Keeping track of London’s new restaurant openings is enough to give any normal person a headache. But we’re not normal. And nor are you. You love finding the latest spot that you simply have to tell your friends about before anyone else does. So do we. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to all the new openings that have caught our eye. Just remember, this isn’t an endorsement, as we haven’t been to all of these places. It’s for you to go and find out what’s what for yourself, so fare forward voyagers.
We’ll be regularly updating this post, and we’ll be adding a note whenever we review a spot, or add it to our guide to the best new restaurants in London, The Hit List.
SEPTEMBER 2022
Mexa
One of London’s best taquerías has a new home inside Arcade Food Hall. Sonora Taquería has left its east London hut in Netil Market to set up in central London. As well their prodigious tortillas, there will also be seafood slant with ceviche and agua chile on the menu, alongside a new prawn and cheese taco.
Milk Beach Soho
You’ve got approximately three weeks before the weather turns decidedly emo, so if you want to make use of this new Soho spot’s large outdoor courtyard, we suggest you move quickly. The second location of Queen’s Park favourite Milk Beach, this all-day Australian restaurant also has a suitably sunny menu. There are grilled prawns with fermented chilli butter, macadamia hummus, and for those inevitable chilly days, a koji-marinated ‘schnitty’.
Forza Win
First there was Forza Win then came Forza Wine and now we would like to introduce Forza Win once more. We’re going to stop speaking in riddles and just say that Camberwell has got itself a new Italian and London, there is a deep-fried mozzarella toastie with anchovy mayo on the menu. The original Forza Win in Peckham closed a few years back but the new Camberwell location looks like it’s kept the same upbeat limoncello-encouraged feel alongside £10 pasta dishes.
Evernight
We shed a sentimental natural wine-infused tear when The Laughing Heart closed. Now, one of the chefs who trained there has opened an izakaya in Nine Elms. You can expect dishes like pork and hispi gyoza, a bavette tartare with nori, and there are rumours of a £5.50 karaage chicken deal from 6.30-8pm.
Mriya Neo Bistro
Mriya, a Ukrainian bistro, has opened in Earl's Court. It’s headed by chef Yurii Kovryzhenko and his wife Olga Tsybytovska, both of whom are Ukrainian natives and hope to tell the story of their country’s culture through food. Expect borsch, kyiv, and plenty of fermented bits and bobs on the menu.
AUGUST 2022
This new spot in Covent Garden is inspired by South East Asia, and is from the same people behind The Begging Bowl and Happiness Forgets. You can expect everything from mango sushi rolls, to Vietnamese jelly fish salads, and Malaysian red chicken curry. We’re also very into the sound of the lychee daiquiri slushy.
Cottons Shoreditch
Cottons' Shoreditch spot on Curtain Road has relocated to Hoxton Square. You’ll find more of the same Caribbean-inspired dishes including jerk chicken, salt fish fritters, and vegan curried mutton. Open all day, you can pop in for a salt fish and callaloo fricassee-filled brunch, or a BBQ pork rib-heavy dinner.
Block Soho
A new chop house is opening in Soho in the shape of Block. It will be open for breakfast, serving an array of fry-ups and caviar-topped benedict. Come lunch and dinner it’s all about the meat. Various cuts of beef, lamb chops, and pork baby back ribs are all on the sizeable menu. In fact, there’s seafood too.
The Viaduct
What was once Cargo is now a “360 concept”. Yes, the Shoreditch nightclub has been replaced by The Viaduct, a restaurant, cocktail bar, and taproom extravaganza. The Arch (the restaurant) will have an all-day menu of British food; The Tap (the taproom) will, we assume, have lots of beers; and Cosmos (the cocktail bar) will have drinks and sharing platters, and host masterclasses.
Sessions
A new food market has opened on Islington’s Upper Street, with four stalls, all serving different cuisines. From Korean fried chicken, to British breakfast buns, and halloumi and seared Turkish sausages, you can walk in or book a table online. FYI they stay open until 12am from Monday to Saturday.
photo credit: @lateef.photography
Burger & Beyond
We’re very into the palm-sized burgers at the original Camden location of Burger & Beyond. So you’ll be glad to know you can now find their burgers filled with charred but juicy smash patties in Borough Yards. There’ll be more of their great cheeseburgers, bone marrow gravy fries, and Rice Krispie fried chicken.
The Meat & Wine Co Mayfair
After the Westfield branch of this Aussie African-inspired steak restaurant closed, there was a big rib-eye-shaped hole in our hearts. But now, they’ve opened a fine dining restaurant in Mayfair where they’re serving pricey steaks, beef ribs, and oysters.
Feels Like June
Canary Wharf is exactly like California because, well, it’s not. But this new all-day restaurant is trying to bring a taste of SoCal to the ultimate London business district with house-made nut milks, avocado-loaded breakfast burritos, and hearty salads. There’s also a soul and funk soundtrack, an outdoor terrace, and in the interest of those alfresco after work drinks, rhubarb cosmopolitans.
JULY 2022
Peggy Jean
Tragically not the name of a Stones song—we’ve checked—but Peggy Jean, whoever she may be, now has a boat named after her. A new ‘floating paradise’ in Richmond from the same people who brought us Bondi Green, Daisy Green, and Timmy Green, you can expect on-board clay ovens for freshly baked pizzas, lots of pink parasols, and enough booze to soothe the fact that no one’s ever named a boat after you.
Roji
A husband and wife chef team, a 10-seater wood counter, and artisanal Japanese ceramics. Yes, we’re officially very intrigued by this new intimate Mayfair spot where the pre-paid omakase menu will set you back an oh-so casual £150. There currently isn’t a lunch offering but there are two sittings per night, one at 6.30pm and the second at 8pm.
Caia
Notting Hill has a new neighbourhood wine bar and London, it’s serving a garlic and sesame brioche with salted honey butter. Outside of aspirational bread, there are also small plates like smoked onion with crispy chicken skin and larger dishes like monkfish with ancho chilli. As you’d expect, there’s an extensive wine list but also a hidden music area down in the basement.
Cadet
North-east London is an area that nonchalantly opens wine bars like another packet of crisps at the pub and Cadet is the latest one. Located in Newington Green, it sounds like the business. Founders Tom Beattie and Francis Roberts hail from Bright and Westerns Laundry respectively, so you get the feeling they know what they’re doing. Expect pâté en croûte, small plates in the evening, and another wine bar you didn’t realise you need.
Barrafina Borough Yards
The latest location of the classy Spanish tapas spot is in the Borough Yards development in Borough Market. The mini-chain can only be aiming to make pan con tomate more readily available than peri-peri. You’ll find some more eastern Spanish flavours on this menu, like chicken Catalana or greixonera de brossat (a traditional Mallorcan cheesecake).
