High TimberRelaxed wine dining next to the Thames, High Timber has a red meat orientated menu, 2 wine cellars with 40 000 bottles, and a cheese room with seasonal cheeses.
City, Central London
NorthbankA splendid location at the foot of the Millennium Bridge - looking across the Thames to Tate Modern and The Globe - is one of the assets of this newcomer (on the site of the defunct Just The Bridge).
City, Central London
Swan at the GlobeFounded by pioneering actor/director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a groundbreaking venture dedicated to exploring the bard's work and incorporating not only the re-invented Globe Theatre but exhibitions and educational resources as well.
Bankside, South East London
Tas PideLike its elder brother, Tas, this great-value Turkish hangout is a godsend for culture vultures heading for the Old Vic and South Bank.
Bankside, South East London
The Real GreekThis outpost of the Real Greek mini-chain is a must for anyone visiting the South Bank, as it stands right next to the Globe Theatre and only a stone's throw from the Tate Modern.
Bankside, South East London
Viva VerdiWith a name that honours one of Italy's most famous composers, it's no surprise that Viva Verdi offers the promise of a 'symphony of flavours'.
Southwark, South East London
TsuruLondon's famous 'sustainable sushi restaurant', Tsuru (named after Japan's iconic crane) is a cool, clean-cut newcomer on the pedestrian link between Southwark Street and Sumner Street.
Bankside, South East London
The RefineryA vast and sprawling bar-cum-restaurant just two minutes from the Tate Modern, the Refinery is housed in Southwark's iconic Blue Fin Building and spreads itself over two floors, with a mezzanine private dining area and a huge terrace with room for 120 people.
Southwark, South East London
Perc%ntoOpen from early in the morning to late at night, this member of the Etrusca Group is a big-city venue just down the hill from St Paul's, comprising a formal contemporary restaurant on the ground floor and a sleek bar upstairs.
St. Paul's, Central London
Mercure London City, The Loft RestaurantSituated within the stylish Mercure London City hotel, close to the London Eye, the Globe and Tate Modern, the Loft is a light, airy and tastefully decorated contemporary restaurant offering an accessible menu of European-influenced dishes.
Bankside, South East London
The Spread EaglePart tourist attraction, part re-invented seventeenth-century London coaching inn, the Spread Eagle continues to pull in crowds from the nearby Greenwich Theatre and beyond.
Greenwich, South East London
SweetingsIf you're searching for the best fish and seafood in the heart of the city, you'll be hard pushed to find a better place to go than Sweetings.
City, Central London
RefettorioCulinary supremo Giorgio Locatelli acts as star consultant to this fascinating up-market 'refectory', which is part of an Italian village set up within the foyer of the Crowne Plaza, not far from Blackfriars Bridge.
Ludgate Circus, Central London
TaoEuropean cooking with some splashes of Asian colour is the theme in this sleek, stylish bar on Bow Lane. The ground floor bar is dominated by a bold red column and vibrant blue colour schemes; there's also a spacious courtyard for summer evenings.
City, Central London
Zuccato CityStep into the world of 1950s Milan when you walk through the door of this Italian restaurant, Zuccato City, part of the Etrusca Group's 'café urbano' approach to eating out.
City, Central London
Taberna EtruscaAn attractive courtyard makes this long-running City Italian a favourite when the sun shines and tables here are at a premium.
City, Central London
Barcelona Tapas Bar y RestauranteOne of a quartet of highly popular tapas bars, this branch of Barcelona is an animated, family-friendly destination on two levels, with evocative Gaudi flourishes (including a crazy mosaic lizard over the Cava bar) adding a sunny edge to proceedings.
City, Central London
Paternoster Chop HouseThe dramatic dome of St Paul's provides a patriotic backdrop for the Paternoster Chop House which tries to conjure up some of the atmosphere of pre-war Paternoster Square.
St. Paul's, Central London
Cantina VinopolisVinopolis is the South Bank's oenophilic attraction 'par excellence', combining a vast wine merchant's, a museum, tasting facilities, tours and much more besides.
Bankside, South East London
Café BelowCafé Below occupies the Norman crypt below Christopher Wren's famous St Mary-le-Bow edifice - famous for its Bow Bells. It's an ancient and highly atmospheric setting for honest vegetarian food without ethical compromises - and there's the bonus of eating outside, with tables arrayed on Bow Churchyard in good weather (one of the best kept al fresco secrets in the City).
