Growing up in South-East Asia, I learned that the uglier and tackier a restaurant appears, the tastier the food will be. So you can imagine that I was a bit leery when I first stepped into the spectacularly jungly and koi-ponded interior of the Blue Elephant restaurant in Fulham.

Any misgivings I might have had simply melted away at the first bite. This may be the best Thai restaurant in London: flavours are authentic and vibrant, and range from palate-tickling to tonsil-scorching. The menu is as lush as the surroundings, offering some imaginative twists on well-known staples, with a host of choices available for carnivores and herbivores alike. Staff are smiley and attentive. The atmosphere is buzzy, yet intimate and cosy enough to hold a private conversation. I remember thinking this would be the perfect place to propose to someone. It's so gorgeous that even if they didn't want to, they'd probably say yes.