44 Cloth Fair, London EC1A 7JQ

180 Lavender Hill, Battersea, London SW11 5TQ

162 Tufnell Park Road, London N7 0EE

47 Marsham Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3DP

This contemporary Italian restaurant in Westminster should prove a boon to spin doctors, lobbyists, journalists and any MP brave enough to put a nice meal out on their expenses. In charge of the kitchen is chef Demian Mazzocchi, Dutch-born but raised in Italy and who has worked in the restaurant for over 15 years.

38 Holly Grove, London SE15 5DF

A relative old-timer of Peckham restaurants, having opened in 2004, Ganapati is chef-owner Claire Fisher’s ode to India. The colourful space is filled with mouth-watering aromas that pave the way for the delicious, homely food. The thalis are fail-safe favourites or go off-piste with their more inventive offerings such as tuna with smoked tamarind. The desserts are also great.

The Pepys Building, The Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9LW

4-6 Theobald's Road, London WC1X 8PN

7 Archer Street, London W1D 7AU

The folks behind Italian restaurant Bocca Di Lupo expanded across the street to offer a selction of special Gelato and coffee as well as frozen pasta from Bocca di Lupo.

1 Kinnerton Street, London SW1X 8ED

As the name suggests, Petrus has a focus on the finest wines at its heart and was one of the first restaurants in London to serve wines from Chateau Pétrus by the glass. The Michelin-starred restaurant serves up fine French food in modern surroundings and has a variety of tasting menus including several vegetarian-only options.

134-136 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 8ZP

Fifth floor, 240 Regent Street, London W1B 3BR

The spanish restaurant at London's high-profile Aqua restaurant offers both a tapas and a-la-carte menus. Head chef here is Salamancan Alberto Hernandez trained at El Bulli. The selling point here though is the restaurant's two terraces offering fantastic views over central London.

86 Park Lane, London W1K 7TL

Proving that the Americans really do know their steak, this restaurant features a whopping 32 ounce challenge dish called The Tomahawk, There's also a Bourbon Bar and terrace for alfresco dining.

118-120 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5EP

60 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8HP

Raymond Blanc's first London branch of his Brasserie Blanc chain. This 4000 square foot venue features an outside dining area and, as Blanc explains, serves 'simple, high quality food that comes as close as possible to the meals that my mother prepared for me at home in Besançon'.

62 Goodge Street, London W1T 4NE

Once known as Barrica, this is now the Fitzrovia outpost of Spanish tapas bar Copita, owned by former wine shipper Tim Luther. This tapas spot has been fairly quietly building a loyal audience in London's media heartland for its standout tapas and excellent sherry list.

37 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE

This new gastropub comes from the owners of previously lauded gastropubs The Thomas Cubitt and The Pantechnicon. This is their first pub with rooms in Pimlico. There's a wood-fired oven for pizzas and roasts and 4 en-suite bedrooms.

115 Westbourne Grove, London W2 4UP

El Pirata Detapas is a younger offshoot of a long-established Mayfair tapas restaurant. Reviews so far have been good, but best of all is their set lunch menu deal - with two tapas, bread, alioli and a glass of wine or sherry for just £9. Now that's a bargain.

69 - 71 Dean Street, London W1D 3SE

Part of Nick Jones' Soho House empire, this is a hotel and restaurant space in Dean Street. This 'glorious cream Georgian building, originally home to the Gargolye Club' (their words), has 41 bedrooms alongside a traditional English dining room, seating 120. The all-day menu includes British favourites as well as afternoon tea, weekend brunch and weekly Sunday roast.

2 Burleigh Street London WC2E 7PX

This long-running Covent Garden restaurant has moved from its original location, but somehow looks almost identical. There's a brasserie menu but made sure you order their excellent burger (it's not listed on the menu - you have to be in the know).

35 Spital Square, London E1 6DY (Entrance on Bishops Sq)

85 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1AE

More French perfection from the Peter Prescott and Terence Conran partnership. There's a charcuterie counter, sushi bar, members club and private rooms. Head chef David Burke comes via Bibendum and Pont de la Tour. Oh, and Samuel Pepys was born here.

4 Park Pavilion, 40 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5FW

International Japanese restaurant Roka’s first London opening in Charlotte Street was a huge hit, and this second London restaurant is at the Churchill Place Mall. It includes a Sochu lounge and is the first Roka to feature a Robata chef’s table. According to owner Rainer Becker, the new Roka's design is 'like a baby Zuma'. Yoshi Muranka is head chef.

Crowne Plaza London - The City, 19 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6DB

41 Beak Street, London

Small bites are big news as this Venetian bacaro demonstrates. The head chef here is Tom Olroyd, who was previously at Bocca di Lupo, London's last big Italian opening. Packed from pretty much the minute it opened, the tapas-style menu is clearly a hit with Londoners.

61 Elizabeth Street, Belgravia, London SW1W 9PP

76 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE

1 Green's Court, London W1F 0HA

65 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PZ

Restaurateur Tony Kitous (who also owns Pasha and Kenza) intends Comptoir Libanais to 'revolutionise Middle Eastern food and make it accessible to the high street'. In the main, critics tend to agree he's succeeded.

96 Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, W11 1PY

5-7 Devonshire Road, Chiswick, London W4 2EU

Owned by Nigel Platts-Martin and Bruce Poole (who also run Chez Bruce) this Chiswick restaurant has the same French/Mediterranean leanings as its sibling, and a loyal local audience.