SquareMeal Gold Awards

Our eldest child: the founding @pizza. A hidden gem set in the heart of the West End, tucked away in Charlotte Lane. The wall murals representing local artistry, and our amazing Pack showing off the best of our values. And of course, the best pizza you’ll ever have.

When The Cinnamon Club opened in 2001 it offered up a fine-dining experience when the majority of Indian restaurants in the capital were still subscribing to the curry-house format that had propelled the popularity of the cuisine in the UK.

Classically trained in India, chef Vivek Singh understands the building blocks of age-old cooking techniques and couples them with contemporary twists on classics for unusual and surprising creations that have helped to push his restaurant into the premier league of London eateries. Additional accolades include Singh having authored five bestselling cookbooks and appearing regularly on cooking programmes such as Saturday Kitchen and Celebrity MasterChef.

The Cinnamon Club has recently undergone a £1million refurbishment to transform its home in the old Westminster Library into a bright and modern space that still retains much of its original character. Old books line two sides of the dining room while walls are painted bright white and a mezzanine level adds additional seating without detracting from the double-height space.

Priding itself in catering for every eventuality The Cinnamon Club offers all sorts of special menus, including a vegan one which offers a wonderful selection of plant-based Indian dishes. An early/late menu sees guests offered three courses for £38, including a pre-starter and a seasonal cocktail.

From the main menu you can expect creations like a Bengali-style lobster thermidor and a 48-hour marinated pheasant breast in pickling spices. For those who enjoy communal dining there is also a handful of signature sharing mains, like the Old Delhi-style butter chicken and a whole rack of lamb in a corn and yoghurt sauce.

The Cinnamon Club also offers private dining spaces for special occasions and serves meals from first thing to late into the evening, with a breakfast menu that includes unexpected dishes such as a full traditional cooked English breakfast.

The brand started by late French chef and restaurateur Joël Robuchon has bought what it calls an “evolved restaurant concept” to Clarges Street in Mayfair, with Le Comptoir Robuchon acting as an extended version of Robuchon’s original small plates concept.

The kitchen at Le Comptoir Robuchon is overseen by head chef Dario Avenca, as well as the brand's international head chef David Alves, who learned from Robuchon himself, working under the legendary chef for some years. The menu has a focus on accessibility,  with simplicity upheld as a key feature of each dish. Despite this said simplicity, there is sophistication here, and each plate deftly combines both French and Japanese cooking techniques and flavours - a marriage Robuchon pioneered. Locally sourced produce will be crafted into plates such as Le Thon; a smoked fresh tuna tart with avocado guacamole and citrus dressing, Le Poireau; smoked leek with mimosa eggs and Shitake mushroom and Les Langoustines; Raviolis with foie gras and savoy cabbage.  Elsewhere guests will be able to indulge in plates of high-end sushi followed by beautifully presented desserts like the house chocolate soufflé with pistachio ice-cream. A set lunch Wednesday-Friday gives diners a chance to try three courses for just £39. 

Le Comptoir’s Robuchon’s interiors have been designed by international design company Thurstan and is a luxurious space, featuring refined tones of burnt orange and clay, alongside banquette seating that’s great for groups and an elegant marble-top counter at the bar where guests can enjoy an aperitif.  

Joël Robuchon was a world-famous chef, having been awarded a total of 32 Michelin stars across 13 countries during his illustrious career, the most of any chef in the world. Robuchon is credited with reinventing French cuisine and acted as a mentor to several accomplished chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines. Robuchon passed away in August of 2018 at the age of 73.

This all-day café-restaurant, found in Piccadilly, is renowned for its unique combination of British heritage teamed with European grandeur. The Wolsey still holds its reputation as ‘somewhere special’ to visit, many years since opening, and is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

The iconic site of 160 Piccadilly began its story when it was commissioned in 1921 by Wolsey Motors Limited to English architect William Curtis Green, their desire was to create a prestigious car showroom that excluded luxury and grandeur. Marble pillars and archways teamed with Venetian-inspired details left an impressive finish, but alas the cars did not sell quickly enough and in 1926 the company went into bankruptcy. Barclays Bank took over the site in 1927 and it wasn’t until 2003 that restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King acquired the building and began a sympathetic renovation, later that same year The Wolsey opened its doors as the grand cafe-restaurant destination that we find today.

Known for its spectacular design, classic food and seamless service, The Wolsey remains an iconic and popular choice for both Londoners and tourists alike. Find out more about The Wolsey, the experience and its menus by reading our review.

Having taken over the restaurant at The Connaught in 2008 as part of a mass refurbishment, Hélène Darroze has now been overseeing the kitchen at the luxury London hotel for well over a decade. During that time, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught has become regarded as one of the Capital’s finest restaurants and currently holds the highest accolade of three Michelin stars.

Serving creative dishes which are each focused around one main ingredient, the restaurant offers a bespoke menu which reflects each diner’s personal tastes and preferences to create a truly unique dining experience. This combined with the world class service and impressive interiors at Hélène Darroze at The Connaught make it a restaurant for the most special of occasions.

A tenth-birthday facelift from designer Pierre Yovanovitch has seen the dining room become warmer and slightly more relaxed in feel; the light wooden panels play host to two collages by British artist Damian Hirst, while the leather and velvet chairs sit around exposed wooden tables. An impressive blue glass-blown chandelier hangs from above providing a stylish yet contemporary edge to the restaurant. Hélène Darroze at The Connaught now also boasts a stunning chef’s table which overlooks the pass and allows diners to question the chefs as they prepare the food.

Showcasing some of Britain’s finest produce, the food offering consists of a lengthy menu from which you can choose either five or seven dishes to create your perfect tasting menu. Meanwhile the lunch menu provides three courses for £65 without any beverages. You can expect dishes on offer such as caviar with langoustine, oyster and runner bean, Denbighshire Pigeon with beetroot, wild blueberry and Mexican mole, and Tainori chocolate with hazelnut and voatsiperifery pepper.

The restaurant’s drinks offering is equally elaborate as the food with a variety of different drink pairings available, trolleys of spirits being wheeled table-to-table, and an impressively expansive wine list.

Secreted beside a discreet Mayfair alleyway since 2011, Jason Atherton’s imperious Michelin-starred flagship, Pollen Street Social, remains “bang on the money” – a “masterpiece of fine dining” and a worthy winner of the SquareMeal Restaurant of the Year award in 2011 and 2017. Step through the glass door and the good vibrations hit you straight away, while the clean-lined metropolitan dining room shows its cosmopolitan class with dramatic lampshades and eye-catching arty exhibits.

Atherton may oversee a global empire these days, but he still puts in the shifts at PSS, and is often to be seen at the pass – a world-class hands-on restaurateur in his rightful place. Culinary influences and cross-fertilisation abound, but everything is underpinned by indigenous ingredients, from a witty Cockney riff involving smoked eel, buttermilk, beetroot reduction and jellied eel to South Downs fallow deer with pear, cocoa and chocolate vinegar or “staggeringly good” Lakeland lamb with beetroot, blackcurrant, savoy cabbage and a mini hotpot on the side – scintillating, exuberant food of the highest order, with maximum flavour delivering maximum satisfaction.

Provenance is absolutely key to Atherton, who believes that a menu can only ever be as good as its ingredients and has taken the time to foster long-term relationships with suppliers across Britain in order to obtain the very best produce the UK has to offer, from Colchester crab to Buccleuch beef, Jersey oysters, Orkney scallops and Goosnargh duck from Lancashire.

To start, the ‘fruits of the British sea’ is a delirious array of maritime delights presented on a special stand – we love the oyster ice cream dressed with an oyster leaf, the lobster cocktail, and the scallop with pickled radish and jalapeño; to finish, the dessert bar promises close encounters with the likes of Brogdale pear sorbet, goats’ cheese ice cream, honey and bee pollen.

Service plays it ‘social’ without ever losing its professional cool, and there are treasures galore on the ever-expanding wine list curated by the group’s whizz-bang sommelier Laure Patry. “Few places are such a treat” concludes one admirer of Pollen Street Social– amen to that. 

Turn right when you exit the ear-popping elevator at The Shard and you’ll be greeted with the most spectacular view in London, a jaw-dropping panorama of the ever-evolving skyline of the Square Mile, with famous landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Canary Wharf crowding the edge of your field of vision.

From the two dining options on offer – British-themed Aqua Shard and Szechuan-accented Hutong – we’d go Chinese very time, although no one should come here without first having a drink in Aqua Shard’s bar, which is where you'll find the best views.

That said, the views from Hutong aren’t exactly shabby, stretching westwards up the river from St Paul’s to the Millennium Wheel and Houses of Parliament, with Wembley Stadium and the hilltop villages of Hampstead and Highgate visible on the horizon on a fine day.

Minimally decorated surrounds of dark wood latticing and Chinese lanterns puts the emphasis firmly on the view, though we’ve always felt that the cooking would be worthy of attention even if it weren’t on the 33rd floor of London’s most iconic skyscraper.

The cooking is nominally northern Chinese, though in reality you’ll find many of your favourite high-street dishes done to an exceptionally high standard; Aqua is owned by a restaurant group based in Hong Kong, the spiritual home of Cantonese cooking.

Roast duck carved tableside is a speciality of the house, served in a first course of pancakes and then stir fried. Otherwise, expect vegetable spring rolls, sautéed crispy shredded beef and chilli and some terrific seafood dishes such as king crab and chilled tofu or ma la crispy eel.

Dim sum is served at lunchtime, often made from luxury ingredients: Iberico pork or lobster xiao long bao, pan-fried Wagyu beef buns or baked Wagyu beef puffs – as well as more classic pan-fried chicken dumplings or scallop siu mai. Prices match the sky-high location, but so too does the top-drawer service.

Zuma was a sensation when it first opened in 2002 and while some of the buzz has died down in the almost 20 years since it launched, it’s still one of the foremost party restaurants in the capital.

The excitement builds before you’ve even crossed the threshold thanks to an unpromising location on a Knightsbridge backstreet which whispers rather than shouts 'insider secret'. Once inside, a bar to the right of the entrance creates an immediate sense of buzz and, if you’re not in the mood for a full meal, serves some knockout Asian-accented cocktails as well as providing access to Zuma’s carefully curated wine list. Should you feel peckish, you can also eat here too, either up at the bar or one of the leather sofas.

The dining room proper stretches out behind. Larger groups sit at tables and chairs while solo diners, couples and curious foodies might be seated at the long, U-shaped counter which wraps around the open kitchen and gives a bird’s eye view of the chefs at work as they meticulously slice sashimi or craft exquisite morsels of sushi.

