International star bars

From Scandinavian hospitality and the finest fare from the Netherlands and Belgium to a London pub where you find Canadian beer, Canadian food and, well, Canadians, Ed Sullivan rounds up his favourite international bars. Plus, discover three great gastropubs...

Nordic
25 Newman Street, W1
Scandinavians know a thing or two about surviving long, dark winters. Nordic, two subterranean rooms in the shadow of the BT Tower, is full of Scandinavian hospitality, and a great place to hole up on a cold, winter night. (020 7631 3174).

Lowlander
36 Drury Lane, WC2
This is a contemporary bar that specialises in the finest fare from the Netherlands and Belgium. Food is offered all day, and there's a vast collection of superior beers, including all the Trappist brews. (020 7379 7446).

The Maple Leaf
41 Maiden Lane, WC2
Canadian flags catching the breeze proclaim that here is the Canadian pub, or at least a London pub where you find Canadian beer, Canadian food and other Canadians. Videos of every big ice hockey match are flown over. (020 7240 2843).

THREE GASTROPUBS by Charles Campion...

The Eagle
159 Farringdon Road, EC1
The Eagle is the original gastropub. The food flies over the counter while staff maintain a suitably irreverent attitude. Good-value honest cooking with a Portuguese/Mediterranean accent. £16pp ex-drinks. (020 7837 1353).

Easton
22 Easton Street, WC1
Easton is a genuine, no-frills gastropub run by Australians. Among its strengths, you'll find skilled fish cookery, easy-going pricing and an attractive, spacious dining room. £14pp ex-drinks. (020 7278 7608).

Cumberland Arms
29 North End Road, W14
Part of a short chain of gastropubs, the Cumberland Arms manages to combine a genuine pubbiness with sound, workmanlike, broadly Mediterranean food and steady pricing. £16pp ex-drinks. (020 7371 6806).