Modern European

94 Lower Richmond Road, London SW15 1LL

Even locals would probably agree that Putney's not blessed with great restaurants, so the arrival of this new neighbourhood spot has been met with delight. Ed and Callum, the folk behind it, have a seriously impressive joint CV which includes Forza Wine, Pitt Cue and The Hero. It's a handy place to dive into for small plates and wine (oysters and chipolatas are a great combo), but also rewards checking out the larger dishes on offer, which usually include some seafood and steak-based specials.

61-63 Brushfield Street, London E1 6AA

After success in Notting Hill with their vegan restaurant, Holy Carrot changed things a little for their second opening, changing the approach to vegetarian. That means the menu, once again created by ex-Acme Fire Cult's Daniel Watkins, adds the odd bit of cheese and cream to the menu. Otherwise, the similar inventive approach to plant-based cooking remains, all set within a vibey space just off Spitalfields market.

12 St. George Street, London W1S 2FB

What was once Humo has been reinvented as Igni, another fire-led restaurant this time with executive chef Theo Clench (ex-Cycene) running the show. Up at the counter is the place to be (if you can stand the heat) for a front-row seat watching the dishes come together. It’s a tasting-menu-only affair offering plenty of culinary fireworks (literally and figuratively).

Ground Floor, St. Clement, 12 Temple Pl, London WC2R 2NF

Ex-Soho House boss Nick Jones (who also launched The Ned) is behind this restaurant on the ground floor of his St Clement hotel. It's predominantly a Modern European-influenced restaurant, launched with an ex-River Cafe chef, so the pasta should be something to concentrate on. It's also a restaurant where you should encounter the odd celeb.

8-10 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QA

Vesper sees chef Jackson Boxer opening on Exmouth Market with a restaurant that's not dissimilar to his Dove in Notting Hill. It's an eclectic menu but one that veers towards comfort food. As with Dove, don't forget to order the "secret" burger if it's available.

7 Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3ES

Rh London is the Mayfair outpost of Restoration Hardware, which is a unique mix of an upmarket furniture store and a gallery alongside restaurants and bars. The food here is brasserie-style and served in two amazing-looking spaces. There's The Perch, an alfresco space on the rooftop as well as the main double-height dining room downstairs, housed in a former banking hall. All that and there's a bar serving great martinis too.

52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BS

This is Sally Abé's first solo restaurant, bringing modern British cooking to Hackney. Following stints at The Pem and The Bull at Charlbury, she focuses here on celebrating British food, its history and community, while championing women and good causes. The menu features dishes like Dorset crab royale, haunch of deer with pickled walnuts, and Cornish mussels with Jersey Royals. Look out for the £1 “Penny Lick” ice cream supporting Hackney Food Bank.

79 Green Lanes, London N16 9BU

After leaving London Fields, the team behind Papi opened their pub, The Golden Tooth, taking over The Leconfield just north of Newington Green. Chef Matthew Scott and wine merchant Charlie Carr split the space between pub and restaurant. The main menu focuses on grilled meats, chops and pies, plus dishes like veal sweetbread saltimbocca. Wines come from Carr’s Wingnut Wines, leaning low-intervention, alongside Guinness, of course.

18-22 Holbein Place, London SW1W 8NL

Corenucopia is chef Clare Smyth's spin-off Chelsea restaurant from her three-Michelin-starred Core. This is a little more casual, but not too much as it's still billed as a "luxury bistro". Expect Smyth's unique take on classic British dishes, like fish & chips, but with a very upscale approach.

1A Langton St, London SW10 0JL

Chef Patron Anna Haugh is a TV regular (now heading up MasterChef), but here in Chelsea just off the King’s Road is where her heart is. Myrtle restaurant serves up modern European food but with a focus on Irish influences and using the best of Irish produce. Also make sure to pop into her excellent wine bar next door, The Wee Sister.

100 Strand, London WC2R 0EW

One of London's best restaurateurs has brought one of London's classic restaurants back to its prime. Under Jeremy King, Simpson's is now as good as it ever was and the roast beef trolleys remain a big draw. There are two restaurants here, the main Grand Divan and the more affordable Romano's. You'll also find two bar, Simpson's Bar and Nellie's Tavern in the basement, which has a very handy late licence.

8 Pearson Square, London W1T 3BF

Aces Foodcraft comes from chef Alex Craciun, who's using global influences to create a menu like no other. The room is all centred around an impressive-looking kitchen (look out for the glass fridge on the wall) that creates an intimate atmosphere even if you're not at the kitchen counter. Both tasting and a la carte menus are available, the wine list is excellent and it's notably good value for this level of cooking.

