NOX Waterloo

On the ground floor of the mightily impressive Raffles hotel – which opened in 2023 and occupies The Old War Office – sits this elegant, comfortable and discreet dining room. The sophisticated, technically elaborate cooking offers intriguing flavour and texture combinations, while displaying an emphasis on over 70 varieties of British fruit and vegetables – the plant produce is always listed first on the menu. The wine list is comprehensive, the pairings are well-considered and the service is pitched just right, being both structured and relaxed.

This intimate restaurant next to The Savoy's American Bar is named in honour of the year in which renowned French chef Georges Auguste Escoffier joined the hotel. It’s a comfortable and discreet space, with golden hues, art deco touches and just 10 well-spaced tables. The surprise tasting menu is in part inspired by Escoffier’s classics but prepared using modern techniques, resulting in dishes with elegance and poise, underpinned by high-quality ingredients such as Cornish Red chicken. The Fragola Melba dessert is an updated version of the original made in honour of Dame Nellie Melba.

Adam Handling's flagship is a restaurant that keeps up with the times: it’s fun, well-run and offers a friendly, uplifting atmosphere. The room's fresh, clean look keeps the focus firmly on the food, which is founded on classical techniques but blends in just the right amount of playfulness and originality. The signature bread served with chicken skin butter and liver pâté is as good as ever, while the likes of red mullet with saffron and shellfish show off superb British ingredients, technical skill and expert balancing of flavours in equal measure. The interesting wine list includes a stella

In a discreet, intimate environment inside the grand Hotel Café Royal, the eponymous chef has the perfect canvas in which to showcase his impressive and accomplished cuisine. Dilling's dishes are exquisite in appearance and, like a seasoned orchestra, everything on the plate adds its own note of flavour to produce something harmonious and exhilarating. Whether Kaluga caviar, Scottish lobster or Peruvian chocolate, the kitchen knows how to bring the best out of its exquisite ingredients.

This brasserie de-luxe occupies a Grade-II-listed former banking hall within the Sofitel hotel and, while that means a certain grandeur, the atmosphere is never overly formal. Anthony Demetre’s cooking proves the perfect fit because it is equally impressive but defined by a refreshing lack of showmanship. His appealing dishes are as generous in size as they are rewarding in flavour, from duck, pork and guinea fowl terrine en croûte to Loire Valley rabbit. The delicious custard tart is a true speciality and if it was ever removed from the menu there would be protests on Pall Mall.

There’s a refreshing lack of formality at Trivet, both in the look of the room and in the style of the service, but that’s not to say this isn’t a very professionally run operation. The chefs in the open kitchen craft imaginative, fuss-free dishes using prime seasonal ingredients, where the combinations are balanced and flavours assured. Try dishes like ‘Pigeon and persimmon’ or the imaginatively titled ‘Turkish breakfast’ dessert, and you’ll see a kitchen full of imagination and ability. Wine plays an integral role, with personable service and a thoughtfully curated list championing lesser-kn

While Chef Angelo Sato's Japanese heritage provides the basis for this modern, upbeat izakaya, his creative streak ensures the captivating tasting menu takes on a style all its own. Clever flavour and temperature combinations feature throughout, as do the kitchen's immense precision and technical skill. The shokupan bread serving is a real event, packed with originality and showcasing a range of delicious accompaniments. The theatrical counter set-up adds to the great atmosphere, whilst sake 'journeys' are encouraged to add to the experience.