Bibendum—the name of Michelin’s tire man mascot—first opened as a restaurant in 1987 when the famed Michelin building was sold and renovated. The increasingly upscale neighborhood was no longer an appropriate headquarters for the Michelin company; and foodies have been all the happier for the transition since.

Head chef, Matthew Harris, delivers perfectly executed classic French cuisine with a British twist in what is unquestionably one of London’s most elegant dining rooms. The menu foregrounds sophisticated simplicity, such as the lunch menu’s roast rump of lamb with spiced aubergine and pomegranate yogurt, or tournedos of veal with creamed spinach and Roquefort butter for dinner.

Bibendum is renowned for its caviars, fresh fish and shellfish as well. The Oyster Bar is situated in the original ground floor foyer, where you can get a good sense of the building’s legacy by looking at tiles depicting the great car races of past eras.