Eat
Alloro
Quietly classy and deliberately ‘un-fashion’ this seems more of an intimate local Italian than a glossy Mayfair joint, but that’s before you order.
19-20 Dover Street, W1 Tel: 020 7495 4768
Must Try: Pan-fried monkfish with chorizo and a rich saffron sauce
www.atozrestaurants.com/alloro
Atami
Fresh sushi, natural décor and a chef, who’s worked at Nobu Tsunami and Ubon, make this newbie standout.
37 Monck Street, SW1P 2BLTel: 020 7222 2218
Must try: The mature Marble Beef, seared on hot oil and served with chives
www.atami-restaurant.com
Bar Shu
Acclaimed Fiery Sichuan haunt in Soho. Try to get a ‘hot-pot’- they only do a handful per night and Kettners across the street is a good après dinner spot for champers to cool the palette.
28 Frith St, W1D 5LF Tel: 020 7287 6688
Must try: Fire-exploded kidney flowers, don’t ask, just an awesome eat.
China Tang
David Tang’s Dorchester based gourmet Chinese restaurant. Expect gold décor, a moneyed crowd, and an authentic menu. Highlights include dim sum and interesting combos (abalone and lobster anyone?).
The Dorchester, Park Lane, W1K 1QA 53 Tel: 020 7629 9988
Must try: try Peking duck as a three-course meal, and Mangosteen meringue for dessert.
www.thedorchester.com/restaurants_bars/china_tang.html
Cipriani
This London outpost attracts a moneyed Euro crowd and Simon Cowell…Expect the trademark Bellini; attentive wait staff, and pricey, but divine Italian food. Not for the faint hearted. Book well in advance.
5 Davies Street, W1 Tel: 020 7399 0500
Must Try: Beef carpaccio and the overlooked £21 three-course lunch
www.cipriani.com
Deya
Co-owned by Sir Michael Caine, the focus here is gourmet Indian food that is easy on the spice and heavy on the seafood. These are light modern dishes for elegant dining. Perfect then, for the Grade II listed dining room.
34 Portman Square, W1 Tel: 020 7224 0028
Must Try: pistachio, masala & rose water crème brûlé.
www.deya-restaurant.co.uk
Fino
Being one of the city’s only fashionable tapas joints, the patrons here have always been as much about style as substance. The tapas themselves are sophisticated, the portions generous and the combinations interesting. 33 Charlotte Street (entrance on Rathbone Street), W1 Tel 020 7813 8010
Must Try: Crisp pork belly and diver caught scallops
www.finorestaurant.com
Galvin
The Bistro deluxe is the original ‘Galvin’ a more relaxed affordable affair than its new sibling At Windows. Here you can relax into big leather banquettes and happily while away an afternoon eating simple bourgeois classics. Lets hope it starts the Baker Street regeneration.
66 Baker Street, W1U 7DH Tel: 020 7935 4007
Must try: Lasagne of Dorset crab
www.galvinbistrotdeluxe.co.uk
Hakkasan
This Michelin starred Chinese eatery is still one of the best restaurants in
London. The black marble décor and uber-designed interior may feel a bit dated, but no matter. The food is divine and cocktails sublime, worth making the effort to book in advance. Highlights include the lunchtime dim sum and fresh fruit cocktails; the bar is destination in its own right.
8 Hanaway Place W1 Tel: 020 7927 7000
Must Try: Roast Venison Puff or Char Sui Pau, like eating sweet beefy air
La Noisette
La Ramsay’s newest UK venture. Opened recently to rave reviews, Bjorn Vander Horst’s classic French fare, led by daily market produce, seems to consistently impress. 64 Sloane Street, London SW1, tel: 020 7750 5000.
Must try: Share the English rib of beef for two
www.gordonramsay.com/lanoisette
Locanda Locatelli
Giorgio Locatelli's eponymous restaurant serves delectable, innovative Italian
cuisine. With a sophisticated David Collins designed dining room, flawless
service and mouth-watering dishes, this is a foodie's fave. We love his new bible sized cookbook, too!
8 Seymour Street, W1 Tel: 020 7935 9088
Must Try: Simplest spring salad of radish, baby carrot, fine beans, peas and endives may induce the first salad orgasm ever, literally the finest salad you could ever imagine.
www.locandalocatelli.com
Mews of Mayfair
This four- floor drinking/dining emporium offers private dining for intimate nights, a buzzy main restaurant, a main bar, and basement drinking den that makes the best martini in W1.
10-11 Lancashire Court, W1S 1EY Tel: 020 7518 9388
Divine drink: Strawberry and cucumber Martini
www.mewsofmayfair.com
Momo
The food is good, but it's the atmosphere here that really brings in the beautiful people. The French-Moroccan themed décor provides a festive backdrop and the low-lighting casts a flattering glow, which is always a good thing. The downstairs bar with nightly live music- is a definite highlight
27 Heddon Street W1 Tel: 020 7434 4040
Must Do: The tea garden is open till 1am for a hookah and cocktail late into the night
www.momoresto.com
Moro
The original modern Moroccan, with fresh ingredients and great flavours. Ever evolving, always impressing, Moro continues to inspire the palette with new creations.
