London Restaurants - Soho, Fitzrovia, Covent Garden

26-29 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5RL

This very fancy-looking Covent Garden bistro comes from Stevie Parle, the man behind Joy at Portobello. Here, he's championing seasonality and regenerative farming, all in an extremely futuristic-looking setting. The bar here is also a big draw and the whole set-up is different from anything else you'll find in Covent Garden.

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. It remains best known for its seafood, including an incredible fish pie which is still one of the best in London. A must-visit for every Londoner and notably great for counter dining, as well as its extensive, covered terrace.

32 Henrietta St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8NA

The Oystermen originally started up as an oyster-shucking pop-up but their Covent Garden restaurant is so much more. It started tiny before they acquired the next-door space and doubled the size. But all along, they've been serving up excellent seafood from a menu that depends on the catch of the day.

16 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP

This is the sibling restaurant to the hugely popular The Palomar. It features food from the Barbary Coast of North Africa to Jerusalem, with a strong focus on cooking over fire. It's a solely counter-dining restaurant and there's an emphasis on sharing dishes. This all translates into a great vibe with the chefs always engaging with customers. Do not leave without ordering the hashcake for dessert.

16 Endell Street, London WC2H 9BD

This bistro offers a "small but ever-changing wine list" and a menu that changes every day to match the list. It's an excellent place to either settle down for dinner or to pop by for some really great wine and snacks, particularly if you can snag a seat on the terrace.

43 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5AJ

The ever-popular Barrafina's Drury Lane outpost has a lovely wraparound terrace, making it one of the best in the group for alfresco dining. As with the other branches, it's one of London's best restaurants for tapas, with the tortilla being unmissable.

17 Neal's Yard, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9DP

Story Cellar is a spin-off from Tom Sellers' Story restaurant. It's a smaller-scale affair, billed as a "Parisienne-influenced" restaurant. Food-wise, the rotisserie chicken is a centrepiece alongside plenty of riffs on French cuisine (like snail bolognese) and a strong wine list.

34-35 Southampton St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7HG

This is Adam Handling's main restaurant where you'll be able to get some of his signature dishes (not to mention the amazing chicken butter). It's worth also heading to the Eve Bar here for some world class cocktails.

16a Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HE

This is the fourth Blacklock restaurant and one of their biggest. Here you can expect everything they're best known for - great value chops, big steaks and lots and lots of gravy. There are also some amazing pies and ordering something from the cocktail trolley is a must.

11 Langley St, London WC2H 9JG

Located in the old Watney-Combe brewery, complete with original vaulted brick ceiling, this Hawskmoor restaurant looks as though it's been down this narrow Covent Garden street forever. As with all their restaurants, it's the place to go for an excellent steak and there's a pretty big bar here too if you fancy popping in for one of their renowned cocktails.

28 Bow St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AT

Once a boutique hotel group, this is now the only NoMad hotel, but it retains its style and combines a world-class bar in Side Hustle (the cocktails are truly excellent) with one of the best-looking restaurants in London. That's been reinvented as Twenty8 NoMad, a take on a New York-style brasserie with notably excellent steaks, while also retaining its signature truffle chicken meal.

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).

60 Dean Street, London W1D 6AW

Originally a Spitalfields market trader, this is Crunch's first permanent space where they serve up sandwiches between "brioche inspired" bread (they've altered the recipe to cut back on the sweetness). Fillings include slow-cooked Gressingham duck leg, truffle beef patties and a Southern-fried chicken cutlet and their steak sandwich is extremely popular. Make sure to leave room for their French toast.

92-93 Berwick St, London W1F 0QB

A sister venue to the original Battersea Breadstall, this location actually has some inside dining space. You'll still see them selling huge biga slow-fermented sourdough Neapolitan pizzas whole or by the slice, with options changing almost daily. There's also a hatch, so if you're looking for a pizza on the go in Soho, this should be your first stop.