The Quarter Kitchen
A chef whose resumé includes Koya, Dom’s Subs, and more Places We Are Low-Key Obsessed With has opened a new Mexican kiosk in the garden of St. John’s church in Hackney. Open from 8am until 4pm daily, you can expect burritos, egg ranchero tacos, and cold brew all for under a tenner. There are a few suntrap tables but it’s walk-in only.
Uzumaki
Calling all anime and bubble tea lovers, we have a feeling you’re going to be into Uzumaki. This Japanese spot on Great Russell Street has really doubled down on its theme with Uzumaki-inspired ramen, anime doodles on the menu and walls, and bijuu bubble teas based on the nine-tailed beasts from Naruto. FYI they also have halal options.
photo credit: Ollie Grove @tony_grove
Miznon
“With each one of our pitta we are dividing the world into two hemispheres: tahini and sour cream.” What’s that? Has Dr. Evil opened a pitta joint? No, it’s Eyal Shan—the man behind Miznon. First launched in Tel Aviv and with locations all over the world (including New York, Paris, and Melbourne) it’s no surprise that Miznon’s world domination has come to London—and Soho no less. Expect falafel, roast cauliflower, and a special fish and chips pitta.
Valderrama's
After launching a hit fried chicken takeaway offshoot during lockdown, James Cochran has opened Valderrama’s, a football-inspired bar on Upper Street which is slinging buttermilk chicken thighs, gravy mayo, and more. There are plenty of drinks, including frozen margaritas, and Arsenal memorabilia on the walls. It’s N1, what do you expect?
Tatale
Pan-African restaurant Tatale has opened its doors inside The Africa Centre in Southwark. With terracotta-coloured walls and plenty of foliage, it’s giving Big Summer Energy. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu includes small plates like buttermilk fried chicken wings, red red black eyed bean stew, and chichinga chicken.
The Baring
Located in Islington, just off Regent’s Canal, this new pub has a weekly changing lunch menu from Tuesdays to Fridays—that includes things like a smoked eel and pig cheek terrine starter—as well as a roast on Sundays.
Angelo Musa
Unfortunately eating a pain au chocolat for breakfast for two weeks straight doesn’t qualify you for World Pastry Champion. Fortunately an actual World Pastry Champion, Angelo Musa, has opened a patisserie inside Knightsbridge’s Harrods. Expect vanilla sponge cakes, cremeux and mousse, and a chocolate, passion fruit, and coconut dessert that won the pastry equivalent of the world cup.
Miro
You could try to save up for a mortgage, or..or… you could spend that money on a £5000 bottle of champagne at this new spot in Mayfair. A real toughie. This OTT restaurant on Old Burlington Street has a menu of things like glazed watermelon sashimi, ‘fish and chips’ that’s actually potato galette covered in caviar, and a roast bone marrow brûlée. It’s got a DJ, it’s got neon lights, and it’s open until 1am from Tuesdays to Saturdays.
Sudu
Sudu, a Malaysian-inspired kopitiam (a coffee shop serving traditional Malay dishes), has opened in Queen’s Park. And it’s serving things like sweet and sour garlic chicken wings, grilled mackerel, and nasi goreng sayur.
Isibani
You can expect to spend some serious cash at this new West African spot in Knightsbridge. Serving jerk chicken tacos and BBQ lobster tail, the dining room is split over two floors and a roof terrace. Oh, and it's open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bubala
More space, same irresistible dips. Bubala’s second location is on Poland Street, right in Soho’s mix, and is an excellent summer addition to London’s restaurant scene. Expect the same all-vegetarian deliciousness: warm breads, silky dips, invigorating pickles, charred vegetables, and those confit potato latkes.
Hong Kong Restaurant
Few things are more romantic than the sunlight hitting the ruby red skin of a Peking duck. This is one way to spot Hong Kong Restaurant, a quietly opened Cantonese on Islington’s Upper Street, with those delicious beacons in the window. There’s a daily dim sum menu and a selection of Sichuan dishes as well.
Bottle + Rye
A Parisian-inspired wine bar is an extremely well-timed opening in peak summer. Especially as Bottle + Rye is located in the cool shade of Brixton Market. This new all-day spot from the folks behind Darby’s and The Dairy (RIP) promises plenty of natural wines plus a selection of bits-and-bobs, French-style plates: tomato tarts, boudin noir, and the like.
Zephyr
Taking a new direction from their existing Peruvian spots, the Pachamama group has opened a Greek-inspired restaurant and bar on Portobello Road. The menu—split into soil, sea, and sand for all the hungry geographers out there—features tirokafteri, carpaccio, and more.
The Eight
With queues snaking around outside and glistening plates of roast duck inside, this new Hong Kong-style tea restaurant on Shaftesbury Avenue has already got the juices flowing. Expect a buzzing room and a hefty menu, including a pork chop and pineapple bun, and a swirling volcano egg on rice.
JUNE 2022
Located slap bang in the middle of Notting Hill’s Pembridge Road, this new spot is serving a bunch of Malaysian classics. You’ll find nasi lemak, beef rendang, and roti canai, as well as fried kuew teow and other hawker stall favourites.
Juliet's Cafe
One of our favourite brunch places in the city, Juliet’s is opening a second cafe. It’s not too far from the original Tooting spot, inside Clapham’s Studio Voltaire. You can expect more excellent breakfast and brunch dishes, those top-tier scrambled eggs on sourdough, and that pistachio cake slice. Heads up, it’s only open from Wednesdays to Sundays.
Maria G's
Inspired by southern Italy, this new restaurant on Warwick Lane has a seasonal menu with things like beef ragu pappardelle, grilled lamb with garlic and goats’ curd, and fior di latte gelato with olive oil. Plus, a lengthy Italian wine list and a lovely summer terrace.
Myungrang Hotdog
Inside Angel Shopping Centre, this new Korean spot is serving golden fried corn dogs. With fillings like cheddar cheese sausage and melted mozzarella, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Except you won’t have to choose because they’ve also got a hot dog set menu—a collection of corndogs feat. all their must-try fillings.
Mint-green handmade pasta heaven, we meet again. The fifth location from Lina Stores has arrived and this time it’s serving carciofi fritti, affogato, and crab linguine on Marylebone’s Wigmore Street. Just like the other locations, there’s also a deli where you can pick up sauces, sweet treats, and lunch to-go.
We are simply powerless in the face of burnt orange seating and so it’s for this reason that we will be making a reservation at this new Sicilian restaurant toot suite. Located inside the Hyatt Place London City East hotel, it also looks like it’s got great potential for any wild boar pappardelle and panna cotta fans. FYI there’s also a private dining room called The Orangery. Snazzy.
Here are your Pascor buzzwords. Fire-focused. Levantine. Pickled… well, lots of pickled things. At this new Kensington spot from an ex-Palomar chef, you can expect seasonal British produce alongside modern takes on Levantine classics. Think kombu-wrapped halibut, burnt aubergine with black tahini, and samneh butter scallops.