City, Central London
D Sum 2A swanky dramatic setting for dim sum near St Paul's, this chic destination looks the part with its striking red and black walls, glossy leather banquettes, black latticework and designer silhouettes.
St. Paul's, Central London
Southwark RoomsThis cool, fashionable Southwark Rooms rose from the ashes of a down-at-heel local boozer and is now one of the top local choices for cocktails, private parties and late-night frivolity.
Borough Market, South East London
TerranostraJust a shout from the Old Bailey and a bell's toll from St Paul's Cathedral, Terranostra brings a taste of rustic Sardinia to the legal heart of the City.
City, Central London
ManicomioFollowing the success of their Chelsea venue, Manicomio's owners recently planted their feet in the City, and opened this outlet in a three-storey, Norman Foster-designed edifice in a side street near St Paul's cathedral.
City, Central London
Coq d'ArgentFamed for its matchless, top-of-the-world roof garden, which has glorious panoramic views over the Square Mile and the City skyline, this outpost of the Conran restaurant empire (now D&D London) is a great favourite with the suited brigade.
City, Central London
Feng SushiPart of a likeable mini-chain with six informal, café-style restaurants/takeaways dotted around the capital (visit their website for details), this branch of Feng Sushi is handily placed just a stroll from Borough Market.
Borough Market, South East London
Mar i TerraOccupying the shell of a Victorian pub hard by the railway tracks and Southwark arches, Mar i Terra has been serving up cracking tapas since opening in 2000.
Waterloo, South East London
Wright Brothers Oyster & Porter HouseBen Wright and Robin Hancock are actually brothers-in-law, but there's a great sense of family camaraderie about this enterprising set-up on fashionably foodie Borough Market.
Borough Market, South East London
Hilliard'The platonic ideal of a workers' caff, for City types and legal eagles,' observed one Guardian reviewer about this self-appointed 'gastrocafé' on a quiet road between Blackfriars and Temple.
Blackfriars, Central London
Oxo TowerTake the express lift to the eighth-floor of the red-brick Oxo building, which rises like a beacon above urban wastelands on the South Bank of the Thames.
South Bank, South East London
The DonThe Don hides in a courtyard off St Swithin's Lane and once did duty as the HQ for Sandemans - hence the name, the caped silhouette on the hanging sign and the incomparable drinks list.
City, Central London
RoastWhen Iqbal Wahhab opened The Cinnamon Club it was a personal crusade to change the way we think about Indian cuisine.
Borough Market, South East London
Market PorterWidely regarded as London's premier real ale pub, the Market Porter originally set out its stall in 1508 and has been going strong ever since.
Borough Market, South East London
Harry's BarTucked away in cobbled Abchurch Yard, Harry's Bar has been a fixture of Central London's dining scene for more than 20 years.
City, Central London
Fish! RestaurantSandwiched between a railway bridge and Southwark Cathedral, Fish! occupies a grand glass and steel pavilion right at the heart of that foodie Mecca, Borough Market.
Borough Market, South East London
1 Lombard Street RestaurantOpposite the Bank of England, 1 Lombard Street occupies a listed banking hall with spectacular Georgian trappings and a theme that has been inspired by and modelled on Titian's 'Rape of Europa'.
City, Central London
1 Lombard Street BrasserieA casual alternative to the fine dining experience in the main restaurant, the massive and cacophonous Brasserie stands in front of the former banking hall, where the magnificent domed skylights by Pietro Agostini allow natural light to flood in.
City, Central London
Tapas BrindisaThe name Brindisa is derived from 'brindis' – a Spanish word meaning 'to raise your glass' or 'make a toast'.
Borough Market, South East London
The Mug HouseOne of a trio of Davy's wine bars on Tooley Street right below London Bridge, offering traditional true Brit food and an extensive wine list, all in an historic setting.
London Bridge, South East London
Silka RestaurantSilka tries to provide a soothing antidote to the frenetic foodie hustle-and-bustle of Borough Market. The restaurant is below stairs and it has been thoughtfully designed to create the calming illusion of a horizontal, layered landscape with clouds floating above.
Borough Market, South East London