London Restaurants - Soho, Fitzrovia, Covent Garden

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.

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.

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.

70 Charlotte St, London W1T 4QG

Kitchen Table is the high-end counter dining restaurant from James Knappett and Sandia Chang. It's in a setting that sees you seated around the open kitchen watching and interacting with the chefs while they create a spectacular tasting menu for you.

3 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 8AX

After initial success in Brixton, Adejoké Bakare moved Chishuru to a bigger space in central London. In this two-floored space you'll find the same modern West African cuisine that proved such a hit at the original opening. Expect a regularly changing set menu with some truly innovative touches to West African dishes.

64 Goodge St, London W1T 4NF

64 Goodge Street is a French bistro in Fitzrovia that comes from the same people behind nearby Clipston and Portland. Here they're approaching the French menu from "an outsider's perspective" so you can expect some twists on classically french dishes in a compact but friendly space.

30 Charlotte St., London W1T 2NG

Lisboeta comes from Nuno Mendes, the man behind Viajante, the launch of Chiltern Firehouse and more. As the name suggests, it's heavily influenced by the cuisine of Portugal and Lisbon in particular. Expect plenty of Portuguese small plates, rice dishes and more.

22 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NB

Jun Tanaka's Fitzrovia venture is a French/Mediterranean neighbourhood-style restaurant which uses fine dining cheffing techniques but with a more casual feel. The Pain Perdu with ice cream is an absolute must.

216 Great Portland St, London W1W 5QW

This Middle Eastern grill restaurant is from the award-winning team behind the nearby Honey & Co. Expect dishes like lamb kofta and chops, whole fish and slow-cooked octopus, charred cauliflower and aubergine.

40-41 Rathbone Pl, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1HX

The Big Mamma Group's second opening in London saw them hit up Fitzrovia with a massively OTT slice of Mediterranean charm and flavour. It's extremely popular with a stunning looking room.

10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP

This is the main restaurant at the London Edition and Jason Atherton is in charge of things. Expect a more upmarket affair to some of Atherton's other spots and a frankly jaw-dropping room.

34 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NH

Since it opened in 1991, Pied a Terre has launched the careers of Richard Neat, Tom Aikens and Shane Osborn. Dishes comprise exquisitely sourced and prepared ingredients from this Michelin-starred kitchen where Asimakis Chaniotis is running the show.

Treehouse London, 14-15 Langham Pl, London W1B 2QS

Nancy Silverton is a big name back in the States where the LA Pizzeria Mozza is extremely popular. This is her London outpost, a pizzeria which really does turn out excellent pizzas (and with a menu that's a good deal different from the norm) as well as huge desserts.

113 Great Portland Street, London W1W 6QQ

From the team behind Clipstone and Quality Chop House, this all day spot sets out its stall as "cooking the best produce, simply but with imagination and plenty of care". Both the main menu and wine list change frequently.

31 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1JH

This Peruvian restaurant is from Virgilio Martinez, former Executive Chef at Astrid y Gaston, listed on the San Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list. It aims to "integrate Peruvian traditional cuisine with a modern and contemporary twist."

21 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3LP

Akoko is centred around West African cuisine and they say their aim is to "pay homage to the country's culinary heritage by using recipes passed down through generations and traditional cooking techniques of smoking, curing and fermenting".

5 Clipstone St, London W1W 6BB

This was the third opening from the team behind Quality Chop House and Portland. The corner site has loads of natural light and serves up dishes influenced by seasonal UK produce.

37 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RR

At Roka it's all about the robata grill. Start with sushi or sashimi and work your way up through dishes like black cod to various yakitori sticks.

Fifth floor, 240 Regent Street, London W1B 3BR

This is the Japanese part of the Aqua complex at Regent Street, featuring a sushi bar and sumibiyaki charcoal grill as well as a terrace that looks down over Regent Street.