Gordon's Wine Bar

Location: 47 Villiers Street, London WC2N 6NE

This is London's oldest wine bar (est 1890) -- judging by the cramped confines people were much smaller then.

Go to Gordon's, go straight to Gordon's, do not pass go, do not collect $200 (actually, the $200 might come in handy).

Meels and I had many brilliant nights here, including our first wedding (not sure how official it was seeing as the 'Wedding Certificate' was actually a train ticket).

Patisserie Valerie

Location: 44 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 5JX

The staff are aloof but trust me, the cakes and other sweet things are well worth it.

Louie Patisserie (aka 'The Hungarian Tea Shop')

Location: 32 Heath Street, Hampstead, London NW3

Aaaaaaaah! This is one of those olde-worlde-type tea shops (and yet surprisingly not tourist kitschy) where they bring out the big tray of cakes and then you choose your cake and they take the tray away and the tea is served in pure silver teapots (okay, may be exaggerating a bit there).

The Holly Bush

Location: 22 Holly Mount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG

Nice food and it's relatively unknown (ie, not touristy -- at least it wasn't when we were there, which is a few years back now).

Meels tells me it's a celeb hang-out, so maybe you could do some moonlighting for The Shallow End?

The Kemble's Head

Location: 61-62 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9JE
Actually, this isn't the most brilliant pub in the world, but how could I not put it in this list!

Actually, apparently it is reopening as a Greek Restaurant/Pub (or should that be taverna?).

Anyhoo, the Kembles were big figures in the London opera scene back in the day although anyone who has heard me singing will say I am definitely not related.

Ye Old Cheshire Cheese

Location: Wine Office Court, off Fleet St
We only went here once but it's very quaint. It was the first building in this area built after the Great Fire of London, so it's very old. Former journos hang-out, among other things.