After the show

11 February 2004 by
After the show

You've spent your whole day watching chefs display their flambé skills with the latest scratchproof woks; had smiley salespeople push everything at you from novel innovations in wine coolers to ultra-fast dishwashers; and in between you've tasted everything from vacuum-packed fish to scampi-and-lemon crisps. What do you do now? Retire to your hotel?

For those of you visiting Hotelympia this year, we've compiled a comprehensive list of restaurants, pubs and bars in the area. From authentic East End boozers, complete with one-legged pirate in the corner, to restaurants capable of wowing the socks off potential clients, it's all covered. And if you haven't found a place to stay yet, we've also included a list of all the on-site hotels as well as others in the local area. So there's no reason why you can't work hard and play hard in equal measure, and fully enjoy the biggest knees-up that the catering industry has to offer.

Restaurants

Café Brera
14 Cabot Place West, E14, 020 7512 9191

This wharfside café imported all its fixtures and fittings directly from Italy, which makes for authentic surroundings in which to enjoy the fine selection of summer salads, toasted ciabattas and tortes. (Average spend £21)

Fino's Orangery
1 Harbour Exchange Square, E14, 020 7515 2600

Lightship Ten
5a St Katharine's Way, E1, 020 7481 3123

Built in Copenhagen in 1877, this is the oldest lightship in the world. The food is modern European with some Danish flavours. (Average spend £26)

Quadrato
Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf, Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7510 1857

Famed for its lively Sunday brunch. The sophisticated surroundings of this opulent hotel are the perfect home for such dishes as roasted sea bass, herb-seared beef fillet, or aubergine caviar and taleggio cheese ravioli. (Average spend £39)

Beluga Café
Port East Warehouse, West India Quay, E14, 020 7537 4665

Champagne, caviar, rock oysters and art deco styling. What more could one ask for? (Average spend £29)

Hubbub at The Space
269 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, E14, 020 7515 5577

The place for weekend brunches. Unpretentious food, from jacket fries to sausage or mushroom pÆ't‚ on ciabatta.(Average spend £22)

Meridian Line
Restair, London City Airport, E16, 020 7646 0821

Plush interiors and stunning views lend a touch of class to the high-quality menu, with its focus on modern eclectic cooking and fresh ingredients. (Average spend £30)

Wapping Food
Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, Wapping Wall, E1, 020 7680 2080

The award-winning chefs at Wapping Food serve fresh, stylish food and a fantastic Australian wine list in what has become one of east London's trendiest restaurants. No one leaves without raving about the art deco toilets in this big, Victorian industrial building. (Average spend £34)

Carluccio's
2 Nash Court, E14, 020 7719 1749

Packed to the rafters since its opening, this Docklands branch of the famed West End predecessor offers a laid-back Italian menu at good prices. (Average spend £21)

Scu-zi
37 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7519 6699

Great views across the river complement the large choice of salads, pastas and pizzas. (Average spend £21)

Smollensky's Wapping Hermitage Wharf, 22 Wapping High Street, E1, 020 7680 1818

This minimalist steakhouse has already made a name for itself in its previous Strand incarnation, so the menu of this restaurant is no surprise: chilli con carne, meatloaf, steak - substantial and heartily wholesome. (Average spend £35)

Baradero Restaurant and Tapas Bar
Turnberry Quay, off Pepper Street, E14, 020 7537 1666

Imagine terracotta shades of orange and yellow flooding your vision with perpetual summer as you quaff sangria and wolf down tapas. It may even be raining outside. (Average spend £25)

Tiffin
165 Cannon Street, E1, 020 7702 3832

Enjoy modern Indian cooking in this smart take on a traditional take-away. Dispense with the more typical curries, and sample such dishes as the salmon samosas and Bengali dhal with red chillis. (Average spend £20)

Royal China
3 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7719 0888

Fine-dining Chinese restaurant offering excellent Cantonese, Peking or Szechwan dishes. A golden ceiling and birds fixed to the wall bizarrely complement the riverside views. (Average spend £32)

Sri Nam
North Colonnade, 10 Cabot Square, E14, 020 7715 9515

Known to many as the best restaurant in Canary Wharf, this elegant diner provides a classic Thai menu upstairs, while the ground floor now serves an Indian-Chinese-Thai blend. (Average spend £28)

Itsu
Level 20, Cabot Place East, E14, 020 7512 9911

Try this swish new modern spin on traditional sushi. Anyone familiar with the Chelsea original will know that Pret a Manger supremo Julian Metcalfe means business with his latest venture. (Average spend £26)

