You’re in the mood for a party (always). But you’d rather not have to figure out how to seat 50 in your flat (ever).

Here’s a round-up of London’s best private dining-rooms for those times when you want to mingle with friends without slaving over a hot stove (or a packet of M&S prawn wontons).

Bistrotheque
Food: Modern British/Eclectic.
Seats: Oak Room, 50.
Average price per person: £34.
Features: Assorted (and deeply brilliant) cabaret shows after dinner.
Location: 23-27 Wadeson Street, E2 (020 8983 7900 or bistrotheque.com).

Angela Hartnett at The Connaught
Food: Modern European, from lobster to Scottish steak.
Seats: The Grill Room, 50; The Regency Carlos, 22; The Georgian Room, 12.
Average price per person: £75.
Features: Pricier chef’s table (six to ten people) also available, with flat-screen television sets showing what’s going on in the kitchen.
Location:  16 Carlos Place, W1 (020 7592 1222 or gordonramsay.com).

291 Gallery
Food: Whatever you want; you work with them to design a menu.
Seats: Main gallery, 250; south wing, 80.
Average price per person: from £20.
Features: It’s a former neo-Gothic church.
Location: 291 Hackney Road, E2 (020 7613 5676 or 291gallery.com).

Rhodes Twenty Four
Food: British at its best, with an emphasis on fresh produce.
Seats: Private room, 20.
Average price per person: £49.
Features: The view.
Location: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2 (020 7877 7703 or privatedining24.co.uk).

Chez Bruce
Food: Classic French, Pan-European and Modern British.
Seats: First-floor room, 16; main room, 75.
Average price per person: £65.
Features: Overlooks Wandsworth Common.
Location: 2 Bellevue Road, SW17 (020 8672 0114 or chezbruce.co.uk).

Bush Bar & Grill
Food: Modern British featuring free-range ingredients cooked on the grill.
Seats: Restaurant, 100; The Club Room, 50.
Average price per person: £32.
Feature: Club Room is soundproof, so you can play your own music; restaurant has its own stage.
Location: 45a Goldhawk Road, W12 (020 8746 2111 or bushbar.co.uk).

Les Trois Garçons
Food: French with an exotic twist.
Seats: Private room, 12.
Average price per person: £53.
Features: Gatecrashers can spill into private room at sister bar, Loungelover, next door.
Location: 1 Club Row, E1 (020 7613 1924 or lestroisgarcons.com).

Brasserie St. Quentin
Food: La Cuisine Bourgeoise: simple French dishes.
Seats: Private room, 20.
Average price per person: £30-£35.
Features: Design a menu with head chef Gary Durrant.
Location: 243 Brompton Road, SW3 (020 7589 8005 or brasseriestquentin.co.uk).

Almeida
Food: Regional French.
Seats: Restaurant, 90; Private room, 20.
Average price per person: £32.
Features: Wicked terrine and tart trolley.
Location: 30 Almeida Street, N1 (020 7354 4777 or conran-restaurants.co.uk).

The Cow
Food: Gastro-pub and simple seafood.
Seats: Dining room, 32.
Average price per person: £40-£50.
Features: For spill-over groups there’s Rosa’s Dining Room next door; you can all re-convene at the bar afterwards.
Location: 89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 (020 7221 0021).

Average price of information above: free.

Talk about good service.