20 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DU

The Yellow Bittern takes a somewhat unusual approach to a restaurant, opening only on weekday lunchtimes (in two sittings) and only accepting payment by cash (and booking by phone only). Closer to a supperclub than a restaurant, the menu is by chef Hugh Corcoran, expect a regularly changing menu with a little bit of Irish influence.

12 Heddon St, London W1B 4BZ

Fonda is the second restaurant from Santiago Lastra who had such a big hit with his first restaurant Kol that it got onto the World's 50 best list. This is a slightly more casual and affordable Mexican restaurant when compared to Kol, with the menu focused around the type of home cooking the chef loves. Expect some great tacos as well as top cocktails, Palomas particularly.

167 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LX

Topa takes over Provisions wine and cheese shop on Holloway Road in the evenings, transforming it into a Basque-inspired restaurant and wine bar. Led by chef Simon Shand, previously at Leroy, there's a menu of tapas which changes regularly, all prepared in the tiny cooking space at the back. That's all paired with the excellent wines and cheese that Provisions is already known for.

Unit 2, 57 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE

This restaurant and wine bar is a team-up between ex-Elystan Street chef Aaron Potter and interior stylist, Laura Hart. In charge of the food side of things, Aaron is focusing on a Mediterranean-influenced menu while Lauran manages front of house and a wine bar that's notably good value for the area. It's all in a beautiful setting too.

1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4QQ

Jason Atherton has transformed the building that used to hold Aquavit into an opulent restaurant and bar. The restaurant is inspired by British dishes and seasonality, with standout dishes including a marmite custard tart with caviar. Upstairs you'll find a hidden away cocktail bar called Apples and Pears with Atherton's customarily excellent cocktails on offer.

35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7LB

One of London's oldest restaurants, there has been a Rules serving food in and around this part of Covent Garden since 1798. Here is where you come if you're after history and classic British dishes, served well. The upstairs cocktail bar is legendary.

28-34 St. Martin's Court, London WC2N 4AL

Often seen as both the theatregoers and the actors' port of call post-theatre, Sheekeys is a London institution. It remains best known for its seafood, including an incredible fish pie which is still one of the best in London. A must-visit for every Londoner and notably great for counter dining, as well as its extensive, covered terrace.

32 Henrietta St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8NA

The Oystermen originally started up as an oyster-shucking pop-up but their Covent Garden restaurant is so much more. It started tiny before they acquired the next-door space and doubled the size. But all along, they've been serving up excellent seafood from a menu that depends on the catch of the day.

National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE

Right at the top of the revamped National Portrait Gallery, this is the main restaurant with excellent views across London. In charge of the food is top Irish chef Richard Corrigan (Bentley's) who has brought with him a modern approach to European cooking with plenty of seafood on offer too.

37 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9EN

Thirty7 comes from the Oystermen (Matt Lovell & Rob Hampton), and is just around the corner from their first Covent Garden restaurant. They describe the restaurant as a neighbourhood restaurant and bar which goes beyond the seafood focus of before (although you will find oysters on the menu). Make sure to have the cheddar beignets and also pop down to the excellent bar downstairs.

16 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP

This is the sibling restaurant to the hugely popular The Palomar. It features food from the Barbary Coast of North Africa to Jerusalem, with a strong focus on cooking over fire. It's a solely counter-dining restaurant and there's an emphasis on sharing dishes. This all translates into a great vibe with the chefs always engaging with customers. Do not leave without ordering the hashcake for dessert.

16A Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP

This is, simply put, a mini version of The Barbary, right next door to the original. The Barbary (which in turn is from the same people as The Palomar). Expect a small plates menu, with a similar Mediterranean/African focus all served up on a mini counter space.

16 Endell Street, London WC2H 9BD

This bistro offers a "small but ever-changing wine list" and a menu that changes every day to match the list. It's an excellent place to either settle down for dinner or to pop by for some really great wine and snacks, particularly if you can snag a seat on the terrace.

39 Endell St, London WC2H 9BA

The people behind the 10 Cases wine bar opened this, their second restaurant, just across the road from the first. The focus is on seafood, with daily catches on the board every day. Being related to the 10 Cases (and with access to their cellar) the wine list is also excellent.

20 Endell St, London WC2H 9BD

This Covent Garden cafe and bar comes from the 10 Cases/Parsons team (and is on the same road). Here, they've opened a European cafe with what they describe as "a European accent". An all-day affair, you can get bacon sandwiches in the morning (including through a hatch on the side), sandwiches and lunch and small plates and amazing cakes and cocktails in the evening.