Zuma’s success, however, has always relied upon the combination of traditional Japanese culinary techniques grafted on to a western sensibility. As well as the expertly prepared raw fish, the long, long menu deals in beguilingly delicious signature dishes. Small plates include warm aubergine with sweet miso; seabass with yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe; and crispy fried squid with green chilli lime. Meat dishes are just as good: chicken wings with saké, sea salt and lime, and rib-eye steak with wafu sauce and garlic crisps, are never likely to leave the menu.

The downside to all the good-time vibes is that when it’s at full tilt, eating at Zuma can feel like dining in the middle of a very loud party, and if being surrounded by the international super-rich is not your idea of a good time (or budget), then walk on by. But almost everyone who enters into the upbeat spirt of the place leaves vowing to return.  

Murano is Angela Hartnett’s Michelin starred restaurant in Mayfair, which serves up the chef’s signature honed Italian cookery. The space is warm and welcoming, and the simple style of the food does away with the commonly fussy dressings of traditional fine dining. The a la carte changes regularly and features just a choice few dishes per day, making the most of seasonal produce.

Following the unprecedented success of his first solo venture Pollen Street Social, which achieved Michelin-star status in less than six months, world-renowned chef Jason Atherton went onto open Social Eating House, a more relaxed setting where diners can enjoy the same top-quality British food for which he has become known.

The restaurant is located in the heart of Soho and is influenced by the buzziness of this vibrant area of London. Low-lit interiors with exposed brickwork, traditional white-washed copper ceilings and weathered leather banquette seating give the space a cosy and intimate ambience whilst the friendly and relaxed service add to the informal atmosphere.

Social Eating House is split across three floors with the popular Blind Pig cocktail bar on the first floor, the restaurant at street level and an exclusive chef’s counter dining space in the basement overlooking the open kitchen.

The kitchen is helmed by chef patron Paul Hood who has worked closely with Jason Atherton over the last decade. The duo have collaborated to create and develop dishes on the contemporary bistro menu that showcase both chefs’ personal styles of cooking while celebrating the very best seasonal and locally sourced produce. 

Starters from the ever-changing a la carte menu could include roasted foie gras, sesame-dressed vegetable salad, salted kombu kelp, pickled ginger and a bonito dashi; or Scottish scallop ceviche with smoked avocado, raw artichoke, sunflower seeds and horseradish.

From the main courses, highlights include slow-cooked Cornish venison loin, spiced red cabbage, salsify olive oil mash and candied walnuts; and roasted Cornish day-boat brill with cep, pearl barley, chipirones, charred baby leek and mushroom tea.

Finally, for something sweet, temptations include a caramelised milk tart with ginger wine gel, fromage frais sorbet and almond crack; or an autumn berry “cheesecake”, with blackcurrant sorbet, blackcurrant curd, and star anise.

Magnificent arched windows, soaring stone ceilings and sophisticated decor provide a beautiful backdrop in which to indulge in Michelin-starred dining at Galvin La Chapelle. Like all Galvin outposts, La Chapelle provides high-quality cuisine designed by brothers Chris, Jeff and David Galvin alongside luxurious surroundings and warm and hospitable staff, making it a popular choice for celebrating special occasions.

Galvin La Chapelle majors in modern French cuisine crafted from produce sourced fresh every day from Covent Garden Market. Seasonality is of huge importance to the Galvin family, so expect ever-changing dishes on their range of menus, which include vegetarian, vegan, tasting and special menus for high days and holidays, such as Valentine’s and Father’s Day.

As you’d expect from a Michelin-starred French restaurant, the food here is exquisitely presented. Diners wax lyrical about the beautiful presentation of each dish before going on to praise the taste and textures. Wonderful combinations come together in starters like Dorset crab lasagne with beurre Nantais and pea shoots, and velouté of Ironbark pumpkin served with seared foie gras, Lyonnaise onion and bacon crumb.

Mains take the form of dishes such as grilled Cornish red mullet with cuttlefish, orange-braised fennel, pine nut purée and sauce vierge, or roast loin of Icelandic cod accompanied by crushed Charlotte potatoes, cauliflower and a warm raisin dressing, while desserts could be anything from blackberry soufflé and milk ice cream to mandarin parfait made with hazelnut, cocoa nib crumb and Valrhona chocolate ganache.

The set Menu du Chef offers excellent value when you consider Galvin La Chapelle’s Michelin Star credentials, though if you’re really looking to push the boat out, you ought to consider the Menu Gourmand – a seven-course tasting menu with optional wine pairing that can be enjoyed in the main dining room or on the private dining mezzanine for that extra special experience.

For over 100 years now Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill has been serving up some of the freshest seafood to the well-heeled residents (and day-trippers) of London’s Mayfair district.

Now headed up by Michelin star chef Richard Corrigan, this smart restaurant, as you might expect, has a particular focus on oysters and offers up all kinds of varieties throughout the year – both raw and cooked – with a range of toppings. For those not so enamoured by the thought of raw shellfish, there is also a short selection of steaks for guests to choose from, which showcase meat from across the UK.

Interiors are a classic mix of leather in muted blue tones, warm wood and William Morris-esque wallpaper that create a relaxed yet sophisticated feeling. Pop in for a glass of fizz and a few oysters or settle in for the evening at the grill upstairs, which serves up things like wild Cornish mussels or simply cooked sea bass.

Monica Galetti, Masterchef judge and former senior sous chef at the legendary Le Gavroche, has offered herself up for scrutiny with her first solo restaurant. Mere, pronounced Mary, is the French word for mother and the Samoan word for Galetti’s own mother Mary.

Kick things off on a deep-blue velvet chair in the elegant ground-floor bar where, à Le Gavroche, guests peruse the menu, perhaps over a glass of the richly rounded house Champagne that Galetti has produced with Duval Leroy.

The striking design continues downstairs where a double-height glass frontage removes any sense of eating in a basement and has transformed the site into a light-filled lunchtime rendezvous as well as an elegant setting for dinner.

But as expected, it’s the cooking that shines the most brightly, with Galetti’s Samoan and New Zealand heritage blended seamlessly with Gavroche-style haute cuisine for a contemporary take on high-end dining.

To start, a light ’nduja sauce highlights the meatiness of a springy curl of octopus, sticky from the plancha, while the accompanying caper and raisin jam is so good you’ll want to spread it over the mini bread loaves that arrive warm from the kitchen. Brined cabbage, pickled celeriac and a gribiche dressing are the perky contrasts to soft folds of ox tongue.

To follow, lobster is rescued from creamy sauce territory, simply poached and served with potato purée, cabbage and a bisque sauce in harmony of light sweetness, while 30-day aged sirloin comes with puffs of onion beignets, glazed cheek and a tarragon crème fraiche to keep all the richness in check.

Desserts have more conventional flavours but are no less good for it: chocolate and peanut cremeux with peanut praline, roasted cocoa nib ice cream, and a coconut cream pie filled with roasted banana and drizzled with rum caramel are the stuff of sweet dreams.

The letter ‘M’ appears everywhere in the restaurant, from the door handles of the loos to the lapel pins of the nattily attired waters. With Mere, Monica Galetti has stamped her own claim to one of London’s most famous restaurant addresses.

Despite its Asian credentials, Kricket was set up by two British friends whose Anglo-Indian approach to small-plates dining propelled it into becoming one of the most talked-about restaurants on the London scene. With a host of celebrity fans, including Pierre Koffmann and Michel Roux Jr (who apparently cited the restaurant as one of his favourite restaurants, saying that ‘places like this are the reason why London is the envy of Paris and New York), Kricket’s ability to pull the crowds seems to have lost no magnitude since its opening in 2015.

As with many popular eateries in the capital, Kricket started out as a pop up, in this case a shipping container in POP Brixton. Just one year into trading the team made moves to open a bigger sister site in the thriving heart of Soho. This venture was backed by The White Rabbit Growth Fund, a company founded by an ex-Soho House commercial director.

The small dining room attracts a mix of locals and tourists, but is always heaving, with a queue of people trailing out the door keen to wait for a spot at the bar or in the basement dining room. The counter dining allows you to view the chefs at work or gaze onto the street ahead for some people watching while the handful of booth seats upstairs and tables downstairs allow for more relaxed dining.

The menu changes periodically with the season but some standout dishes have become so popular that they are a permanent feature. Small plates like the samphire pakora and the Keralan fried chicken have acquired cult-like status and are served up to nearly every table in the joint as far as we can tell. Kricket is open for lunch and dinner daily, taking a break to refresh the kitchen in between, except Sundays when it’s closed all day.

Nostalgic, traditional, and full of pomp, this splendidly antiquated institution purrs along like a vintage Rolls Royce, serving the kind of Bulldog British food that makes tourists dewy-eyed with admiration. Specialising in game, oysters, puddings and pies, Rules' menu isn't designed with vegetarians in mind, but one would expect nothing less from London's oldest restaurant.

Opened by Thomas Rule in 1798, Rules would no doubt still be familiar to former patrons such as Charles Dickens, who looks down over the plush, panelled dining room from walls crowded with old sketches and paintings. A wonderfully soothing atmosphere pervades the whole place – no wonder several scenes from TV’s Downton Abbey were filmed here.

There’s consistency across the board and quality is guaranteed, especially if you are feasting on confidently rendered staples such as Dorset crab salad, chicken and ham hock pie or roast tranche of turbot with hollandaise. Game from the restaurant’s Lartington Estate is a real draw in season, when specials such as braised pheasant with lentils or roast grouse with game chips, bread sauce and redcurrant jelly make their time-honoured appearance.

Desserts are mostly dear old friends such as bread and butter pudding and apple crumble – all served with custard, naturally – while the wine list is stuffed with bottles from Old World producers. There are also various house cocktails dedicated to royal spouses, including The Duchess of Sussex.

Expect to be treated like an old friend from the moment you're greeted by the top-hatted doorman to the moment you leave, sated and satisfied with a big smile on your face, whistling Rule, Britannia! under your breath. 

Prepare to step out of modern-day Mayfair and into Golden Age Shanghai as the concierge at Park Chinois welcomes you with a tip of a hat. This glamorous spot is dedicated to celebrating the romance and etiquette of yesteryear, alongside the thrills and luxury of the present. Park Chinois, which comprises the elegant Salon de Chine and indulgent Club Chinois, is a unique dining experience popular with the well-to-do, so have your credit card at the ready.

The lavish décor within takes inspiration from a 1930s Shanghai speakeasy, so prepare to be ensconced in red velvet upholstery and flashy frills, as you take in one of the venue’s live shows and get acquainted with some seriously special Chinese cooking.