Le Bab
Le Bab already has restaurants in Soho, Covent Garden, and Old Street and we still can’t read its name without picturing a chicken shish in a beret. Anyway, now there’s a location in Brixton Village. You can expect the same menu of ‘dirty babs’, loaded shawarma fries, and mezze platters.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
The Tamil Prince
What’s that? A transformed pub with a kitchen headed up by an ex-Roti King chef? Yes, we’re excited too. The Tamil Prince is combining southern Indian food—king prawn moilee, butter chicken masala, falooda—with quintessential pub drinks. Open from lunch until late Tuesday to Sunday, find them on Hemingford Road in Islington.
Shiok
Here’s one for Bake Off fans. No, Noel Fielding has not opened his own patisserie but Cherish Finden, fastidious judge from Bake Off: The Professionals, has. Shiok is a Singapore-influenced patisserie in Bishopsgate making pork floss buns, pandan-filled milk buns, bubble tea, and lots more.
Bar Daskal
The latest spot from the folks behind Barrafina is Bar Daskal. The Spanish wine bar has just opened in the Borough Yards development and will have a big focus on sherry. Food-wise there’s a lovely selection of para picar. Basically, things that are perfect for whatever's in your glass. Gildas, chorizo, jamon, and the like.
Bun House
After enjoying a few years of success in Chinatown, Bun House is expanding to Camden. The Cantonese steamed bun enthusiasts are bringing their pillowy BBQ pork and cold custard creations, as well as a few new dishes including shiitake nuggets.
Honey & Co Bloomsbury
After a decade in Fitzrovia, Honey & Co has moved around the corner to Bloomsbury. It’s very conveniently placed opposite Noble Rot—perfect for an aperitif, digestif, or both—and there will be all the Middle Eastern favourites on the menu that have made this restaurant such a London mainstay. Shakshuka in the morning, shredded lamb shoulder and hummus at lunch, and a set sharing dinner menu if you plan to eat en masse.
Boundary
What was once Albion on Redchurch Street is now Boundary. The hotel and restaurant next door has taken the former all-day cafe and turned it into the kind of place that serves wild garlic and nettle risotto. There’s a shiny zinc bar that will stay open post-midnight if you’re after a proper drink.
This swanky new Italian restaurant has opened right next door to Harrods and is all about sharing plates. We’re talking truffle and pecorino ravioli, ‘nduja-topped pizzas, and pollo milanese. There’s a serious-looking private dining room as well.
Mezcalito
A second location of the Mexican bar and restaurant has opened in Newington Green. Enticing and intriguing things include more than 250 agave spirits, a pulled pork-filled Mexican bao bun, and Corona on tap. It sounds like a pretty good Thursday night kind-of-place to us.
Bird & Tie
There’s a new Nashville hot chicken spot opposite Clapham Common. Bird & Tie will be making Nashville hot chicken sandwiches of varying spice levels, crispy fried chicken and waffles, and dirty bird fries that arrive in a huge round platter. It’s all halal too.
Firebird
There is, unsurprisingly, lots of charcoal and open flames going on at this new Soho spot. Pick of the menu is rump steak with burnt onions, smoked bone marrow, and sorrel herb salad. As well as smoky flame-touched things, there will also be a low-intervention wine list.
MAY 2022
Napoli Gang
One of our favourite online lockdown delivery situations, Napoli Gang, has opened a takeaway and delivery spot in Ladbroke Grove. With the option to click and collect or have food delivered, you’ll find everything from lasagne pizzas to prosciutto-stuffed sandwiches at lunchtime.
Amethyst
A £150 chef’s table tasting menu including things like croquettes, caviar tartlets, and truffle fondue is what you’ll find at this new spot on Sackville Street. For a more affordable option, which in Mayfair-talk is a £90 tasting menu, head downstairs to Amethyst’s wine cellar.
Cavita
Just in time for summer, this Mexican spot opens with a menu that reads like sunshine. Yellow tail aguachile rojo with watermelon, baja fish tacos, and barbecued octopus with guajillo and pasilla adobo are just some highlights. Located on Wigmore Street in Marylebone, you’ll also find a mezcaleria serving signature margaritas downstairs.
Berenjak Borough
Koobideh kebabs, kashk e bademjoon and a feast menu with a little bit of everything for £45. Now you can get Berenjak’s delicious grilled meats and dips at this new Borough Market restaurant.
Compton
An all-day Clerkenwell spot that describes itself as an “easy dining bistro” has opened on St John’s Square and serves sharing plates of smoked haddock croquettes, flat iron chicken with gremolata butter, and basque-style cheesecake. The deli and coffee shop section of the restaurant is open from 8am until 5pm, in case you’re looking for a to-go option in the area.
Chotto Matte Marylebone
Japanese Peruvian restaurant Chotto Matte has opened a second spot, not too far from the original Soho outpost. The latest Marylebone restaurant will have the usual ceviches and sushi, as well as new menu items like a robatayaki salmon with jalapeño chilli.
Parrillan Borough Yards
The latest spot from the group behind Barrafina and the original King’s Cross Parillan. The new Borough Yards location has an outdoor terrace, with grills at every table and things like Iberian pork ‘manteca’ on the menu.
Palazzo
Italian bar and restaurant Palazzo has opened in Crystal Palace with a brunch offering of ricotta hotcakes and sharing plates for lunch and dinner. You can expect chicken milanese, pork and fennel sausage pizzas, and more.
Lockdown Bakehouse Barnes
A second location from two hospitality workers who started up a bakery delivery service in lockdown. As well as its Wandsworth location, you can now get your hands on some of the best raspberry doughnuts in London in Barnes. The coffee is great here too.
Roti King, arguably London's most legendary Malaysian restaurant, has opened a second site in Battersea. There's no change when it comes to the food: its famous flaky roti canai, nasi lemak, and more are all still on the menu. But thanks to the swish new space in Battersea Power Station you'll be able to come down in numbers and reserve (!) a table beforehand.
The Roost
Calling all poultry lovers, The Roost—new rotisserie chicken specialist—has opened in Finsbury Park. They'll be serving up whole or half chickens, alongside a bunch of vegetarian sides, salads, and a roasted garlic aioli we’d like to get involved in.
The Patate
The third London location of this French burger spot has opened, and this time it’s in Covent Garden. You’ll find raclette-filled burgers, mushroom toasties, and cheese-drenched poutine.
APRIL 2022
Arcade Food Hall
The people behind Brigadiers, Gymkhana, and BAO have taken over the Arcade Food Hall near Tottenham Court Road. Now, it's packed with deeply exciting new food options including rotating hot sandwiches from Margot and Hector Henderson of Rochelle Canteen. There’s also regional Thai curries on offer, as well as US-style smashed burgers, big shawarma situations, a full-packed music programme, and a bar dedicated to negronis.
