London Eats ($$$)

There’s no finer Spanish cuisine with true sensibility for origin and ingredients in London than that at Sabor. Its run by José Etura and Nieves Barragan. Nieves worked alongside us at St. John Smithfield while she waited for the kitchen she had come to London to run a few years ago. Now Nieves and José are at the helm of their own place which happily bustles.

St. John is obviously a classic. It’s like a spiritual experience when you go there.

Brat: the hottest restaurant in London? The signs all point to ‘yes’, from the impressive haul of awards the Shoreditch eatery picked up after its first year – a Michelin star, its runner-up finish at the National Restaurant Awards 2019 – through to the temperature of its wood-burning kitchen. Pivotal to Brat’s success is Tomos Parry, a Welsh chef who looks to Basque grilling tradition to produce some of England’s most vital cooking. (Michelin: 1 Star)

Cornerstone is a brilliant new restaurant by chef Tom Brown. He’s quite a young guy and very talented. The restaurant only cooks fish – there’s no meat on the menu and there’s no need. The food is really fantastic. There are a couple of different breads on the menu, and really good desserts, too. It’s not very big, and it’s very popular so you do have to book ahead.

A fun, modern eatery from chef Endo Kazutoshi; the central kitchen and cool soundtrack add to the lively atmosphere. Nigiri, sashimi and temaki sit alongside wagyu and fish cooked over charcoal on the concise menu. Keep an eye on the bill, especially if you’re getting stuck into the drinks list too.