Now, this is probably one of the most enchanting Indian restaurants we’ve ever been to. They’ve got extravagant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a breathtaking bar in the centre, and vibrant colours throughout the restaurant. It’s giving full-on Indian palace vibes.

And don’t worry — this sense of royalty and extravagance is absolutely reflected in the food. For starters, we went for one of their house favourites, the Anglo-Indian Chicken Chops, which is the most moist, flavour-packed (and spicyyy) pulled chicken. They lighten it up with the freshest tomato salad. For mains, we kept it classic with the Colonel Saab’s Butter Chicken. You know a dish is going to be otherworldly when it has the restaurant’s name in front of it — and this one did not disappoint.

If you’re in the area for a pre-theatre dinner, they sometimes have musical-themed menus. When we went, it was for Clueless. Three courses, an amuse-bouche, and a musical-inspired cocktail will set you back around £60. How fun is that for a place that feels like pure luxury and royalty?

Have to try: Colonel Saab’s butter chicken
Perfect for: Pre-theatre dinner and drinks
Approx price for 2: £120–£140 including drinks

We’d be seriously surprised if you haven’t seen Happy London all over your Instagram or For You pages. It’s humbly known as the best restaurant in all of London, although it’s definitely gotten some mixed reviews. That said, our visit was absolutely full of fun and, most importantly, good food.

The inside is chaotic, as you’d expect for somewhere called Happy. Waiters dash around everywhere, bright lighting, and it’s always packed. But don’t worry- the food arrives in perfect timing. The menu is like a novel. Seriously. Anything you could ever want, any cuisine you can think of, is on there. As Brits, we’ve all wished we had the Cheesecake Factory here, and this is as close as you’re gonna get.

We started off with the mac and cheese balls because we saw them trending — and yep, they were everything we needed and more. Decadent, rich, cheesy, crispy, and served with a creamy ranch sauce to tie it all together. After flipping through about 500 pages of the menu, we settled on the cacio e pepe for mains. A lighter option after all that fried goodness.

Have to try: Dubaitini (dubai chocolate inspired cocktail)
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £70–£90 (+ drinks)

Don’t worry, we were thinking the same. Leicester Square Kitchen? Too ambiguous. We had no clue what the vibe would be or what cuisine they’d be serving up.  The name lowkey makes you worry about hygiene ratings. But honestly, it’s the complete opposite. Surprisingly bougie, super clean, and vibrant.

We went for their chicken tacos, which come with jalapeños and truffle mayonnaise. You get four for £10, which is pretty decent considering London’s usual “one taco for nearly the same price” vibe. They also have an impressive selection of grilled meats, Peruvian and Mexican style if that’s more your thing. Also, they have one of the most interesting veggie options we’ve seen – not just boring grilled veggies for once.

To finish things off, you absolutely must try the dulce de leche doughnuts. The salted caramel and spiced flavours are unmatched. We honestly need them in our life constantly.

Have to try: Dulce de leche doughnuts
Perfect for: Mexican style dinner
Approx price for 2: £35–£45

Whitcombs is sexy and sleek – what more could you expect from a French-Mediterranean restaurant? The vibe definitely screams date night or a formal lunch or dinner out.

We had every intention of just sticking to mains to save the wallet, but we couldn’t resist starting with the baked feta and spinach dip. It had pieces of crunchy fresh sweetcorn, and you scoop it all up with the warm, fluffy Greek bread. Honestly, it’s one of those dishes where you end up asking for more dip with your bread rather than the other way around.

For mains, we went for the crispy-skinned sea bass, which came in a white wine, lemony cream. Dining in France, basically, so naturally we paired it with a crisp white. Our waiter recommended a French Chablis, and it was spot on — the combination with the sea bass was genuinely magical.

Have to try: Baked spinach and feta dip
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £80–£100 including drinks

A name has never matched a restaurant’s vibe so perfectly. Our experience here was truly magical, enchanting — all the words. You feel it the second you walk in, with the neon lighting, golden ceilings, and disco ball. The way we’re describing it makes it sound garish, but honestly, it’s more galactic and ethereal.

It’s the kind of place where you go heavy on starters and sides to share. At least, that’s what called to us more than the mains, and it means you don’t have to commit to just one dish. We went for the black pepper shrimp, chicken satay with the most decadent peanut sauce, and cauliflower and broccoli tempura. Each dish was sensational, but funnily enough, our favourite of the night was a humble side dish: the corn ribs. Who knew corn could be smoked and seasoned to such perfection?

The real USP — the magic of this place — lies in the cocktails. Each one is Japanese-inspired, unlike anything you’ve seen before. They’ve all got wild, but somehow perfectly complementary, flavours.

