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Hotels
The hotels below have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over £300)
$$$ (£200 to £300)
$$ (£100 to £200)
$ (up to £100)
The prices quoted above are the starting prices for a standard double room and include taxes and breakfast unless otherwise specified.
Many corporate and weekend rates will be available, however, including the increasingly good-value Internet-only rates for many London hotels.
Business
Charlotte Street Hotel
Situated in Charlotte Street, which is a Mecca for restaurants, not far from the media companies of Soho, this hip hotel has a fresh, young feel in comfortable townhouse surroundings. A vast lobby on the ground floor leads to a drawing room and library – the decor is bright and light throughout, with modern art. The hotel has 52 guest rooms, including four loft suites with high ceilings and large windows, and two spectacular open-plan penthouse suites. Each room is equipped with a large writing desk, CD/DVD player, two-line telephone with voice-mail, modem point and fax outlet, as well as a personal mobile phone. Private meeting rooms for up to 50 delegates can be hired and there is a state-of-the-art screening room. There is a lively brasserie-style restaurant, which also provides room service.
15-17 Charlotte Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7806 2000.
Website: www.charlottestreethotel.com
Price: $$$
City Inn Westminster
If what you are after is value for money, you could do a lot worse than the City Inn Westminster. Located a stone’s throw from Tate Britain in Pimlico, and a mere 10-minute walk from Parliament and Westminster Abbey, the hotel, which is stylish in a slightly minimalist fashion, offers modern, comfortable facilities at very reasonable prices. The 460 rooms feature all mod cons (with CD/DVD players coming as standard) and all have floor to ceiling windows – splash out on a suite if you can, there are extensive views of either Big Ben or the River Thames from the top floor. The hotel has a small gym, six meeting rooms (accommodating up to 200 guests), the Sky Lounge (for private functions) and the stylish Millbank Lounge, the perfect venue for an aperitif and some tasty nibbles before dinner. The award-winning City Café serves up excellent modern British seasonal cuisine, with a special garden menu for vegetarians and a not-to-be-missed grilled selection for meat eaters. There is a good wine list too, and for those who like the food so much they want to recreate the recipes at home, the restaurant even has its own cookbook.
30 John Islip Street, SW1
Tel: (020) 7630 1000.
Website: www.cityinn.com
Price: $$
The Landmark London
Overlooking Regent’s Park, this five-star hotel (awarded the RAC Gold Ribbon award year after year) offers excellent business amenities in luxurious surroundings. The striking Victorian architecture centres on an eight-storey glass-roofed atrium, infusing the hotel with daylight. The 299 guest rooms are spacious and well equipped with desk, high-speed Internet access and three telephone lines. Each guest is given a personal e-mail address and fax number on arrival. There are 10 function rooms with the latest audiovisual technology and a secretarial service is available. As an antidote to work, there is a gym, complete with pool and steam rooms. The main restaurant, The Winter Garden, has a spectacular atrium setting.
222 Marylebone Road, NW1
Tel: (020) 7631 8000.
Website: www.landmarklondon.co.uk
Price: $$
One Aldwych
This hotel, which has won a host of awards since its opening in 1998, is a beautiful example of Edwardian architecture (it was built in 1907 as the headquarters of the Morning Post Newspaper). Luxurious without being glitzy, and contemporary yet not ‘trendy’, the hotel, which enjoys a great location right by Covent Garden, is equally popular with business and leisure travellers. Its forte is very much the focus it places on comfort (the 105 rooms and suites offer all mod cons and more, including Frette bed linen, Band & Olufsen flat screen TVs, CD/DVD players, high speed broadband Internet, international PC modem plugs, complimentary mobile phones and even scales in the bathroom) and service (friendly, attentive yet unobtrusive). The onsite Health Club boasts a 18m (56ft) swimming pool with underwater music, a sauna and a steam room, a gym open 24 hours a day (should jetlagged customers fancy a jog on one of the treadmills at 0300), resident personal trainers, and a range of therapies and beauty treatments. For those less worried about their waistline, there are two restaurants, Axis and Indigo (both using organic produce), an espresso bar, and the impressive Lobby Bar, arguably one of the most beautiful bars in London, and the ideal place to sip a cocktail and admire the magnificent flower displays from the onsite florist (who also supplies fresh flowers daily to all the rooms). Owner Gordon Campbell Gray is an avid art collector and the hotel is home to a collection of contemporary art featuring 350 pieces by London artists.
One Aldwych, WC2
Tel: (020) 7300 1000.
