These are London’s 50 best meals

From the most decadent high tea to some of the best Asian food in the world, Rachel Smith picks the UK capital's unmissable restaurants.

HIGH TEA

1. The Traditional Afternoon Tea at The Ritz London

The Traditional Afternoon Tea ( 4 . or Rs4,56 . per person) served here is the ultimate indulgence. Steeped in old-world elegance, the tea is served in The Palm Court amid birdcage chandeliers, beneath the gold trellis ceiling and always with the tinkling of piano music in the background. There are 1 . loose-leaf teas on offer and optional Champagne to accompany finger sandwiches, pastries and oven-warm scones. Be sure to book in advance, and also to check the dress code before going it's jackets and ties for men, and formal wear for women.

The Ritz London, 15 . Piccadilly, Green Park 

2 . Cream tea at The Wolseley

The English institution of cream tea is a more manageable option than full afternoon tea. The Wolseley, just next door to The Ritz, does a good version with warm scones, thick cream and plenty of jam ( 10.7 . or 1,09 . per person). The Wolseley Champagne Tea ( 33.5 . or 3,39 . per person) is a more celebratory version. The elegant caf -restaurant, where tea is served, is also renowned for its breakfasts offering British classics such as kedgeree, kipper and haggis, as well as somewhat easier-to-stomach options such as fresh fruit salad and granola.

The Wolseley, 16 . Piccadilly, Green Park  

3 . A fashionista's afternoon tea at The Berkeley

Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, its afternoon tea is inspired by many of the high-end fashion boutiques on its doorstep. Its Pr t- -Portea service ( 4 . or 5,00 . per person) includes ginger biscuits decorated like Burberry's signature Prorsum trench coats and Victoria sponges transformed into Saint Laurent's essential autumn red Classic Duffle 6 handbag. The menu changes every six months to ensure it keeps up with the season's latest trends. 

The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge

4 . Modern tea at The Modern Pantry

Chef Anna Hansen puts a modern twist on afternoon tea, taking inspiration from more exotic world ingredients. Expect scones laced with matcha; and lemon possets flavoured with yuzu juice and poured from Chinese earthenware teapots. Afternoon tea ( 1 . or 1,73 . per person) is by reservation only, so book in advance. 

The Modern Pantry, 47-4 . St John's Square, Clerkenwell

TRADITIONAL ENGLISH

5 . Game, pies and puddings at Rules

Holding claim to the oldest restaurant in London, Rules is something of an institution. It specialises in British game and traditional pies and puddings, served among the gild-framed oil paintings and wall-mounted antlers in the old-world dining room. For those with a strong constitution and an appreciation of British gastronomic history, the wild rabbit hotpot or roast crown of pheasant is a must. 

Rules, 3 . Maiden Lane, Covent Garden

6 . Traditional tucker at The Fish and Chip Shop

A chippie' is an essential part of many a British high street. It's not always the most glamorous destination, but this beautiful, blue-fronted Islington fish-and-chip shop is a step up from most. Go for battered or breaded fish to take out or eat in. And, of course, a portion of fresh-cut chips, wrapped in paper, and served with salt and lashings of vinegar.

The Fish and Chip Shop, 18 . Upper Street, Islington

7 . Gastropub food at The Zetter Townhouse

Enjoy nibbles and cocktails in traditional Victorian surroundings at The Zetter Townhouse. The boutique hotel has modelled its pub on a great aunt's drawing room. The eclectic furnishings include Persian rugs, taxidermy, oil portraits, crystals and candelabras. Sink into a deep armchair, and savour one of their award-winning cocktails. Dishes include favourites such as Scotch egg with curry mayonnaise and herring roe on toast. After a gimlet or two, it's hard to drag yourself back into the 21st century.

The Zetter Townhouse, 49-5 . St John's Square, Clerkenwell

8. A morning fry-up at E Pellicci

This traditional East End caf was founded in 190 . by Italian immigrant, Priamo Pellicci, who quickly mastered the art of a traditional greasy spoon' breakfast: eggs, bacon, beans, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms and a mug of builders' tea the full works. An authentic British fry-up might be an acquired taste, but the service will charm anyone. Still in the Pellicci family, the staff is keen to strike up conversation, sit down for a chat, right the world and boast about mama's cooking', keeping customers coming back to this East End gem again and again.

E Pellicci, 33 . Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green (+44-20-773 4873)

MODERN BRITISH

11. ?After-party eats at Duck & Waffle

Duck & Waffle is a recent addition to London's dining scene. It's located on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower, and has wrap-around windows offering stunning views across London. Chef Daniel Doherty's team serves food around the clock, rustling up late-night snacks for exhausted executives (and the post-party crowd), breakfasts for early risers and everything in between. The relaxed licence means that it's good for a whisky sour any hour of the day. Sip while the sun sets or as it rises. Its signature dish is a duck leg with fried duck egg, waffle and a small pot of mustard maple syrup.

