Test Drive

• Test Driving Velvet - the Corinthia London's louche new cocktail bar

  

  This new bar at this Whitehall hotel showcases the many talents of top mixologist Salvatore Calabrese. We popped in for a tipple or two.

• Test Driving 56 West Smithfield - a groundbreaking wine bar in the City

  

  Given the current cost of living crisis we're all for a new wine bar that's bringing down the cost of drinking good wine.

• Test Driving The Holland - Kensington's lovely new neighbourhood pub

  

  Kensington locals' pub options just got more interesting with the arrival of The Holland. We went to check it out. 

• Test Driving Restaurant St. Barts - a modernist dream in the old heart of London

  

  This new Smithfield restaurant wants to give London diners a real experience for their money. We went to see how that plays out in reality.

• Test driving Scott's - Mayfair's glamorous seafood spot lands on the riverside at Richmond

  Celeb haunt Scott's has arrived in Richmond and hasn't spared any expense, from the look of it. We head down for a riverside lunch to see how the locals have taken to it.  

• Test Driving Elis - Brazilian/Italian fusion at Bethnal Green's Town Hall Hotel

  

  The team behind Da Terra have taken over the other restaurant at the Town Hall Hotel for a more casual affair. We headed east for a look. 

• Test Driving Mount St. Restaurant - art, food and celebs mix in this Mayfair hit

  

  Mount St. Restaurant has arrived in Mayfair, attracting a flurry of high-profile guests. We went along to take a look at this restaurant which also happens to double as an informal art gallery. 

• Test Driving Koyn - fire in the kitchen at this Mayfair Japanese restaurant

  

  From the team who brought us Jamavar and Mimi Mei Fair comes this hot new Japanese spot that's already causing a stir. We went down to try this restaurant of two halves.

• Test Driving The Barley Mow - a Mayfair pub reborn

  

  The latest addition to Mayfair's pub dining scene has arrived with a very clubby dining room and plenty of theatrical flourishes.

• Test Driving the Sunday roast at Kudu Grill - perfection in Peckham

  

  It turns out that Sunday roasts are just one more thing this Peckham restaurant does brilliantly.

• Test Driving Milk Beach - an Australian oasis in Soho

   

  Milk Beach has been a success in Queen's Park, and now it's brought its Australian cuisine to a prime new Soho space. We went down for a look.  

• Test Driving Scully in St James - a new tasting menu brings us back

  

  Ramael Scully's eponymous restaurant on St James's Market has switched up its evening offering to an all tasting menu affair. We went to try it out.

• Test Driving Barrafina Borough Yards - same brilliant tapas but this one's good for groups too

  

  Just around the corner from Borough Market, you'll find the latest Barrafina, and this one is particularly good if you're dining as a group. We took a stool up at the marble counter to give their specials a go.

• Test Driving Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal - the hotel gets a real destination restaurant

  

  Alex Dilling at the Hotel Café Royal promises to deliver an elevated Frech dining experience from a lauded chef. We went along to see if the hotel has finally landed a full-on destination restaurant.  

• Test Driving Sunda Kitchen - Covent Garden's new Southeast Asian winner

   

  Out of almost nowhere, an interesting new South East Asian restaurant has appeared in Covent Garden. Sunda Kitchen has some very impressive names behind it - and they've managed to create something that easily meets the high expectations we had for the place.