Dan Dan

DanDan is one of my favourite places to eat in Lahore, full stop. I love the food, the service and the atmosphere, and it's somewhere I keep coming back to.

It's a contemporary Chinese restaurant in Gulberg from the team behind Rina's Kitchenette and Bamboo Union. The menu takes traditional Chinese flavours and gives them a modern touch, with dim sum, soups, small plates, noodles and rice, and chicken, beef and seafood mains. They also offer hotpot.

The space is beautiful, with wood, marble and jewel-toned metal throughout. My favourite thing about DanDan, though, is the private dining. When I'm out with the kids, that's mostly where we sit. Having our own room makes the whole meal feel relaxed. There are four rooms. Bamboo, on the ground floor, seats 6 to 8. Autumn I, upstairs, seats 6 to 8 and Autumn II seats 12 to 14. Together they make Winds of Autumn, which seats 18 to 20. The rooms have murals inspired by famous Chinese paintings, and you can book them through the DanDan website.

On the menu:

• Dim sum
• Soups
• Small plates and appetisers
• Rice and noodles
• Chicken, beef and seafood mains
• Hotpot

Opening hours: Monday–Sunday, 1pm to midnight (official website)

With the kids: The private dining rooms are a brilliant option for families, and they're where my kids and I usually sit. Book ahead through the website, especially at weekends. If your little ones prefer milder food, ask the team for less spice.