6 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7NA

With everything Norman (and partner Richard Beatty) opens turning to gold, da Polpo is one of the hottest tickets in town. It's a little bigger than Spuntino or Polpetto with room for 70 diners and there's a meatball section on the menu.

1st Floor, Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD

438 King’s Road, London SW10 0LJ

This independently-run Chelsea restaurant is the brainchild of Chef Joe Mercer Nairne and manager David O'Connor. It serves up impeccable French food and strives successfully for 'perfect neighbourhood gem' status.

Kiosk K2024, The Balcony, Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 7SL

23 Catherine Street, London WC2

From the same stable as Salt Yard and Dehesa, this serves tapas-style dishes in a refurbished pub setting. Their teeny Iberico pork and foie gras burgers are worthy of the trip here alone.

71-73 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0AS

21 Chapel Market, London N1 9EZ

Delhi Grill is Islington's "Indian Canteen" a London version of a Punjabi “dhaba”. The emphasis here is on Indian street food (on a menu which changes regularly) in a pared-back restaurant that's covered with its fair share of Bollywood posters. Come here with the intention of sharing everything and you'll have the best time.

32 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QL

Moro has long been one of London foodie's favourite restaurants - think of this as Sam and Sam Clark's sibling tapas bar to the original - serving up super small plates with ice-cold glasses of fino.

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.

6/8 Elliott Road, Chiswick, London W4 1PE

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

Beeston Place, London SW1W 0JW

The Goring has been a London institution for over 100 years. It's around the corner from Buckingham Palace and the Queen had been known to pop in from time to time, and if you're lucky you might still see a royal or two. Here you'll find high-end Michelin-starred dining. Don't miss out on the eggs drumkilbo - they were a favourite of the Queen Mother.

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).

25 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BH

The classic Moroccan restaurant in Mayfair by Mourad Mazouz has been given a new lease of life with an extensive makeover. The food is French Med with hints of North Africa and there's a cracking bar downstairs from top barman Erik Lorincz.

The Northumberland, 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BY

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

58 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London, E2 8DP

If you're after great Vietnamese food in London, then one of the places to head to is Kingsland Road with a huge selection of restaurants. This one stands out though, as the sister restaurant of Cay Tre and with something of a more laid-back vibe.

35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7LB

One of London's oldest restaurants, there has been a Rules serving food in and around this part of Covent Garden since 1798. Here is where you come if you're after history and classic British dishes, served well. The upstairs cocktail bar is legendary.

28-34 St. Martin's Court, London WC2N 4AL

Often seen as both the theatregoers and the actors' port of call post-theatre, Sheekeys is a London institution. Best known for its seafood, including an incredible fish pie. A must-visit for every Londoner.

157 Commercial Street, London E1 6BJ

The original Hawksmoor, and for many the best. Known as the group that transformed steaks in British restaurants forever for the better, this is a perfect place to come to for a meat-fest. And expect some cracking cocktails too - head to the bar downstairs for those and extra snacks not on the main menu.

8 Seymour Street, London W1H 7JZ

Giorgio Locatelli's Marylebone restaurant is still one of the best and most highly rated Italian restaurants in town. It's very much a high-end special occasion type of place (but if you can afford to eat here regularly - go for it). Old school Italian dining done to perfection.

26 St John Street, London EC1M 4AY

Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver's renowned restaurant has for decades been many critics' favourite place in London. Its focus on "nose to tail" eating makes it a must visit for anyone looking for the very best in modern British cooking.

8 Hanway Place, London W1T 1HD

The original Hakkasan is tucked down a tiny alleyway just off Tottenham Court Road. Step inside though and you're transported to a Chinese den of black laquer and gold. Awarded a Michelin star two years after opening, it's retained it every year since.

1st Floor, 39 Chepstow Place, Bayswater, London W2 4TS

This longstanding neighbourhood gem of an Italian has been packing Notting Hill's denizens into its light-filled dining room - above the ground floor pizzeria - for over 20 years. They source the best Italian ingredients possible for a classic Italian menu that's inspired by the chef's Sardinian childhood.

Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JT

Amaya offers gourmet Indian food, tapas style, with a full view of the kitchen from the dining room. The best place here is definitely to be as close to the open kitchen as you can. So if you're after a Michelin-level meal, but prefer small plate style rather than a formal tasting menu, then this is for you.

15 Lowndes Street, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 9EY

Classic Italian, Michelin starred restaurant in Knightsbridge that is popular with the wealthy locals.

Walham Grove, Fulham, London, SW6 1QR

This Michelin-starred pub has The Ledbury's Brett Graham as its director and has built up a stellar reputation over the years as having some of the best pub food in London. They serve British food with a particular focus on game, which happens to come from Graham's farm. Don't miss out on their scotch egg.

9 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4WY

The City base for Vivek Singh's Cinnamon group of restaurants has been a staple of Devonshire Square for over a decade. Here, they're serving up modern Indian cooking and there's a decent-sized bar too.

20 Mount Street, London W1K 2HE

This seafood restaurant in Mayfair is also one of its most famous, and the flagship restaurant for Richard Caring's Caprice group. And if you can grab one of the tables outside (weather permitting), it's one of THE places to be seen in town.

168 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1QS

It takes a lot to make yet another gastropub opening stand out from the crowd in London but the Bull and Last appears to have stuck to the tried and tested formula of serving simply fantastic food. They call themselves a Pub and Kitchen, but reviewers felt the food surpassed usual gastropub fare to be truly gourmet.