The Living Room - Mayfair

The flagship London Mayfair branch of the Northern-based Living Room group of cosmopolitan bar/restaurants, aims for something a touch more foodie than most of its relatives across the land. It's a vast, expansive site spread over two floors, with decor that has been described as 'home but not as you know it'.

You can still dine on 'home comforts' like steak and ale pie or duck hotpot with red cabbage, but the repertoire also takes in seared foie gras with red onion marmalade, roast cod with pearl barley and shrimps, and braised ox cheek with champ.

If you want something quick, there are also salads and trendy sandwiches, while desserts might range from sticky toffee pudding to pannacotta with cherries amarena. Afternoon tea, Sunday brunch and a serious vintage wine list complete the picture.

Fans of trivia might be intrigued to know that the restaurant occupies the former post office, which gained fame on the cover of David Bowie's album 'Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'.