• Added: 21st of July 2008
• Area: Vauxhall
• Category: Arts and Culture

London SW1P 4RG
020 7887 8000

Litro_K said
One (often forgotten) Great Tate
I am surprised that 11 people have sung the praises of Tate Modern, but its poor relation, Tate Britain, seems to have been ignored so far. I wonder why this is - the building is arguably much more beautiful, dating from 1897, on a site previously occupied by a prison. What's not to like? The riverside at Millbank is calmer, the pace more relaxed for visitors, giving stellar views towards Westminster.

As for the art, some of my favourites are housed in the permanent collection here: John William Waterhouse's 'The Lady of Shalott', John Singer Sargent's 'Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth', 'The Bath of Psyche' by Lord Leighton and some noted works by Stubbs, Gainsborough, and Hogarth. Just as impressive as the feted exhibitions in the Turbine Hall, and the surroundings are a great deal more peaceful!

The gallery comes alive on the first of every month with special 'Late at Tate' evenings, designed to correspond with the main exhibition going on at the time. There are usually free talks, live music, djs, half-price admission to the paid exhibitions and lots of fabulously artsy, liberated (drunken) people to watch.

It might not be as famous as Tate Modern, but it’s definitely not the fusty older sibling, either. Definitely worth a look - many, in fact. And if you still prefer the other one, you can always hop back on the river boat linking the two.

Five massive stars for a great British art institution!

• Added: 21st of July 2008
• Area: Farringdon
• Category: Food and Drink

London EC1R 4QP
020 7713 6777

Litro_K said
Staff Anything But!
This place has some of the best cakes I've eaten in a while.

It also has some of the rudest, most disinterested staff I've ever encountered.

We had our order taken inside and it took the waitress foooooreveeeeer to make two cappuccinos and a hot chocolate. Then, when we were two minutes into drinking them outside, an angry looking different waitress came and took our cake plates moments after the last bites had made it into our mouths, clinking loudly as she went. A startled cry of 'we weren't finished!' did nothing to dissaude her. She was determined to hustle our plates and cups away from us. And the cakes were marvellous. Really. I had one of the best pasteis de nata ever. It's a crying shame to have to give it one star, but there you go.

• Added: 21st of July 2008
• Area: Bankside
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 9AN
020 7620 0035

Litro_K said
Great post-Tate pit stop
This stylish Leon branch sits in a shiny new development right behind the Tate modern. Large, airy, and true to the best bits of the chain, it was a welcome pit stop after a recent trip to the gallery. Like all other Leons, the food if fast, healthy and fresh, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. I had the original superfoods salad and a lovely iced lemonade with ginger and mint. All very decent and came in at under £6. Service came with a smile and I'd happily return anytime!

• Added: 11th of July 2008
• Area: Novi Sad
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Novi Sad 21000
+381 214804444

Litro_K said
S.O.S. (Surprisingly Ok, Serbia)
I came here with four colleagues on a work trip to the Exit music festival in Novi Sad, Serbia (and yes, we did work!)We were all continually surprised by the high level of customer care at the Hotel Aleksandar. We spent 8 nights here and in many hotels this would have been more than long enough, but the friendly smiles and little favours we received from the warm staff at reception and breakfast helped to make our stay really enjoyable.

During the festival the city is overwrought with tourists, and towards the end of our stay we had to share the quiet, serene hotel with many loud (usually British) revellers, but we were really looked after by the staff, particularly at reception. Our rooms were always clean, our laundry always done, and a cup of tea always on hand, no matter what time we stumbled home.

I'd highly recommend this hotel as a base for those who want to experience the festival, but not the campsites. It's a peaceful haven and although it's officially not the 'number one hotel in Novi Sad' - that honour goes to the Hotel Park, a tasteless 5 star monstrosity owned by a notorious criminal - it suited our needs excellently.

• Added: 30th of June 2008
• Area: Sicily
• Category: Restaurants

Sicily 90133
39 091 6162282

Litro_K said
Fabulous Idea, Beautifully Executed
All right, I admit it. I found out about this place from the Easyjet in-flight magazine (that helpful little city-by-city guide at the back of each one. But don't let that put you off. I didn't, and it was one of the most magical places I've ever come across on holiday.

Kursaal Kalhesa is located in the Kalhesa, the Arab quarter of Palermo, in a spectacular old stone wall that used to house the local ship-builders' yard. It is many things all at once: a bookshop, a lively bar, a live music venue, and on the spectacular roof garden, surrounded by ruins of cathedrals and faded Palermitan splendour, a modern restaurant with a high-end menu. We came here a whopping three times during a one-week holiday; it's the kind of place that inspires dedication. We had a wonderful dinner for my boyfriend's birthday at the restaurant on the rooftop and pledged to return again.

