Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar - Trafalgar Square

You'll find yourself in one of those rare London spots where the staff actually know their wine list inside out and aren't trying to sell you nonsense. Rockwell sits on Spring Gardens, which means you're close enough to the National Gallery to justify it as culture, but far enough from the tourist crush. The kitchen does classic bistro things well—think proper sauces, quality ingredients, the kind of food that rewards a lingering lunch or a proper evening out. It's the sort of place where a banker and a creative can both feel comfortable, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.