34 Drayton Park, London N5 1PB

Owners David Gingell and Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim also run nearby Primeur and Jolene, both also excellent. Here, there's a distinct focus on seafood and the menu changes every day, although if the cuttlefish croquettes with aioli are on there, make sure you order those. In the summertime, you can take a glass of something cold out on the front courtyard and if you're really pushing the boat out, ask for the leather-bound, handwritten, ‘black book’ of fine wines.

56 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AH

This Dalston restaurant has a modern take on Japanese and Italian food - resulting in a creative fusion menu that's inspired by both cuisines, while also pushing the envelope. They serve a 13-course Kaiseki menu which changes every five weeks to reflect the seasons, so there's a lot of opportunity for repeat visits.

5 Stable Street, London N1C 4AB

We often daydream about the bacon and egg breakfast naan at Dishoom. Consistently packed and offering a buzzy atmosphere, people keep coming back for its excellent Indian small plates. Its take on Bombay cafe culture ensures long waits and queues at all their restaurants. Be prepared to queue at busier times.

2 Sir Simon Milton Sq, London SW1E 5DJ

This two-floored Victoria restaurant in inspired by southern Portugal, and the cooking is led by their signature piri-piri chicken, all fire-grilled. Those are paired with small plates like their piri-piri garlic prawns and more. There's a Portuguese wine list with a specific focus on vinho verde too.

171 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LX

This is the Holloway home for critically acclaimed Malaysian laksa specialists Sambal Shiok, headed up by Mandy Yin. The laksa is great, but so are all the other dishes. Look out for regular events there and enjoy the wine list with a focus on Riesling.

10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP

This is the main restaurant at the London Edition and Jason Atherton is in charge of things. Expect a more upmarket affair to some of Atherton's other spots and a frankly jaw-dropping room.

231 Ebury Street, London SW1W 8UT

This longstanding French restaurant is a Belgravia institution, offering up a bit of rustic charm in the area for more than 50 years. A French bistro, it's a local favourite that goes big on classics like beef bourguignon, coq au vin and steak frites and has an excellent terrace for the summer months.

117 Benwell Rd, London N7 7BW

This Holloway restaurant (it's just across the road from the Emirates stadium) has won a deserved reputation for cooking up some of the best Shang Xi-inspired street food in London. Yes, that means there's a bit of heat involved here, but their hand-pulled noodles are among the best in town. Their pork/beef "burgers" are not to be missed.

4 Compton Ave, London N1 2XD

The Compton Arms has been a tiny Islington mainstay for many years but has really blossomed since its most recent revamp. Originally the home for Four Legs and Tiella, the kitchen is now run by Rake, offering a modern take on classic dishes with a distinct seafood focus.

34 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NH

Since it opened in 1991, Pied a Terre has launched the careers of Richard Neat, Tom Aikens and Shane Osborn. Dishes comprise exquisitely sourced and prepared ingredients from this Michelin-starred kitchen where Asimakis Chaniotis is running the show.

220 St Paul's Rd, Highbury, London N1 2LL

The Nook comes from Angus and Lale Oztek-Pook who have experience at Zucca, Bernardis and Oklava among others. The food is described as "contemporary European with a Turkish twist" and is paired with a winelist of sustainable, organic, biodynamic and minimal intervention wines. It works as a deli too, so there's lots to take away.

Treehouse London, 14-15 Langham Pl, London W1B 2QS

Nancy Silverton is a big name back in the States where the LA Pizzeria Mozza is extremely popular. This is her London outpost, a pizzeria which really does turn out excellent pizzas (and with a menu that's a good deal different from the norm) as well as huge desserts.

31 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1JH

This Peruvian restaurant is from Virgilio Martinez, former Executive Chef at Astrid y Gaston, listed on the San Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list. It aims to "integrate Peruvian traditional cuisine with a modern and contemporary twist."

105-106 Upper St, London N1 1QN

This restaurant comes with the backing of Zhang Chao of Xi’an Impression. The team behind the restaurant are aiming to cover multiple regions of China, all helped by the fact that they have chefs in the kitchen who originate from different regions and bring with them varying experiences and knowledge. Here you can expect an excellent pan-Chinese meal, that just happens to be plant-based too.

9 Islington Green, London N1 2XH

Originally launched by Corbin and King, this is a revived Islington grand cafe which now offers a menu that's more of a traditional French brasserie. It's one of the largest restaurants in Angel and there's a very handy bar in here too.