17 Denman Street, London W1D 7HW

One of Soho's biggest success stories, The Devonshire is a team-up between top landlord Oisin Rogers, founder of Flat Iron Charlie Carroll, and chef Ashley Palmer-Watts. Downstairs, the pub sells some of the best Guinness in London (as well as unique features like three hidden snugs). The wood-ember grill upstairs takes classic grill dishes and elevates them considerably, with some of the best lamb chops in London, a great suet pie and a standout chocolate mousse. if you're lucky, you'll be invited into the celeb-heavy Green Room downstairs, but every element of the building is a roaring success.

Ground Floor, 36–40 Rupert St, London W1D 6DW

Taking over what used to be the ground floor of Hovarda, this sees Australian chef David Thompson, known for cooking Thai food, back in London with an outpost of his casual Thai restaurant. Here, there's a short, tight menu that's specifically influenced by Bangkok.

16-18 Beak St, London W1F 9RD

Tomos Parry is the man behind the uber-successful Brat and this is his just-as-successful Soho restaurant. Here Parry takes his influences from both Spain and Wales, with a big eye on local sourcing and both cheese and bread made in-house. Expect top sharing plates like lobster caldereta and if the spider-crab omelette is on, it's a must-order.

1 Upper James Street, Soho, London W1F 9DF

Bob Bob Ricard remains one of our personal favourite spots in town. We don't know whether it's the fantastically blingy design, the rich food with just a hint of Eastern European in there, the "press for champagne" button or... who are we kidding, it's definitely the Press For Champagne button.

26-29 Dean Street, London, W1D 3LL

Quo Vadis has Jeremy Lee in the kitchen and he's been cooking up a wonderfully British menu. The restaurant has recently had a revamp, bringing it back to former glory and it now fits in twice as many diners as before. The food serves some of the best British/European dining in town, and the pies and smoked eel sandwich are a must.

64 Dean Street, London W1D 4QQ

Victor Garvey's Soho restaurant looks towards Californian fine-dining restaurants for its inspiration. So there's a West Coast USA vibe to the restaurant, fitted into its Soho location.

Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, London W1B 5PW

Asma Khan's restaurant returns to where it all began, in Carnaby's Kingly Court. Now the restaurant is much more of an open affair, showcasing the kitchen. The menu still serves up some of the best Indian food in London, as well as their much-loved biryanis.

2 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4NB

This is the follow up to the original Noble Rot, led by Mark Andrew and Daniel Keeling. This Soho outing is a purely restaurant affair, which takes on the building that used to be the Gay Hussar. Dishes explore the heritage of that Hungarian restaurant and, of course, there's an excellent wine list.

12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB

Jacob Kenedy's Soho Italian wins universal praise for its cuisine, a well-chosen wine list and for being one of the best counter dining spots in London. Pull up a stool at the counter and enjoy the regional Italian dishes on a menu that changes regularly..

48 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4EF

This classic French institution has been in Soho for more than 100 years, serving up classic French cuisine. And, as you can imagine from the name, it serves the very best snails in London. A wonderful institution that still has great life in it.

49 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 5BG

The French House is mainly known as a classic Soho pub - but it also has a dining room upstairs. It's a small affair - it almost feels like a private dining room - but it's hosted some great names. It's now home to chef Neil Borthwick who's very much at home here serving up French classics.

49 Lexington St, Soho, London W1F 9AP

After a number of years in pop-ups and other spaces across town, Rita's have settled in Soho for their main restaurant (they also do sandwiches in Dalston). The menu is inspired by owners Gabriel Pryce and Missy Flynn travels across the Americas and the wine list is pretty special too.

46 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LW

Often cited as one of the most romantic restaurants in London, this Soho stalwart is also a great old-fashioned bistro with a decent wine list. If you're looking for somewhere to be flatteringly lit by candlelight - this is the spot.

28 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DJ

Downstairs from Soho pub The Blue Posts is this tiny restaurant, run by head chef James Goodyear. It's a small counter dining affair with only 11 seats. Expect a regularly changing menu that mixes up British produce with Scandinavian and Japanese techniques.

30 Charlotte St., London W1T 2NG

Lisboeta comes from Nuno Mendes, the man behind Viajante, the launch of Chiltern Firehouse and more. As the name suggests, it's heavily influenced by the cuisine of Portugal and Lisbon in particular. Expect plenty of Portuguese small plates, rice dishes and more.