Central 1BD Flat - Tottenham Court Road

There are a lot of courses on James Knappett's creative surprise menu, but you'll be glad of it once you've tried such superb cooking. You’ll start in the lounge with drinks and accomplished canapés that set the tone for the evening, before being guided to your seat at the beautiful kitchen counter – where you can watch the chefs finish dishes close-up. Outstanding British produce is at the heart of the experience, with the seafood often proving a highlight, whether it's soft and smoky eel or fresh squid enhanced by a creamy lobster sauce.

There’s a sense of theatre to every element of Mourad Mazouz and Pierre Gagnaire’s 18th-century house of fun. As you climb the stairs up to The Lecture Room and Library, the anticipation grows, then stepping into the gloriously colourful and lavishly decorated room both inspires and excites – there really is no restaurant in London quite like this. The multi-dish cooking is also unique in the city, where perfectly seared Cornish wild turbot comes with clams and mango, along with a mosaic of its skirt; and succulent roasted leg of Welsh lamb is accompanied by sweetbreads and kidney, with its fi

Top restaurants never stop developing – and that’s certainly the case with Ikoyi. Founder and chef Jeremy Chan’s surprise tasting menu uses high-quality organic produce from the British Isles, married with global spices, to create dishes that are as unique and creative as they are bold and beautiful to behold – and they now display even greater levels of depth and complexity. Dishes like aged turbot with egusi miso or suya with creamed peas are bound to enthral, while the theatrically presented smoked jollof rice will always be one of the highlights.

Jun Tanaka’s restaurant may be centrally located on Charlotte Street, with its plethora of dining options, but this feels very much like a neighbourhood spot. Two floors of closely set tables and a relaxed, informal atmosphere help to create the feel of a lively bistro de-luxe. The menu is designed for sharing, although it can easily be enjoyed solo too. There's a discernible Mediterranean influence to the cooking, with the likes of sea bream carpaccio and wild garlic risotto on the menu.

Over the decades, few parts of London have seen more restaurants come and go than Charlotte Street, but one constant over that period has been David Moore’s Pied à Terre. Reinventions have kept things fresh over time, be that a new colour scheme or the embracing of plant-based cooking with a serious vegan offering. The classically based dishes are seasonal and colourful, showing off top-notch ingredients in harmonious combinations, such as Welsh lamb with basil, anchovy, girolles and a top-drawer red wine reduction with red currants.

It’s all in the name: this bright, intimate restaurant in the streets of Soho celebrates the cuisine of LA and wider California, with its décor and lush plants evoking The Golden State. First-rate ingredients are used in well-balanced dishes characterised by deep, bold flavours and punchy sauces; eye-catching presentation and some playful touches add an extra element. The wine list is an all-American selection, including some choices that are exclusive to the restaurant.

In a narrow Soho alley sits this outpost of Simon Rogan’s celebrated L’Enclume restaurant in the Lake District. Before assembling on the 12-seater counter, diners are served drinks in the small bar, along with a variety of snacks, each of which is presented and described by a different chef. The set menu is then served to all at the same time and is made up of creative, detailed dishes like Cartmel Valley Fallow deer with fermented black garlic or Orkney scallops with smoked pike perch roe. The chefs also make great use of organic ingredients from Rogan’s own Cumbrian farm.