(2-4 Obispo Orueta in Bilbao, Spain)

Club Nautico restaurant in Bilbao’s Lopez de Haro Hotel in the centre of town just a few minutes fro...m the Guggenheim. This is one cool hotel – Lou Reed stays here when he’s in town. Club Nautico’s décor is French-inspired, smart, a modern take on traditional styling with checquered floors, gilt mirrors, paneled pillars and walls, chandeliers, classic seating and unusual pink tablecloths. Chef Julio Heras' dishes include steamed hake with sauce of small squid, and menus change with the fresh produce of the seasons. Three exclusive dining rooms seat from 5 to 60 diners, so both location and amenities make this a terrific choice for corporate entertaining. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 1:30pm - 3:30pm & 9pm - 11:30pmSat: 9pm - 11:30pmSun: Closed [moreless]

(4171 Riva degli Schiavoni in Venice, Italy)

Restaurant Do’Leoni in Venice’s historic and delightful Hotel Londra is named for Russian composer T...chaikovsky’s – he composed part of his fourth symphony, nicknamed Do’Leoni, here. This award-winning, elegant restaurant enjoys a superb location overlooking the lagoon with a covered veranda that expands the space in warm weather. The light, bright dining room with its creamy colours reflects the chef’s philosophy of offering light, contemporary food. Attention to detail is apparent everywhere, from the eight different breads baked daily to the home made ice creams and chocolate. Menus encompass classic, traditional and seasonal dishes in modern, innovative style, like tempura prawns with couscous timbale and mango preserve followed by classic calf’s liver with polenta. Wines and cheeses are superb as is the service. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 3:30pm & 7pm - 10:30pm Candlelight supper on the veranda overlooking the gondolas and the lagoon – a more romantic evening is impossible to imagine... [moreless]

(Palacio Euskalduna, 4 Avenida de Abandoibarra in Bilbao, Spain)

Etxanobe restaurant is amazingly sited above Bilbao’s second iconic building, the gleaming Palacio E...uskalduna. Etxanobe is one of the hottest dining spots in the world right now, drawing breathless reviews from food-writers and food-lovers for the grand cuisine of chef/owner Fernando Canales. The post-modern décor of the two dining rooms – one of them available for private hire – features a fabulous ruched fabric ceiling, wittily skirted lighting, white linens and seating, and unforgettable views over the estuary and the Guggenheim from the terrace. Light pours in everywhere. Innovation is on display in every mouthful that emerges from Canales’ kitchen. There’s no menu of the day; you choose a la carte or a series of tasters. Dishes change monthly and may include deceptively simple descriptions like starter of lasagne of anchovies, main course of sole with pil-pil sauce and trout eggs, and home made dessert of cinnamon and rice puff-pastry with milk, though you’d be mad to miss the little chocolate bombs. The wines are excellent and the service is a mission unto itself – in a word, sublime. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Etxanobe is closed for Easter holidays for a week and in summertime from 1st to 21th August. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 1pm - 4pm & 8pm - 12am Sun: is closed all day Etxanobe anchovies lasagne are so popular they even have a fan club! [moreless]

(2 Praça Luis de Camoes in Lisbon, Portugal)

Spilling out on the street from a corner of Bairro Alto – Lisbon’s first contemporary-chic boutique ...hotel, a beautiful bolthole on the capital’s landmark square Praça de Camões – is the small and stylish Flores restaurant, serving creative cuisine fit for a Spanish king. Arguably a member of fusion cooking royalty, Flores’ head chef Luis Rodrigues marries Portuguese and Mediterranean dishes and transforms them into restaurant meals thrice as exciting. His impressive international experience – including a handful of months with Catalan superchef Sergi Aola – has taught him to “do things simply.” The Flores menu changes once a week. All in all, then, a pequeno corker of a restaurant. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Sun 12:30pm - 3pm & 7:30pm - 11pm Bairro Alto’s rooftop terrace gives spectacular views of the Tagus estuary... [moreless]

(4-6 Calle Particular De Estraunza in Bilbao, Spain)

Goizeko Kabi restaurant in the centre of Bilbao has long featured on almost everyone’s top ten list.... Even with a Michelin star in its crown, Goizeko Kabi has a homely, welcoming ambience that can only be the spirit of its founder-owners Jesus Santos and wife Maria Medina. Ingredients are top quality, as is the service. The menu is traditional Basque, but always with a touch of imagination, while the décor is utterly traditional: creamy walls, dark wood paneling, upholstered and tapestried seating, modest artworks, figured Persian carpets, green plants. Dishes include specialities like grilled hake kokotxas pil-pil made with the underside of the fish’s jaw, squab pie with grated Idiazabal cheese, crab-filled potatoes with gazpacho mayonnaise, entrecote of beef with mustard and foie gras. The home made desserts, like chocolate soufflé, are celebrities in their own right. If anything else were needed to convince you, the central location makes this a perfect spot for business and romance. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 1:30pm - 4pm & 8:30pm - 12am Sun: closed all day [moreless]

(Route des Tribunes in Paris, France)

