The St Johns Wood Classic - Snazzy 2bdr Flat

Cooking with fire is all the rage these days and Lita is an expert practitioner, although it also offers so much more. While there’s a strong Mediterranean and southern European element to the menu, prime British ingredients – such as Scottish lobster and Cornish turbot – along with big, bold flavours and well-made sauces really make the dishes sing. Many of the plates are designed for sharing, like dry-aged Devon duck with beetroot and kumquat. This is roll-up-your-sleeves sort of food – the type that leaves you licking your lips and planning your return.

A light refurbishment in early 2025 freshened up the look of this ever-popular Indian restaurant, while the service remains as pitch perfect as ever: professional and attentive, without being stiff or formal. But what continues to make it special is the quality of its cuisine. Dishes inspired by India’s coastal cooking are not to be missed, like the generous and delicious Dorset brown crab or the Hariyali bream from the tandoor, but don’t ignore the more original offerings like beef short rib coconut fry. Look out for the special menus that celebrate India’s festivals and seasons.

‘Rooted in Thailand, Uniquely British’ is the tagline of this joyfully run restaurant from John and Desiree Chantarasak – John is half-Thai, half-British, a duality that informs his cuisine. The exemplary ingredients – from crab to venison – are sourced from across the UK, including from Desiree’s family’s farm, but you can certainly expect more than British ingredients simply married with Thai flavours. There are reimagined and innovative dishes aplenty here too, such as Brixham crab with caviar and coconut ash cracker. Clever sourcing also extends to the furniture, with the tables made from

‘Mexican soul, British ingredients’ is the tagline of this big, bold restaurant, and it proves an exhilarating combination. The kitchen adds creativity and impressive modern technique to hyper-seasonal recipes rooted in tradition, resulting in wonderful flavour contrasts and imagination in outstanding dishes like the signature langoustine taco with smoked chilli and sea buckthorn. The interesting wine list focuses on lesser-known choices from Central and Eastern Europe, while the final part of the tasting menu is served in the downstairs Mezcaleria, which is well-stocked with Mexican spirits.

After many years working with Gordon Ramsay, Matt Abé finally put his name above the door with this restaurant inside the space which was once Le Gavroche – the famous basement dining room is now decked out with neutral tones and curved lines. The menu showcases Abé’s own style of cooking, blending classical dishes like celeriac royale with well-judged modernity. Throughout, his command of flavour – particularly in sauces – is exceptional, exemplified by a perfectly cooked scallop with a rich, buttery sauce and an array of citrus, all working together in total harmony.

A wood-panelled dining room within the historic Connaught Hotel might suggest an overly formal environment for Hélène Darroze’s London restaurant, but its soft furnishings and pastel colours give it a wonderfully cosy feel which helps put you at ease. The talented kitchen team bring outstanding technical mastery and attention to detail to the very best seasonal produce, while some of the accompanying flavours are informed by Hélène’s international travels, like the Isle of Mull lobster with tandoori spices. For dessert, the signature 'Baba' with a choice of Armagnacs from Hélène's brother Marc

From the charming welcome to the last of the delicious petit fours, Clare Smyth's elegant Notting Hill restaurant offers a superb experience. Start with a drink in the delightful Whiskey & Seaweed bar, before choosing between an à la carte or two tasting menus. 'Core Seasons' features more recent seasonal creations, while 'Core Classics' includes Smyth signatures like 'Potato and Roe' and 'Lamb Carrot'. Throughout, the eye-catching dishes take outstanding ingredients and fashion them into beautifully balanced, skilfully composed dishes with supreme depth of flavour.