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A few steps away from the cathedral, the spirit of Havana beats on in the lively heart of The Cuban. This bubbly restaurant, set over three floors, pumps out Latin rhythms with its mojitos to an exuberant and relaxed crowd of diners. The diverse influences on Cuban cooking can be tasted in the cuisine, which draws on classic and Nuevo Cubano techniques for a menu of tapas, grills, seafood and paella.

Abode hotels are on the march, the latest in Canterbury, with the mix much as in the others under the reassuring guidance of Michael Caines fresh from his leadership from the front after having a major hand in cooking the Queen's birthday celebration lunch. The boutique hotel is a masterpiece of redesign by Plumtree Mee and the dining room in particular, in muted shades of non-gloss, is restful and calming.

Which is just as well because the menu is something to get excited about, starting with a choice of seven dishes that could include ballotine of quail with leeks and summer truffle, pan fried red mullet, or ravioli of Kent lobster with Savoy cabbage and lobster bisque.

Roast best end of Romney marsh lamb with creamed vegetables and a brochette of lambs saddle and kidney leads the mains, with roast breast of guinea fowl, pan fried wild sea trout, and sirloin of Kentish beef all making regular appearances could make this one of the best meals you have enjoyed for quite a while. I still think wild sea trout remains one of the best fish dishes there is.

Great attention is paid to the cheeses here, with Lanark Blue, Grimbister, Waterloo and Brucklay amongst others often to be encountered, leaving only the pudding with Scottish cranachan soufflé or a classic apple tart tatin supported by vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce amongst the six or so choices.

Caffe Venezia in Canterbury, located just few steps away from the Cathedral, is a busy, bustling café with an informal style of table service. Their aim is to create warm and welcoming atmosphere and serve good quality, home cooked food at a reasonable price.

The menu combines both Italian classics and British favourites, with a deservedly well renowned all day English breakfast and a selection of sandwiches, jacket potatoes, pastas, pizzas, oven baked specials and larger meals for hungry people. It also offers an extensive drinks list with a wide range of soft drinks, beers, wines and spirits. Caffe Venezia is available for hire for parties, it has a capacity of up to 90 covers.

How often do you glimpse a pub or restaurant and instinctively know that it's going to be all right before you even go inside? Of such an ilk is The White Horse at Bridge, near Canterbury. So does that let me off the hook - no, it does not, because some places are a good deal more than 'alright', and yes, you've guessed. Walking into the main bar in itself induces a feeling of well-being, with the wood panelling, log burner, inglenook and cared-for atmosphere very much to the fore.

Food plays a great part in the life of The White Horse; gastropub, whatever that may mean, might not be too wide a term to use. Starters of smoked haddock and potato soup with poached egg and dill, Whitstable rock oysters served on ice with lemon and shallot vinegar, or pressed oxtail terrine with beetroot relish and mustard dressing are but three of the attractive starters that set the pace.

Loin of pork crusted with red onion marmalade on thyme roasted potatoes and mustard sauce, fillet of beef with a root vegetable puree, parsnip crisps, spinach and red wine and thyme gravy, or roast monkfish tail with lightly curried mussels, cumin-baked spinach and potatoes all afford ample evidence of the skill at work in the kitchen, where Ben Walton, formerly of the Sandgate Hotel near Folkestone, holds the fort.

For puddings a sophisticated array of real wickedness meets the eye, starting with plum and cinnamon crème brulee with a coconut crumble topping and honeyed crème fraiche, or melting chocolate parcel with a Kentish cobnut praline ice cream and vanilla caramel sauce, strongly supported by a first class choice of cheeses, supplied by Neal's Yard. Be sure to leave a corner for either some of the Late Bottled Vintage port or a glass of something from the impressive array of liqueurs and single malts. The White Horse is a place in which it is easy to be extremely comfortable.