There’s a menu for every occasion at Park Chinois, from light lunches to long, luxurious dinners. For an all-round taste of what’s on offer, try the two- or three-course set lunch menu. The restaurant’s more expensive dishes won’t feature, but you’ll still get to try the likes of bang bang chicken salad,  Cantonese roast duck with Champagne and orange sauce, and an 85% chocolate fondant.

For those looking to make a serious dent in their bank accounts though, the sky is the limit. You’ll find rare caviars, prime cuts of meat including Japanese Hida Wagyu rib-eye, premium fish and shellfish, and other dishes containing the likes of foie gras, black truffle and venison.

Exquisitely-crafted desserts are a must for the sweet-toothed as they include creations such as the Granny Smith apple cheesecake served with vanilla and apple cream, apple gel and crumble, and a decadent dark chocolate fondant made with sweetcorn and Rémy Martin Cognac Sauce and decorated with gold leaf. Drinks are similarly glamorous whether you opt for a cocktail, a glass of Champagne or a pot of rare Japanese tea.

If somebody was to compile a list of London restaurants which are known for attracting the rich and famous, Sexy Fish is sure to be placed somewhere near the top.

Found on Berkeley Square, glamorous Sexy Fish is part of the Caprice Holdings Group, which also looks after the likes of Scott’s, J Sheekey and The Ivy Collection. The restaurant has gained a reputation as a bit of a celeb-magnet, while it also courts the Instagram crowd with its famously lavish interiors – think a giant gold-plated crocodile hanging from the wall, an ocean blue mermaid statue draped over the bar and more gold accents than Midas himself could rustle up.

Sexy Fish is billed as a pan-Asian brasserie, although it is safe to say that the menu is replete with contemporary and luxury updates on classic Asian fare, while authentic renditions are perhaps harder to spot. Nonetheless, there’s no denying the appeal of the menu; kick things off with a helping of caviar, before moving on to the likes of tuna tataki, glazed pork belly skewers spiced with pear and ginger, or a crispy duck and watermelon salad. Naturally, the à la carte also offers a roll call of luxury ingredients, with lobster, Wagyu beef and sprinklings of black truffle shavings all present and correct.

To go alongside the food, Sexy Fish boasts what claims to be the world’s largest collection of Japanese whisky, while its cocktail menu (designed to look like a high-fashion magazine) features a seasonally changing selection of sips that includes innovative creations and twists on the classics, like an Old Fashioned made with passionfruit juice.

Apart from the regular menu, Sexy Fish also offers a tasting menu and a range of sophisticated bar snacks. Watch out for special seasonal and festive menus too, celebrating the likes of Veganuary or Valentine’s Day.    

The Dorchester Collection’s first foray into country-house hospitality has a location “to die for” – 240 acres of lawns, meadows and woodland surrounding a quirkily restored Georgian manor (“chic but unstuffy”, says one fan).

At its heart is a special-occasion dining room done out in autumnal shades with orange leather, mirrored copper walls, gold-leaf sculptures and oak-leaf plaster reliefs. Head chef Adam Smith arrived here from The Burlington Restaurant at The Devonshire Arms and he’s now the recipient of a Michelin star for his assured top-notch cooking, which adds plenty of modern British oomph to premium British ingredients: heritage beetroot is paired with smoked eel, horseradish and blackcurrant; aged beef sirloin comes with brown-butter mash, oxtail and pickled turnip; John Dory is accompanied by fennel, artichoke and lemon verbena.

Steep prices go with the territory, although all-inclusive ‘Best of British’ fixed-price menus are “startlingly good value” given the surroundings. Service is “charming and attentive but not overpowering”, while the full wine list has been priced with luxury in mind.

Mayfair restaurant Gymkhana originally opened its doors in 2013 and is often considered the jewel in the crown of JKS Restaurants’ impressive portfolio (which counts Bao, Trishna, and Brigadiers among its collection).

Just one year after opening, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star, which it retains to this day. In the summer of 2019, Gymkhana was struck by disaster when a fire in the restaurant forced the Mayfair hotspot to close down – luckily, no one was injured in the blaze. Gymkhana underwent a significant refurbishment and reopened in February 2019.

Restaurant guests can expect to find a new-look dining room which is the creation of designer Samuel Hosker (the first in-house interior project from the JKS Restaurants team). Gymkhana’s dining room is now kitted out in tones of jade green and polished dark timber, matched with metallic accents and colourful printed fabrics. It’s not all change though, as Gymkhana’s intimate booth seating which offers privacy (and is part of the reason the restaurant is such a celeb-magnet) is still intact, while original features such as hunting trophies from the Maharaja of Jodhpur and cut-glass wall lamps from Jaipur are still on show.

Gymkhana’s basement bar also boasts a new look, sporting a colour palette of peach and chilli red, while the bar itself offers a jewel-box shaped counter area with rattan shelving and leather-clad scalloped fascia.

When it comes to the menu, you can still expect to find all of the usual Gymkhana staples, although there are a few new additions to tempt diners. Dishes from the reinvigorated menu include the likes of Keralan toddy shaapu wild tiger prawns, vegetable cutlet served with masala ketchup and game bird Baida roti served with girolle achaar. The drinks list has had a refresh too, with cocktails such as the Peach Blow Fizz: a blend of green mango and citrus flavours, paired with gin, frozen yoghurt, egg white and soda.

Yauatcha is an international brand which has bases in London as well as Indian, the US and Saudia Arabia. Their winning combination is found in the pairing of traditional dim sum with larger Chinese plates, like stir fried rib eye of beef in black bean sauce or kung pao prawns with cashew nuts. This chain of high-end restaurants are also famous for their bakeries, which churn out deliciously delicate tea time treats, which are served up with a range of hot beverages – perfect for an afternoon snack.  

In an enviable St James’s spot formerly occupied by Green’s restaurant and bar, Maison Francois draws inspiration from the grand brasseries of Paris, Lyon and Alsace with MasterChef: The Professionals 2018 finalist Matthew Ryle taking up the helm in the kitchen.

The name behind the new venture is Francois O’Neill, whose pedigree in the restaurant industry should stand him in good stead. O’Neill’s father Hugh was co-founder of Brasserie St Quentin in Knightsbridge which later became Brompton Bar & Grill when Francois took over in 2008.

Chef Matthew Ryle also has an impressive heritage, having trained at The Dorchester before becoming head chef at Mayfair fashion hangout Isabel at the tender age of 22.

Maison Francois serves a menu of French brasserie classics such as Reblochon gougères, oeufs mimosa and ravioli dauphine alongside a selection of fresh seafood, hearty terrines, patés and homemade charcuterie to keep patrons happy from lunch through to dinner. A wood-fired grill turns out cuts of meat and whole fish, while vegetarians are well catered for with the likes of pea fricassee with broad beans, gem lettuce, Riesling and tarragon.  

For something sweet diners can look forward to the arrival of a traditional pudding trolley serving all the adored French classics: praline Paris-Brest, gateau Marjolaine and a selection of seasonal fruit tarts. The restaurant also houses an in-house bakery serving breads and patisserie, available all day but perfect for breakfast.

The decor is equally traditional, with art-deco chandeliers suspended from the 20ft-high ceilings, mirrored arches and off-white drapery.

Downstairs, Frank’s wine bar offers up rustic sharing plates of cold meats and terrines with carefully matched wines and sherries. Both restaurant and bar are watched over by the eager eye of Ed Wyand, former maître d’ at Scott’s and owner of Verden wine bar, who heads up the front of house team.

According to O’Neill: “Maison François will be everything a brasserie should be – welcoming, fun and hospitable, with classic dishes made with the best seasonal produce we can get our hands on – while also ripping up the rulebook when it comes to service.

“We’ll show great respect for the legendary restaurants we admire, while marrying this heritage with our love for the dining culture of cities across France. Brasserie St Quentin is a hard act to follow, but I’m looking forward to putting my own stamp on the brasserie tradition.”

Scott’s is more than a restaurant, it’s a scene, a landmark, a legend.  Although it’s been around for half a century, it only struck gold when it reopened under Caprice Holdings (the owners of Thy Ivy, J Sheekey et al) in 2006. Mount Street was changing from stuffy residential enclave to fashion Mecca and Scott’s was there – catnip to fish-loving foodies, fashionistas and posh people who were instantly hooked on its infectiously buzzy ambience.

The interior is beguiling by day and night. An oval oyster bar with tall stools and a magnificent ‘high altar’ for shellfish dominates the light-filled front space. There are cosy tables at the rear and confident modern art on the walls, while a flower-filled pavement terrace attracts smokers and the ever-present paparazzi.

The menu nods to meat eaters with veal cutlets, steaks, chicken pie and venison fillet with celeriac purée. But this is essentially a seafood restaurant, serving up what readers say is “simply the best fish in town” – from homely potted shrimps and dressed crab to exotic octopus carpaccio and monkfish with spicy tiger prawn masala via oysters and caviar, lobster Thermidor, battered haddock and extravagant fruits de mer.

‘Fish on the bone’ might bring halibut and massive 22oz Dover soles, as well as delicate slip soles with capers and parsley butter, but the full repertoire covers everything from scallops in the shell richly doused in garlic and chilli butter to roast cod dressed with cauliflower purée and chorizo. There are also some imaginative vegetable dishes such as roast squash with quinoa and harissa. 

It’s also worth saving some room for totally tempting desserts such as gooseberry pie, peach Melba or a flashy take on Bakewell pudding with almond ice cream. With its completely reliable food, brilliant but unobtrusive service and a wine list that won’t break the bank, Scott’s is quite simply outstanding.  

This double bar concept comes from renowned bartender Alex Kratena (formerly of Artesian Bar) and Monica Berg. Found right by Old Street roundabout, Elementary is a casual all-day bar which serves seasonal drinks and snacks, while Tayer is a more progressive space featuring a daily changing menu written up on a blackboard.

In Elementary, guests sit around a large communal bar, enjoying drinks and snacking on a succinct menu of just three snack plates. If they move through to Tayer, they’ll find seating around a large open counter, where they can see the bartenders and chefs at work.

Ta Ta Eatery has been appointed to oversee the food side of things, serving up a menu which is Asian in style, but incorporates European elements. Dishes can be ordered individually or as tapas-style sharing plates, while the drinks list doesn’t just privilege cocktails – you can also expect considered lists of spirits, sakés and soft drinks.  

Food and drink images: Bernard Zeija

The Sportsman, based just outside the small seaside village of Seasalter, may not look like much from the outside but is in fact widely regarded as one of the UK’s finest gastropubs. Having held a Michelin star since 2008, the pub serves a menu of classic British food in a relaxed environment. Set in what feels like the middle of nowhere, The Sportsman gives guests a real sense of escape and also maintains the cosy feeling of a traditional country pub. This makes it a glorious spot to enjoy chef Steven Harris’s bold plates of food.