The Twenty Two
New London hotel, new London restaurant. Those are the rules. Described as a ‘handsome neighbourhood restaurant’, The Twenty Two is offering up simple sophisticated dishes like whole baked Cornish John Dory, seasonal crab salads, and pasta al limone. Open from 6pm with white table cloths, it all looks distinctly Mayfair and there are classic cocktails available too.
The Lanesborough Grill
Behold, this is what it looks like when a restaurant manifests Bridgerton. Or so we imagine. The Lanesborough hotel on Hyde Park Corner has got a new revamped restaurant with an executive head chef who used to run things at The Goring. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea—dear reader, we burn for Earl Grey—the menu consists of dishes like beef wellington, oysters, and other things you can picture yourself eating alongside port.
Apricity
A celebration of all things sustainable and one to look out for in Mayfair is the just-opened Apricity. This is the second restaurant from Chantelle Nicholson who previously opened Tredwell’s in Covent Garden, and it's following a similar modern British approach with a big eco ethos. Menu items include miso-cured spring cabbage and Devon pork presa and there's a three-course £35 set lunch menu on offer as well.
Pophams Victoria Park
The Hackney location of this bakery is home to a ham & cheese croissant that lives rent-free in our brains. And now they’ve opened a small spot in Victoria Park. Which means delicious pastries, toasties, and house blend coffee for everyone…in E9.
Madhu's Brasserie
If you’re into chilli chicken tandoori naan, butterfly king prawns, and makhani dal, then Madhu’s latest Indian restaurant should be on your radar. Following the success of their all-day spot in Harvey Nichols, this second Richmond location has leather seats, a tandoor oven, and counter seating where you can see it all being prepared.
The Walmer Castle
Walmer Castle, a Notting Hill drinking institution, has reopened as a Scottish restaurant and pub. Over two floors, you’ll find a ground floor dining room and a first floor whiskey bar. Expect things like venison carpaccio, lobster truffled mac and cheese, and cranachan pudding on the menu.
Buns From Home
We’re pretty obsessed with the dessert buns at the original Notting Hill bakery. This lockdown project turned full on cinnamon bun factory, has now opened its third spot (the second was in Holland Park) in Covent Garden. Pop in for cheesecake buns, double baked banana bread buns, and their classic cinnamon bun.
Buns From Home City
No, it’s not an edit error, this lockdown project turned bakery has indeed opened two bakeries in one month. And it’s fourth spot is in Bank. Take a box of these pastries with you to the office and you’ll probably get a raise.
Acme Fire Cult
London, we have a new ‘live fire concept’ restaurant. One for all the vegetarians and pyromaniacs out there, Acme Fire Cult is about barbecuing with a big focus on vegetables. The zero-waste menu offers dishes like coal roasted celeriac flatbread, a fermented ‘char siu’ of monkfish number, and their own unique take on Marmite made with leftover beer yeast. If you too are officially intrigued, you can find the restaurant inside Dalston’s 40FT Brewery.
Frog Bakery
Cakes, bakes, and coffee. That’s what you can expect from Peckham’s newest bakery. A collaboration between two south London bakers, their menu features all the comfort classics. Think croissants, whole-grain sourdough, and apple meringue pies.
Butchies Ealing
Buttermilk fried chicken spot, Butchies, have opened their fifth joint, this time in Ealing. As you might have guessed, they’ll be serving their classic buttermilk fried chicken, as well as wings, popcorn chicken, and hot chilli halloumi fries.
Bunsik
Korean street food spot Bunsik specialises in corn dogs and following the success of their first restaurant on Charing Cross Road, they’ve now opened a second location on Villiers Street. Their signature Korean corn dogs come packed with everything from mozzarella to chicken, and they’ve also got a selection of ddukbokki, kimbap, and mandu available too. Oh, and their beef is halal.
MARCH 2022
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
This Philly-inspired dive bar has picked Waterloo as its third location. With the original in Fitzrovia and the second in Stratford’s Westfield, this latest spot is by far the biggest. Located in Leake Street Arches, this two-floor restaurant has a bar section, booths for groups, a huge TV screen airing whatever American sports game is on, and more of the same Philly cheesesteaks, loaded nachos, and cheese-covered tater tots.
Best Broasted
Best Broasted’s original Willesden location has some of our favourite fried chicken in London. And now that they’ve opened a second spot, this time in Shepherd’s Bush, you can get your hands on their £14 full broasted chicken and chips in W12.
Lisboeta
Nuno Mendes, formerly of the Chiltern Firehouse (amongst other bits and bobs), is probably London's most well-known Portuguese chef. After a little hiatus, he's back with his latest restaurant, Lisboeta. Mendes is calling it “a love letter to Lisbon” in Fitzrovia. If his previous is anything to go by, it will be a must-visit.
Someday
A pizza, taco, and margarita spot is something that every area can welcome with open arms. That's what Someday is bringing to Finsbury Park. It's also a music venue, so check out the Instagram page to see what's going on.
Chestnut Bakery
We're always in full support of a new bakery opening, especially when it's one as good as Chestnut Bakery. Their second location is in Covent Garden (taking over the site of a fallen Dominique Ansel) and will be making all their usual delicious cakes, pastries, and flatbreads.
Flesh & Buns
They’ve already got two London restaurants and now this Japanese izakaya-inspired spot has opened a third Kensington location. Expect to find lots more of their robata-grilled meats and bao buns.
Ramo's Turkish Kitchen
You know what the world needs? More lahmacun. And this new Turkish restaurant in Kingston is here to provide just that. As well as sucuk, kebabs, and—swoon—free parking. If you want something a little less meat-heavy, then there are a bunch of a classic vegetarian options, like falafel and moussaka.
Caravel
What do we want? Another restaurant on a boat! When do we want it? Due to watching Titanic incessantly during our seminal developmental years... pretty much always! This restored barge on the canal between Hoxton and Islington is serving fresh pasta dishes, hearty braised stuff, and—CC: Jack Dawson’s profound drunk dancing scene—cocktails, including a blood orange margarita and a rhubarb take on the classic negroni. All aboard.
Noci
Islington Green has got itself a brand new neighbourhood pasta spot. From the chef behind Bancone and Tavolino, you’ll find chefs hand-making mafaldine in the open kitchen and things like brown butter cacio e pepe and spiced lamb shoulder ravioli on their menu. They’ve also got any boozy needs covered with on-tap espresso martinis, a concise wine list with plenty of Italian options, and in the interest of the sun eventually returning, Aperol spritz.
Facing Heaven
“There are small restaurants, there are cosy restaurants, and then there’s Mao Chow. "It's an entirely vegan Chinese restaurant in London Fields that’s one Henry Hoover away from being mistaken for an airing cupboard”– Us, circa 2019. Now, Mao Chow has moved around the corner from its original location into a slightly bigger space called, whisper it, Facing Heaven. Basically: more space, same entirely vegan menu, plus some brand new dishes. We’ve got our eye on the Hong Kong French toast.
