Innovative, high-end Indian restaurants abound in London, but not all cook food worth trying. Amaya, however, does, serving contemporary versions of Indian street food and smarter dishes in chic surroundings. From the owners of Chutney Mary (535 Kings Rd., Chelsea, SW10; 44-207-351-3113; www.chutneymary.com) and Veeraswamy; (Victory House, Mezzanine, 99 Regent St., Piccadilly, W1; 44-207-734-1401; www.veeraswamy.com), Amaya is already a glamorous fixture, with a candlelit bar, rosewood furniture, and a rear dining room with an atrium roof. The customers are glamorous, too: The roll call is headed by Gwyneth Paltrow, Hugh Grant, Madonna, and Mick Jagger. Through a gap in one wall, you can also spot the brigade toiling at the sigri charcoal grill, tandoori ovens, and various skillets. Dishes to go for are king scallops served in the shell with an herb sauce, spiced grilled aubergine, anything tandoori, and crisp, light naan.

A favorite of many a celebrity chef, the award-winning Borough Market is the ultimate foodie destination. Specialist traders come from throughout the United Kingdom and further afield to set up shop in buildings that date back to 1851 (the Art Deco entrance was added in 1932). You're invited to move from stall to stall and sample what's on offer, but for the best experience, visit on Thursdays, when the market's less crowded and you can chat with booth owners (the market is closed Sunday through Wednesday). Highlights include the traditional savory pies from Bristol bakery Pieminister, the luscious seafood curry at Furness Fish, the Ogleshield cheese sandwich at Bill Oglethorpe's cart (Gourmet's Ruth Reichl called it the "Platonic ideal" of cheese sandwiches—definitely no argument here after tasting one), sausages and meats from Sillfield Farm in Cumbria, and local artisanal cheeses at Neal's Yard Dairy. Sampling can quickly add up to a meal here, but if it merely whets your appetite, there are plenty of restaurants and bars in and around the market, including Roast, an upscale option housed in the former Floral Market (Stoney St.; 44-207-940-1300), and Fish!, a glass-and-steel pavilion that perfectly complements the surrounding market's wrought-iron work (Cathedral St.; 44-207-407-3803).

Open Thursdays 11 am to 5 pm, Fridays noon to 6 pm, and Saturdays 8 am to 5 pm.

Alan Yau—savior of Chinese food in London thanks to his no-frills Wagamama (now sold), his all-thrills Hakkasan, and lately Yauatcha (15-17 Broadwick Street, Soho, W1; 44-207-494-8888) has opened his second Busaba. Like the original branch at 106 Wardour Street, this has a sleek Christian Liaigre look, casual atmosphere, and no-reservations policy. Arrive early to avoid lines and tuck into Thai fast food: salads, soups, curries, stir-fries, and noodles galore eaten off communal tables. By some miracle, Yau keeps prices low and quality high.

This very popular (and deservedly so) pan-Asian-via-Sydney restaurant and bar in Notting Hill pulls in local Trustafarians and media types, as well as hip gastro-tourists come to see what all the fuss is about. The bar in front is open all day for non-diners. The restaurant serves dim sum, sashimi rolls, maki rolls, tempura, curries, and the signature chilli-salt squid, soft-shell crab, and black cod in a sweet miso sauce. Must book.

The lavish Art Deco interior by Thierry Despont may be formal, but the service is exceptionally friendly at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at Claridge's. Ramsay and head chef Mark Sargeant create rich, saucy modern European dishes: a starter of pressed foie gras marinated in Beaumes de Venise with pickled mushrooms, leek salad, and toasted brioche; a main course of Oxfordshire lamb with confit shoulder, spiced eggplant, green and white asparagus, and tarragon jus. There's no background music, just low-level "mmmm"s and the clink of silverware on fine china. Diners can order à la carte or try the six-course Prestige Menu; there's also a very reasonably priced set lunch at only £30 (about $60) per head. If you can stand the heat, you can watch Ramsay himself at work at the chef's table in the kitchen. That is, if he's not off cooking at one of his many other establishments, such as his eponymous, three-Michelin starred restaurant on Hospital Road…but good luck getting a table there (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, 68 Royal Hospital Rd., SW3; 44-207-352-4441; www.gordonramsay.com/royalhospitalroad).