Website: www.onealdwych.com
Price: $$$$
Luxury
The Lanesborough
Minutes from Buckingham Palace, this lavish hotel treats its guests like royalty. Formerly Viscount Lanesborough’s country home, the hotel is now a St Regis Hotel but remains true to its Regency building, with ornate furnishings and decor. Guests can expect 24-hour butler service, personalised business cards and stationery on arrival. Each of the 95 guest rooms and suites are filled with period furniture and 21st-century technology, including a mobile phone, CD/DVD player, computer with Internet access and the latest software packages and digital television. There are six private dining rooms for entertaining and meetings, as well as a small business centre. Michael Jackson, Madonna and Sylvester Stallone have all stayed here.
Hyde Park Corner, SW1
Tel: (020) 7259 5599.
Website: www.lanesborough.com
Price: $$$$
The Ritz
Since 1906, The Ritz in London has been providing exemplary service to its well-heeled guests. The interior of this elegant building overlooking Green Park is fastidiously decorated in Louis XVI style with marble columns, rich fabrics and antique furniture. The guest rooms are furnished in soothing pastel colours and two members of staff are on hand to service each room. For business matters, a computer, printer and scanner can be arranged in-room, as can secretarial support. Two large meeting rooms holding up to 100 delegates can be hired. Formal meals can be taken in the chandelier-filled restaurant, while the famous Ritz tea can be enjoyed in the Palm Court at 1530 or 1700, for which it is necessary to book well in advance.
150 Piccadilly, W1
Tel: (020) 7493 8181.
Website: www.theritzlondon.com
Price: $$$$
Moderate
Hampstead Guest House
Escape the city’s bustle at this charming bed and breakfast situated in one of London’s most sought-after residential areas, just 20 minutes by Tube from central London and a short walk from beautiful Hampstead Heath. Tucked away from a high street packed with stylish boutiques and bistros, the Hampstead Village Guest House is a three-storey Victorian house with seven bedrooms and an adjoining self-contained apartment. Paying guests at this family home have been welcomed by proprietor Annemarie van der Meer here for the past 20 years. The ambience is distinctly homely with eclectic, bohemian furnishings, a family dog, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a rambling garden. Guest rooms have basic facilities, including a small fridge, kettle, tea and coffee, hairdryer, direct-dial telephone and TV.
2 Kemplay Road, NW3
Tel: (020) 7435 8679.
Website: www.hampsteadguesthouse.com
Price: $
Ibis Hotel, Euston
This French-owned chain hotel represents excellent value for money in a central location, just seconds from Euston London Underground and railway station. The hotel is basic in design, with 380 bedrooms, an informal restaurant and bar, and a private underground car park. The bedrooms are small, clean and uniformly kitted out with desk, chair and colour TV. The hotel does have a rather sterile, impersonal atmosphere, however, and is lacking any luxury features. However, its bargain rate means that it is almost always full. Conference facilities are available for groups of up to 800 people.
3 Cardington Street, NW1
Tel: (020) 7388 7777.
Website: www.ibishotel.com
Price: $
Other Recommendations
23 Greengarden House
For those who want to feel like a London resident rather than a visitor, renting a four-star serviced apartment in the heart of the West End could be the perfect option. Set in the pretty, pedestrianised St Christopher’s Place, Greengarden House contains 15 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments. Each apartment has its own living room, kitchen and bathroom, and comes fully equipped with every household appliance, including two telephone lines with voice-mail, modem point and ISDN line. Most are decorated with classical furniture in soft, warm colours but there are also five ‘contemporary’ apartments in cooler colours, with crisper, cleaner lines.
St Christopher’s Place, W1
Tel: (020) 7935 9191.
Website: www.greengardenhouse.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
myhotel Chelsea
Situated in a quiet tree-lined street, minutes from Brompton Cross, the designer shopping Mecca, myhotel chelsea is the second London hotel from the myhotel team. Marketed as Sex and the City glamour meets Brideshead Revisited English country house, the hotel offers a haven of tranquillity and a stay that is individually tailored to each guest’s need. Designed following feng shui principles, the interior has a sexy eclectic style. The 45 guest rooms are decorated in peaceful pastel colours, with contemporary and antique furniture, soft furnishings and fresh flowers. As well as the Eastern-style Thai suite, with its own steam room, there are the two Red Rooms, situated behind the bar, designed for decadence and indulgence. All rooms have CD/DVD player, flat-screen TVs, telephone and ISDN access, cashmere throws and hot water bottles. The hotel also has two function rooms, a bar-restaurant, a small gym, a spa/treatment room, a resident-only conservatory with complimentary e-mail and refreshments. Guest services include personal shoppers, massage, meditation and botox.