14-15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QH

This gorgeous Parisian-inspired bistro in the heart of Covent Garden comes from chef Jackson Boxer (Brunswick House and Oraasy). Set inside the Henrietta hotel, it's a notably reasonably-priced restaurant for Covent Garden with some unique takes on French cuisine. The seaweed canelés with trout roe are a must-have and make sure to order an enormous bowl of duck fat chips too.

49 Old Compton St, London W1D 6HL

London's obsession with smash burgers sees this French outfit opening their first UK restaurant in Soho. Smash burgers are at the centre of the menu and you can add up to five patties on a single burger if you're up to it. They also have their own brand of huge chewy cookies for dessert.

52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG

Once home to Pidgin, Sesta is a Neighbourhood-focused restaurant in Hackney from an ex-Pidgin duo - chef Drew Snaith and GM Hannah Kowalski. Here, the emphasis is on a seasonal menu but one that has a focus on comfort food that should attract both locals and people who loved Pidgin. Expect a strong natural wine list here too.

4-6 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TA

Created by restaurateur Alex Xu, also known for Kung-Fu Noodle, this restaurant makes a big deal of the open kitchen where chefs make noodles on-site. Specializing in dishes from Gansu province, they have a wide variety of pan-fried, and cold noodles, along with crispy dumplings. Xu emphasizes authenticity in Noodle Inn, having returned to China to capture traditional flavours and techniques for the opening.

14-16 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD

Cafe Francois is a spin-off of Maison Francois in which they've brought an extremely fancy French cafe to Borough Yards. it's a combo brasserie, bakery and deli offering everything from sandwiches and pastries to take away to a dine-in menu that roams from escargots and gougeres to rotisserie steaks and chicken.

Wood Wharf, 10 Water St, London E14 5GX

Taking a big floating space just beside the Canary Wharf Hawksmoor, Maeceline is a grand French brasserie which also happens to be very good value. Dishes run from the very French (escargots) to the more standard (steak frites) with standout dishes like their uncut sheets of ravioli. That good spread on the menu means it's a great place to take the more fussy of eaters but still get a great meal out. Plus - there's unlimited bread.

27 Eccleston Pl, London SW1W 9NF

Cornus brings together the team behind Medlar and a chef that won a Michelin star for Angerl restaurant. Together, they've opened a very fancy rooftop restaurant overlooking Belgravia's Eccleston Yards. The food is very much high-end fine dining, with the highlight being their spaghetti with lobster and caviar. It's definitely on the spendy side, but the quality is there.

102 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UB

Lolo is Jose Pizarro's third restaurant on Bermondsey Street and, like the others, this brings something a little new. This time it's an all day, casual affair. So he's added extras like sandwiches and some truly great egg dishes, alongside a Spanish sharing plate experience.

25 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BQ

This large Mayfair restaurant comes from the same group that's also behind the nearby Gymkhana. This restaurant is a larger, more opulent affair than its predecessor, with a menu that's all based around Punjabi cuisine, including the cocktails.

21 Halliford St, London, N1 3HB

Goodbye Horses has taken over an old pub in Islington and transformed it into a modern wine bar and restaurant. The inside has a lovely modern refit, and the design is complemented with a great natural, organic and biodynamic wine list and an inventive menu.

3-4 Wells Terrace, London N4 3JU

A newcomer that’s already made quite a stir, this Vietnamese cafe right behind Finsbury Park station serves up exactly what the name suggests - boba teas and baguettes (aka banh mi). They also do a nice line in spring and summer rolls, mango salads and rice boxes.

27 Blackstock Rd, London N4 2JF

There aren’t all that many places serving up Uyghur food in London (and for that matter the UK), making Dilara a place of pilgrimage for anyone who wants to try it. Specialities include amazing hand-pulled noodles (the beef is a must if you’re a meat-eater) and they also do a range of Turkish dishes too.

1 Green's Ct, London W1F 0HA

CDMX Tacos is a Mexico City-style hole-in-the-wall taqueria in the middle of Soho. It's specialising in tacos and quesadillas to grab and go with options including al pastor (marinated pork) and chicharron (crispy pork belly), paired with Mexican beers. An ideal spot for a snack while on the go in Soho.

92 Bartholomew Cl, London EC1A 7BN

Ibai comes from the team behind renowned Basque meat supplier Txuleta (also involved with Lurra in Marylebone) so you know the meat will be of great quality at this City restaurant. Alongside the huge sharing steaks are some great Basque-inspired small plates and the king crab rice is also a signature dish. Make good use of the wine list too, with many great Spanish vintages unique to Ibai.

320 Old Street, London EC1V 9DR

Great British Menu winner Kirk Haworth is behind this restaurant in Shoreditch which creates a fantastic and unique tasting menu using only plant-based ingredients. Set in a surprisingly quiet building just off Old Street this sees the chef doing wonderful things with vegetables and it's one of the hardest to book restaurants in town.