Noble Rot Mayfair

 The best of Noble Rot

Suckling pig feast

Noble Rot Mayfair, tucked into Shepherd Market, delivers a polished, wine-focused French European experience that blends history with hedonism. Housed in a handsome 19th-century townhouse in Shepherd Market—one of Mayfair’s last vestiges of old-school charm—the restaurant radiates a deliberate sense of intimacy and mischief. But Noble Rot isn’t content to coast on ambiance—it delivers a dining experience as precise and expressive as its wine list is expansive. At the heart of the kitchen is chef Adam Wood, whose background at Perilla and alliance with The Sportsman’s Stephen Harris create a menu that marries French bistro elegance with punchy British irreverence. For my 3rd visit, I stepped up with a feasting menu and dined at their private dining room in their basement, which also houses their fine wine.

One Club Row

 Jazzy feel-good dining vibe

Roasted scallop, confit garlic butter

One Club Row, located above The Knave of Clubs in Shoreditch, is a bold, stylish newcomer that merges Parisian bistro charm with New York tavern swagger. Opened in early 2025 by hospitality heavyweights Patrick Powell, James Dye, and Benjy Leibowitz, it’s already a standout in London’s dining scene. The entrance, discreet enough to miss if you're distracted by your phone, opens into a velvet-draped stairwell lit like a film set. The menu, crafted by Powell and head chef Attila Gellen, is a greatest-hits album of French and American comfort food, elevated with finesse.

Myrtos by Asimakis

A Greek Odyssey in South Kensington

Cornish Squid Skewer

Tucked away on Brompton Road, in the heart of South Kensington, Myrtos is not just another upscale restaurant in West London— it’s a love letter to Greece. But this is not the Greece of Instagram postcards or lazy clichés. Myrtos is a refined, personal, and deeply evocative culinary experience shaped by chef Asimakis Chaniotis, whose roots run deep into the soil of Kefalonia and Athens. This is a restaurant that dares to be intimate in both aesthetic and ambition. The ALC menu contained a selection of classic Greek dishes but with modern, fine dining elements to make it visually inviting and interesting.

Krokodilos

Sunny flavours in West London 

Beetroot salad

Nestled in the heart of Kensington, Krokodilos is a Greek fine-dining establishment that aims to transport diners to the sun-kissed landscapes of Greece. With its opulent interiors and a menu that pays homage to traditional Greek flavors, the restaurant offers an experience that is both immersive and indulgent. Helmed by Chef Angelos Togias, formerly of the Connaught, the kitchen presents a menu that celebrates the diversity of Greek cuisine. Dishes are crafted with a focus on authenticity and quality, utilizing ingredients sourced from various regions of Greece.

Ibai

The Basque grill king of London 

Tortilla

Ibai launched last summer, and I have been there 10 times already. Why am I such a fan boy? In a city brimming with steak houses and open-flame theatrics, Ibai doesn’t just enter the scene—it storms it. This isn’t just a steakhouse—it’s a culinary theatre where fire isn’t a gimmick but the main character. The menu is compact but focused, built around a handful of iconic cuts and a collection of starters and sides that refuse to play it safe. Some creativity there, but not over the top and given the perfect cooking treatment. For my 11th visit, I opted for some classics as well as the latest seasonal specials.

Run

 Where Precision, Heritage, and Elegance Meet

Wagyu beef puff

Housed inside The St. Regis Hong Kong in Wan Chai, Run, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant doesn’t rely on flash. Instead, it cultivates a refined atmosphere that mirrors the dishes it serves—deliberate, harmonious, and deeply rooted in tradition. I really enjoy its decor: Chinese tea pavilion style: wood-paneled walls, curved ceiling beams, and warm lantern-like lighting. What makes Rùn singular is how seamlessly it fuses classic Cantonese sensibilities with contemporary technique, thanks to Executive Chinese Chef Hung Chi-Kwong’s steady hand. His dishes are not radical reinventions—they’re elevated distillations of heritage.

Lai Ching Heen

Hallmark of Cantonese cuisine excellence 

Wok Fried Prawns, Asparagus in Black Bean Sauce

Lai Ching Heen, nestled inside the 5 stars luxury Regent hotel in Hong Kong, champions Cantonese cuisine and is a holder of 2 Michelin stars. This is a place where tradition speaks loudest, yet innovation still finds its voice. The menu is a confident blend of classic Cantonese dishes elevated to something far beyond familiar. The dim sum selection feels like the kitchen’s subtle flex—each piece crafted with care, from the translucent skins to the vibrant, carefully seasoned fillings. There’s an obvious respect for technique here, and that is the reason I came back to Lai Ching Heen for dinner, as I was impressed when I had a dim sum lunch here back in 2019.

Tang Court

Cantonese luxury fine dining 3 stars hype 

Fish maw and aged ham soup

Tang Court, located inside The Langham hotel in Hong Kong with 3 Michelin stars, pays homage to traditional Cantonese cuisine. As you expected from a luxury hotel, the dining room itself is understated: polished wood, soft lighting, and a layout that feels private even when the place is full. Here, classic Cantonese cooking is not reinterpreted or deconstructed; it’s respected, elevated, and delivered with technical perfection. The real brilliance of Tang Court lies in how it handles luxury ingredients. Instead of overwhelming them with showy techniques, the kitchen amplifies what’s already there.

Tin Lung Heen

Skyhigh Cantonese fine dining 

Seebass siu mai and grilled char siu pork

Tin Lung Heen, perched on the 102nd floor of The Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong, commands attention before a single dish even reaches the table. The panoramic view is a spectacle — Victoria Harbour sprawling beneath, the city’s skyline cutting sharp lines against the sky. Of course, the real focus should be on the food as it must be pretty special too, when Tin Lung Heen itself has 2 Michelin stars. Sky high fine dining can be pricy, and that is the case with Tin Liun Heen, with costs that could be as high as  £200 per person after service and wine, so I opted for the more affordable lunch set menu to test the water. 

Ming Court (Mong Kok)

Still going strong 

Eel, Chinese Angelica

In the heart of Mong Kok, amidst the dense rhythm of one of Hong Kong’s busiest districts, sits Ming Court, an upmarket sanctuary of refined Cantonese cuisine housed within the Cordis Hotel. At first glance, its location might seem at odds with its culinary pedigree, but step through its understated entrance and you're transported to an elegant dining room marked by modern Chinese design—deep wood tones, gold accents, and subtle calligraphy motifs. The kitchen leans on traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients—goji berries, red dates—not as novelties but as thoughtful elements woven into the cooking. This balance of heritage and innovation defines Ming Court’s strength: it respects the past without being shackled to it.