Darjeeling Express in Soho is the best homestyle Indian cooking you can eat in central London. Hit it for lunch or with a few friends, and book ahead.

Jamavar is an upmarket Indian restaurant in Mayfair with excellent food and a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere.

Dum Biryani is a Indian restaurant in a Soho basement. It’s actually a lot more fun than it sounds, and besides the biryani don’t miss the starters.

The kitchens at Old Spitalfields Market have all sorts of excellent restaurants and stalls, providing options to sit at the bar or to take away.