The outside of the large pub is painted white, with a large conservatory dining area running around two sides of the building. The interiors however, are far more rustic with large wooden tables surrounded by a variety of mismatching chairs spread out around the bar area and menus written up on a blackboard.

The Sportsman offers three different food menus: an a la carte, a daily 5-course tasting menu, and a longer full tasting menu which needs to be ordered in advance. The a la carte menu begins with starters such as salt baked celeriac, apple and fresh cheese, and slip sole grilled in seaweed butter, as well as a choice of local oysters. When it comes to main course options, expect big dishes like roast saddle of lamb with mint sauce, and roast chicken with sausage and truffle cream sauce. Whereas seafood dishes might include roast gurnard fillet with bouillabaisse sauce and green olive tapenade. If you have room for dessert, you might be tempted by the warm chocolate mousse with salted caramel and milk sorbet.

The food is of course accompanied by an extensive list of wines by both the bottle and glass, as well as a huge selection of local ales, spirits and soft drinks.

As restaurant names go, The Man Behind The Curtain is among one of the most avant-garde. Perhaps we shouldn’t expect anything less from chef Michael O'Hare though, who has built his career on playing with the expectations and perceptions of diners who walk through the door.

In case you were wondering, the restaurant takes its name from classic film The Wizard of Oz, although you won’t find any corny tributes to the yellow brick road here. Instead, the dining room is a stylishly appointed space that is flooded with natural light thanks to large windows. Exposed wooden beams and concrete flooring add to the industrial-chic vibe, while graffiti splashed across the walls adds a much-welcomed burst of colour. There is also the benefit of sweeping views across the city’s rooftops, thanks to the restaurant’s position above clothing store Flannels.

Some parts of the menu at The Man Behind The Curtain change with the seasons, but the main draw here is the Permanent Collection – a 10-14 course tasting menu that deals in curious and sometimes challenging dishes. Examples of plates you might be served up include halibut with chorizo and pickled onion, a pairing of foie gras and raspberry, and oysters topped with a strawberry kimchi.

Desserts are equally as arresting (think milk chocolate with violet and honey), while the extensive wine list is made up of bottles from lesser known regions and styles. There are a few house cocktails too, that are as Instagram-friendly as they are tasty.

True fans are also invited to shop at O’Hare’s dedicated shop, which features a handful of products he has created himself. You could get your hands on a Man Behind The Curtain branded skateboard, or a candle designed by the chef himself. There’s even a collaboration between the restaurant and Slingsby Gin (presented in a sleek monochromatic bottle) which you can bring home with you.

Just a short amble from Old Street station, The Princess of Shoreditch is an 18th-century boozer that’s all about serving great quality food and drink, while maintaining a traditional feel. Based over two floors, the downstairs area offers a more relaxed ambience where East London locals can pop in for a drink or two, and enjoy the odd bar snack; while the upstairs dining room is more of formal vibe offering high-level restaurant quality food.

Illuminated in the evening by the glow of various lanterns, the pub has an appealing facade which is bound to lure plenty of passers by inside. The open plan ground floor space has plenty of tables  and a well-stocked bar at one end, and is linked to the second floor via a discreet spiral staircase in the corner. Once upstairs, the décor is slightly grander yet the space still has a bright an airy feel thanks to the eggshell colour scheme and a number of oversized bulbs hanging from above.

When it comes to food, the menu has been designed by head chef Ruth Hansom, who previously worked in kitchens including The Ritz, and the now closed Pomona’s in Notting Hill. Downstairs’ bar snacks menu includes tempting treats such as truffle popcorn and chicken date and peanut terrine, and can accompanied by a cocktail from the appealing list.

The dining room’s menu makes for more serious reading; dishes on offer include a venison haunch tartare, with mustard seed, fennel, and nasturtium for starters, and main courses such as hake served alongside pickled grapes and confit artichoke. Meanwhile desserts range from a fig leaf and Earl Grey trifle, to a set garden ginger custard with gooseberry, rhubarb and sorrel. This all comes accompanied by a varied wine list covering a number of different regions, as well as a selection of other alcoholic and soft drinks.

Like many of London’s most famous restaurants, the pint-sized dining room at Kiln relies on its exclusivity – while the restaurant is undoubtedly a casual dining experience, it is well known that it’s hard to secure a table here, largely because of the no-bookings policy and lengthy queues.

Kiln is the brainchild of chef and restaurateur Ben Chapman, who is also behind popular Thai eatery Smoking Goat, which can be found in Shoreditch. Taking up residency on Soho’s Brewer Street, Kiln finds itself in good company alongside the likes of Randall & Aubin and El Camion. Much like its sibling, the menu here focuses on barbecue dishes cooked over open flames, championing dishes from a grill, seafood and clay pot dishes.

To fans of Smoking Goat, it should come as no surprise that the food at Kiln is punchily spiced. The menu also changes regularly, with the offering evolving depending on what produce is currently in season. You can visit Kiln for either lunch or dinner, and while you’re there you might come across the likes of slow grilled chicken and soy, Tamworth pork belly curry with kapi, or wild ginger and beef neck curry which finds its roots in Burma.

One dish that you will always find on the menu is Kiln’s signature serve – clay pot baked glass noodles topped with Tamworth pork belly and brown crab meat. Kiln doesn’t serve desserts, but it makes up for that with a truly delightful drinks list. Accompany your meal with a glass from Kiln’s list of European-leaning wines, or opt for one of its house-made cocktails which experiment with fermentation and pickling.

Perhaps you’re in the mood for a Turmeric Gin & Tonic, or maybe it will be the Thai Basil & Peppercorn Mojito that takes your fancy. Competitive pricing, on both the drinks and food, is a further draw. 

“Fusion flavours and textures to restore even the most jaded of palates” – that’s how one fan describes the food at this solo venture from ex-Nopi head chef Ramael Scully. Inside, all is cosily shabby-chic, with copper pendant lighting, potted plants and a fascinating glass-fronted pantry, stocked with herbs and spices. A large sharing table and an open kitchen create a communal vibe, but the marble-topped chef’s counter is undoubtedly home to the best seats in the house.

On offer is an intriguing menu that references Scully’s multicultural heritage, while confounding expectations when it comes to mixing and matching ingredients. Nearly all the seasonally changing sharing plates impress, from a tomato and coconut salad with green strawberries (summer in a bowl) to barbecued beef tendons, hidden by a dollop of smoky oyster mayo and served with salty fried tendon puffs for dipping – which are “like nothing else on earth”, according to one convert.

Elsewhere, there’s lusciously fatty pork belly with house-made XO sauce concealing a subtle flash of heat, and an outstanding plate of monkfish rubbed with sambal belacan, a tongue-tingling shrimp paste. Others single out the “audacious” arepa (a Venezuelan cornmeal pancake topped with aubergine relish and bergamot-infused labneh).

To finish, there’s a love-it-or-hate-it dessert of parsnip and coconut ice cream, although we were more impressed by a grapefruit sorbet which was paired up with a scoop of indulgent caramel ice cream – a delightful mix of sweet and sour. Fastidious sourcing, impressively well-informed staff and an unflappable kitchen team swapping jokes while turning out plates of pure wonder all help to make dining at Scully a thrilling and eye-opening experience.

Wealthy people like to eat where the owner is, in the words of Margaret Thatcher, “one of us”, which is why Casa Cruz and Isabel, the London duo of restaurants from investment banker-cum-interior designer-cum-restaurateur Juan Santa Cruz, have proved such a hit.

Santa Cruz has an instinctive understanding that for a certain type of well-heeled diner, the look of the restaurant is as important (perhaps even more so) than the food that is being served. For the London fashion crowd – whether that’s staffers on the magazines from nearby Vogue House, Bond Street shoppers with money to burn or the photographers and models who make up the biannual jamboree of London Fashion Week – Isabel is a restaurant where the interior design is as striking as the designer clothes modelled by its customers.

Which isn’t to suggest that there isn’t some accomplished cooking on offer at Isabel, though be aware that the portion sizes lean towards size zero, while the kitchen’s formula of low-carb, high-protein dishes will not be a recipe for success for lovers of creamy sauces and indulgent side dishes.

That said, diners who eat out a lot for either work or pleasure will be relieved that the likes of radicchio salad with anchovy, parmesan and grapefruit, or cod with sprout tops, capers, black olives and pine nuts, won’t send them out onto Albemarle Street needing an afternoon nap or falling asleep on the tube home.

Breakfast and weekend brunch add to Isabel’s all-day appeal – there are pastries, French toast and a full English if you don’t want to go down the healthy eating route – while evenings offer the opportunity to sit up at the bar with a cocktail or glass of wine and some ‘para picar’ nibbles. Like all of the food here, however, the cost of the small plates is likely to lead to a very large bill.       

Found on the 24th floor of Tower 42, right in the heart of London, City Social boasts incredible views across the city, paired with a beautiful modern British menu.

City Social is one of 18 impressive restaurants run by chef-patron Jason Atherton. Atherton started his career working alongside some great chefs, including Marco Pierre White, Nico Ladenis, Pierre Koffman and Ferran Adria, before joining Gordon Ramsay Holdings in 2001 and first opening Maze in London, before launching five further sites globally. In 2011, Atherton opened his first solo restaurant, Pollen Street Social, and now has an international restaurant portfolio.

Within the same venue as City Social, you will find Social 24, the dedicated bar space that is inspired by the famous London landmarks that surround it. As well as a terrific cocktail menu, the bar also includes a selection of beers, spirits, wines and Champagnes, along with a bar menu ideal for a relaxed bite with friends or a business lunch.

Guests can choose from a selection of City Social’s menus, the à la carte, the tasting menu – which is also available as a vegetarian option – and the vegan menu. Open for lunch and dinner, read our review for a closer look at what we thought of this central London eatery.

A towering room of mahogany panels, gleaming architrave, deep-pile carpets and plush, peppermint-leather seating attended by battalions of suited staff, MARCUS (the restaurant) is as imposing as Mr Wareing’s culinary reputation – and “totally worth it”, according to one of its many fans.  

Readers are rightly enamoured of the “stunning food” and “sensational, seasonal dishes” on offer in this patrician hotel dining room, although current chef-patrons Mark and Shauna Froydenlund (long-serving Wareing alumni) are starting to make their mark on proceedings with many new ideas fleshing out the already fascinating repertoire.  

