9 Warming Winter Dishes and Drinks Worth Travelling For

A sophisticated hotel, Dean Street Townhouse has a buzzing atmosphere and a restaurant with a strong British flair. The standout dish is the mince and potatoes. While it might sound boring, this traditional British dish is incredibly rich and decadent, and is exactly what you need on a long winter’s night: a comforting bowl of warming, flavoursome mince accompanied by a generous portion of potatoes.

This leading cocktail bar is an ideal spot in which to while away the hours of darkness until spring comes. There are two bars: one upstairs (serving classic cocktails and light bites), and one downstairs (which specialises in whisky and has a lengthy drinks menu full of surprises). We recommend the downstairs bar; its red leather, dark wood and low lighting makes for the perfect nighttime drinking den. Our pick is the Irish coffee, a drink that’s sure to warm you from the inside out.

This cosy spot is the traditional French brasserie that you’ve always tried to find down a hidden alleyway somewhere, except this one is bang in the middle of Boulevard Saint-Germain, the main avenue in Paris’ Left Bank. And it just happens to have been a favourite of famous Parisian residents Hemingway, Proust and Sartre. Everything on the menu will taste delicious, but we recommend the pot-au-feu if you visit during cold weather. A famous winter dish in France, this beef stew will warm you as it has warmed generations of illustrious patrons at Brasserie Lipp.

If you’re looking for the quintessential French neighbourhood bistro, this is it. Tucked away down a quiet side street off Boulevard Saint-Germain, the red checked tablecloths and cosy wood panelling of Chez Fernand let you know exactly what you’re in for. The menu is short but perfectly executed, with beef bourguignon being a solid choice for your main course. The dessert menu is where it’s at, however, with the rum baba sure to heat you up.

Amsterdam’s best winter market transforms the city’s Museumplein (Museum Square) into a wonderland of ice, shopping, drinking and eating. After a relaxed skate around the ice rink, head over to one of the bars to grab a cup of deliciously warming mulled wine.

This little restaurant serves only one thing: pancakes. It’s just the place to head during the year’s colder months with its ridiculously cosy dining space (the restaurant, whose name means ‘Upstairs Pancake House’, claims to be the smallest in Europe). The cute decorative teapots adorning the walls only add to its charm.

Moeders Restaurant serves wholesome family recipes in a homely and inviting setting. The walls are decorated with vintage family photos, antique plates and cooking utensils. This restaurant’s speciality is traditional Dutch food, with menu highlights including the ideal comfort dish stamppot, a robust stew-like dish of potatoes and vegetables (with some chefs adding sausage, meatballs or bacon for added flavour). Don’t miss it.