Birds Nest - Surrey Quays

There’s a refreshing lack of formality at Trivet, both in the look of the room and in the style of the service, but that’s not to say this isn’t a very professionally run operation. The chefs in the open kitchen craft imaginative, fuss-free dishes using prime seasonal ingredients, where the combinations are balanced and flavours assured. Try dishes like ‘Pigeon and persimmon’ or the imaginatively titled ‘Turkish breakfast’ dessert, and you’ll see a kitchen full of imagination and ability. Wine plays an integral role, with personable service and a thoughtfully curated list championing lesser-kn

All is calmness and tranquillity once you step inside this cool, understated room in pastel shades – you’ll find yourself instantly forgetting all the bustle outside. The Korean husband-and-wife team combine skills learnt in Europe’s top kitchens with techniques and flavours from their homeland. Highlights of the imaginative and impeccably executed set menu may include a clever re-working of tarte Tatin with daikon; courgette flower stuffed with crab and dubu; a generous dish of succulent pork with wild garlic; and a delicious ssuk pain perdu to finish.

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.

Find the subtle little sign and then head upstairs to this lively, hugely fun restaurant serving thrilling cooking from Greece and beyond. This is the spot that the capital’s Hellenic food enthusiasts have been crying out for, with utterly delicious sharing dishes that include spreads and breads, tuna in various forms, plenty from the charcoal grill and standouts like spanakopita and giouvetsi. The covered terrace overlooks Borough Market, the pacing from the kitchen is spot on and the young service team are both warm and helpful. The list of coastal wines is great too.

An unpretentious Italian restaurant in one of the converted Shad Thames warehouses; the unfussy service suits the style of the place. The seasonally influenced menu uses British produce, with the in-house pasta a particular highlight; dishes are relatively simple but flavours are bold and prices, appealing.

Tiny and tucked-away on Peckham’s bustling Rye Lane, Lai Rai is a hidden gem of a restaurant. Friendly, affordable and with knockout Vietnamese cooking, it’s the kind of place you leave with a spring in your step. The food is packed with bold flavours and executed with real skill, moving from bánh mì and coffee in the day to a more elaborate menu in the evening. Make sure you start with the brilliant prawn lollies, as no matter how many you order, you’ll still be wanting more. The genial, enthusiastic team just want you to have a good time – and you will!

When your restaurant is on the 60th floor, thus becoming the tallest in Europe, it makes complete sense that the 12-seater counter faces the window and the stunning view over the city, rather than the chefs in their open kitchen. Gordon Ramsay’s exclusive little sky dining restaurant offers a surprise tasting menu, built around ingredients from the top drawer. Highlight dishes could include 14-day aged duck with celeriac and Alsace bacon, and lobster with pumpkin and pine. Everyone is served together so be punctual – and allow a little extra time for security checks on the ground floor.