Poon’s at Somerset House

Poon’s at Somerset House may be located in a grand neoclassical historic site, but inside, the restaurant serves up Cantonese dishes with a relaxed, home-cooking feel. Amy Poon has revived the family name, continuing as the eighth generation of chefs and restaurateurs – her parents were the first Chinese restaurateurs to gain a Michelin star, with Poon’s of Covent Garden. The food is nourishing and wholesome, and distinct from her father’s restaurant style, though the menu does include a few of his original signature dishes such as claypot rice with wind-dried meats.

The European wine list (with a few from China) is a journey from West to East, incredibly mindfully done. All wines are below £100 to keep you feeling comfortable – yet you’ll still find plenty of familiar names to trust in. The focus is on restrained styles to respect the subtlety of the cuisine, leaning towards cool climate wines with lower alcohol, greater freshness and fine aromatics. Family and female producers are supported, as is “lutte raisonnée” – some organic or biodynamic. The inclusion of younger producers or lesser-known varietals is intentional to pique curiosity, alongside more known versions for those seeking familiar ground. Keep an eye out too for their wine dinner events. Everything has been considered.

There is a pretty, private dining room which fits 24 seated or 60 for drinks and canapés, which can be used for meals, wine tastings, photo shoots or whatever you need.

If you aren’t drinking wine, the tea selection is worth a look – it features single origin, small batch tea from family farms in China and Taiwan.

Sit down, take in the hand-painted murals, calligraphy (some by Amy’s father) and the double-height ceilings, while nattering with friends as if in your own kitchen.