ALDWYCH. This modern, glass-adorned restaurant with its cool blue-and-silver scheme is located in a former bank building and is upscale without feeling pretentious. The staff is well known for keeping things running smoothly, no matter the size of the crowd. The place is also known for good, modern British cooking at breakfast or dinner. Breakfast dishes include beluga caviar with potato waffle and crème fraiche, fish cake with poached eggs, or lighter continental choices that offer a selection of teas, croissants, and cereals. Children's menu, too! Breakfast 2-course £14; Lunch 2-course £14, 3-course £16. TUBE: Holborn

CITY. Bonds is an award-winning restaurant that serves modern French cuisine in a sophisticated setting. The kitchen consistently turns out exceptional dishes, crafted with only the best foods from local suppliers. Breakfast is served daily, and weekend brunch is always a hit. The likes of roasted scallops, beef fillet and wild halibut can be found on the lunch and dinner menus. The full bar offers tapas, wine and cocktails and serves as a prime city meeting spot.

MAYFAIR. Located on fashionable New Bond Street (the ritziest, most glamorous of addresses), this café sits in the lobby of the world-famous auction house. The place is an unexpected treat, offering simple lunch and breakfast options and an attitude-free staff. Mirrors and modern prints line the walls, and lunch selections include pasta with pancetta, gorgonzola and thyme, not to mention the famous, luxurious lobster club sandwich. Salads with tangy homemade dressings are popular, and desserts include an array of puddings, cakes, and chocolate treats. TUBE: Green Park or Bond Street

Hailed as one of the millennium's most enterprising restaurants, Canteen put British fare back on the map. Everything here is made from scratch, from the devilled kidneys to the Hollandaise sauce and tomato ketchup. Seating is ­ yep, you guessed it ­ canteen style. While this new branch sits beautifully on London's South Bank, the original Spitalfields outpost also does a sterling trade. Follow potted duck, piccalilli and toast with a succulent British pie and textbook roast. TUBE: Waterloo

WESTMINSTER. Mysterious, alluring Cinnamon Club presents adventurous diners with one of London's more intriguing dining options. The restaurant, whose cuisine is described as New Indian, has received rave reviews for its culinary creativity, hand-selected wine list, and contemporary decor, which takes full advantage of its historic ­ and bookish ­ digs. Menu highlights includeseared rump of Laverstoke Park water buffalo with goan spices and a roast saddle of Oisin red deer with pickling spices. TUBE: St. James's Park or Westminster