Ubon
34 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7719 7800

Few restaurants have had more publicity than celeb-fave Nobu in Mayfair, and this offshoot of the famous hangout represents the high end of dining in the area. Yellowtail sashimi with jalape¤o, for example, is highly recommended, as are the ever-changing specials. Perfect for impressing that client. (Average spend £60)

Bar Spice
145 Three Colt Street, Limehouse, E14, 020 7093 1111

This restaurant blends traditional Indian with an experimental fusion of British and Indian cooking. Discreet service and a comprehensive Champagne bar are a bonus. (Average spend £28)

Elephant Royale
Locke's Wharf, Westferry Road, E14, 020 7987 7999

Spectacular views towards Greenwich give this restaurant an outstanding dimension. And the m‚lange of South-east Asian cuisine isn't half-bad. Sample dishes as varied as grilled duck with spinach and tamarind, or shredded papaya with carrots and peanuts. (Average spend £25)

The Lotus
38 Limeharbour, Millwall Dock, E14, 020 7515 6445

London's largest floating Chinese restaurant. The menu combines the best of Canton, Szechwan and Beijing. Private parties can also be arranged for as many as 500 guests - so it's perfect for that big event. (Average spend £23)

River View Chinese Restaurant
16 New Crane Place, Wapping High Street, E1, 020 7480 6026

Chinese cuisine, with spectacular views over the Thames. (Average spend £35)

Il Bordello
81 Wapping High Street, E1, 020 7481 9950

This Italian restaurant is famed for its no-nonsense approach. Authentic and stylish, its high reputation is founded on "great pizzas, wood-fired to crisp perfection" and pasta dripping with olive oil, herbs and garlic. (Average spend £31)

Browns Restaurant & Bar
West India Quay, E14, 020 7987 9777

Generously portioned meals in this familiar chain brasserie. Expect Caesar salad, steak and chips, and fish cakes to sate any appetite. (Average spend £30)

Tabla Restaurant and Bar
Dockmaster's House, Hertsmere Road, E14, 020 7345 0345

Located in an impressive Georgian building, this eaterie offers a pan-Indian menu with a stylish seafood slant. A comfortable downstairs bar and lovely beer garden make it an ideal place to relax. (Average spend £35)

La Tasca
Port East Buildings, West India Quay, E14, 020 7531 9990

This lovely and bustling Spanish tapas bar and restaurant complements the fabulous bar line-up in West India Quay. (Average spend £23)

Brodie's
43 Fisherman's Walk, E14, 020 7719 0202

Brodie's enjoys a licence till midnight on Thursdays and Fridays. The menu is exotic and modern in equal degrees, and the service is spot-on. Salmon escalope with tabbouleh and coriander dressing is just one example of the dishes available at this popular local hangout. (Average spend £25)

Café Rouge 29-35 Mackenzie Walk, E14, 020 7537 9696

The Canary Wharf branch of this popular chain offers a relaxed setting with appetising French cuisine and reliable service.
(Average spend £21)

Amerigo Vespucci
25 Cabot Square, E14, 020 7513 0288

A family-run restaurant offering traditional dishes as well as more inventive ones. Try the seafood salad and the wide range of pastas. (Average spend £31)

Pizza Express
200 Cabot Square, E14, 020 7513 0513

This Italian restaurant chain offers a great range of pizzas as well as pastas and salads. The jazz nights come highly recommended. (Average spend £20)

Gourmet Pizza Company
18/20 Mackenzie Walk, E14, 020 7345 9192

Popular pizzeria, close to all the amenities in Canary Wharf, offering a whole host of freshly made original pizzas with friendly service. Black pudding and crispy duck topping, anyone? (Average spend £22)

First Edition
25 Cabot Square, E14, 020 7513 0300

Small but perfectly formed restaurant with huge windows overlooking Cabot Square. Pacific Rim food is the order of the day, and skilfully executed combinations such as Cajun chicken Ceasar and marlin steak teriyaki have put this place on the map. Try the bargain tasting menu for £18. (Average spend £33)

Gaucho Grill
29 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7987 9494

This Argentinian restaurant offers great wine and high-quality food. Steak and chips never tasted so good. (Average spend £35)

Pubs/Bars/wine bars

Nicolas Wine Bar 1 Canada Square, E14, 020 7512 9283

Choose from a selection of more than 400 retail-priced bottles in this minimalist wine bar, situated on the ground floor of a shopping mall.

Via Fossa
Port East Building, Hertsmere Road, E14, 020 7515 8549

Medieval-style chain pub filled with cosy alcoves. Food comes in hearty portions.

All Bar One
42 Mackenzie Walk, E14, 020 7513 0911

All Bar One offers tasty snacks, light meals and a large selection of drinks in this modern, open-plan bistro bar.

