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IELTS 20, published by Cambridge University Press and Assessment, 2025.
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This recording is copyright.
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This is the IELTS listening test.
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You will hear a number of different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear.
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There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions and you will have a chance to check your work.
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All the recordings will be played once only.
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The test is in four parts.
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At the end of the test, you will be given ten minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.
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You will hear a woman asking a friend for restaurant recommendations.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.
SPEAKER 1:
I've been meaning to ask you for some advice about restaurants.
SPEAKER 1:
I need to book somewhere to celebrate my sister's 30th birthday and I liked the sound of that place you went to for your mum's 50th.
SPEAKER 2:
Yeah, I'd definitely recommend that for a special occasion.
SPEAKER 2:
We had a great time there.
SPEAKER 2:
Everyone really enjoyed it.
SPEAKER 1:
Where is it again?
SPEAKER 1:
I can't remember.
SPEAKER 2:
It's on Grayson Street, only about a two-minute walk from the station.
SPEAKER 1:
Oh, that's good.
SPEAKER 1:
I'd prefer not to have to drive anywhere.
SPEAKER 1:
But I don't want to have to walk too far either.
SPEAKER 2:
Yes, the location's perfect, but that's not necessarily why I'd recommend it.
SPEAKER 2:
The food's amazing.
SPEAKER 2:
If you like fish, it's probably the best restaurant in town for that.
SPEAKER 2:
It's always really fresh and there are lots of interesting dishes to choose from.
SPEAKER 2:
But all the food is good there.
SPEAKER 1:
Is it really expensive?
SPEAKER 2:
It's certainly not cheap, but for a special occasion I think it's fine.
SPEAKER 2:
It's got a great atmosphere and before dinner you can go up on the roof and have a drink.
SPEAKER 2:
It's really nice up there, but you need to book.
SPEAKER 2:
It's very popular as the views are spectacular.
SPEAKER 1:
So that's definitely a possibility then.
SPEAKER 1:
Is there anywhere else you can think of?
SPEAKER 2:
Um, if you want somewhere a bit less formal, then you could try Paloma.
SPEAKER 1:
I haven't heard of it.
SPEAKER 2:
No, it's quite new.
SPEAKER 2:
It's only been open a few months, but it's got a great reputation already.
SPEAKER 2:
It's in a really beautiful old building on Bow Street.
SPEAKER 1:
Oh, I think I know where you mean.
SPEAKER 1:
Right beside the cinema.
SPEAKER 2:
Yes, that's it.
SPEAKER 2:
I've only been there a couple of times, but I was really impressed.
SPEAKER 2:
The chef used to work at Don Felipe's apparently.
SPEAKER 2:
I was really sorry when that closed down.
SPEAKER 1:
So is all the food they serve Spanish then?
SPEAKER 2:
Yeah, you can get lots of small dishes to share, which always works really well if you're in a group.
SPEAKER 1:
Hmm, worth thinking about.
SPEAKER 2:
Yeah, there's a lively atmosphere and the waiters are really friendly.
SPEAKER 2:
The only thing is that you need to pay a £50 deposit to book a table.
SPEAKER 1:
A lot of restaurants are doing that these days.
SPEAKER 1:
I should have a look at the menu to check there's a good choice of vegetarian dishes.
SPEAKER 1:
A couple of my friends have stopped eating meat.
SPEAKER 2:
I'd say the selection of those would be quite limited.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
SPEAKER 2:
I've just thought of another idea.
SPEAKER 2:
Have you been to the Audley?
SPEAKER 1:
No, don't think I've heard of it.
SPEAKER 1:
How's it spelt?
SPEAKER 2:
You must have heard of it.
SPEAKER 2:
There's been a lot about it in the press.
SPEAKER 1:
I don't tend to pay much attention to that kind of thing.
SPEAKER 1:
So where is it exactly?
SPEAKER 2:
It's in that hotel near Baxter Bridge, on the top floor.
SPEAKER 1:
Oh, the views would be incredible from up there.
SPEAKER 2:
Yeah, I'd love to go.
SPEAKER 2:
I can't think of the chef's name, but she was a judge on that TV cookery show recently.
SPEAKER 2:
And she's written a couple of cookery books.
SPEAKER 1:
Oh, Angela Frayne.
SPEAKER 2:
That's the one.
SPEAKER 2:
Anyway, it's had excellent reviews from all the newspapers.
SPEAKER 1:
That would be a memorable place for a celebration.
SPEAKER 2:
Obviously it's worth going there just for the view, but the food is supposed to be really special.
SPEAKER 1:
She only likes cooking with local products, doesn't she?
SPEAKER 2:
Everything at the restaurant has to be sourced within a short distance, and absolutely nothing flown in from abroad.
SPEAKER 1:
I imagine it's really expensive though.
SPEAKER 2:
Well, you could go for the set lunch.
SPEAKER 2:
That's quite reasonable for a top-class restaurant.
SPEAKER 2:
Thirty pounds a head.
SPEAKER 2:
In the evening, I think it'd be more like fifty pounds.
SPEAKER 1:
At least that, I should think.
SPEAKER 1:
But I'm sure everyone would enjoy it.
SPEAKER 1:
It's not the kind of place you leave feeling hungry though, is it?
SPEAKER 1:
With tiny portions.
SPEAKER 2:
No, the reviews I've read didn't mention that.
SPEAKER 2:
I imagine they'd be average.
SPEAKER 1:
Well, that's all great.
SPEAKER 1:
Thanks so much.
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That is the end of part one.
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You now have one minute to check your answers to part one.
