For every type of diner …
BÉBÉ BOB
THE AMBIANCE Bébé Bob (the seductive little sibling of Bob Bob Ricard) is set in a low-lit, intimate Soho space. Glossy wood, burnished brass and plush blue banquettes set the scene, with marble-topped tables begging for a flute of something fizzy. The “Press for Champagne” button is gone, but who needs gimmicks when everything hums with quiet sophistication?
ON THE TABLE Bébé Bob keeps it simple but exquisite: golden rotisserie chicken, its skin shattering like glass, served with crisp, salty fries and your choice of velvety sauce – béarnaise for me. The menu is tight, focused, no distractions. There’s caviar, of course, because what is pleasure without excess? Even the salad feels intentional, all crisp leaves and bright vinaigrette. The entire menu is luxurious yet unfussy, because sometimes, less really is more, especially when it’s this good.
WHAT ELSE? Order the pitch perfect martini, served arctic-cold, straight from the freezer. Bébé Bob, 37 Golden Square, London, W1, 0044 20 7242 1000; www.bebebob.com.
BOUCHON RACINE
THE AMBIANCE Bouchon Racine is reminiscent of a low-key Parisian bistro, transported to Farringdon. Walls are adorned with eclectic artwork, adding to the room’s understated charm, while the chalkboard menu, a nod to traditional French eateries, showcases the day’s offerings. Service is informally impeccable, making diners feel both pampered and at ease.
ON THE TABLE The menu is an ode to old-school French gastronomy, where simplicity meets indulgence. Chalked up daily, it leans heavily into the kind of Gallic cooking that makes you want to order a bottle of wine before you’ve even sat down – oeufs mayonnaise with salty anchovies, steak tartare, and featherblade with Roquefort sauce. The sauces are rich, the meats properly treated, and the frites crisp enough to demand a second portion. There’s no room for modern trickery here, just butterlaced brilliance executed with the confidence of a chef who knows a thing or two about pleasure.
WHAT ELSE? Bouchon Racine sits above The Three Compasses pub, perfect for a pre- or post-dinner tipple. Bouchon Racine, 66 Cowcross Street, London, EC1, 0044 20 7253 3368; www.bouchonracine.com.
OMA
THE AMBIANCE Perched above bustling Borough Market, Oma offers a zen-like escape from the market’s lively chaos. The entrance, discreetly located in a passageway leading into the main market area, adds an air of exclusivity to the experience. Inside, the design by Box 9 Design exudes warmth with rich brown tones, wooden flooring and wall panelling, while large windows invite natural light, creating a seamless connection between the restaurant and the buzzy market below.
ON THE TABLE Oma, London’s first Greek restaurant to earn a Michelin star, offers a menu that is a love letter to Greek cuisine. Start with a two-sip mini clementine gimlet before ordering the homemade açma verde, a puffy bagel that’s perfect for scooping up the silky salt cod labneh or the tahini with crispy chickpeas. The spanakopita gratin is a revelation, the flaky bread on the side a perfect pairing for rich spinach and feta gratin. Each dish delivers sensational Greek flavours.
WHAT ELSE? Book a seat at the bar for a front row view into the open kitchen. Oma, 2-4 Bedale Street, SE1, London, 0044 20 8129 6760; www.oma.london.
ARLINGTON
THE AMBIANCE London’s most famous restaurateur and the brains behind The Ivy, The Wolseley and Brasserie Zédel (among others), Jeremy King knows the city’s dining scene better than anyone. When he and business partner Chris Corbin opened Le Caprice in 1981, it immediately became THE place to see and be seen for the London set. Fast forward over 40 years and Le Caprice may be banished to the history books, but Arlington, on the original Le Caprice site, has very much arrived and begun its own journey into the London hospitality history books.
ON THE TABLE Expect Dorset crab, endive with Roquefort, chicken Milanese and Caesar salad, and while the menu might come across as mildly pedestrian, it’s stunningly good.
WHAT ELSE? King also recently opened The Park London, a “new world grand café” in Queensway, and will reopen the historic Simpsons in the Strand later this year. Arlington, 20 Arlington Street, London, SW1, 0044 20 3856 1000; www.arlington.london.
MURANO
THE AMBIANCE The interior of Murano strikes the perfect balance between understated luxury and contemporary elegance. The space feels both intimate and spacious, with soft lighting and sleek furnishings creating a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. The open kitchen adds a sense of theatre while the warm wood tones and plush seating give the restaurant a sense of comfort with a refined but laidback vibe. It’s the kind of place that feels effortlessly stylish, and there isn’t a bad table in the house.
ON THE TABLE Murano’s Michelin-starred menu is the epitome of refined Italian cooking, elevated with a modern twist. Each dish emphasises quality ingredients and precision. The Cornish cod with salsify, tarragon and lobster bisque is balanced, delicately cooked and impossible to stop eating. There’s a subtle harmony between the familiar and the inventive and the biggest problem you are likely to face is choosing what to order from a menu that will appeal to everyone.
WHAT ELSE? Murano by Angela Hartnett is the Michelin-star sibling to the Café Murano collection with branches in Bermondsey, St James and Covent Garden. Murano, 20 Queen Street, Mayfair, London W1, 0044 20 7495 1127; www.muranolondon.com.