Three Uncles
Three Uncles, the Hong Kong roast meat specialist, is opening its first fully sit-down restaurant in Brixton Village. As well as their roast duck, char siu pork and crispy pork belly, they'll also have a range of new dine-in only dishes like steamed lotus leaf rice with Chinese sausage, or roast duck and char siu lai fun noodle soup.
Trampoline
Not only does Trampoline look like a good cafe, but it's a cafe doing good things. The new spot in Angel has a social enterprise setup that helps refugees coming into the UK get work. The menu will also be inspired by those that work there, so expect the cuisines to jump around. FYI, it's open Wednesday to Sunday.
Walter's
A new restaurant from the folks behind The Oystermen in Covent Garden, Walter’s is a homely-feeling British restaurant in Dulwich. The focus is on seasonality, so expect to see fish on the menu—from crab salads to roasted hake—as well as other bits like bread and Marmite butter, brasied ox cheek, plus a selection of British grapes to drink.
FEBRUARY 2022
Marsha Soho
If we had to describe Marsha in three words they’d be, chicken, chicken, chicken. In case you didn’t get the hint from our subtle little joke there, this is a restaurant that specialises in roast chicken. Their second location has just opened in Soho’s Kingly Court and outside of whole-chicken dining, they’ve also got mediterranean-leaning small plates and plenty of cocktails.
Itaku
And just like that, London has another new fusion restaurant. This time it’s a medley of Japanese and Italian. Unsure what that looks like? Think cappelletti pasta in dashi, uni burrata, and wild seabass sashimi with n’duja. Expect plenty of plush velvet seating and some hefty price tags too.
Lahpet West End
Popular Burmese restaurant Lahpet is coming to Covent Garden. Fans of king prawn curry, coconut noodles, and theatreland, rejoice. From our trips to their original spot in Shoreditch, we can confirm that we have a particular soft spot for the lentil curry and it looks like you can expect the same kind of modern, kind of comfortable space at their new West End digs.
Cédric Grolet At The Berkeley
Calling all sugar heads, your time has finally come. Thanks to sweet treat legend, Cedric Grolet, London now has a £135 unique dessert counter experience. A tasting menu of the pastry chef’s signature dishes will be served alongside champagne whilst you can watch him performing some kind of genius icing sugar wizardry. If that’s not your scene, you can also hit up the takeaway counter. We also recommend eyeing up his Instagram, just for a visual sugar high.
Emilia's Crafted Pasta Canary Wharf
Emilia’s Crafted Pasta 3.0 is here and that means Canary Wharf is now home to a big trattoria featuring truffled cacio e pepe, smoked salmon carbonara, and fruity takes on classic cocktails. Situated in the shiny new Wood Wharf development, there’s also talk of an aperitivo hour (coming soon) and if you’re in the market for some quick-fire ravioli they’re also keeping some of their tables available for walk-ins.
Blacklock Covent Garden
We have always been fans of Blacklock and their great steak deals, so we’re quite into the fact that they seem to be taking over London, one neighbourhood at a time. With spots already in the City, Shoreditch, and Soho, you can now get your steak fix on Bedford Street in Covent Garden. Expect their same winning formula of quality meats, £5 cocktails, and hefty Sunday roasts.
The Ledbury
Even if you only have a lukewarm interest in London restaurants, you’ve probably heard of The Ledbury. One of those famously fancy places that tended to always pop up on ‘the world’s best restaurants’ lists, the original restaurant sadly didn’t reopen following the first lockdown back in 2020. But now they’re back, baby, with a new look, a new head chef, and an entirely casual £180 eight-course tasting menu.
Dear Grace
From the people who brought us Pergola, The Prince, and some of the worst hangovers of our lives, Dear Grace is another big deal rooftop situation. An all-day coffee, cocktails, and casual dining spot in White City, they’ve got everything from avocado toast brunches to dinnertime pizza boards covered, but we imagine people will mostly be here for good times, coconut daiquiris, and the view.
The Greenery Natural Kitchen
It’s been a busy year for 1 Turnpike Parade. Last year a Hungarian restaurant opened up in this space but sadly following a string of robberies they were forced to close, and now The Greenery has moved in. Are you keeping up? Good. A day-to-night ‘natural kitchen’ offering up smoothies, salads, and some very aesthetically pleasing croissants, we stopped by to try some of their lunchtime offerings and the hotdog brioche is a hit. Open early till late, they’ve also got plenty of booze options.
The Aubrey
Located inside the Mandarin Oriental, this new Japanese izakaya is bound to make your pockets hurt. But it’s also bound to serve you cocktails, small plates of tempura, sushi, and robata classics. Also, importantly, there’s a whole lot of beautiful interiors going on.
Em Sherif
Popular Lebanese fine dining spot Em Sherif has opened its first UK restaurant in Knightsbridge. Just like its original Beirut restaurant there's a menu of Lebanese classics with a twist. Expect things like wagyu hummus, pumpkin kibbeh, and aubergine fatteh.
JANUARY 2022
Rai
Taking the space of Hot Stone Fitzrovia, this new Japanese spot on Windmill Street has a menu of things like fatty tuna maki, Chilean sea bass, and salmon tartare that is served omakase-style. FYI, it’s £130 per head.
Boiler & Co
A new cocktail and gastro bar in Bankside, Boiler & Co is opening with a 7-course, reservation-only tasting menu, which comes with an optional cocktail pairing. The £65 menu includes things like beef tartare, fungi and salted fish stew, and roast scallops. And from 16th February, you’ll be able to find an all-day a la carte menu as well.
Din Tai Fung
With a branch already in Covent Garden, the popular international Taiwanese dumpling chain has opened a second London spot, this time in Selfridges. Good news, seeing as our favourite part of shopping is when we give up and go for food instead. Like their first spot, you can find xiao long bao, pork and vegetable wontons, steamed chicken soup, and more.
Adesse
A new plant-based restaurant led by an American celebrity chef has opened in Selfridges. It’s serving a menu of vegan-friendly things including kelp noodle cacio e pepe and beetroot carpaccio, as well as an organic wine list.
Ottolenghi
You’ve seen the cookbooks, you’ve munched on the lavosh, and you’ve eyed up the coffee walnut cake through the window. Now, you can get Ottolenghi’s Middle Eastern creations in this new Chelsea deli. The latest spot on Pavilion Road will serve the same array of fresh salads, pastries, and cakes, with lunch offerings available for eat in or takeaway, and will be open every day of the week.
Sohaila
The hospitality-led social enterprise Fat Macy’s has followed up from their café Ebury with a new restaurant on Shoreditch High Street. Sohaila is a Lebanese-inspired small plates spot that will also be a wine bar and deli, serving grab-and-go bits like sambousek plus mezze and natural wines in the restaurant. Sohaila, like Ebury, is driven by training Londoners living in temporary accommodation with the skills to work in hospitality. So not only will you be having a great lunch or dinner, but it will be going to a good cause too.
