(55 Charterhouse Street in London, United Kingdom)

About Ortega restaurant in London we can only say this: skip the flight to Spain and cab over to Smi...thfield instead where this brilliant cantina-style tapas bar is waiting. With all the warm colours of the Iberian sunshine and the sleek modern design of Spanish style, Ortega is the perfect spot to while away the hours, relaxing and sharing platters of tapas, Spanish beers, sangrias and Latin wines while waves of salsa and flamenco wash over you. Signature dishes must surely be the favourite chicken skewers, garlic prawns and garlic bread, though you might tuck into a paella or linger over a crema catalana. Brilliantly laid-back atmosphere. Please note to avoid disappointment we recomend that bookings are made a week in advance. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 11pmSat 6pm - 2amSun 5pm - 11pm [moreless]

(92 - 94 Farringdon Road, Farringdon in London, United Kingdom)

Original Victorian decor and strong un-mucked-about British cooking (both modern and traditional) ha...ve earned the Quality Chop House high standing in the capital and a loyal clientele. From jellied eels to caviar, from egg, bacon and chips to grilled lobster, the QCH suits most tastes and wallets. Favourites are salmon fishcake with sorrel sauce and lamb chops. Ambience is informal and relaxed, and the bar is friendly, as befits the self-proclaimed progressive working class caterer. Please note - on Sundays the kitchen is closed between 4pm and 6pm. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 3pmMon - Sat 6pm - 11:30pmSun 12pm - 10:30pm [moreless]

(89 -90 Turnmill Street in London, United Kingdom)

St Germain has Gallic- meets-A-list-New York-style in (champagne) buckets. It retains the high-ceili...nged charm of the printworks it once was and mixes it slickly with low-hanging lamps, big mirrors, glossy wood and black bow-backed chairs. The elegant black and white floored-bar leads to a busy dining area alive with enjoyment of French classics - duck confit, cassoulet (the plat du jour on Wednesdays), steak tartare... The seafood selection includes crevettes, and a half lobster. They serve lunch and dinner and - at weekends – a life-restoring brunch for the hungover. A welcome addition to cool Clerkenwell. The 2 for 1 cocktail special on Monday through Saturday from 5pm - 7pm is a firm area favourite Please allow 24 hours notice of cancellations or a £10 per person charge will apply. Opening hours: Rest: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 3pm & 6pm - 11pmSat: 6pm - 11pm Sun: 11am - 4pmBar: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 12amSat: 6pm – 11pmSun: 11am - 4pm [moreless]

(55 Exmouth Market in London, United Kingdom)

Exmouth Market has more than its fair share of critically-acclaimed restaurants, the Ambassador Café... among them. For all its fame, decked out in grey lino flooring, white globe lights and Formica tables, it looks rather unremarkable. All the detail has cleverly gone into the terrific, ‘I wan’t everything’ Modern European menu. There's breakfast (buttermilk pancakes with treacle bacon), Sunday brunch (Macaroni cheese), a great-value set lunch, and dinner. Oh, the dinner. Talk about mouthwatering... Perfectly poached halibut in the sweet, savoury juices of carrots, cabbage and Alsace bacon combined. Braised pork belly with fluffy gnocchi, bulbous broad beams and garlic. Gorgeous stuff. And that’s before you’ve got to the ‘oh yummy!’ dessert list. When the sun’s a shinin’, you can eat outside on the cobbled market street. Nice. Please note that bookings of 8 or more people will be required to give at least 24 hours notice for all cancellations. Failure to give notice or no-shows will be charged at £10 per person. Opening hours: Breakfast: Mon - Fri 9am - 12pmLunch: Mon - Fri 12pm - 3:30pmDinner: Mon - Sat 6:30pm - 11pmBrunch: Sat 11am - 4pm, Sun 11am - 4pm [moreless]

(69 - 73 St John Street in London, United Kingdom)

The Clerkenwell is definitely one for the little black book while in the City. The menu is modern Eu...ropean with occasional touches of 'Michelin'- style, mixed with gutsy flavours and combinations, recently awarded two AA Rosettes. The two owners are keen to maintain informality and affordability. The relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere means The Clerkenwell is suitable for both business meetings and casual meals. Before settling down to a delicious dinner, have a cocktail or two in the intimate bar lounge area. It's open from 12pm everyday for lunch, and then opens again at 6pm every evening until late. This bar is open to diners and non-diners and offers a full cocktail list, beers, wines and champagne. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 2:30pm & 6pm - 11pmSat 7pm - 11pm Recently spotted – Angus Deyton, Gilberto Silver, Ashley Cole. [moreless]