You'll find Magdalen in the rather ugly municipal office buildings that once housed the Mayor of London and his team before they were moved up the street to a sexy glass building designed by Sir Norman Foster. Inside, however, you'll find rich claret walls, crisp linen tablecloths, and twinkling chandeliers—the perfect backdrop to the traditional British dishes. Nearby Borough Market provides plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish for former Anchor & Hope chef James Faulk's seasonal menu. Typical winter dishes include partridge terrine, clams, and rump of beef from the countryside of Herefordshire (as you'd expect, the summer menu includes more fish dishes and lighter preparations). The English puddings are delicious—it would be foolish to leave without trying the custard tart. Prices are affordable (starters from $11 and entrées from $19), and unlike at Anchor & Hope, you can book.

Open Mondays through Saturdays noon to 2:30 pm and 6:30 to 10:30 pm.

After getting your fill of art at Tate Modern, cross the Millennium Bridge and fill up on Falmouth crab, Duchy of Cornwall oysters, and grilled Dartmoor hog's pudding in the buzzy atmosphere of Northbank. Created by Christian Butler, formerly of Baltic, this place aims to make the most of the cracking view over the Thames—there's raised banquette seating indoors and soft wool blankets (this is England, after all) for those who choose to sit on the outdoor terrace. Butler and head chef Peter Woods have their roots in the West Country (around Cornwall and Devon), which is reflected in both the food and the alcohol—there's mead from Somerset, cider from Devon, and even a white wine from Cornwall. For those who want more tried and tested vintages, there's also a huge selection of international wines from Lebanon via Austria to Oregon.

Open Mondays through Saturdays noon to 11 pm, Sundays noon to 5 pm.

What could be more blissful than a meal on the terrace of this perpetually booked, much-imitated Italian-style gastro-temple opened in 1987 by Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers? If the climate proves too chilly, the floor-to-ceiling windows in this former warehouse in the Hammersmith hinterland (designed by the firm of Ruth's husband, Richard Rogers) provide lovely views over gardens to the Thames. A crowd of heavy hitters and famous faces inconspicuously feast on the Tuscan bread salad or pasta or grilled meat or grilled fish or any other simple, perfect dish from the perpetually evolving menu. Of course, for not much more than the price of lunch here, you could fly to Tuscany and eat the real thing in situ. The best time to go is at lunch on a fine day.

Once you've found Sake No Hana—no mean feat, since there's no sign outside—the lighting, or lack of it, will further impede your progress upstairs. Stick with it, though, because the dimly lit escalator opens up into an airy bamboo den, with large windows. Owner Alan Yau's first foray into Japanese fine dining—following big success with Wagamama, Hakkasan, and Yauatcha—doesn't disappoint. Wagyu beef and king crab are excellent but will set you back a pretty penny. If you're here for lunch, try the Bento boxes: They include a good selection of braised dishes (pork ribs with sugar snap peas are great) and exemplary tempura, and are a little easier on the wallet. The sushi and sashimi are not your usual conveyor belt-selection; in addition to classics like fatty tuna and prawn, expect sea bass, turbot, and blue swimmer crab (most sushi rolls are priced around $10). The service is efficient and the Austrian sommelier is happy to show you around the exclusively old-world wine list as well as the enormous selection of sakes. And if you prefer your Japanese food at a low-level table sans shoes, be sure to mention it when you book. The restaurant is co-owned by Evgeny Lebedev, son of the new owner of London's Evening Standard newspaper, Russian oligarch and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev. Needless to say, with these kind of credentials the restaurant attracts the capital's rich set (Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal is a regular).

Open daily noon to 3 pm and 6 pm to midnight.