Off The Hook
Chippy, fishmongers, and seafood restaurant Off The Hook has opened in Wapping. It’s a collaboration with Henderson’s, the swish and sustainable supplier of seafood (that’s a mouthful) of many excellent London restaurants, and features dishes like Devon crab on chips, prawn ceviche on a prawn cracker, and whole fried sea bass with papaya salad.
Ugly Dumpling
Dumpling innovators Ugly Dumpling have opened a second location in Fitzrovia. You’ll find their signature cheeseburger dumpling here but, unlike their original location, there’s a vegan take on it exclusive to Fitzrovia as well as a much more spacious dining space.
DECEMBER 2021
Jeru
A new Middle Eastern spot has opened on Berkeley Street. It’s part bakery, part restaurant, and part bar, and is serving things like fried halloumi doughnuts, Levantine lobster and prawn dumplings, and roast monkfish steak. Expect a lengthy wine list, and a hefty Mayfair-esque price tag to go with it.
Where's Fred's
Who is Fred? Where is he? Why are we incapable of reading anything without immediately turning it into an ITV crime drama starring Nicola Walker? Anyway, the point is, this new intimate coffee and wine bar in the City looks incredibly charming and has everything from Origin Roasters coffee with brunch to evening small plates and orange wine. Open Monday to Saturday on Frederick’s Place—oh hang on, as seasoned detectives we might have just figured out who Fred is—they’re open from 7.30am to late most days of the week.
Roketsu
If you happen to have got involved in our guide to The Best New Restaurants Of 2021, you’ll have noticed that this was the year London got a whole load more quality Japanese restaurants. We have a feeling Roketsu in Marylebone might be a last minute contender to join 2021’s winners. A high-end kaiseki spot from a chef who trained at a world-renowned Kyoto restaurant, you can expect a seasonal ten-course menu, as well as impressive interiors from a famous tea room designer. Swanky.
Flor Bakery
Flor, a tiny wine bar that’s home to London’s best butter cakes has opened a full-time bakery. Merry Christmas one and all. You’ll find everything from seasonal pastries to sourdough at their new spot in Bermondsey’s Spa Terminus, including those signature brown butter cakes. If you happen to live in the area, you should know that they’ll also be serving croissants, quince danishes, and lots of other things that will make your morning a whole lot better.
Miscusi
A cult Italian restaurant from Italy has opened in Covent Garden. That’s right, Italian food by Italians, hyped by Italians. We’re officially intrigued. A fresh pasta restaurant serving cacio pepe funghi, ravioli zucca e ricotta, and the option to ‘get creative’ and pick your own combination of their fresh ingredients, Miscusi has also got you covered with classics like tiramisu and parmigiana, and most of the mains fall around the tenner mark, so it looks like a good shout for an affordable meal in the area.
The LaLee
Hello there Your Royal Highness and Fancyton McDougal The Third, it truly is our pleasure to introduce you to The LaLee. Might we take your Swarovski-encrusted jacket? Okay, so we’re really trying to lean into the mood of this brand new café and restaurant inside Sloane Street’s The Cadogan, but we now realise it’s quite draining to read and is also bringing back some particularly steamy Bridgerton memories that definitely aren’t suitable for work. Basically, fancy hotel gets a sophisticated all-day restaurant featuring oysters, a signature soufflé, and plenty of high-end cocktails. Plus, it’s worth noting that the space really is quite something.
NOVEMBER 2021
Ceru
The original location of this Mediterranean spot is one of our favourite places to go when we’re pretending we’re on holiday. And this new Queensway restaurant will be serving the same sunny menu of houmous, sticky roasted aubergines, and shish taouk.
Carousel
Carousel has moved from Marylebone to a big new spot in Fitzrovia where they will continue to host residencies—upcoming chefs include Mariana Villegas from Mexico City, and Ricordo Verdejo from Santiago in Chile. They’ve also got an all-day wine bar with guest chef collaborations and a day and night menu of small plates like delica pumpkin with burrata, and deep fried apple pie. Bookings and walk-ins are available.
El Norte
A new Spanish restaurant and bar has opened on Dover Street, and it’s serving everything from wagyu beef short rib bao, and goat’s cheese, pistachio honey croquettes, to a grilled octopus with mashed potato. Also, importantly, there’s a dedicated sangria section on the cocktail list.
The George
Another day, another exciting opening from the group behind Bao and Brigadiers. This new pub in Fitzrovia will have plenty of zhuzhed-up pub food. Think black pudding scotch eggs, jacket potatoes, and a ploughman’s baguette “as it should be”.
Yeye’s Noodle & Dumpling
Spicy beef noodle soups, handmade biang biang dumplings, and duck gizzard are just some things you’ll find at this new Chinese spot in Spitalfields which is open until 11pm on weekends.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
It’s an exciting time for London’s fried chicken fans, because this US fast food chain has opened its first UK outpost in Stratford Westfield. Head there for Louisiana-style halal fried chicken burgers, spicy wings, and mash.
Sarap Filipino Bistro
From the same people behind Sarap BAon in Brixton, this second location is serving more Filipino classics like monkfish escabache, and a whole suckling pig to share, on Mayfair’s Heddon Street.
Carmel
If you’re a fan of Middle Eastern flatbreads and low-intervention wine, then this new all-day restaurant and bar in Queen’s Park might be for you. From the team behind Berber & Q, you’ll find grilled prawns, hummus, challah French toast, and a spacious terrace.
Panton Yokocho
A second central London ramen spot from the Japan Centre has opened near Leicester Square. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday until 11pm and, like its sister restaurants (Heddon Yokocho in Mayfair, and Ichiba Yokocho at Westfield White City), it’s got a menu of ramen specialities from all over Japan, as well as pumpkin croquette hirata buns, chicken yakitori, and more.
Yatay
Another new robatayaki restaurant serving yakitori skewers and small plates of things like monkfish karaage, and pork and ginger gyoza has opened its doors on Soho’s Wardour Street. You can find sakes and sharing plates in their restaurant, and a late night bar downstairs, serving cocktails and spirits until 2am.
Mowgli
A nationwide Indian street food has made it to London. This new restaurant on Charlotte Street is focussed on providing Londoners with things like chip butties, gunpowder chicken, and yoghurt chat bombs. And with its mix of meaty curries, vegetarian dahl, bunny chow, and a whole gluten-free menu, this spot is bound to have something for everyone.
Dai Chi
Kushikatsu is on the menu at Dai Chai, the new restaurant from the folks behind Japanese-Italian spot Angelina. There’s an intimate dining area and a small counter at their Soho space, and the idea of the perching at a bar with a scallop on a stick sounds thoroughly appealing to us.
Following a stint on Heddon Street, sustainable-first spot Fallow has found a big 150-cover permanent space in St. James’s. The menu is made for sharing, split between snacks, big plates, things from the grill, breads, snacks and raw bar. A lot, right? Everything is sustainably sourced from the British Isles and things like caramelised cauliflower croquetas and cod’s head with sriracha butter sauce stand out from the menu. You’ll need to visit in numbers given its size and variety.