22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4BQ

This is the City version of Gordon Ramsay's signature restaurant. Unlike the Hospital road original, this lives up to its name, situated on the 60th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, looking down onto a fantastic London vista. It's a chef's table experience, that's tasting-menu led.

74 Charlotte St., London W1T 4QH

This Fitzrovia restaurant is a solo London venture from chef Ben Murphy (ex-Launceston Place) where he's serving up his oen take on contemporary cooking. Look out for special touches like the roaming ice-cream trolley. The ground-floor bar also makes it a great spot for drinks in Fitzrovia.

19 Old Park Ln, London W1K 1LB

A sibling restaurant to Michelin-starred Trivet, this sees co-founders Chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal take the wine-forward creation that they started down in Bermondsey and transfer it to Park Lane where the old Met Bar used to be. As you might imagine, the wine offering is exceptional and the menu is grill-focused.

16-18 St James's Pl, London SW1A 1NJ

After winning a star at Lympstone Manor, Michael Caines has done the same for his first London restaurant. Set inside The Stafford hotel, the menu here celebrates the best of British produce and you'll also find quite a few of his signature dishes from Lympstone Manor.

142 Chiswick High Rd., Chiswick, London W4 1PU

The Silver Birch has built a great reputation over the years for being an excellent neighbourhood restaurant that takes a high-end- approach to British dining. Its current chef, Nathan Cornwell, previously won a Michelin star at The Barn at Moor Hall, and at this restaurant, he's taken a seasonal approach to the menu.

21 St Anne's Court, London W1F 0BJ

HG Soho is what's better known as Honest Greens on the continent, where it's got a huge following. Described as “chef-driven and plant-forward”, it's a fast-casual restaurant that focuses on vegetables while still offering meat and fish. The menu centres on build-your-own market plates and garden bowls and everything is cooked from scratch in an open kitchen, with no refined sugars or industrial ingredients.

43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR

Previously head chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Matt Abé has taken over the space that once was home to Le Gavroche. Thoroughly updating it for the 21st Century, he's offering a refined series of tasting menus here, with a great attention to detail in all the dishes on offer.

344a Essex Rd, London N1 3PD

Stable Wines comes from the same team as Goodbye Horses. It's a wine shop upstairs, but head through the shop and you'll find the most beautiful wine bar downstairs. That's much larger than the shop with an almost gothic look. The same focus on natural wine can be found down here as well as a menu of small plates.

4 Ganton Street, London W1F 7QL

The Shaston Arms is the latest project from Patty & Bun founder Joe Grossmann, following the success of The Watermans Arms in Barnes. This new Soho pub takes over the former Shaston Arms site on Ganton Street, keeping the spirit of a classic boozer while adding a stronger dining focus. Chef Sam Andrews (ex-Ducksoup) from The Watermans Arms leads the kitchen once again, creating a menu that blends comforting pub classics with a few refined touches.

7 Moxon Street, London W1U 4EP

After eight years shaping Peckham’s dining scene with Kudu, Kudu Grill and Curious Kudu, Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams moved their whole operation to Marylebone. The new Kudu unites all three restaurants under one roof. With the sama approach of mixing in European and South African influences, expect brand-new dishes alongside favourites from Kudu and Kudu Grill, plus a private dining room and bar area.

52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG

Once home to Pidgin, Sesta is a Neighbourhood-focused restaurant in Hackney from an ex-Pidgin duo - chef Drew Snaith and GM Hannah Kowalski. Here, the emphasis is on a seasonal menu but one that has a focus on comfort food that should attract both locals and people who loved Pidgin. Expect a strong natural wine list here too.

Abbot Street Car Park, London, E8 3DP

Acme Food Cult is from chef Andrew Clarke and, as the name suggests, it's all about cooking over fire on an impressive grill with a big, but not sole, focus on vegetables. You'll find it right next to 40FT Brewery, be sure to have some of their beer along with the food. It's also an excellent space for alfresco dining, with a space on the fully-covered terrace much sought after, particularly at weekends, when they do a great Sunday lunch.

Canal Place, 32 Andrews Rd, London E8 4RL

This is Max Rocha's solo restaurant by the canal in Hackney. The chef came from The River Cafe and like many of London's best chefs has also spent time at St John Bread & Wine. The bright dining room overlooking the canal is a great place to sit and try some of their weekly specials alongside what are now signature dishes like the deep-fried bread and butter pudding.

322-324 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA

Taking two railway arches in Haggerston, Planque is a wine bar, restaurant, members' club and store, with a key focus on natural and low-intervention wines. And most importantly it has Seb Myers (ex P Franco and Chiltern Firehouse) running the kitchen and serving up a modern take on French food. Small-medium plates are the order of the day, although there's a great set lunch deal here on Saturdays.

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.

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.

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.

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.