Hippodrome Longchamp is opened for lunch depending on the horse racing calendar. The Restaurant l’Hi...ppodrome de Longchamps in the heart of Paris’ Bois de Boulogne has a panoramic view of sixty-five acres of green consecrated to world-class horseracing. Enjoy the spectacle of this famous track while at the same time enjoying a terrific classic French menu, fine wines, beautifully-laid tables with expert service. The menu, under the direction of chef Michel Baux and his team, offers traditional French cuisine with dishes like crayfish and green asparagus ravioli with veloute of crab. Both a la carte and set menus are available and there is plenty of time to dine well, evaluate the field and place your bets. A superb day out. L'Hippodrome Longchamp is opened for lunch depending on the horse racing calendar. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: This is the home of the world-renowned Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the racing world's most coveted honours... [moreless]

(1 Rue du Camp Canadien in Saint Cloud, France)

Hippodrome Saint Cloud is opened for lunch depending on the horse racing calendar. The Restaurant l’...Hippodrome de Saint Cloud just beyond Paris’ peripherique has a panoramic trackside view of all the horse racing action – and a fine menu, beautifully-laid table and expert service. Sounds like a triple winner. The track at Saint Cloud has a magical hilltop location with views over Paris’ skyline, though devotees of the turf find the four-legged view more fascinating. With eight races each racing day, you have plenty of time to evaluate the field, place your bets and enjoy classic French cuisine in a modern setting. The menu, under the direction of chef Michel Baux and his team, offers traditional French cuisine with dishes like scallops with morel mushrooms in cream. The restaurant is open each racing day, a dead cert for a fine time with friends and family. Hippodrome Saint Cloud is opened for lunch depending on the horse racing calendar. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: There's been horse racing at Saint Cloud since 1901 -- a good long run... [moreless]

(129 Via dei Banchi Vecchi in Rome, Italy)

Il Pagliaccio, named for the weeping clown, is a winning balance of elegance, even formality, and ca...sual warmth. The area, between the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and the Tiber, is charmingly characteristic of the not-so-heavily touristed areas of Rome. The two dining rooms joined by an arched doorway featured checkered tiled floors, traditional wooden ceiling, one with stone paneling the other with a blood-red brocade wall, indirect lighting, white table linens, leather chairs, restrained original artwork. The two chefs, for whom Il Pagliaccio is a labour of passionate attachment to this great city and its culinary tradition, have worked all over the globe and bring a sense of discovery to their creations. Even so, the Mediterranean is the main inspiration here, and the things that swim in it. Starters include starter of brandade of salt code with potato rolls and crisp spring vegetable salad, pasta course of cuttlefish cannelloni filled with artichokes and Granny Smith apple salad, main of lightly-smoked roast duck in asian broth with shitake and tapioca, and dessert of mango beignet in yoghurt and rose water soup. Nearly 150 wines populate the list. Sampling menu available. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. A credit card is required for bookings of 8 or more people and the management requests that at least 7 days notice is given for cancellations. Opening hours: Wed - Sat 12:30pm - 2pm Mon - Sat 8pm - 10:30pm During the 15th century, Charles the V lived for several years in the building. [moreless]

(8 Vicolo del Bottino in Rome, Italy)

Attention, wine lovers, architecture lovers, and romantics. Il Palazzetto is a unique gem in the hea...rt of the Eternal City, set in a remarkably beautiful restored palazzo right on the Spanish Steps which is also home to the International Wine Academy of Roma. Wine tasting courses take place here and there a four luxurious bedrooms – it’s run by the Hotel Hassler folk – so there are 400 wines available at dinner. The restaurant, under the inspired care of chef Vincenzo di Tuoro and his superb staff, is arranged in the covered garden or cosy indoor Library Room. The freshest ingredients, home made bread and pasta – Di Tuoro employs the best raw materials to create his excellent creative cuisine. Dishes could include an Artichoke and Soft Cheese Tartlet; Lobster Ravioli with lemon balm, parsnip and ginger cream; Short “Martelli” pasta with lamb ragoût, sun-dried tomatoes and Fossa pecorino cheese; Italian scorpion fish with fava bean and wasabi sauce; and Almond milk ring cake with white chocolate and Cubeb black pepper mousse. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Tue - Sat 12:30pm - 2:30pm & 7:30pm - 10:30pm Sun 12:30 -3.30pm Sunday evenings and Mondays are available for private events. [moreless]

(116 Pall Mall in London, United Kingdom)

Christmas Parties available for groups of 6 or more for Lunch on 21st Dec 2007 & for Dinner on 14th ...Dec 2007 Why not surround yourself with timeless elegance and grandeur this festive season? The sumptuous surroundings of 116 Pall Mall, St. James’s, the home of the Institute of Directors, provide the perfect festive atmosphere for a traditional Christmas dinner dance or dramatic New Year’s ball. 116 Pall Mall has nine magnificent function rooms with capacities of 20 to 500. Each room is uniquely and stylishly furnished, creating a number of different ambiences from which you can choose. To make your event more special and truly memorable, you can enhance the rooms with your choice of decoration. Whether you are planning a Christmas party or a cocktail reception, they can tailor-make your event to your specific requirements. Opening hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 11pm [moreless]