Lin Song House South London Garden Room Getaway

What a wonderful neighbourhood pub this is – the kind of place you visit once, then immediately start planning your return. Bright, warm and welcoming, the interior is smart yet still feels like a pub, something which is echoed in the food. The menu is packed with the kind of accessible, pared-back cooking you could happily eat every day. High-quality ingredients shine in generous dishes with a complete lack of pretension or over-adornment – like tender Salt Marsh lamb loin with romero peppers and a pastilla of slow-cooked shoulder meat.

Restaurants offering a standard of cooking this high for over 20 years are few and far between, and the numerous regulars of this smart, friendly neighbourhood spot are a testament to its perennial popularity. The reasonably priced menu features traditional, carefully prepared dishes that showcase quality seasonal produce. The wine list is skilfully chosen and features some well-priced rare wines, with an interesting selection by the glass, while a corkage option allows guests to bring a bottle from their own cellar.

He may be one of the most famous chefs on the planet, but Gordon Ramsay still remains fiercely committed to maintaining the highest standards at his elegant yet relaxed flagship restaurant. The team here interpret Ramsay’s style impeccably across a choice of menus: the set 'Prestige' selection; the 'Carte Blanche' surprise menu; and the à la carte, where you will find signature dishes like the lobster ravioli and the roast veal sweetbread. The latter is a perfect embodiment of the kitchen's perfectly judged contrasts of flavour and texture, with a pleasing lightness of touch.

Andrew Wong’s inspiration comes from across all of the Chinese provinces; join him for a three-hour culinary voyage around the country with the ‘Collections of China’ evening menu, where he presents his own unique interpretations of regional dishes, which demonstrate extraordinary sophistication, creativity and depth of flavour. Start with a drink downstairs in the Forbidden City, or come at lunch for outstanding dim sum – they even have a dim sum tasting menu. Clued-up service adds to the overall experience and dishes are explained with obvious pride.

Sitting just outside Herne Hill station, with its large windows letting diners look out and passers-by to look in, Llewellyn’s feels like a proper neighbourhood restaurant at the heart of the local community. The menu offers an appealing mix of dishes with a Mediterranean accent which focus on the freshness of the ingredients, and service is young and endearing.

Snugly slotted into a busy South London street, this bustling Indian restaurant comes with a wonderfully relaxed, vibrant atmosphere and dishes you’ll want to eat again and again. The concise menu keeps things simple and is all the better for it, starting with moreish onion bhajis and continuing with a knockout Thanjavur chicken curry. What makes it even better is the mightily appealing prices, meaning you can share a broad range of dishes with friends and come away without your wallet feeling too bruised.

Better known to his thousands of Instagram followers as NattyCanCook, Chef Nathaniel Mortley is behind this well-run Caribbean restaurant, where the buzz of the many delighted diners hits you the second you walk in. Start off with a cocktail – perhaps the signature rum punch – before choosing from a menu of colourful dishes with warming spices and gentle sweeter notes. All of the mains come with rice and peas or jollof rice, but it’s well worth adding a side of caramelised plantain too. To finish, go for Mortley’s deliciously different take on sticky toffee pudding.