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One of the rare Indian restaurants to win a Michelin star, Amaya has been one of the city’s hot spots for spicy food in sexy surroundings since it opened in 2004. With its entrance off of a courtyard arcade off of Motcomb Street, Amaya serves lunch and dinner to Londoners who can view the chefs at work slicing, dicing and spicing the food in an open kitchen area at the back of the main dining room. During the day, natural light streams through a central sky light lending a loft like feeling; at night, the sleek black furniture, sandstone and crystal accents and spotlit sculptures create a lounge-like atmosphere. A lively bar scene and long communal tables notch up the revelry factor. But no matter how many glamorous figures are in the room, the food remains the real star. The freshest ingredients and flown-in-from India spices elevate all of the dishes. Don’t miss the kebabs or trying lamb tawa, which is cooked on a scalding iron plate. Tip: The tasting menus at lunch are excellent value. If you cannot get in to Amaya, try its sister restaurants Chutney Mary and Veeraswamy.

A no-reservation policy and just twenty-three stools at the L-shaped bar mean long lines at this tapas place of the moment. Barrafina, the brainchild of restaurateurs Sam and Eddie Hart, is perfect for a glass of sherry or cava before or after a show; at the marble-topped bar you can watch the chefs prepare their superlative tapas: golden ham croquettes, prawns, tender lamb cutlets and fresh squid.

There is heated debate about whether Amaya or Benares serves the best Indian food in London, but neither place will disappoint in their sophisticated takes on traditional dishes from the subcontinent. Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar appears regularly on British food shows, including Saturday Kitchen, and is credited with elevating modern Indian dining. The tandoori cooked quail, chettiyar baigan (aubergine curry with star anise and cinnamon) and lobster mappas (lobster tails cooked in coconut milk and tamarind) are not to be missed. And for those who want to learn from the master, Kochhar opens his kitchen for students a few times a year and shares his skills, but classes fill fast so sign-up early.

Tip: If you cannot get a reservation in the main dining room, ask about booking a table in the bar. The music can be a bit loud but you can order from the new special bar tasting menu or the one from the main dining room.

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From Steven Schapera, CEO of the Australian makeup company BECCA:

“My favorite steak, worldwide, is at the Gaucho Restaurant in Piccadilly, London. They spare no expense to bring their pampas-grazed beef in from Argentina and it is, without a doubt, the finest I have ever eaten. I always order the fillet and I get it rare. They also have, arguably, the best Argentinean wine list outside of Argentina, so it’s heaven for me!”

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Those in the mood for chic Chinese should try this Michelin-starred restaurant headed by chef Alan Yau (who also runs its sister eatery, Yauatcha). Six years on, the food is still delicious. Set in a glamorous, moody Christian Liaigre–designed basement, Hakkasan is especially yummy at lunch, where the emphasis is on dim sum. The prawn and Peking dumplings, duck spring rolls and scallops are delectable. And the desserts, unlike at most Chinese eateries, are worth ordering. The chocolate lemon mousse is sublime. Note: the bar is small, and diners are given a two-hour slot, which can be annoying. Also, it’s a bit pricey, so save it for a special occasion.

Loved by Chelseaites, Lucio is a warm, comfortable, inviting restaurant serving delicious classic Italian food and offering great service and an impressive wine list. Started by Lucio Altana, the former longtime manager of San Lorenzo, on Beauchamp Place, Lucio makes everyone feel welcome, including Harvey Weinstein, who likes to come here after landing at Heathrow. The seasonal summer menu includes courgette flowers stuffed with goat cheese and fresh peas; homemade pappardelle pasta with broad beans, rocket leaves and Parmesan shavings; tagliata of steak with summer truffles; filet of wild sea bass; risotto with asparagus and Taleggio cheese; and char-grilled chicken with roast potatoes. Lining the cream walls in this chic U-shaped spot are Terry O’Neill portraits of celebrity clients, a group that has included Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine; Mick Jagger was reportedly turned away because the place was full.

Those who want a relaxed, quiet night out should try this newish Sardinian seafood restaurant in Belgravia. It’s latest venture from chef Mauro Sanna (of Olivo and Oliveto), who loves his native Sardinia—and after eating at his various spots, you will too. Olivomare, designed by Piero Piu, the same Cagliari architect who did the other two restaurants, offers a variety of Sardinian specialties, including spaghetti with lobster, seafood risotto, sea bass on a bed of Sardinian couscous and poached sea bream.

Adjacent to Olivomare is an attractive food shop selling Sardinian wines, olive oil, salt and other Italian treats. On a summers night it’s pleasant to eat outside. At the moment Sanna only has an outdoor license until 9:30pm, but he’s trying to extend it.

Alan Yau, owner of Hakkasan, opened this Japanese restaurant in the fall of 2007. Located at 23 St. James Street, it’s ultra-convenient for pre- or après theater. Yau’s emporium is growing: besides Yauatcha and Hakkasan, the only two Chinese restaurants in Great Britain to have been awarded a Michelin star, he also recently opened Cha Cha Moon, a Soho hot spot.

Opened in the fall of 2007, this restaurant is headed by Michelin -star superchef Tom Aikens, who also owns the nearby Tom’s Kitchen. It’s an upmarket, ecofriendly fish and chips restaurant with a takeaway service.

Update: Tom’s Place has been closed.

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Famed restaurateur Alan Yau’s Soho bistro is guaranteed to please, with mouthwatering dim sum, all-day cocktails, beautifully presented Chinese teas and delectable French pastries. The Christian Liaigre–designed two-story space is contemporary and cool, with an open kitchen on each level. I like eating in the brighter, street dining room; the downstairs room has electric-blue fish tanks and turquoise banquettes with embroidered cherry blossoms, but it can be dark and noisy. Watch for Yau’s newest London venture, Cha Cha No Hana, a rustic-style Japanese restaurant slated to open this summer in the annex of the Economist building, near Piccadilly.