Restaurants and pubs

A drink for all seasons: A Chelsea grotto that's the epitome of the tactically-placed wine bar

Alexandra Fraser extols the wonders of her favourite flavour of city escape, while sampling London’s latest rendition: Bottles, on Draycott Avenue.

Bar Douro restaurant review: Small plates and massive flavours in a spot which marries convenience and excellence

The restaurants around Waterloo station and London's South Bank are all easy places to meet with friends, but some are striving to be a little more than that, as Samuel Goldsmith discovered on a visit to Bar Douro.

Can a good pub sell a country house?

A good pub within walking distance is on most buyers’ wish lists and can even uphold an area’s value. But what makes the perfect village pub? Arabella Youens investigates.

Alan Titchmarsh: The 'Hollywood A-listers' of the plant world are fussy, flouncy — and totally irresistible

Alan Titchmarsh waxes lyrical about the benefits of bulbs, and why disposing of them year on year might not be the environmental sin that it seems.

Revealed: The most dog-friendly pubs in Britain

Looking for a place to take your pet? The winners of the Rover Most Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year awards have just been announced.

The Bell at Stow: A beautiful bolthole full of Cotswolds charm, masterfully combining a rustic pub and a stunning boutique hotel

Alexandra Fraser continues her tour around the British countryside and discovers a hidden gem.

Margot, Covent Garden restaurant review: A delight from carpaccio to tiramisu, plus a recipe for their venison tortellini

Dinner in London can sometimes be a bit of a rush, but it's worth taking the time to enjoy Margot to its fullest, as Alexandra Fraser discovered on a visit to Margot.

Church Road restaurant review: A Barnes landmark re-born, and set to become a destination for foodies

Mark Hedges wasn't happy when one of his favourite local restaurants closed its doors earlier this year — but its replacement has him beaming from ear to ear.

Why brunch has made a comeback, and the best places to enjoy it in London

Put down your wellies – the countryside weekend has been abandoned in favour of urban brunch plans. Debora Robertson investigates what the meal has done to our weekend and how to host your own in style.

The best pubs in Britain for 2020 have been named — and the top two are within a few minutes of each other

The North-Western county has triumphed in the latest Good Pub Guide awards, with local pubs taking two top spots and two shortlisted places

11 of the finest afternoon teas around Britain, from the Ritz to the Cornish hotel that inspired Wind in the Willows

Claire Jackson makes her choices, from the household-name London hotels to options further afield.

Five of the finest afternoon teas in London this summer

Alexandra Fraser rounds up some of the most unique and tasty afternoon teas available in the capital this summer, from sky-high scones to fashion-forward finger sandwiches.

The Christian Dior afternoon tea at The Franklin: 'Monsieur Dior himself would surely have approved'

A Christian Dior-themed afternoon tea around the corner from the V&A makes a perfect accompaniment to the museum's enormously successful exhibition, as Rosie Paterson discovered.

Country Life's guide to what makes a British pub great

More than 70 years after George Orwell penned the famous essay on his favourite pub, The Moon Under Water, its key attributes still hold true, finds Flora Watkins. Photographs by Mark Williamson.

Fifty Cheyne restaurant review: 'The emphasis is on sharing, big meals and coming together... and long may it last'

The Petersham Covent Garden restaurant review: No egos, no theatrics, just sublime ingredients and confident cooking

The famous hidden gem that is the Petersham Nurseries restaurant in Richmond recently opened a new place in central London. Jade Bousfield paid a visit.

The Banquet of Hoshena: A night out for dinner with side-dishes of art, magic and storytelling

When is a meal not a meal? When it involves five courses, five cocktails and a generous helping of art and magic. Alexandra Fraser paid a visit to the Banquet of Hoshena to experience erring kings, talking tables and mystical lands in need of rescue.

HOME, Leeds: A restaurant with authenticity, passion and homespun touches — and how to make one of their finest dishes

Mary Miers visited HOME, a Leeds restaurant with authenticity, passion and homespun touches — and also found out how to make one of their finest dishes.

The Oak SW11: How to make the signature dish from one of London's new breed of smart neighbourhood restaurants

There was a time not so long ago when, outside the centre of London, it was all but impossible to find truly decent restaurants within the M25. Rosie Paterson paid a visit to The Oak, an SW11 restaurant which proves that those days are long gone.

Roux at Parliament Square review: A peaceful retreat from the surrounding environs with presentation almost as wondrous at the food itself