Bistro 51 at the Crowne Plaza

Housed in the Crowne Plaza along with Michelin-starred Quilon & Bank Westminster, Bistro 51 is managing to keep up with the Jones’s thanks to a plush new burgundy colour scheme & a please-all European menu with ‘British Asian’ add-ons. Soft seats & gentle lighting contribute to the cosy atmosphere, which is matched by international classics ranging from French onion soup, Caesar salad & vegetable spring rolls to beef stew with herb dumplings, ‘old-style’ fried gnocchi or pancetta-wrapped chicken with herb mash. Alternatively, follow the spice trail with chicken biryani, Thai green vegetable curry or rogan josh, before going walkabout for, say, spearmint & saffron cheesecake with Jaipur rose ice cream. On sunny days, ask for a table in the hotel’s pretty courtyard, which is a world away from Westminster’s hubbub.