Any recent recommendations?

[Wilfrid]

I will be in London for a few days for the first time in nine years. If I do one dinner, St John seems obvious. Just wondering if I am overlooking something newer, similar level, but essentially British-ish?

[MitchW]

We've had fine meals at Noble Rot (twice) and BRAT (twice).

[Wilfrid]

Thanks, will check them out.

[Wilfrid]

Oh, Noble Rot Soho is in the old Gay Hussar building. Interesting.

[Wilfrid]

I'll finally post the Noble Rot pictures on IG today. The prices were above Barcelona level, of course, nudging above $150 a head. But that was for three savory courses, cheese and dessert, two glasses of Michel Gonet champagne, four other wines by the glass and an espresso. Really not bad.

Also, a corner table on the ground floor, once reserved exclusively for politicians, senior civil servants and well-known journalists in the Gay Hussar days, was kind of fun.

[Wilfrid]

One more major recommendation. Enter Hanway Street, that little curling alley just off Oxford Street near Tottenham Court Road. Walk past Bradley's Spanish Bar, still booming after many years. Follow the signs down some dark and threatening stairs to Murder Inc.

A dive by appearance, but a real cocktail bar, featuring staff that are obsessed with cocktails (they were talking about their performances in  competitions). There's a list of house specials, of course, and it's actually funny for once. I just asked for classics and each one was immaculate. Opens late too.

We were in town for four days and went three times.