(East Poultry Avenue , Smithfield Meat Market in London, United Kingdom)

Tucked away in Smithfield Market, The Cock Tavern is a cosy cross between a local pub and a simple r...estaurant. Boasting a traditional snug bar and larger pub dining room separated by a café-like space, it’s a refreshing change from the identikit appearance of some other dining spaces the area has to offer. Renowned as one of the best places in London to eat meat, The Cock Tavern prides itself on its generous yet succulent servings of Sirloin steak, amongst other meat based possibilities. Such is the dedication to perfecting the meat dish, the restaurant offers no vegetarian menu at all – but if simple, stylish steak is what you crave, The Cock Tavern’s menu should sort you out a treat. Please note - this restaurant does not take toptable bookings in the evenings. Opening hours: Mon - Thurs: 6am - 11pmFri: 6am - 2amSat: 5:30pm - 2amNo toptable bookings in the evenings. The walls of the Cock Tavern, as well as proudly alerting any unsuspecting diners of its meat based theme with old traders signs and the like, also includes many photos of the restaurant in 1958 after a fire ravaged the building almost beyond repair. [moreless]

(29 Clerkenwell Green in London, United Kingdom)

The Green is possibly the most amiable of Clerkenwell Green’s hang outs, most of which are highly st...yled bars. The compact gastropub-style wooden interior is matched with friendly staff, quality beers on tap, and happy European /English cooking. Lunch serves a modern offering of fresh fish and meat dishes, homemade pies and desserts, replaced by a popular tapas selection in the evenings. The ground floor bar gets especially busy in summer when the crowd spills out onto picnic benches on the pavement. Upstairs in the beautiful Victorian-style dining room is quieter. Here they serve the serve a larger menu of hearty sharing dishes, home cooked pies and fish stews. The Green is a good choice for relaxed lunches and after-work drinks. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 3pm & 6pm - 9pmSat 12pm - 4pmSun 12pm - 4:30pm & 6pm - 9pm [moreless]

(91 - 93 St John Street in London, United Kingdom)

The Larder, located in trendy Clerkenwell, is truly a foodie haven with a bakery, open-all-day resta...urant and bar and a take-away shop. Housed in a building dating back to 1897 which was built for grocer's Lovell and Christmas, The Larder is true to its roots offering an abundance of fresh, quality food. Owner/Chef Nick Male (former executive chef for Conran) serves up a weekly-changing menu featuring sensational dishes like duck rilette with pear and thyme jelly or baked egg, chorizo and manchego cheese or simple but stunning Devon crab for starter. Puddings and pastries are a treat. The laid-back barprovides a stylish sanctuary for drinkers who fancy a cocktail, wine from the extensive list or a beer from one of the five on draught or 10 bottled. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 3pm and 6pm - 10:30pmSat 6pm - 10:30pm The Larder bar stocks the largest collection of gin in London in honour of the gin distilleries set up in 'Clerk's Well' in the 18th century - gin distillers set up in this area due to the purity of the water. [moreless]

(240 St John Street, Clerkenwell in London, United Kingdom)

Boho pub on the ground floor; beautiful period restaurant upstairs, The Peasant is one of London’s o...riginal and best gastropubs. The lovingly-restored former gin palace keeps followers faithful with an accomplished blend of cosy, mezze-serving, mosaic-floored bar leading to a lavish, high-ceilinged dining room filled with circus memorabilia and Victorian candelabras. An adventurous, frequently-changing menu promises such elegant excitement as roast halibut, chorizo, and piquillo peppers with lemon rice. And Denham Estate venison haunch on a creamy parsnip mash with sage butter. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. Opening hours: Tue - Fri 12pm - 3pm & 6pm - 11pmSat 6pm - 11pm [moreless]

(140-142 St John Street, Clerkenwell in London, United Kingdom)

The Real Greek opened just north of Smithfield Market in April 2003, the welcome offspring of the mu...ch-loved The Real Greek down the road in Hoxton. In modern, buzzy, congenial surroundings, all sorts of Londoners and tourists gather to pick 'n' mix their way through delicious mezedes and souvlaki - the Greek version of street food. The kebabs - pork, lamb, chicken and a superb spicy sausage - are all very good and juicy; the authentic Greek -imported flat bread, nicely oily and dense. Favourites include the gigandes plaki (big oven-cooked beans) and tender dolmades. The wine list is completely Greek, and sold in carafes. Just like in Greece. Very good value. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 11pm [moreless]