One reader’s “excellent lunch taster menu” yielded sourdough crumpets with cockle butter, turf-smoked trout with wild leek and sorrel oil, then slow-cooked rib of beef with braised onions and wild garlic, all culminating in Mr Wareing’s genre-defining Lancashire custard tart complete with a perfect wobble.

The fuller tasting menu is similarly appealing and eminently approachable, as in rack, loin and confit belly of Herdwick lamb with heritage beetroot and girolles or a pairing of Dorset snails, turbot and razor clams with Delica pumpkin – typical of the kitchen’s tried-and-tested take on cracking produce. To finish, there might be a salted milk chocolate ‘aero’ with honeycomb or a wizard take on peaches and cream presented, cheekily, in an open tin can.  

Dining at MARCUS is undoubtedly a top-end experience designed to impress, although staff are nonetheless discreet and attentive, creating a “relaxed atmosphere” that “makes you feel nothing can go wrong in the world”. A thick wine list excels when it comes to big-name producers, while pairings show the sommeliers at their passionate best.

Paul Ainsworth is one of the most recognisable chef names in these parts, operating a clutch of restaurants around Cornwall including Padstow Townhouse, The Mariners at Rock and his chef training academy in Truro.

Located in a gorgeous Georgian townhouse in the heart of Padstow, Paul Aindworth at No 6 is the Michelin-starred jewel in the crown of his restaurant portfolio, serving contemporary British fare which champions locally sourced Cornish produce. Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, the dining room here is a light and airy space which blends old world Georgian aesthetics with luxe modern finishes. There are no tablecloths or silver trays zipping around the room, which helps diners to feel relaxed, but the likes of studded black leather club chairs and plush light fixtures, plus beautifully plated dishes reassure you that this is a special occasion experience.

The menu at No 6 consists of a set four-course offering which is available at either lunch or dinner. A dedicated children’s menu is also available upon request and while the restaurant cannot currently cater to vegan diets, the team are able to accommodate most other dietary requirements. The menu evolves with the seasons, depending on which produce is available at the time, but you can always expect to find intriguing and visually pleasing dishes, including plenty of fish and seafood options (this is Cornwall, after all).

To start, you might tuck into the likes of raw scallop with kohlrabi rice, or red onion fondant with salt-baked celeriac. More substantial dishes meanwhile, might include lobster with mashed potato and onion gravy, or fillet of beef with oxtail persillade. Come dessert, don’t miss the showstopper titled ‘a fairground tale’ - a selection of dainty sweet treats served on a miniature revolving carousel.

After dinner, head to Cici’s Bar in the next room for an after-dinner cocktail.

The Hakkasan brand, a global entity with locations in the likes of New York, Las Vegas and Dubai, is arguably one of the most instantly recognisable restaurant names out there. Loved by celebrities, moneyed Mayfair residents and Londoners looking for a taste of the high life, Hakkasan’s popularity has endured when other long-standing restaurants have faltered.

London is blessed with two Hakkasan locations (there’s another in Mayfair), but this Hanway Place original still draws in the crowds. While the discreet entrance just off Tottenham Court Road may not look up to much, it soon gives way to a stunning subterranean dining room, decked out in a sleek blue and black colour scheme. The dimly-lit dining room is given added character via gold accents and lattice work which divides up the different dining areas, resulting in the overall feel that you’re in one of London’s sexiest dining haunts.

Hakkasan Hanway Place is certainly not a case of style over substance though, with the expansive menu featuring everything from expertly prepared dim sum to Chinese classics revisited with luxury ingredients. On your visit, you can kick-start your meal with the likes of a crispy duck salad, sesame prawn toast or golden friend soft-shell crab. Next up, choose from Hakkasan Hanway Place’s masterful selection of dim sum, with luxury options including langoustine har gau with Prunier caviar and a Wagyu beef dumpling.

There are more substantial dishes to try too though, such as roasted silver cod drizzled with a Champagne and honey sauce, or black truffle roasted duck. Vegetarians shouldn’t feel left out either though, as there are plenty of meat-free options to choose from. Tuck into the likes of a tofu, aubergine and Japanese mushroom clay pot or a black pepper and yellow bean stir fry.

To drink, there are Asian-inspired cocktails such as a Lychee Martini, while Hakkasan’s wine list traverses the globe.

First opened in 1975, The Seafood Restaurant is where it all began for chef Rick Stein and his then wife Jill (although the pair have since divorced, they are still in business together). Rick Stein is now synonymous with Cornwall and Padstow in particular, owning and operating a number of restaurants in the area, as well as at other beachside locations across the UK.

The Seafood Restaurant is perhaps the most well-known and well-liked location amongst his vast property portfolio though, boasting an international reputation for serving up only the freshest fish and shellfish, using locally sourced ingredients to craft uncomplicated seafood dishes that are packed with flavour. Stein himself has long since departed the kitchen, instead leaving it in the more than capable hands of head chef Pete Murt and his team, who champion seasonal and local produce in all that they do.

The restaurant’s USP is undoubtedly the no-bookings seafood bar, where the team of chefs put together pallets of oysters, langoustines and sashimi for guests to feast on. The Seafood Restaurant is also well placed to take advantage of Cornwall’s famous summer sunshine too, thanks to an upstairs terrace which overlooks the gorgeous coastal beauty of the Camel Estuary.

On the menu, you will find a blend of British and globally-inspired dishes such as shellfish soup or Cornish crab with a wasabi mayonnaise, followed up by the more substantial likes of traditional fish and chips or an Indonesian seafood curry. Prices are high, but those on a budget can take advantage of set lunch menus.

If you are really looking for the full Seafood Restaurant experience however, you can opt to stay overnight in one of the coastal-inspired bedrooms on location (designed by Jill Stein) and soak up every inch of those aforementioned views. Check out the restaurant’s ‘dine and stay’ packages for more information.

Kerridge's Bar & Grill is renowned chef Tom Kerridge’s first London restaurant and finds its home within the Corinthia London hotel in Whitehall. Famous for his pubs of exceptional standards, like The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Kerridge’s love of big, bold flavours are seen in his latest venture too, something akin to pub classics punters know and love. Helping him take things to new heights is his head chef Nick Beardshaw who joins Kerridge in his love of British cooking.

Interiors have been created with luxury in mind, so that guests feel calm and comfortable in the cosy space. Rich red leather banquette seating is built in curves to allow for a feeling of privacy around round tables, while a chef’s table is open to a section of kitchen that allows VIP guests an insight into the workings of the skilled professionals making their meals. Elsewhere wooden bookshelves hold cookery tomes and encase wine fridges, while there’s also a generously sized bar for guests to unwind at after a long day of sightseeing or business.

With everything from pre- and post-theatre menus through to vegetarian and vegan sets there is something here for everyone. The classic chef-chosen six course option begins with chicken liver parfait before moving through dishes like mushroom risotto and treacle roasted fillet of beef with chips and béarnaise sauce. The feast is finished off with a tonka bean panna cotta with rhubarb sorbet, honeycomb and ginger. Sundays, as you might expect, bring elevated roast dinners; pork belly with roasted onions and horseradish cream, say, or dry aged rib of beef with Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes.

For guests enjoying drinks at the bar there is also a small snacks menu which includes pub favourites like pork crackling (with Kerridge’s signature twist coming in the form of gherkin ketchup), devils on horseback or Welsh rarebit on toast.

The Padstow location of Prawn on the Lawn first opened its doors in 2015, two years after the debut of the concept’s original incarnation in the London borough of Islington. Following the success of the London site, husband and wife team Rick and Katie Toogood decided to open a second site in Cornwall’s Padstow, where the restaurant is obviously much closer to the maritime suppliers that underpin its menu of seafood and fresh fish.

Prawn on the Lawn Padstow is similar in look and feel to its London counterpart, showcasing relaxed and cosy interiors - think white tiles, overhead fans and slate flooring, all of which makes you feel like you are sat in a traditional fish and chip shop. The menu at Prawn on the Lawn is made up of a selection of shellfish and oysters, small plates, fish for the table and side dishes. However, the offering changes constantly (sometimes even hour to hour), depending on what produce is available that day.

Local fisherman supply fish and seafood daily for the restaurant, allowing Prawn on the Lawn to serve the likes of seared tuna with soy, mirin, spring onion and chilli or hake with truffle oil, parmesan, cauliflower and a porcini crumb. Alongside the small plates, you will find some larger fish dishes which can be served family-style to enjoy at the table, served whole or filleted and with the option to have them cooked classic, Thai or Chinese-style. Choose from the likes of John Dory, wild sea bass, plaice or brill.

To pad out your meal, you can add side dishes such as homemade soda bread served alongside seaweed butter, or a tomato and tarragon salad. After your meal, explore the European-led wine list or sip on one or two of Prawn on the Lawn’s delectable house cocktails.

Housed in a popular little spot on Frith Street, Hoppers Soho is largely responsible for putting Sri Lankan food well and truly on London’s map. The small and cheerful venue with its wooden furniture, bright yellow walls and framed Bollywood posters is inspired by the village toddy shops on the backstreets of Sri Lanka and the restaurant serves a laid-back informal menu of traditional and authentic dishes from the country including hoppers, dossas, kothus and roasts – all complimented by a tropical drinks list focussed around the popular native spirits Genever and Arrack.  The restaurant is the brainchild of the Sethi siblings, best known for their Indian restaurants Gymkhana and Brigadiers, and the success of their casual small plate outpost has seen Hoppers replicated in St Christopher’s Place and soon to be King’s Cross.

A very reasonable express lunch menu is a good way to experience a broad range of the restaurant’s popular dishes comprising mutton rolls, goat or veg Kothu rotis, a hopper or dosa, choice of Kari and selection of sambols or chutneys; but for those with more time on their hands the Taste of Hoppers feasting menus are an absolute must. For just £35 a head the whole table will be served a selection of signature dishes to share that showcase the very best of authentic Sri Lankan cusine. Choose between a meat or vegetarian option and look forward to sharing dishes that include hot butter chilli paneer; devilled squid; goat Kothu roti; Kappa cutlets; and bone marrow varuval. Next guests can choose between a traditional hopper- a large bowl shaped fermented rice and coconut milk pancake- or dosa – a pancake made from a fermented lentil and rice batter. Finally diners can choose a Kari (the Tamil term for a curry) of their choice to round off the feast with some Sri Lankan heat.

Opened over a decade ago, this Italian establishment continues to wow patrons with their honest, authentic representation of Italian cuisine in the heart of London. Located in buzzy Soho, this restaurant is superbly located in the mecca of foodies, and holds its own very well – having won many awards and accolades over the years.

