We are often asked for Restaurant and Hotel recommendations. So here’s a list of places we like to go in London, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Spain, California and Japan.
Many of you seem to have the impression that, on our buying trips, we drink fine wine from dawn until long into the night and eat wall-to-wall Michelin starred food. It doesn’t seem to matter how often we explain quite how gruelling these trips are, and how modestly we eat – no-one seems to believe us!
LONDON
SCOTLAND
GERMANY
FRANCE
DENMARK
ITALY
SPAIN
USA
AUSTRALIA
JAPAN
BYO
We love BYO (Bring Your Own) restaurants. What could be better than bringing our own wine to these restaurants? Please let us know if you spot more across London.
DA DANIELA – BYO
Our local favourite is 5 minutes walk from The Winery. Daniela is from Calabria and she and her team offer excellent, affordable pizza, pasta and salads from lunch until late.
http://www.dadanielarestaurant.co.uk
49 Shirland Rd, Maida Vale, London W9 2JD
Tel: 020 7289 0008
VIET PHO – BYO
Super-fresh Vietnamese Cafe in Soho. BYO. Can get very busy at peak hours but is definitely worth the wait. We love the starters, the noodles and their Special Pho (No.24) is benchmark.
Viet Pho, 34 Greek St, London W1D 5DJ
Tel 020 7494 9888
FEZ MANGAL – BYO
Turkish restaurant in Ladbroke Grove. BYO. Fresh, good Turkish grill. They have two shopfronts. We go to the one on the left (closer to Ladbroke Grove tube) – it’s more relaxed; less hurried. Open daily 12.00-23.30h
http://www.fezmangal.co.uk
Fez Mangal, 104 Ladbroke Grove, London W11 1PY
Tel 020 7229 3010
RAVI SHANKAR – BYO
Vegetarian Indian. Authentic Chaats & Dosas. Buffet lunch weekdays. Difficult to linger but, if you are super polite and can avoid ordering all at once, you stand a chance.
http://www.ravishankarbhelpoori.com
Ravi Shankar, 133-135 Drummond St, London NW1 2HL
Tel 020 7388 6458
LONDON RESTAURANTS AND WINE BARS
PARLOUR
Brilliant Gastropub in Kensal Rise. Jesse Dunford-Wood and his team produce an inventive, seasonal remix/mash-up of British cuisine. Extraordinary, theatrical Chef’s Table.
http://www.parlourkensal.com
5 Regent St (NB not the one in the West End), London NW10 5LG
Phone:020 8969 2184
THE REMEDY
David Clawson (DC to us) worked at The Winery some years ago, and late in 2013 opened a great wine bar at the top of Cleveland Street (close to Gt Portland St tube), with Renato Catgiu, a friend he made while working at Terroirs. The food is very good. With an emphasis on organic, biodynamic and natural wines, the winelist is very good. DC has gone back to the States and Andrea Sabbatini has joined Renato.
http://www.theremedylondon.com/
The Remedy, 124 Cleveland Street, London W1T 6PG
Tel 020 3489 3800
SHAMPERS
A Soho institution. A proper, old-fashioned wine bar. Good, solid, fresh food. Broad, affordable winelist. A throwback to the Advertising business in 1970s and 1980s Soho when people would go to lunch and never return. We love it!
http://www.shampers.net/
Shampers, 4 Kingly St, London W1B 5PE
Tel 020 7437 1692
ANDREW EDMUNDS
Another Soho institution. Owned by Andrew Edmunds who is an expert on and dealer in Hogarth prints and has his print shop next door. Open for lunch and dinner every day. The food is punchy, fresh and of the moment. The winelist is very interesting. Andrew often squirrels away cases of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone and sneaks them onto the list years later with very favourable mark-ups. They take reservations just 7 days ahead.
http://www.andrewedmunds.com/
Andrew Edmunds, 46 Lexington St, London W1F 0LW
020 7437 5708
EDINBURGH
Timberyard
10 Lady Lawson St
Edinburgh EH3 9DS
0131 221 1222
EAT@TIMBERYARD.CO
http://www.timberyard.co
Cutting edge, inventive food with an extensive, Natural orientated winelist. Superb, engaged, warm and knowledgeable service. We are are honoured to supply them with some of our German wines.
Valvona & Crolla
No trip to Edinburgh is complete without lunch at the original Valvona & Crolla. Pick a bottle from their wine shop (extensive Italian selection) and drink it with your lunch with a small corkage charge.
http://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/restaurants/caffé-bar
19 Elm Row,
Edinburgh, EH7 4AA
Tel: 0131 556 6066
Divino Enoteca
Another wide Italian wine-list. Comfortable, friendly.
http://www.vittoriagroup.co.uk/divinoenoteca/
5 Merchant St
Edinburgh EH1 2QD
0131 225 1770
dine@divinoedinburgh.com
COFFEE IN EDINBURGH
There seems to have been an explosion on the coffee scene in the city. Extensive research took us to Wellington, Brew Lab, Machina Espresso, Filament, Fortitude and Artisan Roast. Our favourites?