They call it "Nose-to-Tail Eating," and you'll be amazed at the number of obscure cuts that can crop up between those too extremes and end up on your plate. Luckily, the straight-talking menu and knowledgeable staff will explain all, including the all-French wine list. Head chef Chris Gillard's British dishes are inventive but not overcomplicated, such as a crispy pig's cheek with dandelion and a roast forerib of beef with horseradish. End with one of the house specialties, Eccles cake (puff pastry filled with currants), with Lancashire cheese. In keeping with the menu, the interiors are of a utilitarian bent; apart from a few extra skylights and a lick of white paint, this former bacon smokehouse remains pretty much in its original state. A second restaurant, St. John Bread and Wine Spitalfield, opened in a former bank just opposite Spitalfield's Market in 2003, and houses the restaurants' bakery (94–96 Commercial St.).

It is unfortunate that the best place to eat in Borough Market is also the busiest, and it doesn't take reservations. Still, Brindisa does a swift trade, and it's fun to stand at the bar people-watching and eating olives and jamón as you wait for a table. Chef José Manuel Pizarro is influenced by his homeland on the central plains of Extremadura, but he also brings a modern twist and vision to traditional Spanish cooking. Expect all the tapas classics (ranging from $7 to $13), but highlights include deep-fried Monte Enebro goat cheese with orange blossom honey, and grilled León chorizo on toast with piquillo pepper. On Fridays and Saturdays, come early for a Spanish breakfast.The service here is unfailingly friendly and efficient and the atmosphere buzzy. In the summer, the giant windows, which replaced the old roller shutters in this former potato factory, are flung open onto this bustling corner of the market.

Open Mondays through Thursdays 11 am to 11 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 9 am to 11 pm.

This sleek Anouska Hempel–designed restaurant in Chelsea is the stage for the sumptuous talents of Tom Aikens, whom foodies hail as the next big thing in gastronomy. The posh but relaxed 60-seat interior has round tables dramatically draped in black, overlaid with raw white Irish linen, matching napkins, and beautiful glass and chinaware. The effect is grown-up—not sedate—chic. The menu describes French cooking in plain English; the cooking is innovative without being wacky or experimental. Standout examples include steamed pigeon with chestnut cannelloni; cured venison with pickled beetroot, quince, and venison carpaccio; and pan-fried turbot with braised salsify, Jerusalem artichoke soup, and duck confit. If you can't decide, order the tasting menu that runs to eight courses. An added bonus: the excellent sommelier.

Closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Wild Honey is an unexpected haven tucked away on a quiet side street in the bustling West End. Occupying an attractive wood-paneled room formerly used by Marco Pierre White, the restaurant is the younger sibling of London favorite Arbutus. But while Arbutus has been criticized for its antiseptic decor and frosty service, Wild Honey is a warm and welcoming spot to settle in for an hour or two (grab one of the cozy banquettes). Chef Anthony Demetre creates unpretentious, seasonal dishes such as beet and smoked-eel tart or pork with apple puree. The wine list will suit all budgets—every bottle is also available by the carafe—as will the modestly priced set menu at lunch ($24 for three courses).

Open Mondays through Saturdays noon to 2:30 pm and 6 to 11 pm, Sundays noon to 3 pm and 6 to 10:30 pm.

Jeremy King and Christopher Corbin, erstwhile owners of Le Caprice, The Ivy, and J. Sheekey, have rebounded with this stunning brasserie. Set in a former Wolseley car showroom on Piccadilly, the place fairly reverberates with movers and shakers. Designer David Collins has teased from the faintly monastic interior a romantic and dramatic evocation of a Viennese brasserie, complete with soaring domed ceiling, chinoiserie lacquering, gilded bar, sheer linen tablecloths, and brass reading lamps. The kitchen caters to all appetites, occasions, and emergencies, serving everything from breakfast—which has become particularly popular recently—to patisseries to bar snacks. At lunch and dinner, tuck into soups, grilled fish, spit roasts, hamburgers, Wiener Schnitzel, and kaiserschmarren (sweet omelet pancake). Tables are kept aside for walk-ins, but expect lines during peak hours. Just as hot a reservation—if not hotter—is a table at their December 2006 opening, St. Alban, with its businesslike decor and Mediterranean menus (Rex House, 4–12 Regent St., Piccadilly, SW1; 44-207-499-8558; 44-207-499-8558; www.stalban.net).