the weather is fine. The kitchen offers well-executed dishes using top-notch produce, & it delivers the goods with skill & touches of innovation – perhaps pan-fried sea bass served with baby beet, golden beetroot & seared baby squid or the ever-popular aged fillet of Charolais beef with wild mushrooms, shallot jam, watercress & red wine jus. For a finale, you can’t beat the bitter Tanzanian chocolate délice with peanut & chocolate cannelloni or baked Alaska with passion fruit parfait & mango soup.