Whits restaurant, Kensington

21 Abingdon Road, Kensington, W8 6AH

Looking for a really special place for a spot of romance or a celebration? Whits in Kensington could be perfect. This friendly neighbourhood restaurant is run by the husband and wife team of Steve and Eva - Eva takes care of the diners while Steve runs the kitchen.

Food-wise, you can choose from a good but not overwhelming range of French classics and European cuisine with a modern twist. Their dessert trios are also splendid. They do things really, really well here.

You'll always get a warm welcome at Whits, and I can honestly say that the fillet steak selected by my mum during our visit was the best cut of beef I'd ever tasted.

Cosy rating: 7/10 - it's a naturally bright space but once night falls outside the candles help to create a lovely atmosphere.
Secret rating: 4/10 - Whits is the 11th most highly recommended London restaurant on Tripadvisor, so do book.
Best bits: Eva truly has a magic touch when it comes to greeting diners and making them feel at home.
Worst bits: The prices mean that you're unlikely to pop here for a quick bite to eat on a regular basis, but it's definitely one to keep up your sleeve when you want to splash out.

The Scarsdale Tavern, Kensington

Take off your hat and relax at the Scarsdale

Nestled on a corner of one of London's loveliest (private) squares, The Scarsdale Tavern is a picture perfect Fuller's pub, so much so that it featured on their 2010 TV adverts. Apparently it was also the local pub in the 1970s series The Professionals.

Despite its star-studded credentials, and being located just off Kensington High Street, the Scarsdale still manages to retain a kind of country pub atmosphere.

There's a little restaurant section at the back which is nice for a special occasion, but I'd recommend finding yourself your own softly lit corner in the main area and trying out some of their better-value bar food.

Cosy rating: 8/10 - fireplaces, candles and table lamps dotted all over the place. This is one seriously pretty pub.
Secret rating: 7/10 - feels like a world away from Kensington High Street, located on a leafy road which would certainly impress any visitors to London.
Best bits: You're unlikely to find a more attractive pub, both inside and outside.
Worst bits: Its terrace out the front - which blooms spectacularly in the summer - can get a little packed on sunny evenings.

The Lady Ottoline, Bloomsbury

Fine dining at the Lady Ottoline

I had been struggling for months to find the perfect venue for a special, cosy 30th birthday meal with my parents and closest friends. So when I was told about The Lady Ottoline gastropub on the edge of Bloomsbury I was chuffed to say the least. 

The Lady Ottoline opened within the last year ago having undergone an extensive refurbishment. It’s located down a quiet street, with a warm bar area downstairs, and two beautiful candlelit dining rooms upstairs. As a party of 10 we had to choose from the set menu, with a selection of four or five choices per course. My pork belly with black pudding croquettes was delicious, and with the majority of the party opting for juicy steaks (with the most incredible and mirror-esque steak knives I had ever seen) we were a very happy bunch.

Service is excellent and smiley, and a surprise birthday cake baked on site by the chef and delivered to our table topped off the evening perfectly.

The Lady Ottoline certainly isn’t the cheapest place to eat or drink, but if you want to go somewhere a bit special, to be charmed and spoiled by the excellent staff, and to relax in what has to be one of the most welcoming and enchanting gastro pubs in London, then I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Cosy rating: 7/10 - Wonderful candlelit atmosphere and beautiful leather banquettes upstairs, but they'd need to be squidgier for a higher cosy rating...!

Secret rating: 6/10 - it's still relatively new, but is already hugely popular with local office workers, most of whom appear to work for local law firms. Sometimes hard to get a seat downstairs, booking recommended for upstairs.

Best bits: The service is top drawer. 

Worst bits: A little on the pricey side.