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The popularity of patisseries in London and elsewhere is a longstanding tribute to human indulgence. When spirits are low there are few better kick-starts than a visit to the nearest purveyor of wonderful cakes, sticky, creamy confections that melt in the mouth, leaving a comfortable feeling of having scored one up on whatever malaise is afflicting you.

Madam Valerie, a lady of Belgian extraction, knew all about this when she established her first patisserie in Firth Street in 1926. Some years later the Luftwaffe, with typical insensitivity, obliterated the place, but not Madam who moved round the corner to the present site in Compton Street, now much patronised by media people, celebrities and art students, who adore its Parisian informality.

There are now 31 Valeries in the UK. In addition to the most gorgeous confections, some of them also do breakfast, which in its own way is another propper-up of human frailty, however transient. Evening meals are also served at Patisserie Valerie.

Chop'd started off in 2004 on a mercy mission to bring 'real food into real working lives'; now with six stores across London it is believed to be among the leading gourmet salad bar chains selling up to 20,000 salads per week. As more people embrace healthy eating, places like Chop'd are sure to grow in popularity.

How about choosing a delicious Scots porridge over cornflakes or croissants for breakfast or a healthy lunch salad that packs in power foods like broccoli, carrot, green beans, orange, parsley, pumpkin and sunflower seed. A ready to go warm chickpea and chorizo salad is a well-balanced preparation of chorizo, spiced tomato chickpea, mizuna, rocket, lambs lettuce, roast red pepper, tomato, red onion, chives, yoghurt and mint dressing.

Who said there is no such thing as a free lunch? Members of Chop'd birthday club can now enjoy free lunch on their birthday plus avail themselves of other offers throughout the year.

Seems like a good idea to me - dammit only eleven months to wait!

Glamorous and enticing, the Loungelover is every party hopper's dream come true. This Whitby Street cocktail bar belongs to the renowned Les Trois Garçons restaurant but it might well be on a different planet altogether. You only need to take in their striking decor to understand why this has become a hub for all those who want a cool place to hang out with friends for a drink as well as something to eat. The charming Red Area, alight with Deco furniture and the Baroque Area with its floor to ceiling tapestry create a surreal but remarkable effect.

Food follows the route of bar snacks with an Asian twist, so typically expect small plates of crispy squid sprinkled with fresh chilli or try some of the sushi rolls, such as smoked salmon, cream cheese and sliced cucumber. More substantial meals come in the form of salmon pieces baked in a lime miso marinade. Naughtily named cocktails as well as a New World inspired wine list set the tone accurately.

Winner of a Bib Gourmand in 2006, Comptoir Gascon is out of the same stable as Club Gascon, but a good deal more earthy and bistro-like. So forget the décor, which is practical rather than prize-winning, and therefore very authentic, and concentrate on the menu where true inspiration lurks.

Sharing dishes of fresh oysters and grilled chipolatas set the culinary antennae on alert, with piggy treats not far behind. This being La Francais the duck is never far away, and in fact the restaurant is internationally renowned for the perfection of its chips, cooked of course in duck fat, which link well with shall we say a gaggle of Toulouse sausages, or a steak even.

Bistro fare turns up roast sturgeon with crackling pork belly and celery, a fennel tart, and a superb cassoulet Toulousain. A treat in the form of juicy greens and lemon makes even me want to "eat my veggies", as I was constantly counselled to do from an early age, let alone the carrot, fennel and artichoke barigoule. Why on earth do we have to insist on making vegetables unpalatable this side of the Channel?

But for something mouthwateringly different head for the Gascony pie, or duck confit a la diable - just two out of a hundred things to do with duck and not a disappointment amongst them.

The wine list is tiny but oh so cunningly thought through, and there are some 50 wines available for the journey to your pad and private enjoyment.

And if it is fresh bakeries, or other French delights that are on your mind just pop in to their Food Hall and be confronted by a veritable battery of temptations.

Canteen is a relatively new informal restaurant with an all-day menu serving high quality British cuisine at reasonable prices in a modern, well designed environment that offers both communal bench seating and more private booth tables; it made an instant impact after its launch, and A.A Gill of The Sunday Times awarded it an almost unheard of four stars, out of five.

All dishes are cooked to order; and they take such a pride in their produce that even the piccalilli, jam, mayonnaise and award winning tartare sauce are homemade. The breakfast menu is full of classics such as eggs benedict, Cumberland sausage sandwich and Welsh rarebit.

While mealtime favourites include traditional pies with mash, fresh fish either fried or grilled and rib-eye steak, caramelised shallots and horseradish butter. Gingerbread with quinces and apple crumble form part of a delicious assortment of desserts complimented by a daily changing selection of freshly baked cakes and biscuits.

For meals with family or friends, Canteen offers a daily roast as a special: either rolled rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding; chicken with garlic and bread sauce; roast duck; leg of lamb with rosemary and mint sauce or loin of pork with sage and apple sauce.