Mayfair, Belgravia

The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Pl, London SW1X 7HJ

Brooklands is the rooftop restaurant at The Peninsula London run by multi-Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi. The restaurant boasts a showstopper room with a Concorde replica on the ceiling while the food aims for a journey across the British Isles using sustainably sourced ingredients. There's also a large terrace and an equally impressive cocktail bar with views across London.

2 St James’s Market, London SW1Y 4RP

Chefs Will Murray and Jack Croft met in the kitchens of Dinner by Heston and then teamed up with James Robson to come up with Fallow. They run big on sustainability, so they use interesting cuts and everything is super seasonal and focuses mainly on British and Irish produce. Fallow’s commitment to sustainability and seasonality extends to even growing its own mushrooms in-house - how’s that for food miles?

27 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4HZ

This high-end Itlaian restaurant comes from the same people behind Coya, Amazonico and Bar des Pres. It's taken southern Italy as the inspiration in a restaurant that's made of a warren of rooms and bars. The room with the retractable glass roof will be a hit on warm days, while their veal tomahawk Milanese is a must.

36 Duke Street, St James's, London SW1Y 6DF

Paying homage to the grand brasseries of Paris and Lyon, Maison Francois quickly made a name for itself in St James when it opened in 2020. Downstairs there’s a huge wine cellar that’s a perfect private dining room and the basement bar, Frank’s, is a handy spot for a glass of wine post-work.

45 Jermyn St., London SW1 6DN

A popular St James haunt (and adjacent to Fortnums), this is always busy with a crowd that appreciates its super seasonal menu using the best of British produce. Enjoy the luxury of tableside service including a caviar trolley and the beef Wellington with sauce that’s flambeed right beside you.

150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR

One of London’s most elaborate dining rooms, the food here by the well-respected executive chef John Williams more than matches its surroundings. Here is a restaurant where you can expect domes to be lifted off dishes like veal cheek blanquette with white asparagus and Madeira. For sheer theatricality, order the crepes Suzette which are finished off in front of you.

4 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4QU

Chef patron Ramael Scully is of Chinese, Indian, Balinese and Irish descent and these influences inspire his cooking. The restaurant is a particular lure for vegetarians who are attracted by dishes like the bbq tender-stem broccoli with salted egg yolk, onion chinkiang vinegar and wasabi pea furikake.

5 Princes St, London W1B 2LQ

Tendril had been running as a supper club and pop-up before finding its permanent home in Mayfair. Run by Rishim Sachdeva (previously at Chiltern Firehouse) , the restaurant's driving aim is to serve "mostly vegan" food (which means one or two dishes may feature cheese) with dishes based on Rishim's experience gained in both British and Indian kitchens.

Brook Street, London W1K 4HR

The main Claridge's restaurant has returned with a completely new look and a more classic menu. The restaurant has reinvented itself as a "classically inspired but contemporary British restaurant" that is shying away from celebrity chefs and concentrating on delivering a menu of elevated British and European classics. There's a small bar in here too, so if you just fancy trying some snacks, that's well worth a look.

1 Dover St, London W1S 4LD

Sheesh became a huge hit in Essex, attracting all manner of celebs from D-listers to A-listers like Russell Crowe. This sees them in much more prime territory - almost directly opposite The Ritz. Expect something of a party affair, a touch of Essex in London and a menu that does indeed feature "Sheesh" kebabs, but wagyu steaks and lobster rolls too. Don't expect it to be subtle.

55 Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6LX

The great fact to bandy about Wiltons is that it’s older than the United States of America (the restaurant first opened 280 years ago). Looking good for its age, this is a place to perch up at the counter for oysters or find a booth at the back for luxe but traditional treats like Lobster Thermidor or an epic mixed grill.

4 Suffolk Pl, London SW1Y 4HX

For maximalists rather than minimalists this Italian restaurant took over a former bank just off Pall Mall, so expect acres of marble and gilt. In addition to the restaurant and bar, there’s also a walk-in wine cellar, whisky room and private dining room - it’s definitely a dress-up place for a special occasion.

1 Norris St, London SW1Y 4RJ

Finding well-priced restaurant options in St James can be a bit tricky but this Italian pizzeria is always a good bet. The USP here is that they use Mediterranean seawater in the pizza dough - that may sound gimmicky but the proof is in the eating and the pizzas are really good.

8 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5NG

Described by top chef Pierre Koffmann as “a restaurant of low-key excellence, serving some of the best food in the city” Wild Honey St James has seen chef Anthony Demetre turn this hotel restaurant into a genuine gastronomic destination. There’s a particularly good value set lunch option but if you can stay for longer, do order whatever seasonal iteration of the crisp Sutton Hoo chicken with pasta is on the menu.

73 St. James's Street, London SW1A 1PH

This longstanding restaurant moved from its original Chelsea location to St James in 2015. Here in its new home, it attracts a regular clientele of VIPs. The menu roams every region of India’s culinary landscape from Tandoori Sea Bass Amritsari to Goa Green Chicken Curry.