The interior of the restaurant is modest for its well-known reputation, with a family-run atmosphere that exudes a great passion for service and good food.  Dressed simply with an understated colour palette of muted greys and wood, the most dramatic feature of the room is stunning, round glass chandelier that disperses light around the low-key restaurant.

The menu claims to offer punters a taste of the twenty main dialects of Italian cuisine, and with a twice-daily changing menu according to season, Bocca fares well. While you cannot expect the same menu every time you go, you will notice that a location is attributed to each dish, so that punters can learn about the regional differences within Italian cuisine.

In true Italian style, the menu offers plenty of courses for punters to dine on for hours. To begin, the crudi and salumi (raw and cured) plates offers tuna tartare, Galician sea urchins, and confit tuna for patrons to whet their appetites with, while the fried section offers red prawns and squid with blood oranges slices. Swiftly moving on, the pasta selection is modest – as all the pastas are handmade – featuring a variety of shapes and sauces such as cime di rapa orecchiette and agnolotti dal plin. From the oven, you can order a pigeon and bread lasagne topped with truffle or a polenta with wild boar stracotto from the stewing pot section. The menu perpetually seems all-encompassing, as it changes from lunch to dinner, and you can be guaranteed authenticity with every bite. Plus the all-Italian wine lists truly seals the deal.

A well known brand and a household name throughout the North West often visited by corporate clients, the rich and famous and custom from far and wide.

The restaurants provide a unique dining experience in a relaxing environment with great ambiance.

The eastZeast group of restaurants have experienced substantial growth since inception in 2005.  Located in the booming City of Manchester, 3 of the popular sites are based in Greater Manchester, with others in Liverpool, Preston and more recently Birmingham.

The Group commenced with the very first eastZeast in 2005, a great story of delivering sustainable growth and profitability in ‘tough times’.

Our humble business journey began in early 70’s.  When my father bought his first grocery store, then in 1976 they bought their first restaurant in Bradford.  My work experience began there in 1988… The culinary journey began after a number of years of conceptualising a personal vision of founder Kabir Rayman.

With yearning for self fulfilment of personal dining needs… the spices of punjabi kashmiri cuisine have been personally developed to deliver the authentic fine dining experience – eastZeast – the home of punjabi cooking.  2005 welcomed eastZeast’s spice’al trail on to Manchester’s Princess Street with its 1st home.

By 2006 patrons had made our home a house with the winning of the Manchester Food and Drinks most Prestigious Restaurant Award.

Located just away from the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Circus, Cecconi’s is a modern but classic Italian restaurant which focuses on using the finest ingredients to create dishes that you can’t help but love. At Cecconi’s the service and ambience is just as important as the food and adds to the real sense of occasion when you eat there.

The outside of the Burlington Gardens restaurant looks old-school smart from the moment you approach it, with large windows allowing you to see into the smart dining room. The interior of the restaurant continues the feeling of traditional fine dining with white tables cloths covering every table, mirror-covered walls, and a large dark wood bar in the centre of the room; servers wear classic black and white uniforms.

When it comes to the food menu, you can expect everything from Italian dishes you will have tasted often, to more decadent plates of food. The all-day menu begins with cicchetti such as meatballs with tomato sauce, and whipped ricotta with truffle honey and crostini. In terms of starters you might go for Cornish crab with avocado and lemon, or there is of course a classic burrata on offer too. There is also a selection of raw meats available such as tuna tartare, as well as a plant-based section which includes grilled cauliflower with salsa verde.

Appealing pasta dishes vary from a tagliatelle bolognaise to casarecce with wild boar. Whereas other main courses option include dishes such as fish stew and veal Milanese. If you still have any room, desserts range from tiramisu to crème caramel. As well as the all-day menu, Cecconi’s also offer a breakfast menu full of brilliant Clarence Court egg dishes.

Drink-wise, there is of course a wine list covering many different regions with bottles, glasses, and half bottles available, and also a great selection of cocktails to pick from.

Mana is a Michelin-starred restaurant owned and run by Chef-Patron Simon Martin, who brings his considerable experience from working in Copenhagen’s two-Michelin-starred Noma. His outlook might seem a little pretentious – he talks at length on his website about how his restaurant or “canvas” allows him to breathe, energise and channel his personality into an evolving and immersive experience for others to share in – but when the result is an inventive tasting menu that has won numerous accolades, it’s easily forgiven.  

Each day, in the state-of-the-art open kitchen, the very best produce from the British Isles is transformed into small dishes that make up the multi-course tasting menus available from Wednesday-Saturday. Each is thoughtfully designed and carefully constructed to ensure it is full of flavour and beautiful to behold.

As you’d expect, the menu changes daily depending on what produce is available, but examples of dishes you could encounter include barbecued duck broth with lavender, blue mussel with inoculated grains and pickled flowers, aged eel with roasted yeast and blueberry, and lovage and dark chocolate Æbleskiver (Danish pancake balls). Optional wine pairing is available for both the lunch tasting menu experience and the dinner tasting menu experience and promises an interesting and challenging selection.

Mana isn’t located in the centre of Manchester, but in Ancoats – a trendy neighbourhood known for its burgeoning food and drink scene. That said, its interiors wouldn’t look out of place in Mayfair thanks to widely spaced tables, gauzy white curtains at the windows, and pendant lights hanging at varying lengths throughout the dining room. Reservations are only taken via Mana’s own booking system online and pre-payment is required, so if you’re looking to book for a special occasion, it’s worth doing so well in advance. The kitchen is able to cater for all intolerances and allergies except vegan menus or menus free from milk protein.

Orasay is named after an island found off the west coast of Scotland, spelled Orosay. The menu is inspired by the Outer Hebridean region surrounding the island and focuses heavily on seafood. You can expect to tuck into the likes of scallops, oysters, crabs and lobster, while some produce (vegetables, honey, etc.) comes from the business’ own organic farm in West Sussex, which is also chef Jackson Boxer’s family home.

The simple interiors see lime-washed walls and antique French oak, while a 60-bin wine list features Euro-leaning bottles available both by the glass and carafe.

Occupying the 38th and 39th floors of the tallest building in the City – Heron Tower – SUSHISAMBA City boasts the highest outdoor terraces in Europe, so if you’re looking for unparalleled, 360-degree views of the City, it’s a must-visit. Guests can take advantage of the views from the moment they step into the panoramic glass elevator that whisks its occupants up 39 floors in a jiffy before opening out on to the show-stopping main dining room.

SUSHISAMBA’s main dining room capitalises on its spectacular views of London with floor-to-ceiling windows.  Pendulum lights hang through the gaps of the spectacular bamboo ceiling at varying heights, making the space look more like an art gallery than a restaurant. The impressive design doesn’t stop there though; bright orange banquette seating around the windows and hanging plants add vibrant pops of colour that offset the black and white floor.

It’s not just a few carefully-chosen plants that create the indoor-outdoor theme of this high-rise restaurant either – the structural orange tree on the west terrace is a work of art designed to reinforce the earth-to-sky motif this restaurant projects.

There’s more to SUSHISAMBA City than its interiors and views, though these are undoubtedly a draw both for locals and visitors to London. The food is a colourful blend of Japanese and South American cuisine, meaning guests can look forward to the likes of Japanese tempura and sushi, Brazilian churrasco and moqueca, and Peruvian anticuchos and ceviches. The open kitchen, with its hot robata grill, churns out chargrilled meats, vegetables and fish, while the restaurant’s small-plates concept encourages a shared dining experience. There’s a separate vegan menu and a menu for the gluten-conscious too, plus a dessert menu brimming with cleverly-designed sweet treats that often look too pretty to eat. The bar is as well-stocked as can be, so be sure to try a cocktail while you’re there.

Hide is the hugely ambitious project that chef Ollie Dabbous has seemed destined to open since his self-titled debut picked up every award going in 2012. The venue is actually three different spaces on different levels: Hide Below (a bar), Hide Ground (an all-day restaurant) and Hide Above (Dabbous’ domain), reached via a swirling oak staircase.

Inventive visuals include caviar-beaded tuna tartare prettily heaped at the centre of an ornamental plate but there's substance behind the style, too, in the likes of a breathtakingly subtle dish of red mullet in a bread and saffron sauce, and a gamey, dry-aged Goosnargh duck breast. Puddings are also best-in-class, from the 'garden ripple ice cream’ that looks like a slice of Twister to a swirl of coconut cream fashioned into a white rose petal. 

Tech-savvy design touches, meanwhile, include a leather-bound iPad that can access 6,000 wines direct from Dabbous’ backers, Hedonism Wines (Hide has no cellar).

The elegant, spacious and light-drenched conservatory dining room commands a panoramic view of the gardens and is set in a beautiful Victorian villa is on Midsummer Common on the banks of the River Cam, Cambridge. Midsummer House was awarded its first Michelin star in 2002, followed by a second in. The restaurant also proudly holds five AA rosettes.

ROKA Charlotte Street is part of a small London mini chain which has sites in Aldwych, Canary Wharf and Mayfair too (with an additional restaurant planned for Dubai). The space is dominated by a robata grill where meat and fish are cooked with flair, with the kitchen focusing on high quality ingredients elsewhere to turn out plates of the very freshest sushi, soups and salads.

For an iconic dining destination with breath-taking views of the capital, Duck & Waffle is at the peak (if you’ll pardon the pun) of the pack. Finding its home on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate in London you would be hard pressed not to be impressed by the space, which is reached by a swiftly moving glass lift that prompts stomach-flipping views of the city below as it zips out of sight during the brief 40 second assent.

As one of the only 24/7 restaurants in London, Duck & Waffle gives diners the ultimate flexibility in fine dining. Whether you find yourself browsing the menu after a few drinks on a Friday night or prefer to start the day with a sunrise breakfast, you’ll be treated to a playful British menu with international influences. Of course, the obvious choice is the house signature duck and waffle, but outside of this there are other gems to discover. A raw bar throws up Angus beef tartare and Jersey oysters, while small plates see combinations like a spicy ox cheek ragu packed into a savoury paprika-sugar-dusted doughnut and seared scalloped with potatoes, chilli and garlic. If you’re not the sharing type or want to skip starters, then the main menu features larger plates that include excellent cuts of meat cooked in the wood oven and inventive vegetarian serves. As if wanting to push proof of its popularity, the restaurant group boast having sold over a million dishes worldwide and now includes a Hong Kong site in its portfolio.

If preferred guests can also enjoy the indoor/outdoor bar area which has dazzling views of the city below whatever time of the day you find yourself at it. Compliment cocktails with the selection of temping bar snacks like crispy BBQ pig ears or cauliflower and red onion pakora.

