New Year's nosebag
Time to soothe those seasonal hangovers! Plans will already have been made for New Year's Eve, but what about Anticlimax Day?
New Year's Day may fall on a Thursday but it's an honorary Sunday and, what's more, a Sunday when it's odds-on you'll have a hangover. Here are some places that will be open and able to aid recovery:
Islington's brightest new star - the resolutely French Morgan M - will be open for an all-day brunch 1pm-8.30pm. Morgan M, 489 Liverpool Road, N7 (020-7609 3560).
In many ways Raoul's Cafe in Maida Vale is the perfect recovery spot. Open from 9am, it serves a cracking brunch. Look out for really good egg dishes - they import their freerange ones from Tuscany. Raoul's Cafe, 13 Clifton Road, W9 (020-7289 7313).
Sophie's Steakhouse will be flying the flag on Chelsea Beach for a loud and lengthy brunch from noon. It'll be just the thing for folk determined to carry their New Year's Eve on into New Year's Day. Sophie's Steakhouse, 311-313 Fulham Road, SW10 (020-7352 0088).
The Cantina del Ponte, in the shadow of Tower Bridge, is renowned for its serious Bloody Marys, and for just £8 you can make a couple of trips to the large antipasti table. Lunch is served noon-2.45pm. Cantina del Ponte, 36C Shad Thames, SE1 (020-7403 5403).
Make 2004 the year you splash out. Start with afternoon tea in the Promenade at the Dorchester 2.30pm-6pm (£23.50 or £29.50 including a glass of rosé champagne). The Dorchester, Park Lane, W1 (020-7629 8888).
As a concession to the season, from noon on New Year's Day Racine will be providing pitchers of Bloody Mary to accompany their regular à la carte menu. Racine, 239 Brompton Road, SW3 (020-7584 4477).
The retro look of the S&M Cafe on Essex Road may be the right mood for you to kick off 2004. The cafe serves up simple grub at sensible prices. Open from noon. S&M Cafe, 4-6 Essex Road, N1 (020-7359 5361).
Chutney Mary, offering sophisticated Indian dishes and an outstanding wine list, will be open for dinner from 6.30pm. Chutney Mary, 535 King's Road, SW10 (020-7351 3113).
