When the news dropped that our favourite Italian spot in London was opening it's little The River Café Café, well we could hardly contain our excitement. Walk-in, drop by and fill your plates and bellies with some fresh rotolo or slow-roasted violetta aubergines.

No interior designer in the past decade has made as much of a mark on the London scene as Swedish-born Beata Heuman. Step into her world at 188 Hammersmith (a former ballroom dancing hall) to discover her artistry in the form of knotted brass knobs and lights shaped like dodo eggs, along with her easily identifiable wallpapers and fabric. It’s generally appointment- only, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for the open-house hours, which happen every couple of months.

The boutique store – a much smaller, more curated version of Harrods down the road – has always been known for its exceptional stylists. The beauty department on the ground floor is a world of its own, with a stellar cast of visiting practitioners. But the appointment of Kate Phelan (formerly of Vogue) as creative director sees Harvey Nichols enter a new era; one where the beauty and fashion align more clearly and the fifth-floor restaurant hosts cool restaurant pop-ups including Trullo and Homeslice.

Beautiful Barnes, with its big houses, has never really been a destination for food. So the arrival of this spruced-up pub from burger king, Patty & Bun founder Joe Grossmann, was an instant hit with locals. In the kitchen is a former Camberwell Arms head chef, so it’s no surprise that the confit chicken legs and braised beef-shin hotpots are top-notch. Even better, it’s one of the few pubs where the burger stands up to those in dedicated joints. Book for lunch on the upstairs terrace for river views.