Davy's
31-35 Fisherman's Walk, E14, 020 7363 6633

A popular, Dickensian-style wine bar offering old favourites on the menu such as bangers and mash.

The Fox
K Warehouse, 2 Mace Gateway, 26 ExCel Exhibition Centre, E16, 020 7473 2288

Docklands' largest pub, in a converted warehouse accommodating as many as 1,000 thirsty revellers. It also offers two bars, a restaurant and a chill-out lounge.

The Henry Addington
20 Mackenzie Walk, E14, 020 7513 0921

Wood-panelled pub nestled in the chrome-and-glass splendour of Canary Wharf, serving traditional-style bangers and mash and pies.

Slug & Lettuce
South Colonnade, E14, 020 7519 1612

Canary Wharf branch of the bright and cheery pub chain. International dishes and fail-safe wines.

The Cat and Canary
24 Fisherman's Walk, E14, 020 7512 9187

A traditional bustling pub, serving authentic pub food and Fuller's beer.

Town of Ramsgate
62 Wapping High Street, E1, 020 7481 8000

Steeped in history, the place gets its name from the Ramsgate fishermen who used to sell their catch at the riverside in front of the pub. Serves food.

City Pride
15 Westferry Road, E14, 020 7987 3516

The views from this pub over the Thames and Canary Wharf are among the best in Docklands. Pub grub on offer.

The Waterfront
South Quay, 187 Marsh Wall, E14, 020 7537 3903

A busy bar-cum-restaurant, with pizzas and pastas on offer.

The Waterman's Arms
1 Glenaffric Avenue, E14, 020 7093 2883

Set in the Island Gardens Conservation Area, this Grade II-listed pub offers traditional pub grub.

Café Brera
31 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7512 9575

This popular and sophisticated caf‚, serving up focaccias, ciabattas, salads and a fine selection of coffee, offers views across the Thames and towards the City.

Riverside Café
Holmes Place, 34 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7718 5560

Waterside bar-cum-restaurant with modestly priced breakfasts, sandwiches and main courses.

Jamie's
28 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7536 2861

A riverside bar with plenty of outdoor seating from which to enjoy the river view. More than 50 wines by the glass are on offer, with food from around the world for appetites small and large.

Corney & Barrow
9 Cabot Square, E14, 020 7512 0397

As you'd expect from a wine bar owned by one of London's leading wine merchants, there's an extensive wine list on offer and a wide selection of Champagne. Bar snacks, too.

The Fine Line 29-30 Fisherman's Walk, E14, 020 7513 0255

Good beers, cocktails and the wine list help make this bar a bustling and popular watering hole for local office workers looking to unwind at the end of a busy day.

Booty's
92a Narrow Street, E14, 020 7987 8343

A popular bar-cum-restaurant set on the riverside. Eight different wines are offered by the glass and the food is simple and tasty.

On-site hotels

Sunborn Yacht Hotel
ExCel East, Royal Victoria Dock, E16, 020 7059 9100, www.sunbornhotels.com

Moored in Royal Victoria Dock and a two-minute walk from ExCel's east entrance, the Sunborn Yacht hotel has 104 luxury suites - some with dockside balconies - a fine-dining restaurant and two bars.

The Custom House and Quality House Hotel
020 7474 0011, www.excel-centre.com

Situated opposite ExCel, the "two-in-one" Quality House and Custom House hotel comprises 268 bedrooms. All rooms have an en suite shower and television. The hotel incorporates a bistro-café, a wine bar, a Chinese restaurant, a Champagne and seafood bar, a fitness club and a swimming pool.

Travel Inn Capital Hotel
Royal Victoria Dock, E16, 0870 238 3322, www.travelinn.co.uk

The Travel Inn has 202 rooms, a bar and restaurant facilities.

Holiday Inn
ExCel West, Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16, 0870 990 9692, www.holidayinndocklands.co.uk

The Holiday Inn has 210 rooms (many with waterfront views), a contemporary bar and a restaurant, plus a health and fitness facility, the Quad Club, that includes a swimming pool and sauna.

Ramada Hotel & Suites
ExCel East, 2 Festoon Way, Royal Victoria Dock, E16, 0870 111 8779, www.ramadainternational.com

The Ramada Hotel & Suites has a total of 224 rooms and suites, including the 96-seat Waterfront Brasserie and Oval Bar. Other facilities include room service, parking, broadband connection in every room, multilingual staff and foreign currency exchange. It is four minutes from the East Entrance of ExCel.

Ibis London ExCel
Royal Victoria Dock, E16, 0800 587 3931, www.ibishotel.com

Only 200m from the main entrance of ExCel and three minutes' walk from the ExCel Docklands Light Railway station, this budget hotel has 278 rooms, a restaurant offering buffet hot and cold meals, a 24-hour hot snack service available from the bar or reception, and an eight-hour breakfast service from 4am to midday.