160 Picadilly, London W1J 9EB

Situated in a former car showroom, this Viennese style cafe is now a bona fide celebrity magnet where financiers rub shoulders with stars of the stage and screen. Breakfast is probably the hottest ticket here but they also do a very nice afternoon tea too.

12 St George's Street, London W1S 2FB

Coming from the same group that opened Sumi and Endo at the Rotunda, this is a wood fire concept in Mayfair. The open kitchen is dominated with a huge wood grill, with the counter right in front of that being the place to be. The menu features dishes cooked over fire using a number of methods and even some of the cocktails are set on fire.

36 Albemarle St, London W1S 4JE

Chef Takuya Watanabe left Paris for London to open Taku and it's paid off in style. His Mayfair omakase restaurant has just 16 seats with chef Taku serving up a regularly changing menu based on the best produce available.

198-200 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EZ

Notto sees top chef Phil Howard opening a fresh pasta restaurant on Piccadilly. More affordable than his previous restaurants, like Elystan Street, you can expect an Italian menu (and Italian cocktails) and his own takes on pasta, created together with chef Louis Korovilas.

Connaught House, 1-3 Mount Street, London W1K 3NB

This restaurant from Richard Caring (Scott's, Caprice) isn't doing anything by halves, as the name might suggest. From the moment you enter, you'll be met by a room dominated by galloping unicorns. That's all matched with a Greek-influenced menu, but it's the whole scene which is the real draw here.

82 Duke Street, London W1K 6JG

This Mayfair pub is now owened by the Cubitt House group who have given it a complete makeover, as well as completely relaunching the restaurant upstairs (which has been designed with a Mayfair clubby vibe). In charge of the food is chef Ben Tish and the menu here "takes its inspiration from Britain with a little bit of France."

41-43 Mount St, London W1K 2RX

This Mayfair restaurant comes from the people behind art gallery group Hauser & Wirth and is part of a building that also includes their own pub below. This upstairs restaurant is very much an upmarket affair, featuring a menu of classic British dishes (with a modern take) in a room covered in artwork that includes a stunning mosaic floor.

68 Regent St, Soho, London W1B 4DY

Alex Dilling (previously at The Greenhouse) is in charge of the main restaurant at Hotel Cafe Royal. He's only serving 34 diners and they're getting an exemplary tasting menu that's all based around a contemporary take on French cuisine. This gives the hotel the destination restaurant that such an iconic London building truly deserved.

38 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 4QA

This comes from Samyukta Nair, the restaurateur behind hits like Jamavar and Mimi Mei Fair. This time, there are two restaurants in one. Upstairs, it's all about Japanese food including sushi and a robata grill. Downstairs you'll find Koyn Thai, a high-end Thai restaurant with a fair bit of fire used in the cooking.

56b South Molton Street, London W1K 5SH

Tucked down an alleyway off South Moulton Street, this new omakase restaurant from the owners of next-door Chisou feels like a secret discovery. There are just 10 seats, so everyone gets a ringside view of the kitchen action by husband and wife team of Tamas Naszai and Tomoko Hasegawa (both ex-Tokimeitē). Faultless sushi and sashimi follows with a menu that changes daily.

22 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6LF

The Twenty Two is headed up by MD Darius Namdar who was one of the people behind the launch of Chiltern Firehouse and it certainly seems like he's brought some of that glamour to Mayfair. The buzzy restaurant also has top food credentials too, with ex Picture chefs Alan Christie and Colin Kelly in charge of the food.

16 Albemarle St, London W1S 4HW

Cyril Lignac is A Big Deal in France where he has several restaurants and puts in regular appearances on French TV. This is the London outpost of his Bar des Pres concept which sees sushi made with Label Rouge salmon and his signature crunchy crab with avocado galette. The wine list is suitably French as are many of the clientele.

55 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8PG

This is from Samyukta Nair, the restaurateur who brought us Jamavar and Bombay Bustle. With this Mayfair restaurant, she wants to take Londoners on a journey to 1920s Shanghai. Expect a glitzy high-end Chinese menu in this three-floored building which also has an excellent (but small) bar in the basement.

Berkeley Square House, 4-19 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 6BR

This Mayfair restaurant is an offshoot of the Spanish original which caused a sensation when it opened in Madrid. Designed to look like a rainforest, the restaurant looks like nothing else in London. Food is "a blend of tropical and Latin American cuisines" - so that means everything from Peruvian sushi to South American chupe and a lot of Josper-grilled meats.

4 Blenheim St, London W1S 1LB

A top Japanese izakaya in Mayfair - if you're looking for excellent sushi without the Mayfair prices, this is the place you come. Chef Takamasa Mogi was previously at Nobu and goes big on omakase where you let him choose what to feed you.