London

Lyle’s  
The moment you step into the airy, stripped–down former tea warehouse space, the genuine, unforced service primes you for the dining experience ahead. With a menu that constantly changes to show off the best of British, the idea is to order as many plates on the lunchtime à la carte menu as humanly possible. While the dishes on the menu have simple descriptions like Asparagus & New Season Garlic, the plates are, in fact, wildly refined (and delicious).

Wild by Tart  
The “tarts” in question are gorgeous wonder–chefs who get everything so right: light yet satisfying sharing plates with Middle Eastern spices, wood–fired aromas and colourful presentation. The experience extends beyond the lofty plant–filled restaurant to the adjacent concept shop and café.

Lyaness  
On the ground floor of the Sea Containers hotel, blue–velvet Lyaness was awarded World’s Best Bar by the 2022 Spirited Awards and is a must for one–of–a–kind cocktails. The housemade ingredients described on the cocktail menu might raise an eyebrow (tree caramel, death bitters and thunder mushroom), but they’re so thoughtfully and expertly blended into signature libations, such as the Goldblum Whiptail and Black Champagne, it won’t be long until you’re raising your glass with a second round.

Frenchie  
A Jamie Oliver protégé outdoes his mentor with this sunny brasserie, serving sensuous pâtés and fish tartares with frothy sauces and inventive veg. Prices are steep, with a hazelnut craquelin with Parmesan gougères at £2.50, but the masterful list of French and New World wines starts at a reasonable £8 a glass.

Bubala  
At this cramped and cozy spot inspired by Tel Aviv cafés, the Middle Eastern menu just so happens to leave off the meat. Classics like the silky–smooth hummus with burnt butter and pine nuts and the beautifully charred laffa flatbread help take us on a “trip” to Israel (via Spitalfields). But visit for the halloumi with uber–glossy black seed honey — the moment the pan–seared–until–golden melty cheese hits the table, it practically screams “squeeze me.”

Barrafina  
There’s always a wait for a stool at the marble–topped bar, so let the staff ply you with sherry and salchichon to ease your impatience. Once seated, watch chefs expertly plate an oozy croqueta and a milk–fed lamb’s kidneys. Or choose from basic tortillas and vegetable dishes that are charred at the edges and infused with fruity flavours to balance the salt.

Canto Corvino  
Explore the cobbled back roads of Spitalfields before seeking refuge in this modern Italian restaurant on a skinny lane. Pork cheek carbonara please the peckish, while lobster ravioli with tomato, chili and basil sate more serious eaters.

Tayyabs  
Skip the over–sauced tikka masala on Brick Lane and walk five blocks east to this Punjabi institution. Start with the tender grilled lamb chops, followed by garlic chicken, king prawns and the surprise hit: cumin–dusted okra. They don’t serve alcohol, though you can BYOB, or head to nearby Pride of Spitalfields for a pint of ale.

Seed Library  
Entering Seed Library— a bar from award–winning mixologist Mr. Lyan (real name: Ryan Chetiyawardana) — is like you've somehow travelled into a scene from That ’70s Show. Unlike other Mr Lyan bars, Seed Library takes a low–fi approach that focuses on the origins of ingredients: think classic cocktails with a twist. The summer whisky sour plays with botanicals like meadowsweet and woodruff; the penicillin is smoky with a subtle heat building from the galangal; and the coriander seed gimlet has a refreshing balance. Throughout the evening, a chorus of cheeky–but–endearingly–awkward chaps will pull up a seat, join the conversation and help figure out your next sip.

Monmouth Coffee  
City–wide java supplier Monmouth buys its beans in small batches from family farms, so the offerings rotate constantly. Devotees line up outside this original branch outside Borough Market (worth a visit with your takeout cup) for the roast du jour.

The Prince of Greenwich Pub  
Quirky furnishings and a menu of fresh pasta and pizza are part of what make this Sicilian–owned Greenwich pub worth a visit. The Prince of Greenwich keeps its original Victorian charm, but it stands out thanks to a giant rhinoceros head and a sperm whale jawbone hanging over the bar, once–a–week cinema nights and live jazz performances on weekends.

Carousel  
World–renowned chefs descend for one– and two–week residencies at Carousel. Book ahead for a two–hour lunchtime workshop in pasta–making or barbecuing (dining on the results, obviously), or come for the single–seating dinners. The chef makes the rounds of the dining room before dessert.

Granger & Co.  
Enjoy the ricotta hotcakes as you rub elbows with London locavores versed in the virtues of açaí and chia at this brass–accented brunch institution. Bring the whole family to the buzzing Clerkenwell branch, where they take reservations, for homemade muesli and organic sourdough.