Duck & Waffle, Heron Tower, 11 . Bishopgate 

12. New-age English at The Clove Club 

Spearheading new-age British cuisine, chef Isaac McHale has developed a five-course menu, which stars fresh, native ingredients from heritage tomatoes to golden turnips, Yorkshire grouse and blackcurrant-leaf ice cream, with a beautiful vegetarian menu available. Pick from starters including globe artichoke with sheep's milk and green olive, and mains such as runner beans, sunflower and mint.

The Clove Club, Shoreditch Town Hall, 38 . Old Street 

SHOPS & MARKETS

13 . High-end groceries at Fortnum & Mason

Established in 1707 . Fortnum & Mason has a rich history: it supplied the British Army with dried fruits and preserves during the Napoleonic Wars; it was the first stockist of British staple, Heinz baked beans; and it even supplied the 192 . Everest expedition with 6 . tins of quail in foie gras and four dozen bottles of Champagne. Now, Fortnum & Mason is most renowned for its extravagant hampers, high-end groceries and tail-coated staff. It's a joy to browse and a pleasure to purchase. Also head to The Fountain Restaurant and savour specials such as the Welsh rarebit or opt for the set menu, which walks you through the house specials.

Fortnum & Mason, 18 . Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus

14 . Artisanal foodstuff at Maltby Street Market

The guidebooks will direct you to Borough Market but any London foodie will tell you that it's overpriced and heaving with tourists. Those in the know go a little further down the road, where artisanal food producers chefs, baristas and brewers gather under the railway arches every Sunday to sell their wares. Indulge in London-smoked salmon by Hansen & Lydersen, Spanish jam n at Tozino and a Bloody Mary from Little Bird Gin.

Maltby Street Market, The Ropewalk, 4 . Maltby Street, Bermondsey

15 . Speciality ingredients at Harrods

Harrods was founded by a grocer and tea merchant back in 1849 . Staying true to its roots, the opulent food hall remains a big part of the 1 . lakh sq ft store. It stocks everything from the world's most expensive tea to whiskies worth tens of thousands of pounds per bottle. The food hall houses an oyster bar, tea room and ice cream parlour as well as shelves and shelves of food available for purchase everything from biscuit tins and coffee blends to preserves and pickles. 

Harrods, 87-13 . Brompton Road, Knightsbridge 

FINE-DINING AND CELEBRITY CHEFS

16 . The tasting menu at The Ledbury 

This two Michelin-starred restaurant is all you could wish for from a fine-dining experience: beautifully constructed dishes and flawless service. Dining at The Ledbury is not something that should be rushed. Vegetarians can choose the tasting menu, which offers options such as a salad of green beans with fresh hazelnuts and peach, and a roasted cauliflower-and-sea-vegetable risotto.

The Ledbury, 127 . Ledbury Road, Notting Hill 

17 . Delicate dishes at Pollen Street Social

Jason Atherton's flagship restaurant was awarded a Michelin star within one year of opening in 2011 . Expect well-executed, delicate dishes from pea velout to smoked aubergine caviar and peanut parfait. Flag down the gin trolley to try Pollen Street Social's signature cocktails, mixed at your table. 

Pollen Street Social, 8-1 . Pollen Street, Mayfair 

18 . Set lunch at Dabbous

Every single dish, every plate made with such finesse, such a careful balance of flavour and texture, gushed AA Gill, London's harshest food critic, as he reviewed Oliver Dabbous' cooking at his debut restaurant. It's difficult to get a booking, but the best odds are with a lunchtime reservation, when last-minute dropouts mean that tables often become available for the set-lunch menu.

Dabbous, 3 . Whitfield Street

19. Vegetarian taster menu at Alyn Williams at The Westbury 

Williams' smart hotel restaurant has a specific vegetarian la carte menu, and, unusually, a vegetarian taster menu, too. Dishes are perfectly constructed from a smoked egg with truffle to a Jerusalem artichoke panna cotta with orange Chantilly and cardamom.

Alyn Williams,The Westbury Hotel, 3 . Conduit Street, Mayfair 

20 . Multi-sensory dining at Dinner by Heston

The most renowned starter at Dinner is Blumenthal's Meat Fruit a ball of meat p t , coated in mandarin jelly and garnished with stalk and leaves, disguising it as an orange. The dishes take you through England's rich gastronomic past, with each dish on the menu dated according to its year of conception. Finish the meal with Taffety Tart (c1660), served with apple, rose and vanilla ice cream. 

