26 Smithfield Street, EC1A 9LB; birdofsmithfield.com
Nearest Tube: Barbican

WHAT'S THE DRAW: Alan Bird, former head chef at the Ivy, brings great British comfort food to a five-floor Georgian townhouse on Smithfield Street.

WHAT TO DRINK: A great wine list, plus the Steven Collins (presumably a cousin of Tom) – where cognac and a rosemary and orange syrup combine with triple sec for a lively and deliciously perfumed cocktail.

WHAT TO EAT: Crab with avocado toast is zingy, fruity and rich, and British beef done three ways (grilled rump steak, braised short rib and smoked bone marrow), is a delightfully balanced plate.