30 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6AN

This New York Italian restaurant is one of NYC's most famous restaurants and is still hard to get a table at. The London version follows the same template as the original - classic New York Italian dishes with added flair, a gorgeous-looking lower-ground dining room and a big attention to service. Your meal will be shepherded by your "captain" and if you're looking for a night out where you're properly looked after, while eating dishes like spicy vodka rigatoni, this is the place for you. Plus, there's a very good chance of spotting a celeb here.

138 Brompton Rd, London SW3 1HY

This popular fish and chip shop group originated in Mayfair, hence the name. This is their second venture and is open all day, so it's a useful spot for a breakfast as well as battered cod and cocktails in the evenings. In addition to the classic fish and chips, they also do a nice line in lobster rolls, fish finger butties and fresh oysters.

14-15 Beauchamp Pl, London SW3 1NQ

This fine dining restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Rohit Ghai spans four floors of a Knightsbridge townhouse, topped with a rooftop cocktail bar. At the heart of the offering is sigri cooking, a way of cooking over live fire. The restaurant's look is inspired by the Himalayas but the menu takes inspiration from across India. The signature butter chicken is not to be missed.

343 Fulham Road, London SW10 9TW

Roman pizzas are at the centre of this newish Chelsea pizzeria. That means hand-rolled (chefs use a traditional mattarello rolling pin) and wood-fired pizzas with a range of classic toppings. There's a strong cocktail offering with an Italian accent and plenty of fritti treats for starters too.

86 Wardour St, London W1F 0TQ

From Mad Restaurants (also behind ALTA), MOI brings Japanese cooking over fire to Soho, led by Andy Cook (ex-Gordon Ramsay, Soho Farmhouse). Expect sushi, sashimi and grilled dishes using British produce, like Orkney scallops with juniper kombu, turbot with yuzu kosho butter and crab temaki with apple and kimizu sauce. The raw concrete-and-wood interiors feature two open kitchens, a dramatic staircase, plus a downstairs omakase and Tokyo-style listening bar with cocktails by Dino Koletsas (Artesian).

149A Upper St, London N1 1RA

Taking over the old Skal site, Carmela’s is an Italian/American pizzeria from Phil Chaykin (Ugly Dumpling) and Bite Twice duo Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany. The focus is New York-style pies with crisp yet foldable bases, like their cheese pie, white pie with ricotta and courgette, and The Pep with hot maple drizzle. Add stracciatella or fennel sausage, dip crusts in extra hot maple, and finish with tiramisu. A buzzy slice spot for Upper Street.

28th Floor, Hilton on Park Lane, 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE

Taking over the iconic rooftop space once home to Galvin at Windows, Shanghai Me arrives in London after opening successful restaurants in Dubai and Doha. Expect a glamorous 1930s Shanghai-inspired setting with a luxe Pan-Asian menu—think Cantonese roast duck with foie gras and caviar, spicy bluefin oshizushi, and a “dim sum library”. The adjacent Bund lounge bar (28th floor) features zodiac-themed cocktails and sweeping Hyde Park views.

191 Portobello Road, London W11 2ED

The Electric is the second outpost of Luke Farrell’s fiery Thai hit Speedboat Bar. This West London version features interiors inspired by an engine room, complete with a real Thai speedboat engine. While the look’s a little slicker than the Soho original, the menu sticks to the winning formula: bold Thai curries, noodles, and cocktails that pack a punch.

6 Chepstow Road, London W2 5BH

After making waves in Lima’s elite Nikkei scene, Fan has quietly landed in Notting Hill. Run by Romania Parra, Jorge Sasaki and Santiago Wong, the menu fuses Japanese technique with Peruvian, Chinese and global influences. Expect an 11-course omakase or à la carte options like scallops with squash butter or ceviche with coconut tiger milk.

5 Woodfield Road, London W9 2BA

The team behind Crispin and Bistro Freddie are also behind Canal, an all-day spot on the Grand Union Canal. There's a seasonal British-European menu with standout dishes like Portland crab doughnuts and red mullet bouillabaisse, with the shared "table cheeseburger" a signature dish. Cocktails are from A Bar with Shapes for a Name and wines lean European and low-intervention. With communal tables, a central bar, and two big south-facing terraces on the canal, it’s become something of a scene.

17 Bohemia Pl, London E8 1DU

Inside Hackney Church Brewery, you'll find Elliot Cunningham's Lagom. Part inspired by his Swedish heritage, it's a live-fire cooking affair over wood. Most of the globally-inspired dishes on offer here are worth trying, the smoked beef bun in particular, if it's on. However, the Lagom smashburger is lauded as one of London's very best - so get the burger first, but make sure to roam the rest of the menu too.

Arch 255 Paradise Row, London E2 9LQ

Tasca is from chef Josh Dallaway and sommelier Sinead Murdoch. They're in charge of the kitchen at East London bar Cav, with Tasca. It takes inspiration from their travels through Spain and France, from which they've brought back elements of classic dishes and given them a modern London twist. Expect a parade of excellent small plates and a particularly good European wine list that celebrates female-founded vineyards and female winemakers.

2-4 Farmer St, London W8 7SN

Hidden away at the back of Los Mochis in Notting Hill (which is worth visiting too), you'll find this tiny omakase bar that fits just six diners every sitting. The menu here, which changes daily, takes inspiration from both Japanese and Mexican cuisines, so it's notably different to London's other omakase offerings. A cosy, intimate affair, it's right up there among London's very best omakase restaurants.