35 Ixworth Place, SW3
Tel: (020) 7225 7500.
Website: www.myhotels.co.uk
Price: $$$
The Soho Hotel
From the giant bronze cat sculpture welcoming guests in the lobby area to all the small touches that make a hotel so much more than just a place to spend the night (essential oils and fresh flowers to name but a couple), this hotel is a delight& The Soho Hotel has become very popular since it opened in September 2004, and it is fast developing a return clientele that cannot seem to be able to resist its excellent location, luxurious décor and attentive service. The 91 rooms and suites, all individually designed by Kit Kemp, are sumptuously appointed in a modern, eclectic style, and feature all mod cons to ensure a very comfortable stay, from slippers and bathrobes to CD/DVD players, flat screen TVs, huge, ultra comfortable beds and well stocked mini bars. The bathrooms are just as nice, all in grey granite, glass and oak, and featuring gorgeous Miller Harris toiletries. There is a private event space, and as befits a hotel located in the heart of the capital’s entertainment district, not one but two private screening rooms, for the ultimate in corporate entertaining. Refuel, the hotel restaurant, serves very decent food at reasonable prices, although some might be put off by the noise levels and the very smoky atmosphere in the evening (the price to pay for popularity). Visit in the morning instead, the buffet continental breakfast is to die for!
4 Richmond Mews, W1
Tel: (020) 7559 3000.
Website: www.sohohotel.com
Price: $$$
Restaurants
It might not always have been the case, but with 6,000 licensed restaurant (over 20% of all restaurants in Britain), London is currently one of the most exciting dining destinations in the world, rivaled only by New York in terms of the number of internationally acclaimed chefs it attracts, and the sheer diversity of cuisines on offer (70 countries and regions in total). So indulge yourself in a little culinary experience during your stay in the capital.
The restaurants below have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over £70)
$$$ (£45 to £70)
$$ (£20 to £45)
$ (up to £20)
These prices are for a three course meal for one, including tax but not drinks.
A service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill in most restaurants. This is technically an optional charge but it would be very unusual to ask for it to be removed. Where ‘Service is not included’, a tip of at least 10% is expected, although 12-15% is becoming more common. Diners should check the bill thoroughly, as tipping is not required on top of a service charge.
Gastronomic
Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road
Still the only London restaurant with three Michelin stars, this remains the best place to experience Gordon Ramsay at work. In a comfortable but fairly neutral room, the focus is entirely on the food. All dishes are superb and might include the starter of a mosaic of foie gras served three ways (pressed, confit and smoked) with marinated figs and pickled girolles, followed by fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef with caramelised pig’s trotters, quail’s eggs, sautéed baby artichokes and truffle sauce. A seven-course set dinner is available for £90 for those who wish to experience the full gastronomic experience. Reservations essential. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3
Tel: (020) 7352 4441.
Website: www.gordonramsay.com
Price: $$$$
Le Gavroche
Since its opening in 1967 by brothers Albert and Michel Roux, the smart, formal, dark and classically French Le Gavroche, with two Michelin stars, has been setting the culinary benchmark for the British restaurant scene. Currently run by Michel Roux Junior, with the assistance of award-winning maitre d’ Silvano Giraldin, diners can expect the highest standards of food, wine and service – at prices to match. Highly praised dishes include loin of venison with peppery sauce and cranberries, and seared foie gras with a duck-flavoured and cinnamon pancake. French cooking at its best. Reservations essential. No lunch Saturday. Closed Sunday.
43 Upper Brook Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7408 0881.
Website: www.le-gavroche.co.uk
Price: $$$$
Lindsay House
Irish-born chef Richard Corrigan has made this Soho townhouse his home and gained a Michelin star in the process, by creating impeccable dishes in a grand but comfortable environment. Arriving at the discreet front door, diners must ring the bell to gain admittance, which heralds the beginning of an evening where the attentive staff treats them like the houseguests of a rich, absent host. The 1740s building quietly exudes charm, while guests pad up carpeted stairs to a small, elegant but simple dining room, with white walls, oil paintings, a grand fireplace and comfortable chairs. It is impossible not to feel at home, although there are two private dining rooms for those who really wish to be cocooned, as well as one other public dining room on the ground floor. The menu changes daily (Richard Corrigan tries to source all his ingredients from small suppliers) but, from the tiny wafer-thin cheesy biscuits served with a champagne cocktail, every dish is perfectly balanced, well presented and beautifully cooked. With an accessible and distinguished wine list, amuse bouche between every course and petits fours to round the whole thing off, nothing is forgotten in this most memorable establishment. Reservations essential. No lunch Saturday. Closed Sunday.