Filament (for their single origin coffees)
http://filamentcoffee.com
38 Clerk St,
Edinburgh EH8 9HX
0131 281 5140
Wellington Coffee
33A George St,
Edinburgh EH2 2HN
0131 225 6854
http://edinburghcoffeelovers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/wellington-coffee.html
RESTAURANT IN ANSTRUTHER
Another exceptional restaurant in Scotland.
http://www.thecellaranstruther.co.uk
The Cellar
24 East Green
Anstruther, Fife
KY10 3AA
Tel 01333 310378
TheCellarRestaurant@outlook.com
THE RHEINGAU
In the Rheingau our absolute favourite place to eat and stay is Zum Krug in Hattenheim. Amazing winelist, brilliant food, lovely rooms. Book asap if you need a room. Closed Sunday evenings and Mondays.
http://www.hotel-zum-krug.de/
If you can’t get in there you can go round the corner to
http://www.kronenschloesschen.de/
It’s pricy, but more affordable in the Bistro. Winelist is the same in both.
Or, even fancier, at Schloss Reinhartshausen in Erbach/Eltville:
http://www.kempinski.com/de/eltville/Seiten/Welcome.aspx
Or, to the Rheinblick, opposite Hattenheim railway station. Modern, clean and functional.
http://www.rheinblick-rheingau.de/
An English woman called Cathy Ferns who worked for a long time at Zum Krug has some holiday apartments in Hattenheim.
http://www.haus-am-leimersbach.de/
Adler Wirtschaft in Hattenheim is also a very good restaurant. Quirky set-up. Open Thursday-Monday from Lunch on. You have to take a menu and it’s cash only (unless you have EC cards).
For visits, check out Kloster Eberbach – they are the big State Domain in a former cloister with a big visitor centre. Not small, but very well done and the wines are getting better and better.
http://www.kloster-eberbach.de/content/index_ger.html
Whether you are arriving or leaving The Rheingau, take the car ferry across the Rhein between Bingen and Rudesheim. It’s only €4-ish and an impressive view as you cross the river.
THE MOSEL
Middle Mosel
Making waves at the moment is the Reiler Hof in Reil. During the season, the restaurant is open from lunch through the afternoon and on to dinner. Very useful! The restaurant is extremely versatile and can deliver kids’ food, mainstream hearty German food and fancier more ambitious cuisine. The winelist has improved enormously and the rooms (many of which have been recently renovated) are comfortable too.
http://reiler-hof.de/index.php/en/
Gerrit Walter worked for a few months at The Winery, while he was at Wine Uni. After his studies he went back to Briedel to work in the family winery. He’s doing a brilliant job – we have been importing his excellent Rieslings and Spatburgunder for a decade. His family have some holiday apartments.
https://www.weingut-walter.de/index.php/Ferien.html
Hauptstraße 188, 56867 Briedel / Mosel, Germany
Tel: +49 6542 98690
There’s a Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) Hotel in Traben-Trarbach with a good restaurant and winelist called the Hotel Bellevue. They have a new Chef and early feedback is upbeat.
https://bellevue-hotel.de/en/the-award-winning-restaurant-belle-epoque/
By the Buddha Museum in Trarbach is Graifen. Very casual with good, fresh food. A short menu but always something delicious. Don’t go if you’re in a rush. The garden is a lovely place to eat in summer. If we could give them a briefing note, it would be about the winelist. The place is owned by the Dr Melsheimer winery – Thorsten Melsheimer’s Aunt. Thorsten makes her wines, so they are definitely good but it would be nice to sneak a handful of top local guest growers onto the list.
https://www.graifen.de/overview/index/id/3
We also recommend the Moselschild in Urzig. The restaurant is very good and the rooms are lovely. Ask for one overlooking the Mosel.
http://www.moselschild.de/
Here’s a hotel with a good restaurant and winelist in Zeltingen, the next village:
http://www.hotel-stephanus.de/
Martin Conrad in Brauneberg is really friendly, makes great wine, speaks good English and his mother owns the comfortable Hotel Brauneberger Hof.
http://www.mosel-erlebnis.de/weingut.html
Lower Mosel (Koblenz End)
In Koblenz, metres from the Deutsches Eck (where the Mosel flows into the Rhine) is the fabulous Gerhards Genussgesellschaft.
