The interior of Dinings SW3 is super minimalist, almost homely, with patterned tiles, cushioned chairs, and dining-room-style tables. They’re serving Japanese food, and we were buzzing to see all our favourites on the menu, plus so many fun, creative twists.

We kicked things off with the avocado, yuzu, and wasabi soy crispy rice – the texture on this one just makes you want to keep ordering it! Before diving fully into the classics, we spotted steamed mini burger buns on the menu. Honestly, who could breeze past that without ordering? Ours came with wagyu beef topped with a sweet date teriyaki sauce, all cushioned inside the softest, pillowy buns. A must-try.

Then, of course, came the sushi. Classic spicy tuna – can’t go wrong. This one had a little extra kick with the shichimi pepper sprinkled on top. Usually, we’re never tempted by dessert at sushi spots (it’s either nonexistent or just a sorbet), but not here. We finished off with the matcha and jasmine dorayaki. Fruity, floral, earthy, and again, the texture was everything.

Have to try: Mini burger buns
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2: £60 –£120 with drinks

This one feels much more elegant and elevated, with dim lighting setting the mood.

They’ve got loads of unique snack options we hadn’t seen before, so we decided to treat these as starters (although the way we loaded up, you’d think they were mains). We kicked off with the fried crab katsu served with wasabi mayo – this absolutely knocks Wagamama out of the park, sorry not sorry. Then came the black cod and sweet potato croquettes with a spicy yuzu mayo. Honestly, this place knows their dips. Both of these had us wishing we could take tubs home. Finally, the prawn and vegetable tempura is a must. They stayed crispy the entire time they were on the table, unlike most places where they go soggy fast.

For mains, we thought we’d branch out, avoid the sushi, and go high class — wagyu. Sensational doesn’t even begin to describe it. The chilli daikon ponzu dressing elevated it into something phenomenal.

Have to try: Prawn and vegetable tempura
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2: £100–£250 with drinks

Stepping into Alba, you instantly feel at peace. The greenery, the mellow lighting, and the soft décor make it the exact antidote to a long, chaotic London day. No overstimulation here — just calm vibes and good food.

Of course, we had to start with the buffalo mozzarella and heritage tomatoes. You can’t really go to an Italian spot and skip that classic. Simple, creamy, fresh — and never, ever disappointing.

For mains, we trusted the waiter and went for the Amalfi tagliolini. It’s a pasta in the freshest lemon sauce with prawns and bottarga (which we later learned is dried fish roe). Honestly, if we knew that upfront, we might’ve skipped it, but sometimes ignorance is bliss — this dish was phenomenal. 

Have to try: Amalfi Tagliolini
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £90–£140 with drinks

Might love us or hate us for this one, but once again Japanese takes the W. Sachi is honestly perfect year-round — with its glass ceiling, you either get to bask in the warm sunshine or feel cosy and tucked in while the rain pours down.

It’s also known as a whiskey and sake bar, so obviously we had to line the stomach with a whiskey-based cocktail. We went for Silence is Golden — essentially an Old Fashioned with a twist, sweetened with pineapple and sugar. Thank god for that, because we can’t even pretend to be those gentlemen who enjoy straight whiskey. This drink also paired beautifully with the rock shrimp tempura we started off with.

For mains, we went for the black cod marinated in plum honey. Fish in a sweet sauce? Unmatched combination.

Have to try: Cocktails and sake
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £120–£160 with drinks

Step inside The Aubrey and you’re instantly wrapped in luxury and elegance at its peak. It’s dark, sexy, and sleek with chandeliers, mahogany interiors, and a vibe that screams opulence.

The bar here is on another level. To put it simply: we ended up ordering purely from the bar menu, and that alone blew us away. Each cocktail has its own story, crafted with real expertise — not like those places where bartenders throw bottles around and half the drink ends up on the counter. We went for the Medusa, a mix of vanilla, passion fruit, champagne, and… clarified yogurt. Sounds questionable, but it made the drink creamy, dreamy, and honestly unforgettable.

For food, we kicked things off with the charcoal chicken karaage and yuzu mayo. Think gourmet fried chicken – and what sounds better than that? Then came the star: the Kagoshima wagyu sando. Hands down the most expensive sandwich we’ve ever eaten, but worth every penny. A generous slab of premium wagyu, nestled in fresh bread and smothered with house-made kewpie mayo. Pure, rich perfection.