21 Romilly Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7439 0450.
Website: www.lindsayhouse.co.uk
Price: $$$
Locanda Locatelli
The excellent Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli, the brainchild of celebrity chef Giorgio Locatelli, serves up delectable Italian dishes in sleek surroundings with a glamorous 1970s feel. Four courses are recommended, so diners are able to enjoy an antipasto (such as the Traditional cured pork with potatoes and black truffle) but not miss out on a pasta dish, such as garganelli with red mullet and black olives or the Barolo and Castelmagno cheese risotto. Mains include a decent number of fish and meat dishes, served simply with one or two other ingredients, such as roast monkfish with walnut and caper sauce (vegetarians might be forced to indulge in a second pasta dish!), while desserts should not be missed. The restaurant is now open on Sunday. Reservations well in advance are essential.
8 Seymour Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7935 9088 (reservations) or 8390 (confirmations/cancellations).
Website: www.locandalocatelli.com
Price: $$$
Nobu
This devastatingly fashionable restaurant, located on the first floor of the Metropolitan Hotel, provides award-winning Japanese cuisine melded with South American influences in a relaxed yet classy environment. Smiling, uniformed members of staff guide the diner through an extensive menu with head chef Mark Edwards at the helm. The presentation is impeccable and the food itself unique. Signature dishes include black cod marinated in miso, chocolate cake with tea-tree ice cream or sake with gold leaf. The place is also one of the best spots in town for sushi. There is plenty of opportunity for celebrity spotting. Reservations essential. No lunch weekends. Sister restaurant Nobu Berkeley opened on Berkeley Street in 2005.
19 Old Park Lane, W1
Tel: (020) 7447 4747.
15 Berkeley Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7290 9222.
Website: www.noburestaurants.com
Price: $$$$
Business
Incognico
Nico Ladenis’ unfussy West End restaurant provides the best-value set menu in London. For under £20, at lunchtime or early evening, diners can enjoy a well-composed three-course meal, with a choice of two dishes per course, from a menu that changes weekly. Dishes might include a brandade of salt cod in crispy pastry, followed by pork belly with fresh sauerkraut and Madeira sauce, and key lime tart. A decent mainly French à la carte menu is also available, including many fish dishes but few entirely vegetarian ones. The interior is cosy and uncluttered but the service can be patchy. A decent wine list has a helpful (or pretentious) adjective describing each wine. Closed Sunday.
117 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 8866.
Price: $$-$$$
The Ivy
The restaurant of choice of many a celebrity, The Ivy is notoriously difficult to get into without a famous name or advance booking of at least six weeks. Telephoning to reserve involves an intimidating call-back system. Once inside, however, the comfortable decor suggests a gentleman’s club with dark wooden panelling and diamond-patterned stained-glass windows. The food is simple but of high quality and includes traditional British favourites, such as bangers and mash, potted shrimps or braised beef in stout, along with more European recipes, such as pork tenderloin on lemon polenta. The cosy environment, pleasing food and guaranteed celebrity spotting makes The Ivy a laid-back yet impressive venue for a business meal.
1 West Street, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 4751.
Website: www.the-ivy.co.uk
Price: $$$
Jaan
Don’t be put off by the dull exterior of the Swissôtel in Temple Place. Tucked away at the back of the building, Jaan, the hotel’s elegant restaurant, is a peaceful haven looking out to a lush rear terraced garden, and an ideal place to do lunch al fresco in the summer. The food, French cooking enhanced by delicate southeast Asian influences, is good modern fusion cuisine, and there are some interesting offerings on the menu, from starters like the pan-fried foie gras with caramelized banana, pineapple and coconut sorbet or the green miso soup (both excellent) to main courses such as duck a l’orange (served with a spring roll) or trio of beef (ribeye, braised short rib and Kobe beef served with wasabi, tempura and watercress) to green tea flavoured crème brulee with passion fruit and hibiscus or black sesame panacotta with lychee granite and cherry syrup for desserts. And the entremets (a soft ginger and lime granite for example, or a rhubarb oats muesli with a light vanilla cream), were little masterpieces in their own right. The wine pairing option, where each dish comes with a recommended wine by the glass to accompany it, is an added bonus.
