London restaurants - Chelsea, Kensington

Following successful openings in Moscow, St Petersburg and New York, this Mari Vanna is the London outpost of the restaurant hoping to bring authentic Russian cuisine to Londoners. Expect to be welcomed into a London townhouse that has been given a full Russian makeover, and plenty of comfort food.

After the previous restaurant, the Oriel, was closed down by the owner Earl Cadogan for not being good enough, Corbin and King (also behind The Wolseley and the Delaunay) have snatched up the space. The new 6000 square restaurant is "a true all-day ‘grand cafe’, providing eating and grazing from breakfast through to later evening".

This Azerbaijani restaurant has taken over the old site of La Noisette. You can expect Azeri tapas in the bar and the restaurant itself is focused around small plates.

One of London's stalwarts, this has been a fixture of the Knightsbridge scene for over 15 years. Expect a high-end Japanese dining experience, still some of the best in the Capital, and to be surrounded with the finest of Knightsbridge. And make sure you make the most of the sake sommelier.

Classic Italian, Michelin starred restaurant in Knightsbridge that is popular with the wealthy locals.

This bistro venture from Marlon Abela, owner of Michelin starred Umu and the Greenhouse in London, is on the old site of the Oratory. David Escobar, formerly at French three-Michelin-starred restaurant Lameloise will head up the kitchen while front-of-house will be Jean-Marie Miorada who comes over from The Greenhouse.

Hotel and restaurant owner Mark Fuller of Sanctum Soho bought up the Notting Hill fish and chip restaurant in 2006 with the intention of restoring it to its former glory. That done, they've expanded the Geales brand and have bought up Tom Aiken's former chipper Tom's Place in Chelsea. Expect 'fresh fish, no frills and fabulous service'.

This Italian has impeccable pedigree being bankrolled by none other than Giorgio Locatelli. The chaps behind it are Locatelli’s former Head Chef, turned Operations Director Federico Sali and his brother, Locanda Locatelli’s current award-winning sommelier Massimiliano.

This is a joint venture between top chef Philip Howard, best known for Elystan Street, and his business partner Rebecca Mascarenhas. The chef here is Mark Kempson, who worked with Howard at The Square. This has slowly become a Kensington institution, a laid-back neighbourhood restaurant, but one that has a Michelin star.

The Saatchi gallery cafe is run by catering company Rhubarb who, having opened an outlet at Heathrow's Terminal 5 and taken over posh river fleet Silver Fleet have now turned their attention to public spaces. The large terrace here is a popular place to be on a sunny day.

This wine bar, off-licence and restaurant has five, count them, Enomatic wine machines which apparently retail for around eight grand each, just so that Londoners can enjoy one of 40 wines by the glass. Beware the oh-too-handy credit card system which allows self-service! Apparently the food's not bad, either.

Bizarre fusion restaurants have a habit of tanking in London (does anyone remember Shumi?) but the notion of a Japanese/Brazilian mix to the food and drink certainly has restaurant-goers intrigued if not completely beguiled. Worth checking out if only to say you've tried it, perhaps.

This clean-cut restaurant/bar opened with a cut-throat attitude to pricing that's bound to win it plenty of punters, attracted by the idea of four small plates (or British tapas) for a tenner. Worth checking out particularly in summer for its dining room with retracting sunroof.

A culinary landmark when it opened 25 years ago, the revamp of the Bombay Brasserie had won mixed reviews from critics and diners alike. Certainly the charm of the place remains undimmed, but the new OTT decor and gargantuan bills left a bad taste in the mouth. Better stick to the fantastic value of the restaurant's famed Sunday buffet.