Cinnamon Kitchen

Tucked away in Devonshire Square close to Liverpool Street Station, the 'Kitchen' is the younger, livelier City sibling of Westminster's Cinnamon Club (see entry). Aptly occupying the former East India Company's spice warehouse, the large dining space has a cool, industrial-chic look, kitted out with classy leather seating, polished wooden tables, eye-catching lantern-esque lighting, modern artworks and, at the back, a pewter and black granite tandoor bar. The modern Indian cuisine, fashioned from prime seasonal produce, is as bold as the surroundings, with clean-cut dishes of punchy flavour and well-judged spicing. Witness Kolhapuri-style spiced saddle of Kentish lamb served with pilau rice, or perhaps chargrilled halibut with Rajasthani-style 'kadhi' sauce, while Westernised desserts might take in stem ginger and anise pannacotta with peach compote. A serious wine list comes with plenty of spice-friendly options, but if cocktails are more your thing, head next-door to the buzzy and coolly sophisticated Anise Bar.