Swissôtel the Howard, Temple Place, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 3555.
Website: www.london.swissotel.com
Price: $$-$$$
Matsuri High Holborn
So you thought Japanese food was about sushi and noodles and nothing else? Well, think again. Matsuri High Holborn does feature the obligatory sushi bar, yes, but the real action takes place downstairs in the Teppan-Yaki room, where expert chefs prepare flavoursome dishes on a hot plate right in front of customers. The entertainment factor is huge (order the fireball ice cream and you’ll see why), the set-up makes for convivial eating, and the prices are more reasonable than one might expect. Given the length and breadth of the menu, it’s hard to single out individual dishes for praise, but various set menus are a good choice for those wishing to sample a variety of Japanese specialities, including sushi, sashimi, tempura and teriyaki. Ideal for a business lunch or dinner with a difference! There is a private room for hire.
71 High Holborn, WC1
Tel: (020) 7430 1970.
Website: www.matsuri-restaurant.com
Price: $$-$$$
Oxo Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie
For panoramic views of London, there is no better place to eat than the restaurant at the top of the Thameside Oxo Tower. In good weather, diners can eat on the terrace, otherwise they take a seat in the stylish minimalist interior. At lunchtime, the place is a favourite venue for business meetings, with light, well-prepared food and a set menu available. In the evenings, the place takes on a more festive mood, with its busy bar set against the stunning London nightscape. The cuisine is modern European, with dishes such monkfish with oxtail, sprouting broccoli and parsnips or spiced tenderloin of lamb, peas, mint and coriander, however, too often the dishes sound promising but fail to shine. The service can also be poor, but with those views the Oxo Tower remains perennially popular.
Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, SE1
Tel: (020) 7803 3888.
Website: www.harveynichols.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Trendy
The Electric Brasserie
Opened in 2002 as part of the refurbishment of Portobello’s famous Electric Cinema, England’s first purpose-built cinema. A major revamp brought in soft leather seating and chic wooden tables – and a suitably trendy following, coming for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks in the bar area. With a huge range of
brasserie-style dishes and great seafood available all day long, this comes as no surprise; it is especially popular for Sunday brunch – comfort food like chunky steak sandwiches or hamburgers with red onion marmalade. The à la carte menu gets slightly grander, with the addition of dishes like grilled dover sole or chateaubriand for two. There is also a joint on a trolley, which varies every evening but all Sunday is Aberdeen Angus beef with Yorkshire pudding. Open daily, although reservations recommended Thursday to Saturday.
191 Portobello Road, W11
Tel: (020) 7908 9696.
Website: www.electricbrasserie.com
Price: $$
Hakkasan
This chic restaurant is situated down an alley in central London, which deters passing trade and helps heighten Hakkasan’s sense of exclusivity. Once down the smart slate steps and past reception, the blue glass doors open on to a stunning, dimly lit, room, where a beautiful latticework screen encases the dining area. Unfortunately, the effect is best seen from the lounge-bar area outside, because once within this inner sanctum, with tables too close together and an ill-advised music policy, the magical effect is lost somewhat. Neverthless, the food makes up for everything – this is one of only five Chinese restaurants with a Michelin star. The lunchtime dim sum is so excellent that it is difficult to single out any one dish. Nevertheless, unmissable mains include the roasted silver cod with champagne and Chinese honey. However, just soaking up the atmosphere with the other trendy people is a viable alternative, given the exquisite, exotic concoctions on the famous cocktail list (all £8). Reservations highly recommended.
8 Hanway Place, W1
Tel: (020) 7927 7000.
Price: $$$
Mash
Brainchild of entrepreneur Oliver Peyton, Mash is a novel combination of restaurant, bar, micro-brewery and deli, housed in a bright, open space just off Oxford Street. The bar and micro-brewery downstairs is open until 0200, serving a trendy post-work crowd stylish cocktails, heady own beers and Modern European dishes ranging from the snacky to the more substantial. Enormous beer vats encased in glass line the back wall, while chairs are space-age pods; there is also a sunken cushioned seating area. Upstairs, the quieter restaurant is more exclusive and the food slightly classier, such as roast rack of lamb with ratatouille of courgettes and peppers with green olive tapenade or baked halibut with sautéed potato, artichoke and Swiss chard with anchovy salsa. Trendy places come and go but this remains a reliably stylish West End choice. Closed Sunday.
19–21 Great Portland Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7637 5555.
