National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE

Right at the top of the revamped National Portrait Gallery, this is the main restaurant with excellent views across London. In charge of the food is top Irish chef Richard Corrigan (Bentley's) who has brought with him a modern approach to European cooking with plenty of seafood on offer too.

37 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9EN

Thirty7 comes from the Oystermen (Matt Lovell & Rob Hampton), and is just around the corner from their first Covent Garden restaurant. They describe the restaurant as a neighbourhood restaurant and bar which goes beyond the seafood focus of before (although you will find oysters on the menu). Make sure to have the cheddar beignets and also pop down to the excellent bar downstairs.

16A Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP

This is, simply put, a mini version of The Barbary, right next door to the original. The Barbary (which in turn is from the same people as The Palomar). Expect a small plates menu, with a similar Mediterranean/African focus all served up on a mini counter space.

39 Endell St, London WC2H 9BA

The people behind the 10 Cases wine bar opened this, their second restaurant, just across the road from the first. The focus is on seafood, with daily catches on the board every day. Being related to the 10 Cases (and with access to their cellar) the wine list is also excellent.

20 Endell St, London WC2H 9BD

This Covent Garden cafe and bar comes from the 10 Cases/Parsons team (and is on the same road). Here, they've opened a European cafe with what they describe as "a European accent". An all-day affair, you can get bacon sandwiches in the morning (including through a hatch on the side), sandwiches and lunch and small plates and amazing cakes and cocktails in the evening.

14-15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QH

This gorgeous Parisian-inspired bistro in the heart of Covent Garden comes from chef Jackson Boxer (Brunswick House). Set inside the Henrietta hotel, it's a notably reasonably-priced restaurant for Covent Garden with some unique takes on French cuisine. The seaweed canelés with trout roe are a must-have and make sure to order an enormous bowl of duck fat chips too.

49 Old Compton St, London W1D 6HL

London's obsession with smash burgers sees this French outfit opening their first UK restaurant in Soho. Smash burgers are at the centre of the menu and you can add up to five patties on a single burger if you're up to it. They also have their own brand of huge chewy cookies for dessert.

52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG

Once home to Pidgin, Sesta is a Neighbourhood-focused restaurant in Hackney from an ex-Pidgin duo - chef Drew Snaith and GM Hannah Kowalski. Here, the emphasis is on a seasonal menu but one that has a focus on comfort food that should attract both locals and people who loved Pidgin. Expect a strong natural wine list here too.

4-6 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TA

Created by restaurateur Alex Xu, also known for Kung-Fu Noodle, this restaurant makes a big deal of the open kitchen where chefs make noodles on-site. Specializing in dishes from Gansu province, they have a wide variety of pan-fried, and cold noodles, along with crispy dumplings. Xu emphasizes authenticity in Noodle Inn, having returned to China to capture traditional flavours and techniques for the opening.

14-16 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD

Cafe Francois is a spin-off of Maison Francois in which they've brought an extremely fancy French cafe to Borough Yards. it's a combo brasserie, bakery and deli offering everything from sandwiches and pastries to take away to a dine-in menu that roams from escargots and gougeres to rotisserie steaks and chicken.

27 Eccleston Pl, London SW1W 9NF

Cornus brings together the team behind Medlar and a chef that won a Michelin star for Angler restaurant. Together, they've opened a very fancy rooftop restaurant overlooking Belgravia's Eccleston Yards. The food is very much high-end fine dining, with the highlight being their spaghetti with lobster and caviar. It's definitely on the spendy side, but the quality is there.

102 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UB

Lolo is Jose Pizarro's third restaurant on Bermondsey Street and, like the others, this brings something a little new. This time it's an all day, casual affair. So he's added extras like sandwiches and some truly great egg dishes, alongside a Spanish sharing plate experience.

25 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BQ

This large Mayfair restaurant comes from the same group that's also behind the nearby Gymkhana. This restaurant is a larger, more opulent affair than its predecessor, with a menu that's all based around Punjabi cuisine, including the cocktails.

21 Halliford St, London, N1 3HB

Goodbye Horses has taken over an old pub in Islington and transformed it into a modern wine bar and restaurant. The inside has a lovely modern refit, and the design is complemented with a great natural, organic and biodynamic wine list and an inventive menu. Look out for their ice cream shop across the street, The Dreamery, as the perfect place to end your meal.

3-4 Wells Terrace, London N4 3JU

A newcomer that’s already made quite a stir, this Vietnamese cafe right behind Finsbury Park station serves up exactly what the name suggests - boba teas and baguettes (aka banh mi). They also do a nice line in spring and summer rolls, mango salads and rice boxes.

27 Blackstock Rd, London N4 2JF

There aren’t all that many places serving up Uyghur food in London (and for that matter the UK), making Dilara a place of pilgrimage for anyone who wants to try it. Specialities include amazing hand-pulled noodles (the beef is a must if you’re a meat-eater) and they also do a range of Turkish dishes too.

