Hotel Felix

A bow-fronted Victorian villa is the setting for a rather distinctive boutique hotel, in which the battleship-grey interiors are offset with splashes of abstract-art colour, and outdoor tables on a terrace overlooking the attractive gardens make the most of the punting weather. Contemporary brasserie cooking is the draw in Graffiti, where braised shoulder of mutton might be a starter portion, served with chargrilled aubergine and red pepper jam. Main courses resound to French and Italian notes, either for salt hake with petits pois and violet potatoes Parisienne, or poached ballottine of local rabbit wrapped in coppa, with walnut gnocchi, prune purée and Armagnac cream. The flavours of these busy dishes ring clearly and harmoniously through them, and the momentum is maintained in desserts such as lemon polenta cake, served warm with plum compôte and Margarita crème fraîche.