Dinner by Heston, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 6 . Knightsbridge 

21 . The set menu at Maze by Gordon Ramsay 

The Scottish chef might be known for his bad temper but, at Maze, you'll remember that it is the extraordinary food that has made Ramsay a star. There is a set menu, a vegetarian menu and a sushi menu available. Book the Kitchen Table', which puts you in the heart of the action so you can watch the masters at work as you dine.

Maze, 10-1 . Grosvenor Square 

22 . Authentic Chinese at China Tang at The Dorchester

China Tang has a manifesto called How to Murder a Chinese', where the staff vows not to replicate common mistakes seen in Chinese restaurants: tepid food, rice served on plates, long menus, bad translations and chop-suey'. Founder Sir David Tang vowed to stay true to authentic Chinese and has succeeded, thanks to an extensive dim sum menu, spanning from Shanghai dumplings to traditional taro cakes.

China Tang, The Dorchester, 5 . Park Lane 

23 . Haute couture Japanese at Nobu

With 2 . locations round the world, Nobu attracts a jet-setting crowd who enjoy the unwavering consistency of Nobu Matsuhisa's food. London's Old Park Lane Nobu is famed for its dishes, ranging from yellowtail tartar with caviar to black cod with miso.

Nobu, Metropolitan by COMO, 1 . Old Park Lane 

24 . Fresh seasonal food at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester

Specialising in contemporary French cuisine, Alain Ducasse's restaurant offers la carte and tasting menus, as well as a special menu jardin', which use fresh, seasonal produce. From Tuesday to Friday, the restaurant also hosts a Lunch Hour', which whisks diners through three courses, two glasses of wine, coffee or tea in under an hour.

Alain Ducasse, The Dorchester, 5 . Park Lane 

EUROPEAN

25 . Classic Italian at The River Caf

Serving traditional Italian food, the Michelin-starred restaurant is famed for its simple but perfectly executed dishes such as a spiced-pumpkin risotto, as well as its critically acclaimed chocolate Nemesis cake. The nurturing restaurant has also been credited with training English chefs such as Jamie Oliver. It isn't in an easily accessible part of town, but it's certainly worth a visit.

The River Caf , Thames Wharf, Rainville Road

26 . Sunday lunch at Trullo

Enter Trullo and be engulfed with an air that's thick with the delicious aromas of Italian cooking. The best day to go is Sunday, when the restaurant hosts a traditional Italian lunch. Save both time and space for the antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, dessert and many helpings of cheese.

Trullo, 300-30 . St Paul's Road, Islington 

27. Pre-theatre nibbles at Terroirs

This wine bar and restaurant has an eye for provenance from the French cheeses and Italian salamis to a list of carefully sourced wines. The West End destination comes into its own as a pre-theatre destination, where a charcuterie board or perhaps some wine, bread and cheese are the perfect ways to stave off the hunger during a performance.

Terroirs, 5 William IV Street

32 . Oysters at J Sheekey

This vintage establishment is perfectly located for enjoying a light supper before hitting the West End. Dressed in smart white aprons and black waistcoats, the staff serves up a host of seafood: razor clams, crab bisque, lemon grass skewered prawns and an extravagant plateau de fruits de mer. But J Sheekey is most famed for its oyster bar, offering a selection from Porthilly Rock Oysters to West Mersea Native Oysters and even tempura oysters with a wasabi dressing.

J Sheekey, 28-3 . St Martin's Court, Leicester Square 

33 . A crustacean in a bun at Burger & Lobster

This restaurant does what it says on the tin: burger and lobster. The menu is stripped back, allowing the kitchen to churn out big volumes of impeccably cooked lobster. The result is dining decadence at affordable prices, with one ton of lobster kept in the enormous on-site tank to deal with demand. You can't make reservations at the Green Park branch, but the bar does exceptional cocktails, meaning you can have a drink or two while you wait for a table to free up.

Burger & Lobster, 2 . Clarges Street, Mayfair

34 . Chocolate-flavoured savouries at Rabot 1745 

Rabot 174 . is a chocoholic's dream, serving both sweet and savoury dishes, all enhanced with you've guessed it chocolate. It's run by Hotel Chocolat, a British chocolatier which grows its own cocoa at The Rabot Estate on the Caribbean island of St Lucia. It's a must for chocolate connoisseurs, whether popping by for an iced chocolate mocha, or shoulder of lamb with a cocoa balsamic dressing and a Rabot rum baba.

Rabot 1745, 2-4 Beadale Street, Borough Market 

35 . Food for thought at The V&A Caf

The tiled walls, towering pillars and dramatic archways make this a memorable place to grab a bite. Located in the Victoria & Albert Museum, The V&A Caf is a good spot to rest your feet if you've been tramping round the museums on Exhibition Road. The food is simple but tasty, with salads, sandwiches and sponge cake the perfect fuel on a day's sightseeing.

Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington

36 . Ice cream at Gelupo

In 2008 . Jacob Kenedy opened Italian restaurant Bocca di Lupo, and soon after commandeered another shop across the road, Gelupo, where he makes the smoothest, richest Italian ice cream. The pistachio one is particularly special. But there is something for everyone at Gelupo from esoteric flavours, such as saffron or pepper to classic vanilla.

Gelupo, 7 Archer Street, Piccadilly Circus

37. Vegetarian Middle Eastern at NOPI

With four branches of his successful deli, three bestselling cookbooks and three television series under his belt, it was no surprise when, in 2011 . chef Yotam Ottolenghi announced that he was launching a restaurant. NOPI doesn't stray far from the colourful, Middle Eastern food he's famed for. Vegetarians should note that there's plenty to choose from. And the vegetable dishes are full of flavour, such as the crushed carrot, rose harissa and grains of paradise labneh, or the roasted aubergine with feta, pickled cucumber and pumpkin seeds.

NOPI, 21-2 . Warwick Street, Soho

40. Irani eats at Dishoom

Dishoom pays homage to Mumbai's Irani caf s with slow-turning fans, fading family photographs and wicker chairs. It's good for a lassi, chai or roomali roll any time of the year, but the skate cheeks koliwada in a spicy crisp batter with tamarind date chutney is a particular speciality.

Dishoom, 7 Boundary Street, Shoreditch 

41. Michelin-starred Indian food at Amaya

Located in the heart of Belgravia, Michelin-starred Amaya follows traditional Indian cooking methods. Expect old-world flavour, with new-age presentation and ingredients such as foie gras at this slick restaurant. 

Amaya, Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street, Knightsbridge 

42. Dependable Thai at Busaba Eathai

Founded by Alan Yau, the brain behind the Wagamama chain, it offers authentic Thai salads, noodles, curries and stir-fries. It is also known for its fresh fruit juices and smoothies.

Busaba Eathai, 106-11 . Wardour Street, Soho

43 . Ramen at Tonkotsu

Tonkotsu's broths are lip-smackingly thick and heartening, salted with miso and soya, and flavoured with shimeji mushrooms, garlic and ginger. It has recently won a much-deserved award for London's best cheap eats'.

Tonkotsu, 6 . Dean Street, Soho 

44. Korean food at Bibimbap Soho

This Korean joint might not look like much from the outside, but its bibimbap has earned it a cult following among Londoners. The rice-based main course is served in an oven-hot granite bowl which retains heat and continues to cook the rice and extras such as beef. 

Bibimbap Soho, 1 . Greek Street, Soho

45 . Dim sum at Yauatcha

A modern version of a Chinese teahouse by the folks behind Hakkasan, this is where the restaurant (which has three other outposts in Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi) began in 2004 . It's open late, and serves excellent cocktails, but the main draw is the dim sum.

Yauatcha, 15-1 . Broadwick Street, Soho

46 . New-wave Indian at Gymkhana 

Taking inspiration from colonial gymkhana clubs, this new-wave Indian restaurant's dining room is richly decorated, featuring oak panelling, chequerboard floors and a grand brass bar. Here, British ingredients are fused with tandoori dishes. Think venison keema with naan, duck egg bhurji or lobster with Malabar paratha.

Gymkhana, 4 . Albemarle Street 

47 . Surprise' dining at Hunan 

We're not your typical Chinese restaurant, Hunan boasts; and they're right. There isn't a formal menu instead, diners are asked their likes and dislikes, and are then surprised' by whichever dishes cook and owner Chef Peng whisks out of the kitchen. Expect a quick and exciting string of small dishes from frogs' legs and broths to tofu and deep-fried aubergine.

Hunan, 5 . Pimlico Rd, off Sloane Square

48 . Classic Vietnamese at Tre Viet

Tre Viet is a beautiful, light space adorned with ceiling lanterns and Vietnamese-inspired murals. The menu is simple, elegant and good value. Choose from palate-cleansing soups, b nh m baguette or a sharing platter.

Tre Viet, 245-24 . Mare Street, Hackney

49 . Chinese banquet at Kai Mayfair

This Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant's menu starts with smoked goose, pan-fried foie gras and braised abalone with black truffle. For main courses, there is steamed lobster and Wagyu beef. Puddings are listed at the start of the menu to remind diners to keep space for the chocolate fondant.

Kai Mayfair, 6 . South Audley Street, Mayfair 

50 . Sake and sophistication at Zuma

Zuma takes inspiration from a Japanese izakaya, which combines dining and drinking, similar to Spanish tapas. Start the night in the sake bar, which stocks more than 4 . varieties, then move into the main restaurant to sample delights such as the ise ebi (lobster tempura).

Zuma, 5 Raphael Street, Knightsbridge

With inputs by Himani Shah, Ravinder Bhogal and Rashmi Uday Singh