http://www.gerhards-genussgesellschaft.de/
You can find good coffee in Jesuitenplatz, slap bang in the middle of Koblenz at Brotgenuss und Kaffeekult in the Altstaft Hotel. They also have nice rooms upstairs if you want somewhere central to stay, although parking and access are a bit tricky.
https://www.altstadt-hotel-koblenz.de< +49 261 201640 Further west along the Middle Mosel (towards Trier) Trittenheim: Wein und Tafelhaus – One of the best restaurants in the whole area. Not cheap, but very good. They now have guest rooms too. http://wein-tafelhaus.de/
Clusserath-Weiler have a fantastic house by the bridge, with very reasonably priced bed and breakfast:
http://www.cluesserath-weiler.de/
+49 6507 5011
Helmut and his daughter Verana also make very good wine, Hilde (Helmut’s wife) runs the guesthouse.
When in Trier we stay at Eurener Hof. It’s not in the swankiest area, but it is a really German experience – a big old coaching inn type hotel with a good restaurant and excellent wine-list. And a swimming pool.
http://www.eurener-hof.de/
In Trier itself, check out the Brunnenhof Restaurant and Wine Bar, right by the Porta Nigra.
http://www.brunnenhof-trier.com/
We quite like Bernkastel, although it’s quite touristy and very busy at the weekends. Avoid Cochem, it’s tourist hell and not the best part of the river for wine.
THE AHR
Current favourite, with fabulous views over the Ahr valley, is Hohenzollern. Reasonably priced rooms, good restaurant and v good winelist.
https://www.hotelhohenzollern.com
Am Silberberg 50, 53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Tel: +49 2641 9730
Pruemer Gang in the centre of Ahrweiler has lovely modern rooms and a good restaurant with a decent, short winelist. We found out that it is very hard to find the way to their car park without illegally driving in the pedestrian zones. The police seem fairly tolerant of foreign cars, but don’t rely on it!
http://www.pruemergang.de/
There’s also the highly-rated Steinheuer Restaurant in Heppingen. It is very good and also very pricy.
http://www.steinheuers.de/
FRANKEN
Klingenberg:
Straubs Schoene Aussicht
Very reasonably priced rooms, restaurant overlooking the river. Very good food, outstanding winelist.
https://straubs-schoene-aussicht.de
Bahnhofstraße 18/20 . 63911 Klingenberg
Tel: +49 9372 930 300
Marktbreit:
Michels Stern
A warm welcome in this beautiful walled town. Good restaurant, friendly engaged, gateway to local wine knowledge.
https://www.michelsstern.de/restaurant/index.html
Bahnhofstraße 9, 97340 Marktbreit
Tel: +49 9332 1316
CALAIS
One of our all-time favourite restaurants anywhere. Very professionally-run, family restaurant. Everything is to the highest level. Father, Jose, is less often in the kitchen nowadays and son, Jerome, more and more. Monique, the mother is Front-of-House, son Arnaud is the Sommelier, with a stunning winelist. Sensational Turbot with Hollandaise sauce. Looks dull, tastes sublime!
Restaurant Le Channel
3 Boulevard de la Resistance
62100 Calais
http://www.restaurant-lechannel.com/
BURGUNDY
Hotel des Remparts in Beaune.
We never stay anywhere else. Charming.
http://www.hotel-remparts-beaune.com/
In Beaune;
There has been a sea-change in the gastronomic landscape of Beaune. All our established favourites follow below but the hot news is a clutch of new openings.
Restaurant La Lune
Two man operation – Seiichi and Julien. A delicious, fresh fusion of Japanese and Burgundian cuisine. Make sure you book – it’s tiny!
https://www.facebook.com/La-Lune-619001551514843/
32 Rue Mafoux, Beaune
Tel +33 3 80 20 77 42
Maison du Colombier
The hot new address, Tapas-style small plates, big wine-list (not cheap, but nowhere in Beaune is anymore). Bit of a growers’ and wine-trade hang-out.
http://www.maisonducolombier.com/#!home
1 Rue Charles Cloutier, 21200 Beaune
Tel +33 3 80 26 16 26
Bar du Square
Buzzy Wine Bar on the “Peripherique/Rocade” of Beaune. Another growers’ favourite. Mixed crowd, good food, broad wine-list includes plenty of more affordable wines from outside Burgundy.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bar-du-Square/129654570426971
26 Boulevard Maréchal Foch, 21200 Beaune
Tel +33 3 80 24 03 32
Established favourites in Beaune;
Le Gourmandin in Place Carnot
Ma Cuisine (if they can be bothered to open…hahaha) is a real wine trade place. In terms of wine-celeb spotting, it would be the equivalent of The Ivy or Scotts. Many find Pierre a bit brusque or rude, depending on his mood. We’ve been lucky, just be super-nice and undemanding and you’ll be fine!