115 Hemingford Rd, London, N1 1BZ

The Tamil Prince is a pub in Islington's Barnsbury area that has a big focus on South Asian cuisine. It's named after the chef, Prince Durairaj and the cooking has specific references to the cuisine of his home state of Tamil Nadu

37 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RR

At Roka it's all about the robata grill. Start with sushi or sashimi and work your way up through dishes like black cod to various yakitori sticks.

Fifth floor, 240 Regent Street, London W1B 3BR

This is the Japanese part of the Aqua complex at Regent Street, featuring a sushi bar and sumibiyaki charcoal grill as well as a terrace that looks down over Regent Street.

Old Barrack Yard, Belgravia, London SW1X 7NP

Right next door to The Berkeley is The Maybourne Group's all-suite hotel, The Emory. Their signature restaurant is another team-up with chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (who's also at The Connaught) for a restaurant that combines the best of his ABC restaurants in America, including his renowned pea hummus.

4 Harriet Street, London SW1X 9JR

This high-end Italian restaurant has an impressive background, coming from the Antinori family, one of the most famous winemakers in Italy. The restaurant is focused on Tuscan cuisine, so as well as pasta, carpaccio and other dishes, you'll also find huge Florentine T Bones here. The design is a highlight, with a much more homely feel than typically upscale Italians, so it has a much more cosy vibe.

Arch 208, 18 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD

Aji Akokomi, the man behind Fitzrovia's Akoko, is behind Akara in Borough Yards—a West African restaurant where the menu centres around crispy akara fritters with diverse fillings. The drinks list also showcases West African-inspired cocktails (as well as an impressive scotch bonnet cordial) and it's all set within repurposed railway arches, with an impressive mezzanine private dining space too. Definitely order the akaras, but make sure to take in some of the excellent larger plates too.

12 Upper St Martins Lane, London WC2H 9FB

This is the original Dishoom, the self-styled Bombay cafe that propelled them to success (albeit now twice the size it was when it originally opened). Like all Dishoom restaurants, you'll find their excellent small plates, inspired by Indian street food, with certain specials like the bacon naans and the house black daal not to be missed. Also note that this Dishoom has one of their longest queues in the evening.

12-14 Basil Street, London SW3 1AJ

While it has a name that comes with perhaps unfortunate connotations in the UK, this high-end Japanese restaurant, which comes via the Middle East, has managed to find quite a following here. It mixes Japanese dining with a clubby feel, but there's also notable skill showing through in a menu that certainly has the odd nod to Nobu. They're also blessed with a rooftop area overlooking Knightsbridge.

The Berkeley, Wilton Pl, London SW1X 7RL

Cedric Grolet is often described as the best pastry chef in the world and this is his London outpost (the first outside France). Here he's in charge of the main pattisserie at The Berkeley hotel where you can both have his pastries in the cafe or sit at the pattiserie counter for a cake and pastry tasting experience like no other.

4 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9FA

This is from the same people as the original Le Bab - but it's a restaurant of two halves. Upstairs you'll find their next-level kebabs which are inspired by and are paying homage to great kebab houses. And downstairs is the hidden counter dining restaurant Kebab queen. This is a different beast altogether, offering a kebab tasting menu like no other.

6 Park Street, London SE1 9AB

Kolae comes from Som Saa's Mark Dobbie and Andy Oliver in Borough Market and showcases a modern Thai grill concept. The three-story restaurant has a menu which features Southern Thailand-inspired dishes, like their Kolae chicken bamboo skewers, and it's well worth checking out the cocktail section and the well-thought-out wine list.

15 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8QG

Ave Mario is from the people behind Gloria and Circolo Poplare, and once again it's another hit for them. Expect no holds barred on the design and BIG food, like the enormous ice cream cake that they wheel about the room. Specialities here include a caviar section, massive cocktails and a veal milanese that's twice as big as your head. 

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA

Taking over The Mandarin Oriental's lower ground floor, this Japanese izakaya is a warren of opulently designed dining rooms and cocktail bars. Expect to try a range of top-drawer sushi and Japanese dishes with the focus firmly on the cocktail list.

36 Snowsfields, Bermondsey, London SE1 3SU

Trivet is a joint collaboration between chef Jonny Lake and master sommelier Isa Bal, both alumni of Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck. Here you can expect an informal take on fine dining with a truly epic wine list that covers the globe. The attached wine bar also serves the restaurant menu and it's open on Mondays (when the restaurant is closed) as Labombe serving special wines by the glass.

Arch 35b, Flat Iron Square, Union Street, London SE1 1TD

The people behind Bar Douro have used their Portuguese ancestry to bring the authentic tasted of Portugal to London. But it's not just about the food, there's an extensive selection of Portuguese wine too, all in a counter dining setting.