34-36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE Tel 020 7833 8336
Must Try: The menu is overhauled every week, but seek out tapas to start and anything charcoal grilled.
www.moro.co.uk
Nobu and Nobu Berkeley
Nobu needs no introduction. If you get a table, the fresh sushi (we love the tuna tataki), excellent service, and buzzy crowd will not disappoint. The bar at Nobu Berkeley is a bonus, too.
Metropolitan Hotel, 19 Old Park Lane, W1 Tel 020 7447 4747
15 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DY Tel 020 7290 7222
Must Try: Never tire of signature dishes, but try the tasting menu and you get black miso cod and wagyu steak amongst six other courses of bliss.
www.noburestaurants.com
Ping Pong
With dim sum served all day in sleek surroundings, Ping-Pong’s are popping up all over London for a reason. Their phrase, “little steamed parcels of deliciousness”, couldn’t put it better.
45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL Tel 020 7851 6969
Must Try: The usual dim sum faves, but at a bargain price
www.pingpongdimsum.com
Randall and Aubin
A buzzy seafood restaurant that has people hanging out of the window tables in the summer, enticing you in with their delicious looking mussels and steaks. From inside Soho life looks perfect. Good spot to dine pre- Too2Much.
16 Brewer Street, W1 Tel: 020 7287 4447
Must try: Go classic with lobster and chips
www.randallandaubin.co.uk/soho
Roka
Being the sibling of Zuma, Roka had some pretty big shoes to fill, but it seems
like the winning combo of a healthy robata grill, innovative menu (including
various 'comfort' Japanese dishes) and reasonable prices has created another successful venture. On a nice night, the patio seating hits the spot.
37 Charlotte Street, W1 Tel: 020 7580 6464
Must Try: Kimchi and bespoke Shochu.
www.rokarestaurant.com
Salt Yard
Normally associated with salt and oil overload, seasonal, light tapas are a rarity, but here charcuterie meats, breads and sides are great for sharing. Ring before and request the corner, sunken table. 54 Goodge Street, W1T 4NA Tel:
Must try: Fois gras and jam
www.saltyard.co.uk
Sketch
Still going strong, Mourad’s multi-million pound venue, has this year added Glade, which has become a lunchtime media haunt (great skylights). Tea, and ’ice-cream’ nights (Tuesdays) are other highlights. If you still haven’t tried the Lecture Room, and don’t want to break the bank, book a set lunch. 9 Conduit Street, W1 Tel: 0870 777 4488
Must Try: The Parlour’s infinitely amazing cakes, and under the radar bargain three- course lunch (£20)
www.sketch.uk.com
Spoon+
Settle into a comfy white sofa here and it's easy to pretend you're in Miami.
Water features, soft lighting, and beautiful people - who relentlessly pose-
make this a great way to pass a night. Choose from a menu that encourages you
to try your hand at a sophisticated form of pick and mix.
Sanderson Hotel 50 Berners Street W1 Tel: 020 7300 1400
Must Try: Eclectic flavours, prawn & salmon cerviche with sweet chilli popcorn
www.spoon-restaurant.com
Sumosan
Delicious contemporary Japanese cuisine in a light, minimalist venue with slick
service, and a sleek basement bar. Crowd is quite corporate, but this is Mayfair, what do you expect? 26 Albemarle Street, W1 Tel: 020 7495 5999
Must Try: Incredible sushi rolls, the T&T, a stunning combination of tuna & truffle
www.sumosan.com
Via Condotti
Glossy new restaurant, backed by Claudio Pulze, the man who put Ramsey into Aubergine. Cipriani may well have met its match (plus it’s lighter on the wallet too).
23 Conduit Street, W1S Tel:020 7439 7050
Must Try: Tagliolini made with a purée of borlotti beans, and tortellini filled with scamorza, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes
www.viacondotti.co.uk
Wallace Restaurant
Oliver Peyton’s newest venture, is in one of the oldest art establishments in London. Diners are transported into an age of elegance - with silk parasols and placemats and a dramatic glass roof complimenting modern French fare
Wallace Collection, Manchester Sq, W1U 3BN- 020 7563 9505.
Must try: The shared main courses. Either the Seabass baked in a salt crust or the Rib Pepper Beef
www.wallacecollection.org
Wolseley
Getting a table at this esteemed European bistro continues to be difficult, but the regal ambience, all day service and simple, but well-prepared cuisine is well worth the wait.
160 Piccadilly, W1 Tel 020 7499 6996
Must Try: The best in fine breakfasting Eggs Benedict and Bubble and Squeak
www.thewolseley.com
W’Sens
Perhaps not so easy to say, think of poor Mick Jagger with L’Wren Scott, but it does do Eurostyle in’ style’; expect beautiful wait staff and superb food from the stable of the Pourcel brothers (of the starry Le Jardin des Sens in Montpelier).
12 Waterloo Place, St James', SW1Y 4AU Tel: 020 7484 1355
Must Try: Three-way artichoke starter (slivered, puréed & roasted with balsamic)
www.wsens.co.uk
Yauatcha
Yau’s acclaimed dim sum restaurant. Blue fish tanks and fairy lights complement the perfectly formed morsels. Tea and cakes on the ground floor are delicious too. The restaurant is non-smoking, and surprisingly, the prices are almost reasonable. 15/17 Broadwick Street, W1 - 020 7494 8888
Must Try: Scallop Siu Mai are brilliantly constructed (a halved scallop on a plump shrimp with a dollop of fish roe)
www.yauatcha.com
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