Le Petit Paradis
Caveau des Arches is very good at the moment.
Le Table du Vieux Vigneron +33380240778.
Le Chassagne in Chassagne-Montrachet.
Don’t bother with real fancy places like Lameloise, Le Charlemagne or L’Ecusson – which are overrated in our opinion.
Of the Michelin-style restaurants, try Le Benaton.
http://www.lebenaton.com/
You have to try Oeufs-en-Meurette – eggs poached in wine with lardons. Delicious. A regional classic along with Boeuf Bourgignon, snails and jambon persille etc.
If you suddenly get a craving for sushi after a prolonged period of warming Burgundian food, fear not, we highly recommend Bissoh. They also have an excellent winelist.
http://www.bissoh.com/
Restaurants outside Beaune;
Le Chambolle-Musigny in Chambolle-Musigny – classic, small.
Le Chambolle-Musigny
+33 3 80 62 86 20
Route des Grands Crus
21200 Chambolle-Musigny
http://www.restaurant-lechambolle.com/
Also in Chambolle, the fairly new:
La Maison Vigneronne is good
1 rue Traversiere
21200 Chambolle-Musigny
It also has a wine shop attached.
Chez Guy is not bad in Gevrey-Chambertin.
Also a very good wine shop in Nuits-St-Georges called Cavon de Bacchus. Good stuff. Not crazy prices.
http://www.cavon.com
CHAMPAGNE
EPERNAY
Our favourite hotel in the area is in Epernay, run by a lovely group of women. Absolutely charming.
http://www.closraymi-hotel.com
If you can’t get in there, Villa Eugene is also good, if expensive.
http://www.villa-eugene.com
Restaurants:
Brasserie La Banque – Opinion is somewhat divided locally. Some say it is expensive and bad. Some say the service is bad. What is not in doubt is that it is great to have a place in Epernay that offers 27 or so Champagnes by the glass and, barring a few global brands, mainly from small growers.
It’s a metropolitan style brasserie with a bar set in a former bank right on the central Place. Service is not the most engaged, but perfectly adequate. The food is very good. Gillardeau oysters, excellent Tartare de Boeuf, Entrecote, cheese. Who needs surprises?
http://www.brasserie-labanque.fr/
La Table Kobus is good. We are hearing good things about the new chef.
http://latablekobus.pagesperso-orange.fr/
REIMS
Very, very occasionally we splash out on a meal in a fancy restaurant. We had an amazing meal at Les Crayeres recently. Not cheap, but sensational. Phillipe Mille is still young, so there can be little doubt the third star will be coming before long, although frankly, it’s as good a meal as we’ve had in France at the frou frou, 3-star level for a decade and a half.
We met Hideaki Umada when we were tasting in Champagne at Louis Casters back in May. He has lived and cooked in France for 25 years and worked in the kitchens of Les Crayeres in Reims for 20. He is No 2 to Head Chef Philippe Mille. He asked, “have you eaten at Les Crayeres?” No, it is crazily expensive. He countered “no, it really isn’t bad, particularly at lunch. You must come!” So, on the way back from Burgundy, we stopped for dinner. It was, quite simply, one of the finest meals (at the fancy, Michelin-starred level) we have had for many years. Shan’t bore you with the details but, if you get the chance, save up and go! To keep some kind of lid on budget you can check into one of the more affordable hotels in Reims, walk to Les Crayeres and stagger back.
http://www.lescrayeres.com/
TROYES
Hotel:
Champ des Oiseaux
Very pretty, beautifully renovated historic hotel. Not cheap.
http://www.champdesoiseaux.com/
Hotel Mercure, chain hotel, more keenly priced.
http://www.mercure-troyes.com/
Restaurant:
Aux Crieurs de Vin – We recommend this wine bar highly. Casual, friendly, good food, very Natural Wine heavy selection. Plenty of range in the shop area at the front to choose from.
http://www.auxcrieursdevin.fr
AUBE
Hotel and Restaurant.
Hostellerie la Montaigne
52330 Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises.
Near the de Gaulle memorial. Nice. Michelin star. Worth a small detour from the Autoroute on your way down or back from Burgundy or the Rhone.
http://www.hostellerielamontagne.com/
Much more stripped-down, functional, well-priced. Good, classic food. Good local Champagne list.
Logis des Canotiers
10360 Essoyes
https://www.les-demoiselles-essoyes.com
Very useful pit stop, just off the Autoroute. Almost motel-like but with a new indoor swimming pool and a nice restaurant.
