Portland

Portland opened on Great Portland Street in January 2015 and won a Michelin star within its first year, a rating it has held in every guide since. It is a modern European restaurant run without the usual fine-dining formality: no tablecloths, an open kitchen at the back, and a short room of warm wood, soft banquettes and a run of contemporary art panels along one wall. Chris Bassett heads the kitchen, cooking from the best produce available across an a la carte and a tasting menu at both lunch and dinner.

The wine list is a defining part of the place, ranging from approachable bottles to rare older vintages, and the service is precise without being stiff. The restaurant is modestly proportioned, which is exactly its appeal for a private occasion: an intimate, design-led room rather than a hotel function space.

A separate private dining room sits off the main floor, seating up to twelve and taken on an exclusive basis for the afternoon or evening with a dedicated member of the team. It mirrors the offer and service of the main room in a secluded setting, which makes Portland a natural fit for a small, considered celebration in Fitzrovia.