London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [100]
MONDO VINO
It’s all about the wine at 28°–50° (140 Fetter La., The City | EC4 | 020/7242–8877 | www.2850.co.uk), French restaurant and occasional wine tasting venue, where co-owner and sommelier Xavier Rousset has assembled a striking wine list of 40-odd wines available in tasting portions, by the glass, carafe, and bottle. An awesome collectors’ wine list has some rare vintages seldom seen in London restaurants (and sold at bargain prices), such as Château Léoville Las Cases 1989 from St. Julien in Bordeaux for £275, or a highly prized Château Rieussec 1983 Sauternes sweet dessert wine for a knock-down £119. There are authentic French breads, charcuterie, duck rillettes, and cheese selections to provide a tasty foil for the outstanding oenological offerings.
SPOTLIGHT ON KENSINGTON, CHELSEA, AND KNIGHTSBRIDGE
If you're famous, fabulous, wealthy, or all three, chances are you'll be living—and dining—in one of these neighborhoods among its world-class museums, parks, shops, hotels, and architecture.
Kensington, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge have some of the city's best restaurants and fashion stores. (Do super-chefs Heston Blumenthal and Harvey Nichols ring a bell?) Chelsea, made famous in the swinging 1960s, is where today's yummy mummies bomb around in Range Rovers, which locals have nicknamed Chelsea tractors. Known for its shopping, Chelsea's restaurants range from glamorous boîtes to little places ideal for a girly gossip and a bite on the go.
In upscale Knightsbridge, you'll find Harrods department store and the high-end fashion boutiques of Sloane Street, and the hotel-based restaurants are just as polished as the residents. Come here for an amazing dining experience, but don't expect bargains. Nearby, Kensington is a residential neighborhood with a wider range of restaurants, from little French bistros to funky Vietnamese hideaways.
CULTURAL EATS
The food's almost as good as the art and artifacts at London's best cultural spaces. Marvel at portraits of pop star Lily Allen or of Mary, Queen of Scots, before getting a seat with a view at the roof-top Portrait Restaurant (National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Pl., St. James's | WC2 | 020/7312–2490 | www.npg.org.uk), which has fine British fare. At the world-famous auction house, the Cafe at Sotheby's (34–35 New Bond St., Mayfair | W1 | 020/7293–5077 | www.sothebys.com/cafe) attracts a classy well-to-do crowd for their bargain afternoon tea services for only £6.50 to £11.
PIT STOPS FOR SHOPPERS
Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a more relaxing meal, there are plenty of options for every shopper.
Londoners love Wagamama (Lower ground floor, Harvey Nichols, 109–125 Knightsbridge | SW1 | 020/7201–8000 | www.wagamama.com) for its healthful, cheap, and cheerful noodles, ramen and rice dishes. This branch is inside Harvey Nichols department store.
Slip in for a seasonal salad or lemon sole at the Botanist (7 Sloane Sq., Chelsea | SW1 | 020/7730–0077 | www.thebotanistonsloanesquare.com), the ultimate posh hangout on Sloane Square.
Down a cheeseburger topped with Monterey Jack and deep-fried and thinly sliced zucchini fries at Byron (300 King’s Road, Chelsea SW3 | 020/7352–6040 | www.byronhamburgers.com). It’s bright and perfect for the family, with two courses designed for kids for £6.
Another casual option is the Pig's Ear (35 Old Church St., Chelsea | SW3 | 020/7352–2908 | www.thepigsear.info), where you can start with beers in the saloon bar before enjoying a meal in the dining room. Note that the deep-fried pigs' ears aren't to everyone’s liking.
RISING STAR: NUNO MENDES
El Bulli–trained Nuno Mendes is the most exciting culinary