Le Val Moret
sortie N°22 A5,
10110 Magnant
Tel: +33 3 25 29 85 12
https://www.le-val-moret.com
THE LOIRE
SANCERRE
We had an excellent dinner at Restaurant La Tour. Gently creative, provenance-led menus. Good local wine list and cheese trolley. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Restaurant La Tour
31 Place Nouvelle Place
18300 Sancerre
+33 2 48 54 00 81
http://latoursancerre.fr/
Somewhere to stay?
Hotel Le Panoramic
Basic, decent rooms but with fabulous views over the vines.
Rempart des Augustins
18300 Sancerre
+33 2 48 54 22 44
info@panoramicotel.com
http://www.panoramicotel.com/
COPENHAGEN
Danish wine – yes, really!:
Arwen Lilleø – excellent dry white wine from a tiny island.
http://hipsomhap.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/danmarks-bedste-vin/
Nordlund wine, bit pricey but the best Danish red we have tasted so far.
http://www.netpublikationer.dk/um/7466/html/chapter06.htm
COFFEE
THE COFFEE COLLECTIVE APS
Jægersborggade 10
2200 København N
T +45 60 15 15 25
http://www.coffeecollective.dk/
The best. Hardcore. Worth the daily trip. Just the other side of the Cemetery where Hans-Christian Anderson, Niels Bohr and our Guitarist friend Hilmer Hassig are buried.
There’s also one more centrally located, at Torvehallerne, the new Foodie centre (which is also well worth browsing/eating in).
http://torvehallernekbh.dk/english
Coffee Collective
Vendersgade 6D
København K
+45 60 15 15 25
Estate Coffee Shop
Gammel Kongevej 1
DK-1610 Copenhagen V
http://www.estatecoffee.dk/english
Had some great ones here.
WINE BARS
Ved Stranden 10 – excellent, vibey wine bar. Very Copenhagen – overwhelmingly Natural Wine selection.
http://www.vedstranden10.dk/
Opposite end of the spectrum, with a wonderful, broad non-freaky winelist and solid, enjoyable plates;
Vinbaren Vesterbro Torv
Svendsgade 1,
1659 København V
Tel +45 2140 8527
info@vinveto.dk
http://vinbarenvesterbrotorv.dk
If you see Martin or Peter, please tell them we sent you.
R-Vinbar
Gammel Mønt 14,
1117 Kbh. K.
Tlf: 3314 9498
http://www.r-vinbar.dk/
LUNCH
Classic Danish Lunch – Smørrebrød (open sandwich) places
It took us almost two decades to appreciate the Zen-like simplicity, purity and sheer Danish-ness of their national dish. We saw the light 5 years ago and have researched the subject thoroughly since then.
Sharing the No.1 spot are:
Aamanns
Øster Farimagsgade 10
2100 København Ø
Telefon:+45 3555 3344
http://www.aamanns.dk/etablissementet.htm
And straight in to share No.1:
Restaurant Palaegade
Palægade 8
1261 København K
Tel: +45 70 82 82 88
Email: info@palaegade.dk
http://palaegade.dk/frontpage/
Also excellent:
Restaurant Koefoed
Landgreven 3
1301 København K
+45 5648 2224
All their produce comes from the island of Bornholm. Excellent quality and an excellent winelist with several well-priced Bordeaux bought from private cellars and auctions.
http://www.restaurant-koefoed.dk/
Classic, Old School. Two sittings at lunch.
Restaurant Schønnemann
Hauser Plads 16
1127 København K
+45 3312 0785
http://www.restaurantschonnemann.dk/
Despite being in the mega-touristy Nyhavn section, Told og Snaps is v good.
http://toldogsnaps.dk/home/
Restaurant M
Stor Kongensgade 56
1264 Kobenhavn K
+4533158577
http://www.restaurant-m.dk
Used to be slow (recently sped-up), but their Smørrebrød was (and is) very good. Used to have good winelist (which we notice is still online) but we drank all the good stuff. Stine Weber Marquart is charming and helpful.
Restaurant Sankt Annæ
Sankt Annæ Plads 12
1250 København K
+45 3312 5497
http://www.restaurantsanktannae.dk
OTHER RESTAURANTS
Fiskebaren
Our current favourite restaurant in Copenhagen. In the old meat market district. Casual, creative, exciting fish and seafood menu (great use of vegetables too). We tend to eat early, before it gets too noisy. Oh, and they usually have Denmark’s finest white wine, Arwen Lilleø, on the winelist.
http://fiskebaren.dk/en/fiskebaren/
Noma
http://www.noma.dk/
Is it really considered the best on the planet?
We had a good, eye-wateringly expensive dinner there. El Bulli, to us, was in another league. Better than Fat Duck? Dunno. Joel Robuchon, before he retired the first time? Definitely not. Better than the French Laundry? Probably. Meanwhile, great winelist (if you can steer them away from the freaky end of it)!
