London restaurants open on New Year’s Day

Restaurants open on New Year's Day in central London

• © Britta Jaschinski

  Ba Shan

  24 Romilly Street, W1D 5AH (020 7287 3266).

  Open noon-11pm

  Welcome your palate into the new year with some seriously fiery food. Ba Shan’s Hunanese and Sichuanese dishes are loaded with chilies, which should shock you out of any hangover. Note that the restaurant has swapped its concept of xiao chi or small eats for more conventional dishes. See more details
  Meal for two with drinks and service: around £50.
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  Book online

  Bar Boulud

  Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA (020 7201 3899).

  Lunch served noon-2.45pm; afternoon tea served 3.30-5pm; dinner served 5 -9.45pm

  What better way to start 2012 than heading to this smart Knightsbridge restaurant and digging into French classics such as coq au vin and steak frites. There’s also a selection of dishes that pay homage to the US, including the best burgers in London, no contest. See more details
  Meal for two with wine and service: around £150.
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  Comptoir Libanais

  65 Wigmore Street, W1U 1PZ (020 7935 1110).

  Open 9am-9pm

  Start out the new year on a good footing by grazing on healthy Lebanese mezze – baba ganoush, earthy houmous, zingy fresh tabbouleh and stuffed vine leaves, say. Those heading out for a January 1 shopping spree can visit the Westfield London branch, which is open from 11am until 7pm. See more details
  Meal for two with drinks and service: around £20. BYO: no corkage charge.
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  Little Bay

  171 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3AL (020 7278 1234),

  Open noon-11pm

  Start the new year with a bargain at this small chain of budget restaurants, with outposts also in Kilburn, Fulham and Croydon. The solid cut-price menu includes French classics such as moules marinieres, confit leg of duck and profiteroles. See more details
  Meal for two with drinks and service: around £80.
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  Rasa Sayang

  5 Macclesfield Street, W1D 6AY (020 7734 1382),

  Open noon-11pm

  No-frills Malaysian and Singaporean dishes. The nasi lemak (pictured) will cure any hangover as well. See more details
  Meal for two with drinks and service: around £30.
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  Book online

  Restaurant at St Paul's

  St Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD (020 7248 2469).

  Open noon-2.30pm

  For an awe-inspiring lunch, the lavish crypt restaurant at St Paul’s Cathedral is the place to feast on a two- or three-course menu of devoutly British dishes. Both saints and sinners welcome. See more details
  Meal for two with drinks and service: around £70.
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  The Wolseley

  160 Piccadilly, W1J 9EB (020 7499 6996).

  Open noon-10.30pm

  Is there a better place to treat yourself on the first day of the year? Keep your eyes open and you may even see a few hungover celebs doing the walk of shame through this spectacular art deco building while you dig into a menu of brasserie classics. See more details
  Meal for two with drinks and service: around £90.