The place oozes style, as do the clientele. The bar is like something out of a Bacardi advert; the bartenders hip and well-informed. Somehow it manages not to be too pretentious, though. It must be because the drinks are reasonable and the books attract more earnest types(!) They hold regular live music and jazz sessions too. I loved it; I will certainly be going back the next time I'm in Palermo-highly recommended.

• Added: 30th of June 2008
• Area: Waterlooville
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Waterlooville PO8 0BZ

Litro_K said
Lovely Little Country B&B
I stayed here recently for an engagement party nearby and was thoroughly impressed with the room we got for the price (£69 double, on a Saturday night). The standard of furnishings, the nice little touches like complimentary French toiletries, decent tea, coffee and biscuits, and service with a smile meant that this three-star b&b felt more like a four-star hotel. There's a sweet little pub attached which also had very friendly bar staff.

Because of a late night at the party we missed breakfast, but I'm told by other guests that it was very good. I'd recommend this place to anyone finding themselves in Horndean, for whatever reason...

• Added: 29th of June 2008
• Area: Peckham
• Category: Events and Entertainment

London SE15 4ST
0870 042 9399

Litro_K said
London's best-value cinema?
I must admit, when I first moved to the area, I was a bit dubious about this cinema. I thought it might be a bit loud, a bit raucous; you know, popcorn throwing, heinous nacho cheese smeared on the seats, and lots of mobiles being answered during the screenings. I fully admit to being a bit snooty about it. Boy, have I been proved wrong. It's now a regular Monday night hangout.

All films are £5.50 all day long, which must be one of London's cheapest cinemas. As well as showing the usual action-packed blockbuster fare and kids' films, they often have an independent or foreign film choice showing at a decent time. It's never too busy, and I've never had my viewing experience disturbed by morons, not once. The popcorn's a bit pricey, and I'd like to see more low-budget stuff being shown there, but those are only minor downsides. Central London cinemas, take note!

• Added: 29th of June 2008
• Area: Piccadilly Circus
• Category: Restaurants

London SW1Y 4RW
020 7839 3939

Litro_K said
Good post-theatre option
I came here to meet a group of friends late on a Friday night as I'd found the restaurant on the Tastelondon website and was looking for a place to try out my new card. Unfortunately they don't take the Tastelondon card on Fridays or Saturdays, but next time I'll check the conditions with the resturant beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't deserted at 10.30pm and they seemed to be kept busy from the Theatre Royal's customers.

The Italian staff were pleasant, but one of the elder waiters seemed a little humourless when some of our party arrived late, reminding us when we still hadn't ordered mains at 11pm that the kitchens would be closing at 11.30. Fortunately we all arrived and ordered in time. The food was good, served in generous portions and very inexpensive. Considering the dearth of decent options on Haymarket, I'd definitely come again.

• Added: 28th of June 2008
• Area: Fitzrovia
• Category: Restaurants

London W1T 2NB
020 7580 8971

Litro_K said
Not up to Charlotte Street standards
I went here for a large work lunch for 10 people and was disappointed with the decor, quality of food and strange, overbearing service. Considering most of the restaurants on Charlotte Street are pretty foolproof, Andrea's sticks out as a bit of a relic from the 60s, with dishes and furnishings to match. The menu is no doubt authentic but the food not especially palatable, and I've eaten better mezze at any branch of The Real Greek.

It's a shame, because I guess many agree with me in thinking that there are many finer options to be had on this street - I've noticed that Andrea's is almost empty at lunchtimes when all the other restaurants on the road are heaving...

• Added: 21st of June 2008
• Area: Farringdon
• Category: Restaurants

London EC1M 5RJ
020 7324 4444

Litro_K said
Make Me Happy
This is a stylish and unpretentious place to have a drink and a bite to eat in a funky area. A group of colleagues and I went last night with the express intention of taking advantage of their 6-7 half-price Pimms offer, as part of the London Festival of Architecture, and we were not disappointed with the ambience of the place or the service we received. It was, surprisingly, very uncrowded and we sat in a great spot in the light-filled restaurant and bar at the front of the building.

£2.50 will get you a large glass of Pimms every Mon-Fri 6-7pm while the LFA is running (until the 20th July), so get yourself down there to sample that, as well as some of their other excellent cocktails and light bites. The 'Make Me Happy' cocktail, an uber-mojito that my friend described as 'liquid gold in a glass', is worth the trip alone!