Restaurant Le Saint Jacques
Sankt Jakobs Plads 1
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø
+45 35 42 77 07
http://www.letzonline.dk/
Excellent smoked salmon – good for brunch.
Biom Restaurant
Fredericiagade 78
1310 København K, Denmark
+45 3332 2466
http://www.biom.dk
Small restaurant, off the beaten track in a residential street. All Organic, always very fresh. Good Eco winelist too.
Casa d’Antino
Italian – very good winelist
43 Dronningens Tvaergade, Copenhagen
3315 1505
Restaurant MR
Kultorvet 5
1175 København K, Denmark
3391 0949
http://www.mr-restaurant.dk/
We had an interesting meal here a couple of years ago. Quirky, modern
cuisine. Not cheap, but then nothing in Denmark is…
Saison
The first of the modern chefs from the late 80s.
On the north side.
http://www.saison.dk/
PIEDMONT
La Morra
We often stay in La Morra at Villa Carita. One of the most stunning views in the wine world. For many years it was beautifully run by Carita, a Finnish woman who married a Tuscan and set up this amazing Guesthouse. In 2011 they sold to Eugenio and Cinzia Bocchin, a young couple (who make Barolo down the hill in Santa Maria). We can confirm they are doing a very good job. Everything is as it was with two new refinements. Wi-fi and Credit Cards – woohoo! The only issue is that they sometimes have a minimum stay requirement.
http://www.villacarita.it/
If you can’t get in at Carita or you’re only passing through for one or two nights, or you need TV, Corte Gondina is highly recommended and very comfortable. Bruno is a charming host.
http://www.cortegondina.it/welcome_eng.lasso
Where to eat:
La Coccinella in in Serravalle. 14kms from Monforte or Dogliani. Worth the drive. Outstanding.
http://www.trattoriacoccinella.com/
Trattoria della Posta, outside Monforte. The best Agnolotti al Plin. Carne Crude. Bagna Cauda. Yum.
http://www.trattoriadellaposta.it/
In the middle of La Morra you can buy a bottle in Gallo Wine Gallery (brilliant, well-priced range) and drink it with some very decent food in the Restaurant/Wine Bar next door.
http://www.gallowinegallery.com/
http://www.ostoilducabianco.com/
Also definitely worth a visit is the relaxed Osteria More e Macine on the main street (entrance up the stairs on the street above).
via XX Settembre 18, La Morra
Tel +39 0173.500395
Casual, modern, friendly. Well used by local growers, you can drop in for a glass of wine or coffee or order food from their excellent short Piemontese menu. Check out the raw sausages, if they’re on that day. Winelist is excellent and fairly priced.
Mange recently opened in the centre of La Morra. This was the couple who, for many years, ran Le Torri (the only restaurant in Castiglione Falletto).
http://www.mange.it
http://www.facebook.com/mange.lamorra
Osteria Vignaiolo, Osteria Veglio, both good.
For a big night out in Monforte d’Alba:
Le Case della Saracca
via Cavour 5 – 12065 Monforte d’Alba CN
tel. +39 0173 789222
cell. +39 333 1918060
info@saracca.com
http://www.saracca.com/
The website is all about their hotel, but it’s also an amazing wine bar and casual restaurant. A very modern interior conversion built into the fortified walls of the town. Excellent wine list, also a great selection outside Piedmont. Amusingly, everything outside Monforte is described as “other regions”.
Albergo Ristorante Giardino “da Felicin”
Via Vallada 18 – 12065 Monforte d’Alba (Cn)
email albrist@felicin.it
Tel +39 0173 78225
http://www.felicin.it/
Reeeally good. One of the best in the area.
Without doubt, it is also worth a drive to Bra – Osteria del Boccondivino, the home of the Slow Food movement:
http://www.boccondivinoslow.it/
VENETO
FUMANE near Verona, the heart of Valpolicella/Amarone country.
http://www.enotecadellavalpolicella.it/
We have had several very good dinners here. The winelist runs deep in local wines and the staff know it inside-out.
FRIULI
MONFALCONE (Gorizia province)
Trattoria Ai Castellieri
Loc. Zochet,
via dei Castellieri 7,
34074 MONFALCONE
+39 0481-475272 Tel
Run by two brothers. Excellent. Might have closed since we visited. Please let us know!
SAN GIOVANNI AL NATISONE (near CORMONS)
Ristorante Hotel Campiello
Via Nazionale, 40,
33048 San Giovanni Al Natisone UD
+39 0432 757910 Tel
http://www.ristorantecampiello.it
Functional Rooms. Very good restaurant – extensive winelist.
