23-27 Wadeson Street, London E2 9DR
A true London trailblazer, Pablo Flack and David Waddington's Bistrotheque has been a staple of the Hackney dining scene for over 20 years. The menu remains French-inspired through a modern European lens and these days the brunch remains one of its biggest draws.
Lewis Cubitt Park, Unit 1, Cadence Court, London N1C 4ED
This beautiful restaurant with its double height space proves that Bubala are still at the forefront of serving up great vegetarian food in London. The menu here is inspired by food from across the Middle East, that it happens to be vegetarian is almost an aside. The mezze, in particular, is unmissable.
1 New Drum St, London E1 7AY
Global flavours are the focus at self-taught chef Murat Kilic's latest Aldgate restaurant. Think corn ribs with umami dust and mussels skewers in roasted chicken wing butter sauce. As for drinks, it's all about sustainability from the vineyards featured on the wine list to cocktails made from spirits created from waste produce.
15 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EF
Leydi sees a return to the London restaurant scene by chef Selin Kiazim. Here she's channelling her love of Turkish food and the vibes of Istanbul, hoping to translate that to a City audience. It's an all-day affair with Turkish breakfasts and pastries in the morning, through to sharing dishes at lunch and in the evenings. Cocktails are well worth a look too, as one of Turkey's best bartenders, Kevin Patnode, came up with the list here.