1La Maison Ani, Knightsbridge
Courtesy of La Maison Ani
This Christmas season, French-Mediterranean restaurant La Maison Ani has transformed into The Alpine Chalet, offering a festive retreat from the hustle and bustle of the crowded London streets. Inside the warmly lit, inviting space, you’ll find hearty set menus available through the festive period — including Christmas day — comprising caviar, oysters, truffle-glazed dishes and velvety cheese, all served with an attentive service and charming atmosphere. Highlights include the rich truffle tart, melt-in-the-mouth lobster linguine and fruit-freckled panettone. Stuck for plans on New Year’s Eve? Book in for La Maison Ani’s Midnight Symphony, a sophisticated evening of celebrations where you can enjoy a seasonal set menu against the backdrop of a live band.
La Maison Ani, Jumeirah Carlton Tower1 Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 9PY
2Cépage(s), Notting Hill 
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Could this be the most delightful French restaurant in the capital? This West London bolthole, in the heart of Westbourne village, is an intimate bistro packed to the rafters with charm, romance and atmosphere. The concept is ‘French tapas’ – small plates to accompany their copious bottles of quality vin. Though renowned for the wine list, the dishes here are more than noteworthy. Highlights include roasted camembert with rosemary and honey, foie gras with toasted brioche, and melt-in-the-mouth pommes dauphines with sour cream.
Cépage(s), 69 Westbourne Park road, W2 5QH
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3Mister Nice, Mayfair
Jason Wain
One of London’s newest arrivals, Mister Nice is that rare beast – a glitzy Mayfair eatery with the charm of a local bistro. Here, the atmosphere is relaxed, a quietly simmering sceney buzz as opposed to a symbol clash. That’s largely because the brains behind it,
executive chef Javier Duarte, lets the food do the talking. Among the dishes are some standouts: rigatoni a la vodka, whole roasted black chicken and cote de boeuf. The wine list is just as tantalising, and you cannot leave without trying a sinfully easy-to-drink cucumber martini.
Mister Nice, 14-16 Davies St, London W1K 3DR
4Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Mayfair
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Laden with not one, but three Michelin stars, this gastronomic heaven is deserving of its glittering reputation. Dishes here are light, but rich in flavour and imagination. Executive chef Jean-Philippe Blondet is currently at the helm of Ducasse’s vision, weaving magic out of deceptively simple dishes, from multi-textured broccoli with Kristal caviar to watercress sabayon-drenched asparagus. The signature dish is a medley of lobster medallion, chicken quenelles, Périgod truffle and homemade semolina pasta – a frankly sinfully tasty meal that will undoubtedly overshadow everything else you’ve ever eaten. All of this is washed down with unparalleled service and a stunning wine collection that draws from some of France’s finest growers.
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Park Lane, W1K 1QA
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5Maison Francois, Piccadilly 
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One of London’s newer Gallic additions, Maison Francois has wasted little time in making a big impression. The restaurant and wine bar in the heart of St James’s pays homage to the grand brasseries of Paris, Lyon and Alsace. Head chef Matthew Ryle presides over a dizzy mix of classic dishes like Pâté en croûte Maison and entrecôte de boeuf au poivre, as well as imaginative reimaginings of moules marinière, flat-bread comté gougères and turbot, haricots blancs and a sauce aux moules. After all that, make sure you don’t miss the dessert trolley. Yes, you heard us.
Maison Francois, 34 Duke Street St James’s, SW1Y 6DF
6L’Escargot, Soho
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A Soho institution since the 1920s, this is a quintessential slice of Paris deposited in the heart of London. Always shimmering with atmosphere, live music and the bustle of a Gallic brasserie, this place is charm incarnate and – almost as a bonus – the food is also delicious. The menu here does not radicalise French cuisine but rather faithfully recreates Parisian fare, from lobster bisques and steak tartare to, yes, escargots. There is something to be said for traditional food done well, and this is what L’Escargot has been succeeding at for nearly 100 years.
L’Escargot, 48 Greek Street, W1D 4E
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7Socca, Mayfair
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One of the capital’s buzziest new openings is also one of the smallest. Part of its appeal is its intimate setting, as well as its overtures to Mediterranean life; kidding you into thinking you may have stumbled onto the Riviera on your way home from work. The brainchild of Bombay Bustle and Mei Mei Mayfair owner Samyukta Nair and the Michelin-starred, Lyon-born chef Claude Bosi, Socca is beautifully designed and has a menu groaning with some of the South of France’s most delicious treats
Socca, 41A S Audley St, London W1K 2PS
8La Poule au Pot, Belgravia 
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Since the 1960s, La Poule au Pot has been a French institution in London. It has an unpretentious charm that tricks you into thinking you have stumbled upon the bistro in a small provençal village. The dishes hail from across France – all simple, traditional fare but done with undeniable penache, like beouf bourguignon, coq au vin, and rataouille. The wine list is, naturally, impressive and do not skip dessert, which includes the finest mousse au chocolat this side of Lyon.
La Poule au Pot, 231 Ebury St, SW1W 8UT
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9Le Gavroche, Mayfair
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Two Michelin stars cannot be wrong. Michel Roux Jr’s famous fine-dining restaurant was opened in 1967 by his father and uncle, and was then the epitome of gallic cuisine in the capital. Its crown has barely slipped since and it still serves up some of the most inventive and delicious French fare in London, with an old-school, pared-back elegance. Here, classic dishes are turbo-charged with inventive and exciting flavours; like lobster cooked in beef fat, roasted turbot with lemon mousse, and poached pear with spiced red wine on French toast with cinnamon ice cream.
Le Gavroche, 43 Upper Brook St, W1K 7QR
10Richoux, Piccadilly
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After a gorgeous renovation, this 100-year-old restaurant recently reopened its doors on London’s iconic Piccadilly. Under the new stewardship of Jamie Butler and Lewis Spencer, the restaurant is staying faithful to its homage of Parisian brasseries as well as adding delightful new fancies to the menu, like Chef Jamie’s line up of Cruffins – a delicate, flaky cross between a muffin and a croissant – with flavours including passion fruit and banana creme, sea salt and caramelised white chocolate custard, and their signature vanilla bean and raspberry. Here, as with any self-respecting French restaurant, you should definitely bring your sweet tooth.
Richoux, 172 Piccadilly, W1J 9EJ
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11Basserie Zedel, Piccadilly
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One of London’s largest dining venues, Zedel is nonetheless filled with a certain je ne sais quoi thanks to the expert stewardship of restaurateur maestros Corbin and King. A heady mix of American influence and traditional Parisian brasserie, the atmosphere is vibrant and thoroughly enjoyable. The menu is an unsurprising collection – think steak haché and soup d’oignon – but is done expertly and is reasonably priced. It is also an ideal one-stop-shop for a night out; from crazy coqs cabaret to the American cocktail bar and the relaxed vibe of the ZL ground level café.
Brasserie Zedel, 20 Sherwood Street, W1F 7ED
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Dining and Cooking