TUSCANY
FLORENCE/FIRENZE
Trattoria Tre Soldi
Via D’Annunzio Gabriele, 4/A/R
50135 Firenze (FI), Italy
+39 055 679366
trattoria3soldi@tiscali.it
http://www.trattoriatresoldi.com
MONTICHIELLO (between Montalcino & Montepulciano)
Daria Cappelli, who ran the excellent Osteria La Porta has changed location. We are hearing good things. She certainly knows her local wines – this is where we found Il Macchione.
https://www.ristorantedaria.it/
Via San Luigi 3
53026 Monticchiello di Pienza (SI)
+39 0578 755170
E-mail: info@ristorantedaria.it
She also has well-appointed rooms in two locations in this prototypical Tuscan hilltop village. https://www.ristorantedaria.it/it/bnb-daria-monticchiello/
Osteria La Porta is in new hands.
http://www.osterialaporta.it/en/
Via del Piano 1
53026 Monticchiello di Pienza (SI)
+39 0578 755163
info@osterialaporta.it
CAMPANIA
Taurasi country!
MONTEMARANO
Il Gastronomo
Frazione Ponteromito S.S. 164
Montemarano (AV)
Tel +39 0827 67059
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g2337179-d2314179-Reviews-Il_Gastronomo-Montemarano_Province_of_Avellino_Campania.html
http://www.amomontemarano.it/ilgastronomo.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Il-Gastronomo/215839731831898
ATRIPALDA
Trattoria Valleverde
Via Pianodardine 112
83042 Atripalda (AV)
Tel +39 0825 626115
Email info@ziapasqualina.it
http://www.ziapasqualina.it
A great local winelist including loads of old Mastroberardino (who are in the same town)
SICILY
PALERMO
Santandrea
Piazetta Sant’ Andrea 4
Palermo
Sicily
091 334 999
RAGUSA IBLA
Ristorante Duomo
One of the great gastronomic restaurants of Italy. In the beautiful, old, lower town of Ragusa Ibla. Friendly, not cheap.
http://www.cicciosultano.it/ristorante-duomo/
http://www.cicciosultano.it/
MADRID
We adore Madrid. Watch out for a couple of things in most sit-down restaurants – they are (quite rightly) very proud of their fresh fish and seafood. If they bring a platter of arty looking shrimp/langoustine etc to the table, be super clear how much it’s going to cost. Some of the rare red shrimp are the price of gold! Safer to order from the menu where there is clear pricing. Also, Paella – if you’re tempted – is usually priced per person, not for the whole thing.
La Taberna de Laredo has moved to slightly larger, swankier premises a block away from their original location. It’s still brilliant! Worth the trek to the other side of the Retiro Park.
Calle Doctor Castelo, 30
+34 915 73 30 61
laredo@tabernalaredo.com
El Ventorrillo Murciano
Calle Tres Peces, 20
91 528 83 09
Jose María Munoz
Tiny back street Murcian restaurant. Friendly husband and wife team. Excellent salads, grilled vegetables, grilled sausages and the best Paella we have eaten so far.
The San Miguel Market, Mercado de San Miguel, a few steps from the Plaza Mayor is an excellent addition to the gastronomic landscape – a bit like London’s Borough Market or Torvehallerne in Copenhagen. We have friends who spent an entire weekend in there, just going to their hotel to sleep.
http://www.mercadodesanmiguel.es/?lang=en
No trip to Madrid would be complete without a Tapas crawl along the Calle Cava Baja and Calle Cava Alta.
There are several Museo de Jamon dotted around central Madrid. Great for breakfast or a snack any time until late.
La Venencia
Calle de Echegaray, 7,
28014 Madrid
Unique, long-established Sherry Bar. They’re not super tourist-friendly despite being in a very touristy district. Don’t even think about taking a photo in there! But it is very atmospheric and beaten-up. Good sherries from the cask – don’t bother asking about them other than asking for either a Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso or Palo Cortado and some almonds, olives and/or anchovies (anchoa or boquerones).
Entrevinos
C Ferraz 36
91 548 31 14
http://www.entrevinos.net/
These Hotels got quite expensive, but we liked them before the price hike.
Hotel Villa Real Plaza del Cortes
http://www.derbyhotels.com/VillaReal-Hotel-Madrid
Hotel Catalonia Moratin
http://www.hoteles-catalonia.com/en/our_hotels/europa/spain/madrid/madrid/hotel_catalonia_moratin/index.jsp?seccion=hotel
VALLADOLID
Vino Tintos
Milvinos
Villa Paramesa
Calixto Fernandez de la Torre, 5
SAN FRANCISCO
Bar Crudo
http://www.barcrudo.com/
Slanted Door
http://www.slanteddoor.com/
and new sister restaurant Out The Door
http://outthedoors.com/
Both very good with punchy, interesting winelists.
