Dote On Yourself: 3 unusual restaurants you have to experience in London.

London is packed with restaurants and there are so many culinary delights to sample, but these three restaurants are on another level entirely – you’ll realise this from the moment you walk in. If you are visiting London, or you are already a resident, here are three dining experiences that will blow your mind…

1. Shaka Zulu

Created on an unimaginable scale, Shaka Zulu Restaurant, Lounge and Club is based over two floors and is situated in the heart of London’s lively and cosmopolitan Stables Market in Camden.

Three years in the making from concept to creation and with a total cost of £5.5m, the venue is intricately decorated with unique and hand made mosaics, tribal masks and cultural scenes from the Zulu nation and heritage, hand carved into 60 ft high walls all capturing the essence of the great King Shaka.

With each piece of furniture individually designed and crafted, if you are looking for the place to see and be seen in London ... you have just found it!

Shaka Zulu serves eclectic cuisine from all over South Africa and beyond. The open flame grills showcase the world-class kitchen and chefs. A range of sharing plates and imported game highlight the diverse and delicious food of South Africa. A unique 'Braai' grill room together with a Cape-inspired seafood offering is bound to delight guests, serving traditional dishes and fine cuts of meat with a twist including Kudu, Ostrich and Springbok for those wanting a full culinary experience and Red Poll Beef and Dorper Lamb from the Sandringham Estate for those who are a little less adventurous and prefer their meat sourced from a little closer to home. The large themed buffet and passing food is a new and welcome change for events and corporate clients.

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Celebration and Event

2. Elysee

Set on a quiet street not far from Tottenham Court Road, Elysee is a Greek restaurant with a menu that will make your mouth water.Elysée Restaurant & Wine Bar is a new addition to Jakarta's collection of French diners, which takes on a more casual and wallet-friendly approach. This, is despite having a true-blue French Cuisiner (Chef) as the General Manager and the Executive Chef. In fact the idea to make the prices reasonable came from Chef Patrick Farjas himself. He believes in sharing the French dining experience to as many people as possible to keep them coming back.

The Greek specialities selection is a great way to start but be sure to leave some room for the main and desert (it will take a fair bit of will power). The interior of the restaurant is classic and luxurious; the service is upbeat and often delivered with a touch of humour. If you plan to eat around 9pm or later you will get an interesting variety of entertainment, from Greek singers and dancers to plate smashing that diners are encouraged to participate it.

3. Hakkasan

Hakkasan is the ultimate in extravagance, spanning across two floors Hakkasan is a popular choice and booking is highly recommended. Some of the high end menu items need to be ordered in advance. Set in Mayfair, Hakkasan is a Michelin star restaurant offering a delight of modern Cantonese cuisine. The menu offers an interesting selection of dishes many of which are flamboyantly presented – to the extent that you don’t want to destroy the creative presentation by eating your meal. With dim lighting the décor is simple but chic making this a unique place for business, romance or sheer indulgence. A cross between an edgy, black-suited nightclub and a moody restaurant (think John Travolta's Swordfish, says a movie buff), Hakkasan's brand of glitzy, gilt-edged Chinese cooking still rocks the West End. Once you've descended into the darkness, the dining room immediately works its ‘electrifying' magic with smouldering incense, seductive spot lighting and a throbbing soundtrack providing the backdrop to some turbocharged Cantonese flavours.

And it’s probably one of the only restaurants in London (other than The Ritz) to exercise a desire for certain attire: ‘Our dress code is smart casual. No sportswear. Jeans are permitted as long as they are worn smartly with shoes and a collared shirt. Please do not wear hats inside Hakkasan.’ I’m not sure the girls blinding waiters with full body sequins were planning to do so whilst wearing their Converse.

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