Website: www.mashbarandrestaurant.com
Price: $$
Sketch
French chef Pierre Gagnaire’s first venture in London, this enormous 18th-century house has been divided into four different culinary experiences, all extravagantly designed by Mourad Mazouz. The Parlour on the ground floor is a frou-frou tea room, with pastries displayed in a jewellery case, while The Glade, the place to go for a light bite at lunchtime, features carpeting in shades of green, thick wooden tables and sunset-red walls. The Gallery is entirely white and filled with white furniture but has coloured light emanating from the ceiling and a huge frieze of video art; it serves lunch and dinner. However, the piece de resistance is The Lecture Room, with its dramatic design featuring luxurious padded walls studded with gold and its dramatic prices. The menu is divided into sections, with a dish or two underneath, so the starters consist of Red Mullet, Vegetables, Charcuterie, Langoustines and Crab. Mains are famed for unusual pairings, the sections include Poultry and White Truffles, Beef and Caviar, John Dory and Scallops. Reservations essential. Closed Sunday; The Lecture Room closed Monday as well.
9 Conduit Street, W1
Tel: 0870 777 4488.
Website: www.sketch.uk.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
St John
This restaurant, an old smokehouse, is notorious for being pig heaven, where no bit of the animal is left off the menu. But it also happens to be home to one of the loveliest dining rooms in London. Up some stairs from the courtyard bar, this wonderful, light room is all wooden boards, white paint and chrome hanging lampshades. With tables a decent distance from each other, a friendly staff and an unpretentious mixed bag of diners creating a general hubbub, it is difficult not to recommend this place. This restaurant serves up old-fashioned British classics with absolute panache – boiled ham and parsley sauce, rabbit saddle, roast beef with a stunning horseradish sauce, eccles cakes with Lancashire cheese for dessert. Although one or two unusual cuts of meat (bone marrow, neck of kid, ox heart, pig’s ears, tails, trotters, cheeks) are guaranteed. Whole roast suckling pigs can be pre-ordered for 14 diners, at least seven days in advance.
26 St John Street, EC1
Tel: (020) 7251 0848.
Website: www.stjohnrestaurant.co.uk
Price: $$
Budget
Café Emm
This brasserie serves the best-value good food in Soho, so its no-booking policy means that a queue is inevitable unless it is very early evening. As well as various starters and snacks, there is a selection of main courses under £10, including Cajun-style chicken with potato skins, or home made salmon fish cakes, and the likes of fresh poached salmon or lamb moussaka. Salads also feature on the menu, and there is a daily special too. The dark-wood interior is packed with candle-lit tables and the service is brisk but not rushed.
17 Frith Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7437 0723.
Website: www.cafeemm.com
Price: $
Duke of York
A quirky little gastropub in a quiet Bloomsbury street, the Duke of York is a relaxed yet vibrant place to spend an evening. Unlike most gastropubs, it is not overly trendy, overly crowded or overly priced. Diners can mingle with pub punters and eat in the brighter red-toned bar area, decorated with contemporary art, or instead sit in private, little booths in the back dining room. The usually tasty dishes range from British classics like Cumberland sausage and mash to more unusual daily specials, such as sea bream tempura with stir-fried noodles, although they can sometimes disappoint. Reservations recommended for dining area.
7 Roger Street, WC1
Tel: (020) 7242 7230.
Website: www.dukepub.co.uk
Price: $
Golden Dragon
One of Chinatown’s best restaurants, the Golden Dragon is bedecked in red and gold and has a noisy, bustling atmosphere. In the daytime (1200-1700), the dim sum selection, brought to the table in a never-ending parade of bamboo steamers, is of exemplary quality. Main dishes, available both night and day, are excellent value and come in generously sized portions. As well as all the standard dishes and more, some unusual dishes are on offer, such as eel or jelly fish, roast pigeon or even a whole suckling pig (available on order only).
28-29 Gerrard Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7734 2763.
Price: $-$$
Gourmet Burger Kitchen
A burger place serving tasty food made of fresh ingredients? With consistently friendly service? And at very reasonable prices? Don’t pinch yourself, because this place really does exist. In fact, the Gourmet Burger Kitchen (bless its arrival on the London budget eating scene! And yes, they are licensed too!) has not one, but nine outlets in the capital (all no smoking), including Belsize Park and West Hampstead in the north, Bayswater and Fulham in the west, and Wimbledon and Battersea in the south. So what’s the deal? Well, there is a choice of over 20 burgers, running the gamut from the classic (100% Aberdeen-Angus Scotch beef with salad and the best relish in town) to wacky creations such as the kiwi burger (beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese) or the Jamaican (beef, mango and ginger sauce). My personal favourite is the Pesterella (beef, fresh pesto, mozzarella, salad & relish). If beef is not your meat of choice, however, don’t despair: you can also opt for the chicken, camembert and cranberry burger, or burgers made of chorizo, lamb or even venison! Oh, and there are even vegetarian options (falafel, or aubergine and goat’s cheese for example). Who said variety was the spice of life?