Have to try: Spice and Everything Nice cocktail (tequila, lemongrass and thai chilli syrup, elderflower, agave)
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £70–£90 including drinks

The interiors here are truly peaceful, nature-inspired, giving that proper dining-in-a-tranquil-Japanese-garden vibe.

We began with some dim sum, because if it’s on the menu, trust us — we’re getting it, no questions asked. We went for the prawn and chive dim sum, delicately flavoured but leaving you wanting more. We also had the chicken gyozas, pan-seared for that incredible crispiness. Stuffed with spiced chicken and veggies, they’re the kind of dish you just wish you could order ten more of. We refrained, however, against our will, because the mains were calling.

For mains, we went for the Thai green curry served with jasmine rice. We opted for the seafood, but honestly, the curry is so coconutty and packed with flavour that the veggie option might have been just as satisfying — maybe even more.

We also indulged in their cocktails, which are seriously creative. Our pick was the Salty #2 (yes, that’s actually its name). It had bourbon, yuzu, blackberry shrub, and pineapple juice — a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and boozy.

Have to try: Dimsum and bao buns
Perfect for: Craving Asian food
Approx price for 2: £60–£75

Claro is actually located in St James, but it’s just a 7-minute walk from Leicester Square. Trust us, those seven minutes will be the most worth it of your life. Don’t be fooled by the exterior, which gives off grand traditional vibes; the interior is super modern, open, and inviting.

We were lucky enough to snag a seat on their outdoor terrace. And with London weather and the way people absolutely milk every ray of sunshine (yes, guilty as charged), that was a stroke of luck indeed.

In true Mediterranean style, we went for a tapas-style meal to try a bit of everything. We started with the ‘Taste of Claro,’ which came with bread, green tahini & aubergine, tzatziki & turmeric cucumber, labneh & harissa, fresh pickles, pickled chili, and olives. Not a single thing disappointed. We also had the shrimp falafel, which, dipped in the sauces they provided, was next-level elite.

If you’re not in a sharing mood, they do mains too. We spotted someone with the steak and the goat’s cheese tortellini, and both looked incredible.

Have to try: Green tahini and aubergine dip with bread
Perfect for: Tapas style meal
Approx price for 2:  £70–£90 including drinks

Steak & Company keep it classic with their design, sticking to that timeless steakhouse charm. Dimly lit, mellow, refined, and sleek — exactly what you want from a proper steak spot.

We started with the garlic and chili prawns, because, well, you can never go wrong with these. But the artichoke and spinach dip with tortilla chips stole the show for us. They said it’s perfect for sharing, which it was, but honestly, if it weren’t for societal niceties, we could have finished it all ourselves — no regrets.

Obviously, mains had to be steak. Sure, they have other options, but why would you even bother? We went for the 6oz sirloin, choosing garlic and parsley butter, the steakhouse secret seasoning salt, and finished with the green peppercorn sauce. The best part? You can get refills of the sauce for not much extra, so it’s super customisable without feeling guilty for being picky. And if you’re not getting a side of French fries with your steak… what are you even doing?

Have to try: Artichoke and spinach dip
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £70–£100

Again, not quite in Leicester Square, more in Covent Garden, but the walk is practically nothing. You may as well be.

It’s an Italian and Peruvian joint. We’d never had those two cuisines together before, but it really worked and was so interesting. Perfect combo: you get pasta for your main without the guilt, because you can indulge in the Peruvian starters first. That’s exactly what we did.

We started with the spicy chicken tacos, cooled down by a creamy yogurt, and the robata corn on the cob. Absolute perfection. Looks like something you could make at home, but trust us — it never hits the same. For mains, of course, it had to be pasta. We pushed the boat out and went for the fancy-sounding lobster tail and crab tortellini, served in a creamy prawn sauce. Honestly, any seafood lover’s absolute fantasy.

Have to try: Spicy chicken tacos
Perfect for: Family dinner out
Approx price for 2: £75–£95 including drinks

Browns is elegant and refined, with chandeliers hanging above you and a spectacular bar sweeping across the room.

We actually went for brunch and it did not disappoint. For drinks, we kicked things off with the Golden Glow — a combo of mango, pineapple, passionfruit and apple juice. Honestly, could practically feel our skin improving with that one. Trying to keep that whole health and wellness vibe alive, we swerved the traditional English and went for the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on sourdough. And yes, we hear you — “why order that when you can make it at home?” But really, how good is your version? And how fresh are your ingredients? Certainly not as top-quality as here. Plus, it always tastes better when someone else makes it for you.

Of course, the health trip didn’t last long because we needed a breakfast dessert. The berries and cherries buttermilk pancakes were impossible to ignore. Perfect to share, stacked high, and way too good to pass up. But hey, berries and Greek yogurt still count as health, right?

Have to try: Berries and cherries buttermilk pancakes
Perfect for: Brunching
Approx price for 2: £45–£65