Manteca
We were big fans of Manteca’s original Soho residency and now they’ve moved their British influenced Italian fare - including deep-fried ciccioli as well as that luscious brown crab cacio e pepe - over to Shoreditch. Their new permanent space is over on Curtain Road and it’s got an open pasta bar for ogling eyes along with a hanging room downstairs for those with an interest in admiring salami.
Ngopi
A new Indonesian-inspired coffee shop from Birmingham has opened up on Dalston Lane. As well as serving popular Indonesian coffees like matcha latte or es kopi susu (iced palm sugar coffee), Ngopi also makes snacks and plates, including superb sounding indomie toastie (fried instant noodle sandwich) and ayam penyet with rice.
The Pig’s Head
The folks behind food-focused pubs like The Pig & Butcher and The Princess of Shoreditch have opened south of the river now, in Clapham. The Pig’s Head is a ‘pro-planet’ pub, which means that all animals will be butchered on site, as much as possible in the pub will be up-cycled, and they’ll even compost on site as well.
Mallow
From the team behind Mildreds, Mallow is a 100% sustainable, plant-based restaurant that’s just opened in Borough Market. The all-day menu is a combination of big and small plate sharing options which take for their inspiration flavours and traditions from all over the world. Think hispi, tahini and chilli bean oil, beetroot ube borani with heirloom carrots, and pumpkin feta kibbeh served with beluga lentil beetroot ezme and tahini. There’s also a breakfast menu served till 11am on weekdays, and a brunch menu available from 9am to 4pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Santo Remedio
Santo Remedio has opened a second taqueria over on Great Eastern Street, serving all the classics like pork belly tacos, barbacoa lamb shank, and guacamole that comes with… grasshoppers. There’s also a large selection of margaritas.
Vasco And Piero's Pavilion
After moving out of the Poland Street premises they’d been in since 1971 earlier this year, popular Soho spot Vasco and Piero’s Pavilion has reopened on D’Arblay Street, and is still serving daily menus inspired by the owners’ Umbrian heritage.
The Barbary Next Door
Confirming our theory that the only way to have the perfect neighbours is to buy the place next door, The Barbary have opened a kind-of-casual little wine bar and restaurant next to their beloved original restaurant. An all-day situation with daytime North African-inspired pastries and nighttime frena, oyster, and wine fests, they’re keeping a majority of their seats available for walk-ins so it sounds pretty perfect for your next last-minute date night in Covent Garden.
Kasa And Kin
Kasa and Kin is all about pandesal donuts, BBQ skewers, and the Filipino dessert classic, iskrambol. We’re talking shaved ice sweet treats with a side of candyfloss people. During the day, this Soho spot will first and foremost be a bakery, but come evening expect a full-blown sit-down skewer party.
Masalchi
Whilst we’re busy trying to figure out how to wake up before 10am, chef Atul Kochhar of Tamarind, Benares and Kanishka glory has opened not one, but two, new restaurants. Having just launched Mathura near Westminster Cathedral, he’s now opened Masalchi in Wembley. A more relaxed restaurant, the menu is packed full of hearty dishes like mutton keema aloo, chicken biryani, and plenty of naan.
OCTOBER 2021
London has a brand new music venue and it’s a real looker. Despite sounding like it might exclusively cater to fans of Songs Of Praise, it’s actually got a dance floor and a calendar of eclectic music events and DJ nights. Oh, and when it comes to the food, they have a menu of Taiwanese dishes from none other than Best Bao In London legends, Mr Bao. Open Tuesday to Saturday on St Thomas Street in London Bridge, they’ve got you covered until 1am at the weekend.
Oxeye
Put some Cornish Yarg churros with fresh nettles on a menu and we’re officially intrigued. A new tasting menu spot in the Nine Elms development that’s giving us big Native vibes with that whole organic farm to table thing going on. Expect dishes like hand-dived scallops grilled over blackcurrant branches and sheep with fresh seaweed and turnip.
Spicebox Leytonstone
Of course, we’re absolutely loving the permanently grey misery the British weather is serving us daily - not - but if you’re on the hunt for a serious pop of colour to brighten up your day, this new neighbourhood curry house should be on your radar. Like their OG spot in Walthamstow, Spice Box Leytonstone just so happens to be totally vegan with a menu of classic Indian dishes. We’ve also got our eye on their masala chai negroni and their aptly spicy, boozy weekend brunch.
Lina Stores City
Attention pasta lovers everywhere because Lina Stores 4.0 is here. A no-brainer restaurant for carb-heavy date nights, casual catch ups, and family meals, they’ve opened their third restaurant in the City. It sounds like they’re set on some truly glorious world domination, with even more restaurants opening up in the coming months, but finger’s crossed the beef shin ragu stays just as good as it’s always been.
Four Legs, the duo behind London’s best burger ended their residency at Islington boozer the Compton Arms in June and have now opened their own pub in Finsbury Park. The new space means more delicious small plates of things like fried pizza, sea bass crudo, and, obviously, that dexter cheeseburger. The weekends will be focussed on drinking which means the menu will be making an appearance only on weekdays. Plan accordingly.
Porte Noire
When was the last time you got served a glass of red by Idris Elba? Never? Realistically that won’t change anytime soon, but your chances might be improved if you head to this new wine bar in King’s Cross. There’ll be slow cooked beef cheek, charcuterie, a lengthy wine menu, and the possibility of seeing the winner of the Sexiest Man Alive title in 2018, in the flesh.
Pivot
A close second after ‘unprecedented times’, the word ‘pivot’ had a very good year in 2020. And this new Covent Garden spot by chef Mark Greenaway will feature a tasting menu that will change every month. Hence, the name. Expect things like onion stuffed with haggis, and a roast fillet of beef.
After stints in Hackney, Coal Drops Yard, and, more recently, Farringdon, with the recently opened Bodega Ritas, Gabriel Pryce and Missy Flynn have brought Rita’s take on modern American dining to Soho. Expect tear ’n share garlic bread, a Cubano sandwich and lots more food and drink you’ll want to stuff in your face.
El Ta’koy
Taking some of its inspiration from the street food of Hawaii, El Ta’Koy is a new bar and restaurant on Henrietta Street where you can get a pu pu plates like lamb bbq lumpia, tuna taquitos, and eggplant empanada. There’s also a whole menu section for tacos and a bar.
1771
What used to be called LIV - a British restaurant and cafe in Belgravia - has now been replaced by 1771. A British spot, by the same people, where you can find things like oak grilled langoustine with a caviar topped jacket potato, and poached halibut.
Greek Street is the location for Gunpowder’s third London location and, yes, their famous Kashmiri lamb chops will be there as well. The much-loved modern Indian restaurant now has spots in east, south, but there are some new menu items for their space in Soho. Amongst old favourites like that venison and vermicelli doughnout there’s lobster and mussels pulimunchi with neer dosa, and a doorstop take on prawn toast.
