Dining Out My Seven Favourite Restaurants

I am always interested to hear where other people love to eat. The places that I prefer combine good cooking, a decent choice of wines, great ambience and excellent service. To make them particularly memorable, they should have a wonderful view or be close to something interesting.

At the moment, mine are

The Bach,Taupo, North Island, New Zealand - a tiny place, great food, superb wines (try the astonishingly good Mt Difficulty) and stroll to the edge of Lake Taupo to watch the sunset between courses.

Misogui-gawa, Pontocho, Kyoto, Japan - one of the best French restaurants in Japan, on the Kamo River. Don't forget to buy the superb chocolates on the way out (not available in summer)

The River Cafe, Hammersmith, London - one of the world's great Italian restaurants, close to the River Thames. The lighting is perfect - and so is the food.

Zuma, Knightsbridge, London - a fantastically good modern Japanese restaurant with a great buzz.

Wildfire, Circular Quay, Sydney - excellent wood-fired grills served on swords right beside the harbour with a view of the Opera House. Great for big parties.

Felix, The Peninsular, Hong Kong - in a city of great restaurants, this is for special evening occasions - for the restaurant's stunning Phillipe Starck design and amazing views across to Hong Kong Island.

Wirthaus Steuerberg, Schwartzsee, Kitzbuhel - lovely inn with a terrace overlooking the vast Wilder Kaiser. Great food and wine and a wonderful Tyrolean atmosphere.

Now, let's have yours!