Have to try: Wagyu sando and cocktails
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £180–£250 with drinks

Sale E Pepe has been around since 1974, so you already know they’ve perfected their craft — and the fact they’re still buzzing proves it. Recently, they dropped a refreshed cocktail menu, and being the good citizens we are, we took it upon ourselves to test it out. The standout? The Sgroppino — vodka, lemon sorbet, prosecco, apricot, and mint. Basically the ultimate summer sip.

Keeping with the sunshine vibes, we started with the calamari fritti and tartare sauce. Simple, golden, crispy perfection. Pairing fried food with a cocktail? That’s just good life choices.

For mains, we couldn’t resist a true Italian classic: bucatini cacio e pepe. Three or four humble ingredients, yet the flavour was anything but simple. Rich, peppery, and decadent enough to feel like you’ve been twirling pasta forever — and we had zero complaints about that.

Have to try: Sgroppino cocktail (vodka, lemon sorbet, prosecco, apricot)
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2:  £100–£130 with drinks

The Mandarin Oriental is pulling through again with one of their restaurants, but this time it’s all about indulging in British cuisine at Dinner by Heston. Honestly, we’re jealous of anyone staying there — imagine having all these world-class restaurants literally downstairs.

The menu isn’t huge, but that just means every dish is treated with absolute precision — and honestly, a win for us indecisive types. We went for the three-course set menu at £125 per person. To start: Truffle — mushroom parfait with warm, freshly grilled bread. Can’t lie, the bread stole the show, tasting like it had just come straight from the oven to the table. For mains, we had the powdered duck breast, beautifully balanced between sweet notes of raisin and delicate spice from fennel.

After such a rich and savoury ride, dessert had to be light, and they nailed it with the roast peach. Flavoured with chartreuse and jasmine, and served with yogurt and peach sorbet — it was refreshing, elegant, and the perfect finish.

Have to try: Roast peach dessert
Perfect for: Special Occasions
Approx price for 2: £250–£300 with drinks

It really does feel like la dolce vita walking into this place. The breathtaking bar and glamorous décor just scream luxury and Italian high life. Harry’s Dolce Vita has a few restaurants across London, but this one is definitely our favourite.

We kicked things off with one of their signature cocktails, the Cocco di Mamma. Normally, we’d stick to wine or classic Italian cocktails like a negroni or Aperol spritz, but this sounded too good to pass up. A mix of tequila, Aperol, pineapple, passionfruit, and prosecco — basically a spritz but with a fun, exotic twist. It paired perfectly with the zucchini fritters, light, crispy, and addictive.

Then came the moment we couldn’t resist — pizza. Let’s be real, food envy would’ve been inevitable if we didn’t. The burrata and pesto pizza is a dream: creamy burrata, fresh pesto, briny olives, and every ingredient tasting like it was made that morning. 

Have to try: Cocco di mamma cocktail
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £100–£130 with drinks

The Mantl, located on Brompton Road, is serving up authentic, homely-tasting Turkish cuisine that hits all the right spots.

We all know Turkish picky bits are elite, so choosing just a few starters was a real struggle. Luckily, they get it, which is why they’ve created the chef’s list. It comes with hummus, cacik, kisir (bulgur, beetroot, peppers, pomegranate molasses), and za’atar bread. The bread was fresh out of the oven, warm and fluffy, and basically the perfect vehicle for scooping up every bit of that goodness.

For mains, it only felt right to go grilled — after all, the place is called Mantl. We went for the mixed chicken and lamb skewers, smoked to perfection and paired with a light side salad. Of course, we couldn’t resist ordering pilav on the side for that extra carby comfort. And whatever you do, don’t leave without the walnut pudding. Warm, nutty, and so cosy. It’s the ultimate sweet ending.

Have to try: Chicken skewers and walnut pudding
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2:  £70–£90 with drinks

Petrus by Gordon Ramsay is a classy, Michelin-starred French spot. Naturally, the wine list is impeccable and constantly updated, so just trust the sommelier.

We started with the lobster ravioli in a lime and fennel bisque. So glad this was an option as a starter, because honestly, it could have been a main all on its own. For mains, we went for the Herdwick lamb rack — simply flavoured with mint and served with a side of young peas. Classic, homely, and absolutely effective.

Finally, the star of the show: the Plaisir Sucré. A Nutella lover’s dream, but done bougie. Chocolate crémeaux, hazelnut, and milk — it had no right to be devoured so quickly.

Have to try: Plaisir Sucré dessert
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2: £250–£300 with wine