Blackfriars Wine Bar, Southwark

80 Scoresby Street, London SE1 0XN

Blackfriars Wine Bar is a very pleasant establishment a stone's throw from Southwark tube station. Why I'd never been here before last week is a mystery that continue to baffles me.

Located in a railway arch at the end of a row of other arches, which house an eclectic mix of local businesses plying their trades, this unassuming bar ticks all the boxes - a nice outside seating area, plenty of tables indoors, a couple of tucked away banquettes and just generally a happy vibe.

We only stayed for a couple of drinks and some nibbles, but I could have quite easily stayed there all night.

Cosy rating: 5/10 - it lacks in the candles department but makes up for it with smiles and niceness.
Secret rating: 7/10 - plenty of seats available on a Thursday night but was by no means empty.
Best bits: Really friendly service and tasty sharing food platters to accompany your delicious plonk.
Worst bits: Some random interior design, but this only adds to its charm.

Joe Allen, Covent Garden

13 Exeter Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7DT

Who said big places can't be cosy? Well, perhaps no one did, but I'm certainly asserting the opposite with Joe Allen. It's a humongous, cavernous restaurant located entirely underground, and is one of those places you can always rely on for a happy, no-nonsense meal.

You enter via a conspicuous doorway on Exeter Street, and be prepared for a pleasant surprise once you've descended the staircase, for it really is much larger than you might have imagined.

With theatre posters covering every inch of the walls, you cannot escape the fact that you're in the heart of London's West End, and it's the perfect venue for a date.

Cosy rating: 7/10 - nicely lit, and despite the large space it still manages to feel intimate.
Secret rating: 8/10 - The first time I went there I was gobsmacked that I'd never heard of it before - definitely one of London's best kept secrets.
Best bits: A big range of set menu offers, so it won't break the bank.
Worst bits: Service is super speedy and efficient - great for a pre-theatre bite to eat, but not ideal if you're looking for a place to linger.

Image courtesy of J Mark Dodds.