Fox Apartments
2 Mace Gateway, E15, 0870 850 0580, www.foxlondon.com/apart

Fox Apartments offers seven serviced apartments on the doorstep of the ExCel exhibition centre. The apartments are spread over two floors and have reception rooms, a master bedroom with en suite, separate bathroom, kitchen and dining room. Broadband internet connection, direct-dial telephone, 24-hour secure parking, and printer and fax facilities are also incorporated.

Local hotels

Etap Hotel London City Airport
North Woolwich Road, Silvertown, E16, 020 7474 9106, www.etaphotel.com

Holiday Inn Express-Canning Town
1 Silvertown Way, E16, 020 7540 4040, www.hiexpress.co.uk

Holiday Inn Express-Stratford
196 High Street, E15, 020 8536 8000, www.hiexpress.co.uk

Ibis Hotel, Stratford
1a Romford Road, Stratford, E15, 020 8536 3700, www.ibishotel.com

Travelodge Docklands
Coriander Avenue, Isle of Dogs, E14, 0870 191 1691, www.travelodge.co.uk

Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf
46 Westferry Circus, E14, 020 7510 1999, www.fourseasons.com/canarywharf

Holiday Inn Express-Southwark
103-109 Southwark Street, SE1, 020 7401 2525, www.hiexpress.co.uk

Hotel Mercure London City Bankside
71-79 Southwark Street, SE1, 020 7902 0800, www.mercure.com

London Bridge Hotel
8-18 London Bridge Street, SE1, 020 7855 2200, www.london-bridge-hotel.co.uk

Southwark Rose Hotel 43-47 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1, 020 7015 1480, www.southwarkrosehotel.com

Days Hotel Waterloo
54 Kennington Road, SE1, 020 7922 1331, www.dayshotellondonwaterloo.co.uk

Novotel London Tower Bridge
10 Pepys Street, EC3, 020 7265 6000, www.novotel.com

Thistle Tower Hotel
St Katharine's Way, EC1, 0870 333 9106, www.thistlehotels.com

Threadneedles
5 Threadneedle Street, EC2, 020 7657 8080, www.summithotels.com

International Hotel
163 Marsh Wall, Isle of Dogs, E14, 020 7712 0100, www.britanniahotels.com

Ibis Hotel-Docklands
1 Baffin Way, Preston's Road, E14, 020 7517 1100, www.ibishotel.com

Holiday Inn Express-Greenwich
Bugsby's Way, Greenwich, SE10, 020 8305 1177, www.hiexpress.co.uk

Hamilton House Hotel
14 West Grove, Greenwich, SE10, 020 8294 9899, www.hamiltonhousehotel.co.uk

Ibis Hotel-Greenwich
30 Stockwell Street, Greenwich, SE10, 020 8294 9899, www.ibishotel.com

City Hotel
12 Osborn Street, E1, 020 7247 3313, www.cityhotellondon.co.uk

Holiday Inn Express
275 Old Street, EC1, 020 7300 4300, www.hiexpress.co.uk

Great Eastern Hotel
Liverpool Street, EC2, 020 7618 5000, www.great-eastern-hotel.co.uk

Best Western Mostyn Hotel Marble Arch
4 Bryanston Street, W1H, 020 7935 2361, www.mostynhotel.co.uk

Best Western Corona Hotel Victoria
85-89 Belgrave Road, SW1V, 020 7828 9279, www.coronahotel.co.uk

Quality Hotel-West Ham United
Upton Park, Green Street, E13, 020 8586 8200,

Hilton London Docklands
265 Rotherhithe Street, SE16, 020 7231 1001, www.hilton.co.uk

Premier Lodge
Highbridge Road, Barking, Essex IG11, 0870 700 1444, www.premierlodge.com

Ibis Hotel-Barking
Highbridge Road, Barking, Essex, 020 8477 4100, www.ibishotel.com

Travel Inn Beckton
1 Woolwich Manor Way, E6, 020 7511 3853, www.travelinn.co.uk

Clarendon Hotel
Montpelier Row, Blackheath, SE3, 020 8318 4321, www.clarendonhotel.com

The Prospect of Whitby
57 Wapping Wall, E1, 020 7481 1095

London's oldest riverside tavern dates back to 1520.

The Grapes
76 Narrow Street, E14, 020 7987 4396

Rumour has it that this was the model for Dickens's Six Jolly Fellowship Porters in his novel Our Mutual Friend. The bar meals are tasty but, at a little more expense, the fish restaurant upstairs offers a fine refuge.

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