Duck and Waffle- Bishopsgate, London

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY

http://duckandwaffle.com

Step into the lift at the ground floor of the Heron Tower and zoom 40 floors up (in what feels like milliseconds) to a fabulous restaurant and bar with stunning panoramic views of the capital. This 24 hour hot spot has only been open for 6 months but has already established itself as a big name.

The cocktail bar has been beautifully designed with a blue mosaic floor and colourful, illuminated jars of stones as light features. Ornate chandeliers and strings of beads frame a breathtaking view of the Gherkin. Further through, the restaurant is bright and elegant with griege booths and large orchid filled vases. A bright yellow curved ceiling adds a modern twist.

We all tried the signature dish, the 'Duck and Waffle' which was an unusual but delicious combination of crispy confit duck, fried egg, waffle and mustard maple syrup. For dessert, the warm chocolate brownie with peanut butter ice cream and honey comb was heavenly. Our long and lazy lunch lasted 3 hours and allowed us beautiful views of London as the sun set and the lights started to twinkle across the city.

Antico- Bermondsey, London

214 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3TQ
http://www.antico-london.co.uk

Antico is one of the newest additions to an existing string of excellent Bermondsey Street restaurants. Serving beautiful rustic Italian food in a relaxed yet stylish setting, it keeps the standard high. Our mains ranged from a succulent tuna steak salad to a creamy tomato and mascarpone risotto. On the starters menu you'll find dishes such as burrata with marinated peppers, halibut fritti with fresh chilli and caper oil or a classic antipasti board. Mains fall under either the fresh pasta & risotto plates or fish & meat from the oven & grill . With its brunch friendly cocktail menu including passion fruit bellinis and prosecco fizz (elderflower liquor, prosecco and lemon) it's no surprise it's busy all weekend. The cosy downstairs bar with its exposed brick walls and leather stools is worth a visit too.

Crazy Bear- Fitzrovia, London

26- 28 Whitfield Street, W1T 2RG
http://www.crazybeargroup.co.uk/fitzrovia/

This sophisticated South-East Asian restaurant is worth a visit if only for its exquisite food. Team that with an intimate bar boasting three awards and you could easily spend the whole night here. The 'Stir Fried Crustacea' was a beautiful medley of all my favourite seafood (tiger prawns, mussles, queen scallops, squid) in a simple yet delicious spring onion & garlic sauce. The mouth-watering black cod I tried was cooked to perfection.  There is an incredibly sexy and glamourous feel to this restaurant with its leather seats, bronzed ceiling, low lighting, black, gold & cream panelled walls, mushroom table lamps and ruby-carpeted stairs decending to the basement cocktail bar. Visiting the extravagant bathroom is a must; the optical illusion of its mirrored interior is bound to play tricks on you ;)

Salt Yard- Goodge Street, London

54,Goodge Street, WIT 4NA
http://www.saltyard.co.uk/restaurant/

Salt Yard tapas bar serves up little plates of heaven at affordable prices. We didn't hold back and ordered a delicious selection of the modern French and Italian influenced dishes. The unexpected flavour combinations complimented each other wonderfully- confit duck with mustard spaetzle, pomegranate, chestnut & mint or roasted chorizo with apple, cider & marjoram. Other choices worth a mention were the truffled macaroni cheese, the courgette flowers stuffed with goats cheese & drizzled with honey and the jamon croquetas with manchego...all amazing!

Attention to detail is prevalent in this intimate interior...a beautiful oil painting hangs from the burgundy feature wall and the open bar lined with cream leather stools is the focal point of this space. Candles and small hanging lights add to its cosy atmosphere.

The Woolpack- Bermondsey, London

 98 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UB
http://www.woolpackbar.com/

Without overlooking the ground floor and beer garden of this vibrant pub which is busy and inviting all year round, the gem of The Woolpack is the restaurant up the spiral staircase on the second floor.

Gothic opulence is the theme of this interior with its black leather seats, charcoal & copper wallpaper, ornate gold-framed mirrors and hanging chandeliers. The colourful Michaelangelo style art on the ceiling is like a patch straight out of the Sistene Chapel.

On the menu are traditonal pub favourites done really well. It's the perfect place for a Sunday roast in style.

Elliot's- Borough, London

12 Stoney Street, Borough, SE1 9AD
http://elliotscafe.com/

On the charming cobbled road adjacent to Borough Market you'll find Elliot's, a cosy restaurant with a delicious, monthly-changing and seasonal menu. Wines are drawn on to chalk boards that hang on exposed brick walls and the mix of tables and bar stools creates a welcoming environment for a longer sit down meal or a quick bite.

The menu reflects the best of the produce available in Borough Market at that time. We drank red wine, ordered hearty meat dishes and shared a selection of divine sides; fried maris pipers, creamy cauliflower cheese and calvonero, chesnuts & squash. Perfect for a winters night!

Pret a Diner- St James's, London

http://www.pretadiner.com

Michelin star chefs, sushi masters, top mixologists, DJs creating ambient background music in both a grand yet edgy environment…Pret a Diner's Burlington Social Club surpassed all expectations.

This unique dining experience moves from city to city, each location bringing with it a new concept that lasts for a limited time only. The registration process to book is brief and adds a level of exclusivity without the usual pretention.

Most recently, The Burlington Social Club was situated in The Royal Academy of Arts and aimed to create a 'modern medieval laboratory' . The main restaurant, an ornate and high-ceilinged Edwardian room, was stripped back and replaced with angular scaffolding from which delicate chandeliers hung. Guests sat on high tables around this structure, observing chefs and mixologists working away in the open bar and kitchen housed within it.

The fixed-price menu included 3 dishes out of roughly 10, each choice teamed with a complementing and creative cocktail. From glass tables we sampled chicken and popcorn stew accompanied by a malt bourbon, grapefruit syrup, chili and caramel concoction. The teriyaki ox cheeks and creamed parsnips were served with a 'Truffle Smoked Fashion'…bourbon, truffle oil, thyme, bitters, sugar and smoke. Both desserts were delicious but the beautifully presented lemon tart came out on top. The winning desert cocktail was made up of vodka, homemade limoncello, apple, citrus and maple syrup.

Whether you make a trip to Berlin for the next experience…or wait for its return to London, such a unique fusion of food and art make Pret a Diner a one off experience.