Blue Bottle Coffee Mint St and in the Ferry Building
SONOMA COUNTY
Is a bit less high-rent and people are generally a little more down to earth than in Napa.
Healdsburg
Loads of great restaurants.
Dry Creek Kitchen
http://www.charliepalmer.com/Properties/DryCreekKitchen/
Barndiva
Everybody’s talking about it locally.
http://www.http://www.barndiva.com/
Bistro Ralph
Unstuffy bistro on the main square.
Cyrus
Very fancy schmancy – expensive but more approachable than the French Laundry.
http://www.cyrusrestaurant.com/
Willy’s Seafood and Raw Bar
http://www.starkrestaurants.com/willis_seafood.html
Great for a sandwich at lunch
http://www.oakvillegrocery.com/stores/healdsburg.php
Or in nearby Alexander Valley
http://www.jimtown.com/
Windsor
Hampton Suites Hotel
Classic US business hotel, very handy for Wine Country, friendly staff and big, comfy beds.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=STSWIHX
Santa Rosa
Syrah Bistro has been renamed Petite Syrah and it’s still very good.
http://www.syrahbistro.com/
Graton
Underwood Restaurant
http://www.underwoodgraton.com/
V good.
NAPA VALLEY
This was the nicest hotel we stayed at in Napa Valley:
http://www.yountvilleinn.com/
It’s walking distance to several good restaurants (including the very serious “French Laundry” which I wouldn’t say is a “must do”)
Bouchon Restaurant
(707) 944-8037
This is Thomas Keller’s diffusion bistro (Keller is The French Laundry chef – supposedly one of the best two or three restaurants in North America. We wouldn’t agree. It wasn’t bad, but there are way better restaurants elsewhere, in our opinion) His bistro is much more approachable.
http://www.bouchonbistro.com/
Bistro Jeanty
(707) 944-0103
http://www.bistrojeanty.com/
Between Oakville and St Helena is
Mustards, which is a very popular, reliable all round restaurant. Always surprises me why it’s so hard to get in.
http://www.mustardsgrill.com/
Great for a sandwich at lunch at the Oakville Cross:
http://www.oakvillegrocery.com/stores/napa_valley.php
In St Helena, we had a nice meal in Tra Vigne years ago:
http://www.travignerestaurant.com/tv.html
Also at Terra
http://terrarestaurant.com/
Great for a sandwich at lunch: Dean & Deluca
http://www.deandeluca.com/
Here’s a useful list of Napa Valley wineries open to the public. By no means exhaustive…
http://www.napavintners.com/wineries/open_public.asp
SYDNEY
Australian Wine Centre
Shop 3, Goldfields House
1 Alfred Street
Circular Quay, Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone: +612 9247 2755
http://australianwinecentre.com/
The Four in Hand
Dining Room
105 Sutherland Street
Paddington
Sydney
NSW 2021
(02) 9362 1999
http://www.fourinhand.com.au/
Tetsuya’s
One of the great restaurants on the planet.
529 Kent Street
Sydney
P: +612 9267 2900
http://www.tetsuyas.com/
Coffee
Mecca
King Street Store
67 King Street, Sydney
Ph: 612 9299 8828
http://www.meccaespresso.com/
Also outdoors at
Circular Quay (above the Australian Wine Centre)
1 Alfred Street, Sydney
Ph: 612 9252 7668
Barefoot Coffee
18 Whistler Street, Manly, New South Wales 2093
http://www.beanhunter.com/australia/new-south-wales/sydney/manly/barefoot-coffee-traders
MELBOURNE
Gertrude St Enoteca
229 Gertrude Street,
Fitzroy
Melbourne
VIC 3065
+61 3 9415 8262
http://gertrudestreetenoteca.com/
Pei Modern
Collins Place
45 Collins St
Melbourne 3000
+61 3 9654 8545
http://www.peimodern.com.au/location/melbourne
The European,
An institution. Fabulous winelist includes plenty of top Australians
161 Spring Street, MELBOURNE
Telephone +61 3 96540811
http://www.theeuropean.com.au/
Coffee
Brotherbababudan
359 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne 3000
Telephone +613 9606 0449
http://www.brotherbababudan.com.au/about/
De Clieu
187 Gertrude Street,
Fitzroy
Melbourne
VIC 3065
+61 3 9417 6498
http://declieu.net.au/
TOKYO
Great Sake Bar in Sangenjaya, Tokyo.
Akaoni
2-15-3 Sangenjaya,
Setagaya, Tokyo
http://www.akaoni39.com
http://www.timeout.com/tokyo/restaurants/meishu-izakaya-akaoni#tab_panel_2