The Portrait Restaurant & Bar

Situated in the heart of the West End is one of London's most iconic buildings, the National Portrait Gallery; and located on the third floor in the gallery's Ondaatje Wing is one of the city's best-kept culinary secrets, The Portrait Restaurant & Bar. The view of the skyline from the restaurant is truly inspiring, and will never fail to take your breath away - it's a great place to spot London's most famous landmarks, including the London Eye, Nelson's Column and Big Ben. The restaurant's sleek, modern decor is stylish yet low-key, allowing all focus to be on that beautiful view and, of course, the fantastic food. Searcys have been the caterers at The Portrait Restaurant for 11 years, and serve up delicious modern British fare, with the occasional Swedish twist added by head chef Katarina Todosijevic. Diners can expect delectable starters like sweet pickled herring with sour cream, baby potatoes, crisp bread and mature farmhouse Cheddar, and delicious mains like organic salmon with long-stem broccoli and blood orange hollandaise. The wine list changes seasonally and features quality wines from small independent producers. There's also an impressive cocktail selection, which mainly includes delightful concoctions made using classic English spirits. To finish, make sure you try one of The Portrait's exquisite desserts - the moreish trio of rhubarb fool, sorbet and jelly is a heavenly treat that, like the restaurant itself, is not to be missed.