200 Havestock Hill, Belsize Park
Tel: (020) 7443 5335.
331 West End Lane, West Hampstead
Tel: (020) 7794 5455.
50 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater
Tel: (020) 7243 4344.
49 Fulham Broadway, Fulham
Tel: (020) 7381 4242.
Website: www.gbkinfo.com
Price: $
Rock and Sole Plaice
It is difficult to beat sitting upstairs at the Rock and Sole Plaice, near the fryers, watching the cooking and the takeaway punters and munching on a good plate of fresh fish with crispy batter, chunky chips and mushy peas (optional), while downing a good cuppa. Although, sitting on one of the picnic tables outside on a summer’s evening, with a nice bottle of crisp white wine, might pip it. Fish and chips are a British institution and there are few places better to indulge than this, London’s oldest surviving chippie. It serves up all the basic fishes (cod, rock, haddock, plaice, skate and scampi) and more specialities (halibut, lemon sole, dover sole, trout, salmon, sardines and mackerel), depending on market availability, as well as other chip-shop standards like pasties and pies.
47 Endell Street, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 3785.
Price: $
Tosa
Admittedly not the most central of locations, but if you happen to be staying in West London, this brand new Japanese restaurant near Ravenscourt Park is well worth seeking out. The highlight is the traditional charcoal grill (sumiyaki), something you won’t see in many Japanese restaurants in the capital, and it is a shame, as there is no denying it is the most popular feature here. The menu offers a good selection of small dishes, in a format reminiscent of Spanish tapas or Turkish meze: lots of small portions, so you won’t feel bloated by the end of your meal, but you will have sampled several wonderful new dishes. Go for an assortment of little skewers from the grill: we tried the duck breast with spring onion and the pork loin and shiso leaf, both exquisitely tender and flavoursome. Or the perennially popular yakitori or the asparagus with pork belly. Sushi, sashimi, soups and noodles are also available, together with a good selection of small cold plates, ranging from edamame beans to gyutataki (seared beef with red onion and ponzu sauce), all fresh and tasty and well presented. Add a bright, light interior, a few tables outside for sunny days, friendly service and reasonable prices, and you can see why this small family-run restaurant is packed most nights.
332 King Street, W6
Tel: (020) 8748 0002.
Price: $
Personal Recommendations
La Trompette
Despite being situated in a quiet street in Chiswick, La Trompette has quickly established itself as one of London's favourite French restaurants, and anyone who has eaten there will know why. The restaurant is owned by the team behind Chez Bruce in Wandsworth, and manager Matthew Hough and head chef James Bennington have worked miracles in creating a genuinely world-class menu at out-of-town prices. The menu, Gallic of inspiration, changes daily but always features the freshest ingredients cooked with flair and inspiration. The chic modern interior has a buzz but never becomes too noisy, while most conversations seem to be dominated by discussions about the quality of the food at this fantastic-value restaurant.
5-7 Devonshire Road, W4
Tel: (020) 8747 1836.
Website: www.latrompette.co.uk
Price: $$
One-O-One
Located on the ground floor of the Sheraton Park Tower in Knightsbridge, steps away from the trendy Harvey Nichols store, One-O-One is a restaurant no self-respecting fish enthusiast can afford to ignore. Pascal Proyart’s little gem was voted ‘Best Fish Restaurant’ in Harden’s London Restaurant Guide three years running (2003 to 2005), and it is plain to see why. The menu features mouth-watering offerings, the dishes are all expertly executed, and the service, friendly yet unobtrusive, is smooth as silk. Royal king crab legs from the Barents Sea with Aioli sauce were an exceptional (as well as sizeable) starter, and the pan-roasted sea scallops and duck foie gras was a heavenly combination of flavours and textures. Dover sole with roasted langoustine and chives Mousseline sauce was cooked to perfection, while the roasted wild seabass (one of Pascal’s specialities) with soft tapenade crust and parsley Barigoule sauce, melted on the tongue. Divine! Just make sure you leave enough room for dessert: a raviole of pinapple and nougat glacé with coconut sorbet and exotic fuit coulis maybe?
