Bafangyuan , Pinghai Lu. In the middle of town, two blocks east of Yan'an Lu, this is a popular, clean and efficient Taiwanese-owned snack bar serving a slew of drinks (including the delicious Taiwanese naizhu cha (milk pearl tea), desserts, hotpots (including a dogmeat version), and full set meals.

Duck Son Palace Korean Restaurant , Zhongshan Bei Lu, on the northwest corner of Tiyuchang Lu. Quite a smart restaurant, offering reasonably authentic Korean dishes for about ¥40 per person. The Chinese hostesses almost have the Korean greetings down pat.

Jingyuan , Tianmushan Lu. A couple of minutes due west of Hangzhou University main gate; you'll recognize it from the lanterns outside. Nothing special about the standard Chinese fare they serve, except that they have a huge menu in English, and it's convenient for Hangzhou University accommodation.

Kuiyuan Guan , Jiefang Lu, just west of Zhongshan Zhong Lu (second floor; go through the entrance with Chinese lanterns hanging outside, and it's on the left). Specializes in more than 40 kinds of noodle dishes for all tastes, from the mundane (beef in noodle soup) to the acquired (pig intestines and kidneys). Also offers a range of local seafood delicacies.

Lingyin Si Vegetarian , Lingyin Si. If you're at the temple at lunchtime, try out the excellent vegetarian restaurant here; full meals come to around ¥50 per person.

Louwailou , Gu Shan Island. The best-known restaurant in Hangzhou, on the southern shore of Gu Shan Island, very near the museum. It's not an expensive place to eat, and specialities include dongpo pork, fish shred soup and beggar's chicken (a whole chicken cooked inside a ball of mud, which is broken and removed at your table). Lu Xun and Zhou Enlai, among others, have dined here. Standard dishes cost ¥30-45.

Taizilou Bianyifang , Youdian Lu just west of the Yan'an Lu intersection. Good Beijing Duck and other northern Chinese specialities in this fancy, slightly expensive restaurant a couple of minutes east of Xi Hu. ¥62 for two people includes Beijing Duck, soup and dessert.

Tianwaitian , Lingyin Si. Upstairs from the vegetarian restaurant, Chinese tourists flock here to sample the fresh seafood (supposedly caught from Xi Hu, and reasonably priced). Dishes are ¥40-55 each, with the Immortals soup especially recommended for adventurous diners. Not as good as Louwailou but perhaps worth a visit if you're in the Lingyin Si area around lunch and don't feel like eating vegetarian.

Zhiweiguan , Renhe Lu, half a block east of the lake. One of the nicest places in town for lunch. In a very urbane atmosphere, with piped classical music, you can eat assorted dian xin (local equivalent to dim sum) by the plate for around ¥20, including xiao long bao (small, fine stuffed dumplings) and mao erduo (fried, crunchy stuffed dumplings). The hundun tang (wonton soup) and jiu miao (fried chives) are also good.