Core is the first solo restaurant from Northern Irish chef Clare Smyth. Since opening in 2017, following Smyth’s departure from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay where she had held three Michelin stars for nine years as head chef and then chef patron, Core has become renowned for its contemporary style of British cuisine. Winning two Michelin stars after being open for just one year, the London restaurant was awarded its third Michelin star in the 2021 guide. Combining the highest level of service, with ground-breaking culinary prowess and a relaxed fine-dining setting, Core by Clare Smyth aims to provide guests with a truly memorable dining experience.

Located in Notting Hill, Core is based inside a stunning period building with steps leading up to the restaurant’s front door. Inside, the elegant interiors of the 54-cover dining room strike a careful balance between being luxurious but not overly formal. Exposed wooden floors play host to circular tables which aren’t adorned with white table cloths, and there is little by way of décor apart from the odd shelf stacked with plants and books.

British produce is at the centre of all of Smyth’s menus, with a particular emphasis on natural, sustainably sourced food. There is the choice of two tasting menus and an a la carte menu at Core, all of which change regularly depending on the season. Dishes on offer range from starters such as Isle of Mull scallop tartare with a sea vegetable consommé, to main courses including Rhug Estate venison red cabbage and Tasmanian mountain pepper. In terms of sweet dishes, you can expect playful desserts such as lemonade parfait, and a dish known as the ‘Core-teaser’.

The food is accompanied by an extensive French-led wine list, with the option to opt for a pairing with the tasting menus. Meanwhile Core’s well-stocked bar can rustle up everything from classic cocktails to non-alcoholic delights.

Before Padella came along, pasta was something that impoverished students ate or restaurant diners would order as an alternative to a main course (with the greedy eating pasta as part of the traditional four-course Italian meal).

Padella changed all of that. The big idea here is to shrink pasta down to small-plate size and order it as one would any sharing-plates, tapas-style menu. The pici cacio e pepe, squidgy cylinders of pasta slicked with cheese and scattered with pepper, is the house speciality, while other classics include pappardelle with beef-shin ragu and tagliarini with Dorset crab, chilli and lemon.

Vegetarian options are good – gnocchi with nutmeg butter or straci with sweet onion, thyme and Gorgonzola, say – while non-pasta dishes extend to some salady antipasti and a trio of puddings.

To drink, there are four wines available on tap, British beers and some rather alluring aperitivi, from prosecco or homemade lemonade to fruity spins on the Negroni, Americano and Spritz.  

The food and drink isn’t the only aspect of Padella that is bang-up-to-date. Like nearly every hot new opening in London, Padella is no bookings, though given how reasonable the prices are – over half the pasta dishes cost under £8 – it’s not surprising how many people are willing to wait for a table here.

Expect to queue not only at peak times but any time. Even before the doors open, a line of would-be diners stretches round the corner well into Borough Market, while waits of two hours are not uncommon if you turn up at a time you may actually wish to eat, such as 7pm.

The solution? Arrive by yourself and you may very well be shown straight to a stool at the counter by the open kitchen. Even better, you won’t have to share any of your food.   

Arguably serving up some of the best Chinese food in the whole of London, A. Wong is a fine dining restaurant named after head chef and owner Andrew Wong.

Located in the heart of Pimlico, it was first opened in 1985 by Wong's parents under the name Kym's, before being reopened with a new name in 2012 by Wong and his wife. In 2021 A. Wong was awarded a second star in the Michelin guide making it the first Chinese restaurant in the UK to hold such a title. Serving a highly innovative menu of modern Chinese food, the restaurant aims to showcase a diverse selection of dishes from the many different regions of China. Its not overly formal ambience makes A. Wong a brilliant spot for special occasions when you want to avoid hushed voices and silver service.

Found on the busy Wilton Road, the outside of the restaurant is surrounded by trees and greenery, while there is some outdoor seating, allowing for al freso drinking and dining when the weather allows. A Wong's large windows and light interiors provide a bright and airy feel to place, with an open kitchen allowing diners to see the chef's at work and a few seats up at the counter.

There are a variety of different menus on offer at A.Wong throughout the day including a dim sum lunch menu, an evening a la carte, and a lengthy tasting menu. Expect creative savoury dishes such as Shaanxi pulled lamb ‘burger’ with Xinjiang pomegranate salad and Anhui province red braised fermented wild seabass, while sweeter treats might include poached meringue with fruit textures.

The drinks offering is equally innovative as the food with a range of Chinese-inspired cocktails available alongside an impressive selection of wines by the glass and bottle. You can either enjoy your drinks at the table or head down to the Forbidden City bar on the lower ground floor before or after your meal.

Chutney Mary is a fine dining Indian restaurant in St James’s which first opened back in 1990, in its then Chelsea location. With a comfortable dining room and modern plating it quickly became a popular choice among London foodies and continues to be held in utmost regard on the capital’s dining scene.  

Phil Howard’s more casual follow-up to The Square has established itself as a Chelsea essential, the sort of restaurant to go to for supper on the way home or something more challenging for a special occasion: in other words, a terrific local that merits a journey from further afield.

Prices are the Chelsea norm (ie. high), but portion sizes are generous and if you spend some time with the carefully constructed wine list, you’ll discover plenty of interesting drinking for under £30 (as well as a lot more).

Displays of modern art in the chic, contemporary dining room show the connoisseur’s eye of co-owner Rebecca Mascarenhas, while service comes from the same well-drilled, well-spoken stable as the pair’s other projects, Kitchen W8 and Church Road – neighbourhood restaurants that also have an instinctive understanding of what their customers want.

Serial restauranteur Richard Caring’s ever burgeoning Ivy collection now comprises 32 locations around the UK and Ireland, with each restaurant christened as either ‘Brasserie’ ‘Garden’ ‘Market Grill’ or ‘Café’. Of course, all of these off-shoots are nods to The Ivy’s iconic original site in Covent Garden.

Located in the historic Bishopsgate Gardens, an easy and pleasant walk from Liverpool Street Station, The Ivy City Garden is a charming and elegant spot for guests to enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and cocktails. The brasserie style restaurant is a relaxed yet sophisticated setting serving a menu of modern British and international classics seven days a week in the beautiful Dashwood House. The interiors are bold and vibrant with colourful leather and velvet furnishings, a long glamorous bar and bright contemporary artwork on the walls. Perhaps the biggest draw of this location is the glass roofed garden area, complete with tables and a bar, where diners can enjoy a meal al fresco surrounded by an abundance of leafy green foliage and tropical flowers. It’s a particularly special spot in the summer but the overhead heaters make it possible to enjoy this tranquil spot all year round. A gorgeous private dining room is also a popular venue for everything from informal gatherings to corporate meetings.

The a la carte menu is full to brim with crowd pleasing choices that range from light, healthy dishes to indulgent comfort food classics. The Ivy staples include the signature shepherd’s pie with slow-braised lamb leg, Wookey Hole Cheddar potato mash and truffle sauce, and of course The Ivy hamburger – chargrilled and served in a potato bun with mayonnaise, horseradish ketchup and thick cut chips. Special starters to look out for include the yellow fin tuna carpaccio served with cucumber, baby basil and an apple, jalapeno and avocado sauce; and the duck liver parfait on toasted brioche with caramelized hazelnuts, truffle, pear and ginger compote.

A City Garden special on the drinks list comes in the form of a Kir Royale made with Plymouth sloe gin, Briottet rose liqueur and hibiscus topped with The Ivy Collection Champagne – perfect for toasting just about any occasion!

Located inside Surrey's luxurious Pennyhill Park Hotel, The Latymer is a fine dining restaurant serving a choice of inventive menus designed by head chef Steve Smith. With a Michelin star to its name, The Latymer prides itself on providing only the highest level of service and a suitably formal atmosphere to best showcase the award-winning food. The restaurant is committed to showcasing only the finest local produce and also has a real focus on seasonality, which means that the menus change every day based on availability of ingredients.

Found in one of the oldest parts of the house, The Latymer's dining room has a snug yet grand feel to it with rustic exposed beams on the ceiling contrasting with the opulent décor below. A mixture of brightly upholstered chairs and banquettes sit on a turquoise carpet while tables are topped with white table cloths and wooden panels line the walls.

Having taken over as chef in 2020 Steve Smith completely redesigned The Latymer's food offering. There is now a fixed-price à la carte menu available at lunchtime, as well as separate discovery tasting menus on offer at lunch and dinner which comprise of six regularly changing courses. Expect dishes such as calve's sweetbread with pea and pine nut risotto and madeira, foie gras cream served with strawberry and timut pepper and a duck salad, and Herdwick lamb with broccoli, artichoke and anchovies. Sweet dishes might include compressed strawberry with nitro buttermilk and a basil salad, or itakuja chocolate delice and mango sorbet.

When it comes to drinks at The Latymer, you can opt for a wine pairing designed by head sommelier Aurel Istrate to perfectly complement every dish on the tasting menu, or you can choose a bottle from the extensive wine list. There are also plenty of other drinks available for those who don't want wine and for non-drinkers.

This relaxed fine dining restaurant at The Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green is overseen by Spanish chef Paulo Airaudo, who already runs a Michelin-starred restaurant called Amelia in San Sebastiàn. Replacing the critically-acclaimed Typing Room, the food menu at Da Terra is inspired by Latin America and Italy, while there is also an on-site bar.

The space has a history of producing critically lauded restaurants: as well as formerly housing Typing Room, the hotel was also home to Viajante, which positioned Nuno Mendes as one of the most exciting chefs in London. 

This new site from French restaurant group Big Mamma is found on the corner of Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch, in the space which formerly housed Red’s True BBQ. The restaurant is split over two floors and seats around 150 diners. The interiors are inspired by the Italian island of Capri in the 1970s, while on the menu, you can expect to find over-the-top versions of Italian classics.

Take the 10-layer lasagne, or the cacio e pepe, which is served in a giant wheel of cheese. Desserts are just as epic, including the likes of a singular giant profiterole, and a hefty wedge of lemon meringue pie. Drinks are fun too, and include a classic Negroni topped with truffle foam. 

Interior image: Jerome Galland
Food image: Joann Pai 

Founded by two Dinner by Heston alumni, Fallow is a long-term residency at 10 Heddon Street in Mayfair. The brand began when Will Murray and Jack Croft met over the stoves of Dinner by Heston and shared a similar passion for cooking sustainably while retaining very different approaches to their style of food. Four years later, with Dinner by Heston behind them, the pair came up with the idea of Fallow and distilled their individual talents into one coherent concept.

Originally, before it found its home at Heddon Street, Fallow was run as a couple of sell-out pop ups, at both Carousel in Fitzrovia and Crispin in Spitalfields.

