The British Museum

An offshoot of the scholarly London Review of Books, this small but prestigious bookshop is impeccably curated. From poetry to cookery, philosophy to fiction, it has most genres covered, and often stocks hard-to-find titles from smaller publishers and imprints. Big-name authors regularly drop by for talks and readings, while the café is a cosy spot for tea and home-made cakes.

Never bitten into a bao? This London mini-chain serves some of the best in town; fluffy, Taiwanese-style steamed buns, stuffed with crunchy daikon or terrific confit pork. Cooked in squid-ink batter, the black cod bao’s a standout – as is the fried chicken chop, served with a soy cured-egg. This branch is the only one to take reservations, so call ahead for a table or risk a snaking queue.

This culturally curious gallery is part of London’s Museum Mile, which stretches all the way from Euston to the Thames. Owned by SOAS university, it’s an under-the-radar gem, with a rooftop Japanese garden and free exhibitions. Spanning Asia, Africa and the Middle East, they’re always delightfully varied, from vibrant displays of ikat textiles to film posters from Ghana.

Bowling and burgers is a tried-and-tested combination, served with a retro twist at this sleek, four-lane alley. Its decor riffs on vintage Americana, with neon signs and 50s pin-ups, while the low-lit bar mixes a mean Old Fashioned. Slide into a booth at the diner for polished, comfort-food classics, from cheeseburgers and buttermilk chicken to creamy mac ’n’ cheese.

This old-fashioned art shop is impossible to resist, with its narrow, Dickensian shopfront and hand-painted signage. Founded in 1855, it’s stocked with artists’ essentials, from sable brushes and Japanese inks to a rainbow array of rare pigments. Over the years, all kinds of famous names have browsed its wooden shelves, including Rex Whistler, Francis Bacon and Damien Hirst.

Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the coral-pink bar at the Bloomsbury Hotel is a fabulously opulent affair. Its interiors exude art-deco glamour, with bespoke chandeliers, curving banquettes and a polished marble bar. An elegant drinks list champions English sparkling wines, which also appear in the cocktails – like the fragrant Bloomsbury Blush, spiked with crème de pêche.

This was the first Peruvian restaurant in Europe to score a Michelin star, back in 2013. Its game-changing dishes are packed with colour and flavour, from slow-braised pork with choclo corn to spicy seafood tiraditos. For a blowout lunch, try the eight-course tasting menu, which includes the braised octopus and moreish alfajores, filled with outrageously rich dulce de leche ice-cream.