Elk in the Woods, The

The quirky setting may raise a few eyebrows among the fine dining crowd, but it seems to blend seamlessly with its location on Camden Passage, one of London's most thriving villages for antiques. With mirrors, stuffed elk's head and chintz pattern on the walls, the decorative elements have been carefully chosen to mimic a Scandinavian log cabin.

Thankfully, this is an all day operation, so before you scour the streets for some vintage collectibles, it may be a wise idea to catch up on a hearty breakfast of duck egg with asparagus, sausage and toast dippers. Game and other country produce arrives from Dunham Estate in Suffolk, so a braised rabbit with wild mushroom, pancetta and roasted garlic ragù comes with a high degree of freshness, and so does skewered quails wrapped in pancetta with sage and rosemary stuffing.

If you're looking for something headier in the cocktail list at The Elk then go the short way with a Venezuelan rum toddy or berry caipirinha.