French

Wood Wharf, 10 Water St, London E14 5GX

Taking a big floating space just beside the Canary Wharf Hawksmoor, Maeceline is a grand French brasserie which also happens to be very good value. Dishes run from the very French (escargots) to the more standard (steak frites) with standout dishes like their uncut sheets of ravioli. That good spread on the menu means it's a great place to take the more fussy of eaters but still get a great meal out. Plus - there's unlimited bread.

6-8 Blandford St, London W1U 4AU

This is the second Josephine from the team of Claude and Lucy Bosi, and it's a much more accessible location to the original in the wilds of West London. This time around, they've taken their influences from Parisian brasseries, with a menu that's full of classic French food in a restaurant that looks like it's been around forever (in a good way). The front gets the sun in the evening, so those terrace seats outside are highly prized.

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Rd, London NW1 2AR

Victor Garvey, the man behind Michelin-starred SOLA, in now in charge of The Midland Grand in King's Cross. The menu concentrates on French-inspired haute cuisine, with more than a little tableside theatre thrown in. The dining room itself is one of the most impressive in London and it's also well worth making time to have a drink in the excellent Gothic Bar (which also has snacks from Garvey).

74 Luke Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 4PY

This is a French-style bistro in the heart of Shoreditch that comes from the same people behind Crispin and Bar Crispin. Here, they're serving up their own take on bistro-style dishes, backed up by an all-French wine list.

57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX

Over the years at his south of France restaurant Mirazur chef Mauro Colagreco picked up a clutch of awards from three Michelin stars to topping the World's 50 Best list. Here in London it's taken a little longer to attract Michelin's attention to his restaurant at Raffles London at The OWO. This London restaurant just off Whitehall takes hyper-seasonality as its lodestone, along with close relationships with some of the UK's best producers.

315 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH

Claude Bosi's Chelsea restaurant sees him teaming up with his wife Lucy for a classic French neighbourhood bistro. Named after Bosi's grandmother, the menu is full of French bistro classics and Lyonnaise specialities, with even frog's legs making it onto the menu. it also brings the classic offering of Bouchon-style metre wine to London.

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.

8-9 Blacklands Terrace, London SW3 2SP

This fine dining restaurant in Chelsea has racked up some serious accolades, led by Chef Patron Taylor Bonnyman and Head Chef Marguerite Keogh. Produce-driven (they have their own kitchen garden to supply much of what they cook), the 40-seater restaurant has a team with a huge amount of experience at the top end of British, European and American dining.

50-52 Sloane Square, Chelsea, London SW1W 8AX

Originally opened by Corbin & King and now part of The Wolseley Hospitality Group, this all day cafe restaurant on Sloane Square was inspired by some of the best Parisian grand cafes. The all day menu is a love letter to French classics from onion soup to Sole Meunière.

64 Goodge St, London W1T 4NF

64 Goodge Street is a French bistro in Fitzrovia that comes from the same people behind nearby Clipston and Portland. Here they're approaching the French menu from "an outsider's perspective" so you can expect some twists on classically french dishes in a compact but friendly space.

63 Battersea Bridge Rd, London SW11 3AU

Classic French restaurant Augustine is run by chef Franck Raymond (formerly at Mon Plaisir). Here in Battersea, his menu is informed by his upbringing in the Evian region of France so, in addition to classic dishes like French onion soup you’ll also find regional specialities on offer. The all-French wine list is well worth perusing.

Fourth Floor, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL

After a big makeover, this Grade II listed restaurant inside Harrods returned glammer than ever. During the day it's the place to come for afternoon tea while in the evening, top chef Calum Franklin is in charge of the menu. The big draws on the classic menu are both the pies and paté en croute, both of which Franklin is renowned for. The Georgian pie experience is the one to go for and there's a great performance from their piano player, right at the centre of the chandelier-covered room.

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.

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.

35 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY

Set within the astoundingly opulent Grade-II-listed St Botolph’s Hall, with its high stone ceilings and large arched windows, Galvin La Chapelle is fine French dining indeed. Holding a Michelin star since 2011, this 110-seater restaurant is the place for dishes such as barbecued Bresse pigeon, celeriac, Yorkshire rhubarb and dark chocolate. There are vegetarian and vegan menus too.

22 Palmer St, London SW1H 0PH

For an old-school Lyon bouchon experience look no further than Chez Antoinette. Owner Aurelia took inspiration from her grandmother’s cooking. So we're talking croque monsieur, French onion soup and chicken cordon bleu on the menu. Both this restaurant and the other branch in Covent Garden are packed with furniture, curios and art sourced from France.

Level 3, 122 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4AB

Infamous for its ‘press for Champagne’ button at every table, this London institution is great for groups (the largest booth size seats eight but up to 18 can dine comfortably in their private dining rooms). Menu-wise, expect reinventions of classic European dishes.

135 Portland Rd, Holland Park, London W11 4LW

The third iteration of Julie's sees the restaurant back to its former glory, albeit in the new guise of a French brasserie. Now owned by a local, the restaurant features an array of small plates, snacks and larger dishes like a lobster souffle. Expect a piano player inside, a lively terrace and the downstairs bar is back in action too.

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.

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.

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.

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.

66 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BP

Bouchon Racine saw the return of Henry Harris, who brought his classic French restaurant Racine back, this time above The Three Compasses pub in Farringdon. One of the best restaurants in the area, here you can expect an 'unashamedly French' menu that changes daily, written only on a blackboard. The pub dowsntairs features food from the same kitchen, so that's well worth a look too.

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.

Four seasons, Hamilton Pl, London W1J 7DR

This sees top French chef Yannick Alleno (who has many Michelin stars to his name) in charge of the main restaurant and bar at The Four Seasons on Park Lane. This iteration of the restaurant has a huge counter dining space where you can see the chefs putting the finishing touches to Alleno's haute cuisine up close. The bar space also features a separate menu of sushi and more snacks.

182 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8EW

Want to be looked after to within an inch of your life? Well, Otto's is the restaurant you come to. Properly old-school French, Otto's has carved out a niche for itself serving up incredibly rich French cuisine in a lively environment. It also has a serious bit of kit called the duck press, which produces its signature dish.

6 Clarges Street, London W1J 8AE

This Mayfair restaurant is inspired by the legacy of the late and hugely influential French chef Joel Robuchon. Originally called Le Comptoir, it was renamed in honour of the chef's most famous restaurant. It takes influence from both Western and Eastern cooking, but if his famously buttery pommes puree are on the menu, they're not to be missed.

South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, London EC2M 2AF

With spectacular views from the 7th floor of the South Place Hotel, Angler presents Michelin-starred dining with a special focus on seafood. Enjoy a tasting menu, lunch or à la carte meals from the rooftop terrace, with the likes of sea bass tartare with oyster cream, green apple and shiso on offer.

2-3 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA

Camille comes from Clare Lattin and Tom Hill, the people behind Ducksoup. For this restaurant, they've taken a French bistro approach both for food and wine. The former can be seen in a menu of provincial French cuisine while the latter comes across in a wine list focusing on small French producers, with a focus on low-intervention wines.