L'Opera of Brompton

With its rococo-style ceiling fresco, ornate mirrors, Persian rugs & swathes of satin, this blinged-up, all-day café feels like a little piece of Harrods that flew the nest. However, the Iranian owner knows his target market – high-rolling Arabs flock here during their annual stints in the UK. On offer are eclectic daytime plates of, say, chicken biryani or cabbage & lamb dolmades, followed by specially prepared coffee plus baklava & Turkish delight in the evenings. Meanwhile, freshly squeezed juices & chintzy displays of home-baked cakes lure in cosmopolitan locals & tourists of more modest means. A new crimson-velvet extension – separated from the main dining room by a screen – can seat up to 30 for private functions; L’Opera also does a roaring takeaway trade.