186 Portobello Road, London W11 1LA

Permit room is an offshoot of Dishoom, set in a slightly more casual cafe setting, but still featuring some of Dishoom's signature dishes. So you will find their house black dahl and bacon naans here, alongside curries, biryanis and small plates. This Permit Room even has rooms upstairs if you fancy staying over (the breakfasts are certainly worth getting up for).

7 All Saints Road, London W11 1HA

Sino's kitchen is led by chef Eugene Korolev, who has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe. Here at Sino, his menu is a contemporary take on classic Ukrainian dishes with modern takes on dumplings and chicken Kyiv making an appearance on the menu.

80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB

In less assured hands, fusion food can be a clunky mismatch. Happily, that’s not the case at the signature restaurant at the Pan Pacific London, where the best of British produce gets an inspired twist from the culinary flavours of Southeast Asia. Perched on a corner, the restaurant offers a great view of the ancient and new elements of the City. And with menu options ranging from an express set lunch to an experience tasting menu, it’s just as good a spot for a business get-together as an evening date.

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.

12 Blossom St, London E1 6PL

Husband and wife duo Eroshan and Aushi Meewella have plundered the favourite recipes of friends and family to come up with the dishes served at this modern Sri Lankan restaurant. The end result is a celebration of culinary diversity with everything from hoppers and samals to spiced chops on the menu. It's a gorgeous space too, with its own bar serving up a range of cocktails made with Sri Lankan spirits.

9th Floor, 100 Liverpool Street, London EC2M 2AT

London’s highest omakase restaurant (which seats just 12 people) can be found inside another high-rise restaurant, Los Mochis City. As the name suggests, there’s a lunar theme here, from the decor through to the menu. Expect clever creations from the creative team here as part of a 12-course menu, that also happens to be gluten-free. Sushi, sandos and modern twists on Japanese classics all feature.

310 Portobello Rd, London W10 5TA

The Fat Badger comes from the same team behind The Pelican, also in Notting Hill, and it continues the theme set by that pub, namely a great pub which also has a fantastic menu. Set on the first and second floors (it's above Canteen restaurant), the food is hearty and you're quite likely to see an odd local celeb or two in here.

1 Nicholl's Clarke Yard, off Blossom Street, London E1 6SH

Osteria Angelina comes from the same team behind the original Angelina, but this can be viewed as a more casual outpost. it still brings together Italian and Japanese cuisine under one roof, with a specific emphasis on northern Italian cooking. So you'll find milk break, sushi, sashimi and pasta dishes all on the same menu. There's a separate bar here, so if you're in the area it's well worth popping in for cocktails and a snack or two.

26 Foubert's Place, Soho, London W1F 7PP

Marjorie's is in a side street just off Carnaby Street, offering a welcome refuge from the tourist hordes. Part wine bar, part restaurant, it takes its cues from the independent wine bars in Paris. Expect to find a wine list which is completely French alongside small-medium plates that often take classic French dishes and give them a modern twist.

YY Building, 30 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HX

Barbarella is the Canary Wharf restaurant by the Big Mamma group, known for places like Gloria and Circolo Popolare. Like those restaurants, this is a flamboyant affair, not least on the first floor where the ceiling and tabletops are all mirrored, giving quite the impressive overall effect. The food is Italian but with a few luxe Big Mamma touches, with plenty of caviar and truffle on offer, but at a price which doesn't break the bank.

Unit 7 Montacute Yards, Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6HU

This is the second Singburi, which saw the extremely highly rated Thai restaurant move from Leytonstone to a much bigger (and shinier) setting in Shoreditch. Still very much a family business, son Sirichai Kularbwong is now in charge, cooking up an authentic Thai menu that's one of the very best in London.

73 Highbury Park, London N5 1UA

Lupa is a team-up of two locals: Ed Templeton, who is one of the founders of Carousel, and actor Theo James. Bringing in an ex-Pidgin chef to lead things, the menu takes its inspiration from Italy and in particular, Roman cuisine. Snacks, small plates and great wine are the order of the day in this compact restaurant where you might run into the odd celeb or two among the Highbury locals.

82 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DN

The lower end of Caledonian Road has seen an influx of interesting restaurants in recent times and the arrival of OISO is part of that movement. Only open at lunchtime, and as popular for takeaway as it is to sit up at the counter, this family-run Korean cafe serves a winning mix of bibimbab, bulgogi, katsu curries and more.

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.

5-6 Melbourne Terrace, Melbourne Grove, London SE22 8PL

This rotisserie chicken restaurant in East Dulwich comes with a high pedigree. It's from John Ogier (ex Lyle's, The Marksman) who has teamed up with chef Jack Coghlan (ex-Planque and Lyle's). The chicken is carefully sourced and there are lots of added extras like lentils vinaigrette and chicken-fat new season potatoes to go with the main event.

18 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4NU

Duchy took over the space that used to be Leroy, with two people working in that restaurant leading Duchy. The room got a light refresh but the menu has had a bigger shift, moving into an Italian/French territory with a little Alpine influence in there too. The menu reads exceptionally well, the wine list is great and even the house bread (fougasse) is a must-have.