Windsor Road Retreat

A gorgeous Arts and Crafts building houses this warm, homely restaurant on the edge of Richmond Park. There's a natural ethos running throughout the highly seasonal cooking, which is best appreciated with the full tasting menu. Impeccably sourced ingredients and strong classical technique underpin assured, satisfying dishes where the boldly flavoured sauces are a highlight – be it honey and verjus with John Dory or a glossy sake sauce with Creedy Carver Duck. The warm, passionate service leaves no detail overlooked, and there are quarterly classical music recitals too.

The jewel in Chiswick’s culinary crown remains as popular as ever, thanks to its local feel, relaxed atmosphere and, most importantly, its skilled and generous cooking. Largely British ingredients are combined with influences from France and occasionally the wider Mediterranean. So you can expect carefully prepared dishes like corn-fed chicken with potato galettes, celeriac purée and wild garlic salsa verde, where the flavours are as assured as they are satisfying. Bright and delightful on a summer’s day and cosy and warm in winter, this is a restaurant for all seasons and all occasions.

It should go without saying, but be sure to ask for a seat on the terrace at this icon of London's Italian restaurant scene. The on-view kitchen with its wood-fired oven dominates the stylish and buzzing riverside room and the menu bursts with authentic Italian flavours which make one’s mouth water in anticipation. The honest, hearty dishes have a rustic Italian simplicity, relying as they do on the quality of their ingredients, whether that be clams, crab or wild sea bass. Arguably the best Italian wine list in London is the icing on the cake.

With its Sunday lunches, quiz nights and sensible prices, this remains a proper neighbourhood pub – albeit in a very smart neighbourhood. There's a pleasantly lived-in feel to the place; if you're here to eat, head for the conservatory which overlooks the terrace. The appealing menu mixes steaks and pubby favourites like fish & chips with a good range of Mediterranean-influenced dishes such as grilled sardines with caponata. Do try the apple cake for dessert, which is Polish Chef Damian's take on his mother's recipe.

There’s something that just feels right as soon as you enter this terrific Thames-side pub. Dating back to the 1850s, it’s got character to spare and a cosy atmosphere being heartily enjoyed by one and all – while the scent of fresh flowers on the tables combines with appetising aromas from the kitchen. Start with a snack, like the homemade Merguez sausage with labneh, before choosing one of the vibrantly flavoured main dishes, including a selection of steaks and fresh fish from the blackboard. The bright and attentive team are the icing on the cake.

As you sit in the greenhouse with sand at your feet, surrounded by fresh flowers which even in the winter months perfume the air, it feels as though all is right with the world. A unique spot within the London dining scene, this restaurant forms part of the wider Petersham Nurseries complex, where you can buy plants and homeware to spruce up your abode. The cooking is informed by their own fresh produce and has a clear Italian accent, from beef carpaccio and wild mushroom risotto to pan-fried sea bream with puttanesca.

Experienced restaurateur Sam Harrison is behind this modern riverside brasserie beside Hammersmith Bridge. It's an enduringly popular place and you can see why from the appealing, pleasingly varied menu that might incorporate a range of influences but doesn't lose sight of the flavour gained by using quality produce. British ingredients from land and sea are cooked with precision and there's a whole section of the menu for oysters and other shellfish. Stock up on provisions at Sam’s Larder before you leave.