When a city like London has soooo much great food on offer, how do eateries begin to differentiate themselves from the competition? Well, the venues themselves become part of the attraction...
This could come in the form of a cleverly converted venue or a venue with some jaw-droppingly impressive art on show.
On our travels we've noticed some truly impressive visual feasts adoring the walls of some of London's restaurants, so we've decidedly to share some of our favourites...
This chicken and steak eatery by Mark Hix is as much a gallery as it is a restaurant. Hix commissioned famous British artists including Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas to provide their own subversive take on the themed menu. Hirst's famous cow in formaldehyde hangs in an unmissable spot in the centre of the dining room. He's reversioned it especially for Tramshed by putting a cockerel on its back.
Sketch is practically a museum, with each of the rooms evoking completely different moods thanks to a range of artists and designers. There are furnishings and wall paper by Turner prize winner Martin Creed, prints by David Shrigley, African-inspired interiors by Gahban O’Keeffe, and door handles shaped like women’s legs in the ladies' lavatories, among many many other things.
Le Caprice has been a fixture of London's restaurant scene since it opened in 1981. Thanks to David Bailey's iconic portraits, icons of the Swinging Sixties such as Mick Jagger and John Lennon mingle with today's celebrities.
Next time you're at Dean Street Townhouse take a close look at the wallpaper. The graceful design of leaves and flowers is made up pornographic images, specifically, lady parts. Jonathan Yeo is the artist, also known for using this cut-up technique in his portrait of George W Bush.
Rivington Grill is one of the more affordable restaurants by the Caprice Holdings group, others being Le Caprice, Scott's, J Sheekey and The Ivy. This Shoreditch eatery has a piece by Tracey Emin - a neon light installation spelling out the words "Life Without You, Never".
The private dining room at Mayfair's 34 is called 'The Emin Room', and is where Tracey Emin showcases her latest work. As Emin was discovered by Charles Saatchi, who just so happens to be bezzie mates with owner Richard Caring, it makes sense for her to have what amounts to her own gallery here.
This hip Japanese restaurant has graffiti murals by two renowned artists of the gentre. Brit Tom Blackford has created two huge colourful panels for the upstairs, while graffiti artist Houxe Que from Tokyo has designed a large UV piece for the hallway.
Art is such an essential component of this seafood restaurant that the Sadie Coles gallery has led tours for people eager to know more about the works on display. British artists Fiona Rae and Gary Hume are among those featured here.
Award-winning South London restaurant Trinity have opened their upstairs floor as a second dining room, and to complete the decor they've commissioned artist Kristjana S Williams to create a huge floor to ceiling piece. Inspired by food, hexagonal glass windows have been placed in front of images of meringues and eggs, in intricate designs emulating the fine dining tradition of garnishing plates with sauces.
The show-stopping decor at Sexy Fish includes a ceiling mural of coral reef by Michael Roberts, sparkly fish lamps by Frank Gehry, and bronze mermaids by Damien Hirst. All especially commissioned, naturally.