1 | Aquavit
One of the most high profile additions to London's flourishing canon of Nordic cuisine is the UK outpost of New York's two Michelin-starred Aquavit, which has been impressing diners for the past 30 years. Just off Piccadilly, you will find a light and bright space benefitting from a whole wall of window, imposing yet unfussy chandeliers and golden accents. To start, fill your boots with the smörgasbord items – Scandi sharing plates – which will land on your table in 50 shades of pastel. Don't even try and shy away from the fish, the assorted herrings with new potatoes, and the shrimp skagen (Swedish prawn cocktail on toast) in particular. The refined mains are delightfully dotted with zingy berries, and this is the kind of place to leave you full to busting, but not weighed down.
For the more adventurous, breakfast in this place is getting tongues wagging. Smoked eel benedict, anyone? Nope, just the blood pudding and lingonberries for me.
St James's Market, 1 Carlton Street, London, SW1Y 4QQ; aquavitrestaurants.com/London
2 | The National Café
Another location to have found some hygge, and just a stone's throw from the above, is the Peyton and Byrne café at The National Gallery. Gone is all the dark wood, replaced by sleek, summery whites and greys in a design by Ramy Fischler that features frames on the walls and three vast screens filling the room with a reverie of clear blue skies. Ideal for drinks, coffee, or even pre-/post-theatre dining, the menu is British in style, featuring failsafe staples like Goosnargh duck and Cornish squid. Or you can utilize the new 'Grab & Go' section from 8am each day if you're just after a decent pastry on the way into work.
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4DN: peytonandbyrne.co.uk
3 | The Cheese Bar
If you like cheese toasties, you'd better listen up: nirvana has opened its doors within Camden Market in the form of The Cheese Bar. Aficionados may know the enterprise as The Cheese Truck (AKA 'Alfie', an old ice-cream van), serving works of art like the Cropwell Bishop Stilton sarnie with bacon and pear chutney. Founder Matthew Carver, who also has Archie's Bar in Deptford Market, will now be able to boast his first permanent site since debuting with Alfie in 2014 thanks to a crowd-funding campaign that exceeded expectations. He uses exclusively British cheeses and is a huge advocate of lesser-known producers, including urban dairies, transforming their fromage into crispy, gooey, melty handfuls of happiness. Go here and gorge.
Units 93 + 94, Camden Market, North Yard, 94 Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AP; thecheesebar.com
4 | Holi @ Dishoom
This Monday marks the Hindu Festival of Holi. And there are more events to celebrate it across the capital than ever. We're getting excited for the one by Bombay street food specialists Dishoom this Sunday. Not only will all branches be serving a special Holi dish for a full week from the 12th (Dahi Bhalla Chaat: fried black daal dumplings with ginger and peppercorns, served with yoghurt, tamarind and coriander chutney), but there will also be an epic party at the old boxing hall in Bethnal Green. The point is to bring everybody together, no matter who they are, by chucking around a load of gulal (brightly coloured powder). If you want in on the action, there are two sessions: a daytime one which is family-friendly, and then a grown-up party in the evening with cocktails, live performances and a street food market out back.
Tickets from £26; visit dishoom.com for more details
York Hall, 5 Old Ford Road, London, E2 9PJ
5 | BOOK AHEAD: 'Feasting with Florence' at Anglo
Mark Jarvis has absolutely stunned London diners since opening Anlgo in April 2016. It's a tiny little restaurant in Farringdon that leaves a huge mark thanks to a creative, slightly quirky menu that is delicate, inventive and delicious. It won Best New Restaurant at The Observer Food Monthly Awards and is already a London favourite. Now, he's teaming up with his former Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons colleague, Florence Knight, who we haven't had the fortune to see in the kitchen since leaving Polpetto, where she was the much respected head chef, in 2015. She's set to return this year, with a new restaurant and book in the pipeline but, in the meantime, she and Mark will be serving a special Sunday feasting menu on the 9th April and tickets are on-sale now: go, go go.
9th April, 12.30-2pm; tickets cost £65pp
30 St Cross Street, London, EC1N 8UH; anglorestaurant.com