Then, just ten days after Fallow opened officially for the first time at 10 Heddon street, the team had to close the doors to their band new venture due to Coronavirus. During that time – as many other businesses did – the restaurant pivoted to start selling produce and began creating home cooking kits. Now, with their doors open once more, the team have come back with a creative, constantly evolving menu packed with lesser-used ingredients to minimise waste in the industry. Making use of elements like cod’s head and dairy cow beef, the line-up is full of interesting combinations that elevate humble produce to nnew heights.

As well as the traditional a la carte there are also private dining menus you can choose from should you want to celebrate with friends in a more intimate setting. These start from £55 per person and represent good value for money as they include starters, small sharing plates, large sharing plates, sides, dessert and cheese. Sharing plates might be things like salmon belly with horseradish, bone marrow and parsley or Denver steak with caramelised cauliflower cheese. The house signature dessert of a lemon peel pudding finishes things off, or you’re able to swap your cheese to have two sweets and treat yourself to the chocolate ice cream.

Interiors have a warm industrial vibe with painted brick walls, and warm tan leather chairs, while table settings are kept clean and neutral with canvas-style napkins.

While there are plenty of places to grab tacos and tequila in London, there are fewer Mexican restaurants serving up fine-dining fare. KOL, having opened in the somewhat challenging year of 2020, hopes to bring a whole new kind of innovative Mexican cuisine to the UK’s capital.

The venture is headed up by chef Santiago Lastra who is keen to showcase Mexico’s food culture while simultaneously celebrating the best of British produce. The well-respected chef previously oversaw the launch of world-renowned restaurant Noma’s seven-week pop up in Mexico. While KOL will serve Mexican food made with ingredients sourced mainly in the UK it will also champion ingredients which are often looked upon as simple or low-end. Its approach to food is referenced in the name. KOL is a play on the Spanish word ‘col’, which translates as ‘cabbage’. Lastra revealed in an interview that he chose the name because he wants to show that “an average ingredient can be incredible”.

When dining at KOL, guests are given the choice between a five or six course tasing menu, and there is an option to add a wine pairing. While the food at KOL may flex and fluctuate with the seasons, guests can expect dishes offered to include the likes of langoustine tacos with smoked chilli, kohlrabi with pink mole and confit pork cheek carnitas.

Aside from the food offering, guests with a keen eye for detail will surely be impressed by the care taken over the interiors. Here you’ll find warm Mexican colours brough to life by the design team at A-NRD Studio. From rattan lightshades and rough pottery ornaments (sourced from indigenous communities in Mexico) to the wooden bar, the whole restaurant is an escape from the buzz of London outside. Nice touches include works from Mexican artist Fernando La Posse’s, whose full-length heritage corn husk mosaic hangs in the reception, and the tableware which has been gathered from 18 artisan potters across the UK.

Kol also boasts a bar, which has a focus on mezcal and natural wines.

Originally opened in 2013, Restaurant Story is the brainchild of wunderkind chef Tom Sellers, who took the restaurant world by storm with his innovative, high-concept dishes, bagging a Michelin star just five months after opening its doors.

The concept of Restaurant Story is to offer a fine-dining experience that is a feast for the eyes as much as it is for the taste buds, as evidenced by Sellers’ signature dishes, such as the beef dripping candle, which is lit at the table and melts to become a dipping sauce for sourdough bread. Despite the initial success of his restaurant, Sellers also developed a reputation for being somewhat difficult - he famously launched an online tirade against former Evening Standard restaurant critic Fay Maschler after she wrote a lukewarm review of his Restaurant Ours concept (although Ours still operates, Sellers is no longer involved).

It seems that Sellers has grown up since then though and so has the restaurant that first made his name. In 2018, Restaurant Story underwent an extensive refurbishment, which saw more luxurious tables and seating being added to the dining room, as well as the addition of a feature ceiling showcasing an installation of swallows taking flight. Sellers has also ditched the traditional a la carte format, instead offering guests a blind tasting menu (you will have time to warn your waiter of any dislikes or allergies).

Longtime fans of Restaurant Story will be glad to know that several of the signature dishes remain, which are served alongside seasonally inspired plates. It seems all of Sellers’ efforts have paid off, because Restaurant Story was awarded a second Michelin star in 2021. Prices are as high as you would expect in a place like this, but the relaxed, unstuffy service will help to soften the blow of the bill.

A sibling to the Borough original, this pizza joint specialises in dough made with sea water. Found in St James’s Market (which also houses Ikoyi and Scully), ‘O ver brings the outside in via an array of plants lining the walls, as well as imposing indoor trees.

The restaurant also benefits from fully retractable full-height windows, which lead out to a spacious courtyard terrace. Otherwise, walnut wood, splashes of Carrara marble and burnished brass finishes create a relaxed, yet chic atmosphere.    

‘O ver St James’s signature dishes are inspired by the recipes of the head chef’s grandmother, with pizzas being the most obvious thing to order. Try classic options such as marinara and Margherita, or if you fancy pasta, opt for the Genovese, which is a 12-hour slow-cooked organic beef and amber onion ragu. Description

The Palomar brings modern plates inspired by the food of Jerusalem to the city, with a mix of counter-dining and cosy tables and chairs offering up something for everyone.

When it opened in 2014, Chiltern Firehouse was the first restaurant since Scott’s to cross over from being a must-visit in the reasonably niche world of upmarket restaurant-goers to become a bona fide cultural event, its name known to the sort of people who might never dream of eating in a posh West End dining room.

The initial tsunami of celebrity may have slowed to a trickle but the hotel upstairs remains a favourite of visiting A-listers and means that you’re still likely to see a famous face in the dining room. But even if your meal isn’t dusted with a sprinkling of stardust, there’s still much to enjoy here.

Punters adore the clever outdoor-themed interiors and the lively atmosphere, which brings an infectious energy to proceedings. We also love the subtle nods to the venue’s original incarnation as a fire station, with ceiling patterns inspired by hoses and a fireman’s pole forming the centrepiece of one corner table.

Right on cue, the open kitchen serves up wave after wave of likeable successes. Snacks such as the famous coral-dusted crab doughnut kick things off nicely, but there are other highlights too: BBQ pork skewers are served with brown-butter mayo, flaky salmon is cooked tandoori-style and complemented by a puddle of cooling lime yoghurt, cucumber and puffed rice, while a plate of burrata is given a summery makeover thanks to piles of juicy heritage tomato and a lively chilli jam.

Early risers pack in for breakfast (courgette and spinach scrambled eggs topped with aged Parmesan), freelancers take advantage of the indulgent lunchtime offers (Ibérico pork with red pepper mayo and barbecued peach on toast, say) and we’d also recommend a pre/post-meal trip to the botanically themed bar for cheekily named cocktails (hotel guests are given priority, but it’s easier to slip in on quiet nights).

One of only five restaurants in the UK to receive five Michelin stars, The Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, Berkshire finds its home in a quaint 16th-century building that was previously home to The Bell pub. Headed up and owned by Heston Blummenthal 

The restaurant is best known for its 14-course tasting menu that features quirky dishes such as nitro-scrambled eggs and a dish called Sound of the Sea which includes listening to audio as part of the experience and bacon and egg flavoured ice-cream.

Far from simply a gimmick, The Fat Duck has stood the test of time and is one of Berkshire’s most famous - if not the most famous - dining destination. The restaurant plays on playful memories and adventure from your childhood and the unexpected dishes are designed to bring back that awe and magic you experience as a child.

One of six restaurants and bars in towering skyscraper The Shard, Oblix is a contemporary restaurant which champions carefully sourced British produce, with much of the menu cooked on a rotisserie grill. The restaurant has a double identity and is split between two distinct spaces; Oblix East is home to a bar and informal dining, while Oblix West acts as the main dining room.

If you are visiting East, you can expect to enjoy either lunch, dinner or weekend brunch in a setting that boasts awe-inspiring views of east London and employs a muted colour scheme of browns and natural woods which let those views do the talking. The à la carte features dishes such as caramelised pork skewers with crispy shallots or a Wagyu beef burger topped with cheese and truffle mayonnaise. The menu is also more accessible than that of West, with diners able to enjoy a starter and main course for £28 per person.

On the weekends, Oblix East serves a three-course brunch, with the option to add bottomless wine or Champagne. Starters to share include a charcuterie board or salt cod croquettes, while main courses see seafood linguine and grilled baby chicken pepped up with garlic and rosemary.

For more formal dining, head to Oblix West. Here, you’ll find a buzzy open kitchen by the entrance and a chic dining room in which you can enjoy lunch, dinner, afternoon tea or a classic Sunday roast. On the regular menu, you’ll find dishes such as crispy octopus with sweet peppers and black olive mayonnaise, or perhaps wild mushroom orzo pasta with Spenwood cheese and black truffle. There is also the option to order from the grill – think a selection of steaks and whole lobster slathered in garlic butter.

If you’re worried about the intimidating prices at Oblix, opt for the Elevator Lunch (starter, main and side for £40), or visit for afternoon tea, when you’ll find classic finger sandwiches served alongside freshly-baked scones.

Hot on the heels of The Frog E1 in Hoxton, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Adam Handling has opened this more formal all-day flagship in Covent Garden.

It’s clear that Handling is looking to make himself a household name – his cookbook greets you at the reception desk, his name is emblazoned on staff aprons, and the moody basement bar is themed with Adam and Eve imagery. Self-indulgence aside, The Frog’s five or eight-course tasting menu impresses with high-octane combinations, including butter whipped with chicken fat, topped with crispy chicken skin and served with sourdough, and razor clams shrouded in dry ice.

We opted for the five-course menu, starting out with impressive warm savoury doughnuts, oozing cheese and topped with shreds of earthy black truffle. Other highlights are a tender helping of Iberico pork made sharp with kimchi and smoky roasted cauliflower, and an intriguing veggie option of a papery slice of celeriac folded over apple, date, egg yolk and thick cream.

A knowledgeable and chatty sommelier explains unexpected wine options, such as the light pink, fruity number that comes with dessert. The final course is just as ambitious – a chocolate-covered marshmallow conceals bursts of raspberry with vanilla ice cream, while a mango and coconut cheesecake offers a lighter option.

Handling is also aware of the rising popularity of meat-free and plant-based diets, offering an alternative tasting menu alongside the regular offering which is entirely vegetarian. On that menu, you might come across dishes such as roasted gnocchi with squash and chestnuts, as well as a concoction involving cucumber, gooseberry, oyster leaf and dill.  

With its Instagram-baiting dishes and unique flavour combinations, it’s clear that Handling is on to a winner with The Frog, which was impressively busy on our mid-week visit. It’s safe to say that he has made the leap into chef stardom.