1 Green's Ct, London W1F 0HA

CDMX Tacos is a Mexico City-style hole-in-the-wall taqueria in the middle of Soho. It's specialising in tacos and quesadillas to grab and go with options including al pastor (marinated pork) and chicharron (crispy pork belly), paired with Mexican beers. An ideal spot for a snack while on the go in Soho.

1 Mare St, London E8 4RP

Miga is a "modern Korean kitchen" and it's a family affair coming from two brothers and their chef father. Originally starting in New Malden, their mother currently has a takeaway in Morden while their father runs the kitchen at this restaurant in Hackney, with a modern approach to Korean cooking.

64 South Audley Street, London W1K 2QT

Farm Shop started life out on an actual farm, Durslade Farm in Bruton, and this is their Mayfair location which, as well as being a shop and butcher, has an extensive wine bar below ground. The entry-level wines by the glass are surprisingly affordable for Mayfair and they're backed up with cheese and charcuterie boards, toasties and more. The perfect little hideaway in the middle of Mayfair.

Unit 2A, Tower Place, London EC3R 5BU

Guirong Wei, the chef behind Master Wei, is behind Dream Xi’an in Tower Hill. Like her previous restaurants, it focuses on Shaanxi cooking with hand-pulled noodles a big part of the menu. Dishes at this location include hand-made steamed dim sum while signature dishes from Master Wei are also available here.

13 Rookwood Way, Fish Island, London E3 2XT

Neighbourhood restaurant Inis is part of Fish Island's The Trampery campus and its menu focuses both on British and Irish cuisine. Expect produce and dishes from both sides of the Irish Sea with dishes like whiskey smoked salmon as well as a proper Irish breakfast (which means both black and white pudding).

2 Chapel Market, London N1 9EZ

Tucked down the far end (some might say the wrong end) of Chapel Market, this seafood spot has been turning out superlative dishes since opening quietly early in 2024. Chef Maoz Alonim has swapped the markets of Tel Aviv for North London and in doing so has given Islington this enticing oyster bar and grill.

7 Paddington St, London W1U 5QE

Lita in Marylebone sees ex-Corrigan's chef Luke Ahearne taking the helm at this luxe live-fire restaurant in Marylebone. With a vibe that harkens back to nearby Chiltern Firehouse, this mixes a bit of laid-back glamour with an excellent menu that has a focus on southern European/Mediterranean dishes. The cocktails are notably on-point too.

45 All Saints Road, London W11 1HE

This pub has undergone many iterations over its long lifespan but the newest revival has been a big hit with foodies and critics alike. The cosy atmosphere provides a backdrop to the small plates menu with dishes showcasing the local produce; their link to the local neighbourhood increases with regular events such as movie nights and Pilates classes.

27 Bruton Place, London W1J 6NQ

This restaurant comes from the team of gallery owner Tim Jefferies and chef Larry Jayasekara. It's set in an absolutely beautiful space, adorned with artwork from Jefferies' galleries. It's a fine dining affair with much of the produce coming from produce from the Rowler Estate in Northamptonshire. Expect intense attention to detail in the cooking and make sure to try one of their pies if they're on the menu. Also note, the same team is behind The Rex Delicatessen across the road which is well worth a look.

92 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2PN

Clare Smyth once led Gordon Ramsay's signature London restaurant before going onto even bigger things and earning three Michelin stars here at Core. Expect fine dining (but in a relaxed atmosphere) with signature dishes like the Potato and Roe or he Core Apple not to be missed. If you can't get a reservation, the bar Whiskey and Seaweed (which also has bar snacks) is well worth a visit in itself.

39 Queen Victoria St, London EC4N 4SF

One of London’s best – and oldest – seafood restaurants, Sweetings has been going strong for over a century. All the fish and seafood served here is from sustainable sources, and while it’s only open for lunch, it’s the place to step back in time while also savouring such classics as prawn cocktail, fried whitebait, Lobster Thermidor and cod’s roe on toast.

9 Seymour Street, London W1H 5BT

Santiago Lastra's Michelin-starred Kol was at the forefront of the reinvigoration of Mexican food in London and is one of the few London restaurants on the World's 50 Best list. The restaurant mixes Mexican cooking with ingredients that are largely sourced in the UK for a more upmarket approach to Mexican cooking. The downstairs Mezcalareia bar is also excellent and worth a visit on its own.

1 Chiltern Street, Marylebone, London W1U 7PA

Andre Balazs boutique London hotel has been a hit ever since it opened and the restaurant attracts both celebrities and foodies alike. Grab a seat at the counter and try not to gawp at who's on the prime private table next door. In warmer months, the secluded terrace (with its own oyster shack) is a huge draw too.

105-107 Talbot Road, London W11 2AT

Notting Hill's Dorian has become one of the most popular restaurants in the area and much of that is down to their head chef, Max Coen, previously at Ikoyi and Kitchen Table. Owned by Chris D'Sylva (Notting Hill Fish + Meat Shop), and billed as a "bistro for locals" they have a seasonal British/European menu on offer and a notably great wine list.