101 Knightsbridge, SW1
Tel: 0207 290 7101.
Price: $$$-$$$$
Pearl Restaurant
Named after the former Pearl Insurance Building on High Holborn, whose premises the restaurant occupies, Pearl is a thrilling new addition to the London dining scene, and no doubt one that will become a firm favourite with foodies in the capital. The recipe? Start with glamorous décor (think high ceilings and grey marble ionic columns, crisp white tablecloths, clever lighting, and thousands of pearls strung together to the most striking effect), add excellent modern French cuisine (expertly concocted by head chef Jun Tanaka) and an award-winning wine list with over 50 wines by the glass, and finish with live piano music and attentive yet not overzealous service. The result? You are onto a winner. An evening at Pearl is a truly memorable one, and for once in a city that has more than its fair share of mediocre, overpriced venues, this time you will remember your meal for all the right reasons: the food is the real star here, with a mouth-watering menu that features the likes of warm salad of rabbit with prunes or pigeon and foie gras terrine for starters (both succulent), and mains as varied as red mullet in orange and rosemary sauce or a quartet of pork offering four different cuts on one plate (again, both delicious and cooked to perfection). Nothing’s left to chance, not even the appetizers (ours included melt-in-the-mouth rabbit rillettes) or the cheese board (which featured an exceptional selection). Well worth splashing out for.
252 High Holborn, WC1V
Tel: (020) 7829 7000.
Website: www.pearl-restaurant.com
Price: $$$
Veeraswamy
London’s oldest Indian restaurant has been the rendez vous of Indian food lovers for decades. Since 1926 in fact. And its much talked about new incarnation post 80th-birthday refurbishment does this institution proud. Both exotic and luxurious, with dark wood and silver screens perfectly offset by Indian coloured glass shades, the interior and the lighting are spot on, and ideal for a perfect romantic evening. The food is a blend of traditional favourites and more modern concoctions, and includes traditional regal recipes but also jazzed up versions of more modest (but just as tasty) Indian street food. There are dishes from the north of India, such as nizami murgh, a chicken dish with pine nuts, lemon and rose petals hailing from the royal kitchens of Hyderabad, or lamb biryani, one of the best we’d tried in a long time. But seafood and southern dishes also feature prominently: lobster is one of the specialities here, and there are plenty of other tempting offerings on the menu, ranging from oyster kebabs to green prawns and red snapper, and sea bream paturi (banana leaf parcels of fillets of bream, steamed in a chilli and mustard sauce). I opted for an exquisite starter of mussels in coconut and ginger sauce, and was not disappointed. The best thing I had, however, was a side dish of tandoor clove smoked aubergine caviar, which was positively out of this world! So light and flavoursome, I wiped my plate clean before my date could say ‘rumali roti’ (the name of the flat handkerchief bread that came with it). The wine list is cleverly arranged by wine type, such as light, bone dry and refreshing or rich and structured for whites, and juicy, fresh and fruity or intense and full-bodied for reds, so that you don’t have to be a wine buff to select something to match your food, although a friendly sommelier is on hand to help out anyway.
Victory House, 99 Regent Street (entrance on Swallow Street), W1
Tel: (020) 7734 1401.
Website: www.realindianfood.com
Price: $$$
Yauatcha
Where can you find a seriously stylish, fun restaurant that also serves exceptionally good food? Look no further than Yauatcha, the Soho new-comer everybody is talking about. Chinese is not my favourite, and being unable to book a table before 2200 was not a good start (the price to pay for the restaurant’s popularity, I suppose: even at that time the place was still packed!), but then these complaints faded away the minute our order arrived. Opt, as we did, for the dim sum, which is to kill for. The menu is extensive, and you will be spoilt for choice: from fried prawn and date parcels to steamed duck and shiitake mushroom rolls to roast venison puffs (to mention but a few), our selection was exquisite, moist and flavoursome, well presented, and, what’s more, served with a smile. And the desserts (lemon and ginger soufflé and green tea crème brulée and raspberry sorbet) were excellent too. The main dining room downstairs (think candles on the walls, twinkling stars in the ceiling, and a very long fish tank running the length of the bar counter) is much more atmospheric than the one on the ground floor upstairs, so do remember that when you book& Not often do you see such expert cuisine served in such beautiful surroundings at such reasonable prices in London: do believe the hype for once and go check it out for yourself.
15-17 Broadwick Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7494 8888.
Price: $$
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