Meals of the year, 2025: 16 of my favourite dining experiences
I love restaurants. I know: I spend too much of my income eating and drinking. I approach gastronomy the way a rich person would, but I’m not rich. But I do think it is a great way of spending money in terms of the pleasure that it delivers.
Our span on this earth is short, and we take nothing with us. How do you want to spend that money you earn? Home renovations? Or on something much more satisfying. Also: for my job, I’m kind of useless to readers unless I’m spending my own cash on food and drinks. It’s so easy to recommend expensive samples without considering whether you’d actually buy them, and also easy to big-up restaurants where you have dined for free without considering whether the sticker shock is something you are happy to swallow with your own cash.
Anyway, after reviewing a beautifully pleasure-filled gastronomic year, here are my meals of the year. I’ve factored in things other than just the food, because that’s how we experience gastronomy. These are all experiences I’ve held in a cherished place, in no particular order.
Gatherings, Christchurch
This was the hot tip I was given when I visited Christchurch in February for the Pinot Noir conference. So good I went twice. Beautiful food and a great wine list, in a relaxed setting. https://www.gatherings.co.nz/
Cantina, Sifnos
This was a special experience on the amazing Greek island of Sifnos. A remarkable location, and a beautifully constructed tasting menu. Three sittings, everyone arrives at the same time. Great wine list, too, with natural inclinations. https://cantinasifnos.gr/ My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/11/15/sifnos-the-gastronomic-greek-island-4-kastro-and-cantina-loggia-reprise/
Stallo del Pomodoro, Modena
Everything is on point here. Great local dishes, a lovely setting, and a wine list worth exploring. The place to eat in Modena, unless you are rich and chasing a multi-Michelin star tasting menu experience. https://stallodelpomodoro.it/
Chez Bruce, London
Hard to beat this restaurant for the dining experience. High-end, white tablecloth, Michelin-starred, but so relaxed. Food is amazing. https://www.chezbruce.co.uk/ My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/12/19/restaurants-a-near-perfect-lunch-at-chez-bruce-wandsworth-common-london/
The Palomar, London
Really good experience here. Cooking is on-point. Wine list brilliant, but a little punchy in the pricing as you pass the entry level. https://thepalomar.co.uk/ My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/07/17/restaurants-the-palomar-soho-london/
LOC, Adelaide
So informal, so beautifully done, so intimate. An ever changing rotation of chefs and small plates, with a fully natural wine list. I solo-dined here in August and loved it. Just eat what you are given. https://locdotcom.au/ My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/08/02/restaurants-loc-adelaide-a-small-but-perfectly-formed-natural-wine-bar-and-restaurant/
Brilliant Corners, London
Go for the Japanese set menu, and don’t discount the vegan version, which is brilliant. And the wine list, all natural, is very satisfying. It’s just such a fun experience. My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/09/14/brilliant-corners-dalston-london-natural-wine-japanese-food-and-music/
Pharoah, Athens
Big, bustling and busy, this is a brilliant restaurant in Athens, doing modern Greek food brilliantly, and with a top wine list to boot. We turned up at 10 pm as walk-ins (it was booked out earlier) and had a great experience. https://www.pharaoh.gr/ My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/09/18/pharaoh-athens-a-cool-vibe-with-wood-fired-greek-cooking-vinyl-and-an-amazing-wine-list/
Nopalito, San Francisco
Just so much pleasure here at this informal Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. Food was spot on, and even though we didn’t make use of it, the short wine list is pretty good, too. https://www.nopalitosf.com/ My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/06/06/restaurants-nopalito-san-francisco/
Noble Rot, London
Hard to beat, especially for the set lunch. The wine list is truly epic. I probably eat here more than anywhere else, so it’s hard to pick one meal. So it makes the list here for the Beaujolais day collab with Vantre in Paris, which was a memorable meal. My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/11/21/10-years-of-rotters-towers-with-food-from-vantre-paris-and-lots-of-beaujolais/
Bubala, Soho, London
I love this place so much. Part of a small chain of three. The menu is vegetarian and quite brilliant. Wine list is short but with some good things on it. It may not be fancy, but this was one of the meals of the year. My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/05/19/restaurants-bubala-soho-london/
Trishna, London
The JKS group have nailed Indian fine dining in London, with Gymkhana, Brigadiers Club. Ambassadors Club (new this year, and excellent) and Trishna. And Trishna is possibly my favourite because you can actually get a table (Gymkhana has its second star and is a bit tricky) and the pricing isn’t insane, while the food is astonishing. https://www.trishnalondon.com/ My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/03/27/restaurants-trishna-london-one-of-londons-top-indian-restaurants-with-a-great-wine-list/
Allegra, Bologna
Such a great experience here. In a modern dining room, beautiful traditional dishes and an amazing wine list. https://www.allegrabologna.it/
Barshu, London
Amazing Szechuan food at Barshu. Went with Daniel Primack who has a nose for good Chinese, and returned a couple of days later. Quite brilliant. https://barshurestaurant.co.uk/
Cozinha das Flores, Porto
I’ve been three times now and it doesn’t disappoint. Nuno Mendes’ creativity on full show in beautiful surroundings, plus epic wine list. Drink Portuguese. https://cozinhadasflores.com/
Urchin
A pop-up by Dorian. This was astonishingly good Japanese food, in a site that’s a supermarket (albeit very upscale) by day. My review: https://wineanorak.com/2025/08/05/restaurants-urchin-holland-park-london/
