Lowlander, London

The words 'Belgian' and 'good night out' don't necessarily go hand-in-hand for most people which is hardly surprising given most people's impression of the place is formed by Poirot, Tintin and the EU - hardly a combination to set the pulses of global nomands racing. It's a shame because actually Brussels is a great city for a night out in. Any country that has 8700 brands of beer can't be that bad can it?

But we digress...The Lowlander, tucked away in a corner of Covent Garden near the New London Theatre is a little bit of Brussels in the heart of London. A good bit. The whole place is decorated like a cross between Wagamamas and a French bistro so think lots of long communal tables, vintage posters, chandeliers and mirrors. If you can, grab a table by the window as they have more light and privacy.

Not surprisingly the place specialises in beers. Hundreds of them. White beers, red beers, fruit beers, honey beers and everything in between. Lambic beer is particularly popular. If you can't make up your mind The folks at The Lowlander also offer a 'mezze of beers'; a selection of five or six of their most popular beers served in mini glasses delivered on a wooden plank. They also do food. Try the double Dutch fries, double fried for extra crispiness and served with garlic mayonnaise. Yum!

If you're looking for a nice lively bar to spend a night in with friends with a grown-up client le this is a good bet. The place is quite noisy and is always busy especially on Thursday and Friday nights so it's worth getting there early. The only minus is the loos are horrible and you sometimes have to wait a long time for service but if you can live with that you'll like it. And not a Belgian cartoon character in sight!