Food and art are intrinsically linked. Think of Andy Warhol and his soup cans, Giuseppe Arcimboldo and his fruits and vegetable, or that ketchup smiley face you make on your plate when you’re hungover. With that in mind, or rather not in mind, the founders of Frieze are opening a restaurant. It’s called Toklas and it’s in 180 The Strand. It’s a restaurant, bar, bakery, and grocery shop (mixed media, if you will) and the menu features things like sardines with salsa rossa, a big green salad and chips.
Mathura Restaurant
Originally scheduled for 2020, Mathura, a new spot from Atul Kochhar (Tamarind and Benares) is now open in the Westminster Fire Station. It’s an upmarket affair, serving flavours and culinary traditions from all over South and Central Asia, with not one but two tasting menus on offer, one of which is served only in the Kushan Dynasty Room, and weighs in at £160pp. A la carte options are also available.
Balady
London is a big old city and some things are quite simply a schlep. Depending on where you are, Balady falls into this category. The kosher falafel bar has long been all the way up in Temple Fortune, NW11, but, now, they’ve got a second location on Leather Lane, making the same peerless falafel, sabich and hand cut chips that they always have.
Colonel Saab
How does a caramel and banana paniyaram sound for breakfast? What about a masala omelette and chilli chicken sausage for brunch? It sounds like the kind of things you can find at this new all-day spot on High Holborn. Think dosas, chicken curry, and Indian-made gin in a chandelier-clad dining room.
The man behind Polpo has opened a new trattoria, that literally translates to “ugly restaurant” in Italian. While we personally think it looks lovely, we’re more interested in what the menu has to offer, namely a crostini topped with cannellini, penne con vodka, and, of course, tiramisu. Closed on Sundays and Mondays, this Farringdon spot is open for lunch and dinner for the rest of the week, and the bar is open from 11am to 11pm for anyone craving an early afternoon negroni.
Lilly's Cafe
Lilly’s is a new cafe on Henrietta Street serving pretty pastries, and an all-day menu with things like potato waffle sandwiches, grain bowls, and vanilla madeleines.
SEPTEMBER 2021
Ding ding ding, London’s only gone and got itself another wine bar. Actually, technically Planque is a ‘wine drinkers’ clubhouse’ but we’re 99% sure that’s basically the same thing. On Acton Mews in Haggerston, you can either swing by for a glass of something special from their cellar, go all out on a membership, or hit up their restaurant that’s serving a menu of modern French food. FYI the restaurant is being headed up by Seb Meyers, who was previously a chef at Laughing Heart and one of our all-time favourite wine bars, P. Franco.
Katsute 100 Brick Lane
If the thought of masala prawns gives you butterflies, then you’ll be glad to know that a new spot has opened on Maddox Street in Mayfair. The chef behind Indian restaurants Kutir (Chelsea) and Koolcha (Wembley Park), has now opened this latest location where you can expect to find things like beef korma, black pepper fish, and aloo parathas.
Bar Flounder
The esteemed fishmonger on London Fields has joined the party in Netil Market with its seafood shack Bar Flounder. It’s going to be open Thursday to Sunday for lunch making things like lobster rolls, fritto misto, and turbot tenders with buffalo sauce. It’ll also be open on the weekend for breakfast and brunch serving up bits like an irresistible sounding lobster muffin topped with a fried egg and cheese, or a surf ‘n’ turf classic scallop and bacon butty.
Fatt Pundit
Indo-Chinese restaurant Fatt Pundit has opened a second spot. Taking the former Polpo site on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, where pasta was once served there will now be dishes like saffron butter prawns or their signature momos. The restaurant also has not one, but two bar areas, so expect cocktails that mix the flavours of India and China as well.
Someone incredibly wise - and with really good hair - once said that Koya does the best udon in London. Yes, that someone was us, so we’re incredibly hyped that they’ve now opened a new udon bar on Broadway Market. Open daily from 8.30 until late, there’s breakfast rice bowls, grab-and-go cold noodle salads, as well as their signature - and entirely unmissable - hand-pulled udon. A full takeaway operation will be coming soon, but in the meantime get involved with their casual sit-down dining and tachi-gui (standing dining) counter.
The Water House Project
The Water House Project is a ‘social dining experience’, which we, as seasoned experts, can translate for you as ‘a casual fine dining restaurant where you’re encouraged to have a nice chat’. A supper club that started back in 2015, they’ve finally found a permanent home near Victoria Park on the canal. Sounds nice, right? As does their menu of seasonal specials like Herdwick lamb, fermented artichoke, and a pork belly doughnut.
Whitcombs
Well it’s been a hot minute since we’ve said this, but London has a brand new big hotel. The Londoner in Leicester Square is a swanky boutique hotel that’s home to no fewer than 6 new eateries and bars, including Whitcomb’s. An all-day Mediterranean restaurant of the French persuasion, you can expect dishes like lobster thermidor, poussin au citron, and of course, escargots. Prices are high but there’s also a £34 fin de soirée set menu, as well as pre-theatre and set lunch options.
Ramo Ramen
Prepare yourselves because we’re about to tell you about a new spot from the people who once won something called ‘Battle of the Broth’. Step aside WWE. Anyway, Ramo Ramen’s original spot in Kentish Town is all about Filipino-infused Japanese food, and now they’ve brought their oxtail kare, lamb tantanmen, and spicy tempura shrimp ramens to Soho. Their new ramen house on Brewer Street in Soho will of course have plenty of noodle options available, but look out for bubble teas, katsu surf and turf, and gyoza too.
Ekstedt at the yard
Fire and reindeer make for quite the power couple. If you agree then we’d like to introduce you to Ekstedt, a new slick restaurant in the Great Scotland Yard hotel that’s bringing Scandinavian cooking techniques over from their original restaurant in Stockholm. Truly one for all the pyromaniacs out there, their open kitchen has a fire pit, a wood fired oven, and a wood stove they’ll be putting to good use with their flambadou oysters, ember cooked leeks, and more upmarket takes on Nordic classics.
Three Uncles
The original Three Uncles in Liverpool Street is perfect for a tasty char siu pork lunch or a quick solo dinner of roast duck, and we have a sneaking suspicion that their new spot will cover those same needs. You’ll find beef brisket lo mein, curry fishballs, and more on the menu in Camden’s new Hawley Wharf Market. Don’t skip the Hainan chicken.
The Little Lobster Bar
In a shocking plot twist, The Little Lobster Bar is a new little champagne and seafood bar in Borough Market specialising in… lobster. From the people behind Bob’s Lobster, you can swing by for their signature £19 lobster and crayfish roll, crab tacos, lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, and lobster arancini. We’re going to stop saying lobster now and just let you know that they’re open Tuesday to Saturday from 11.30 to 5pm.
Haugen
It’s ski season, baby. Well, it’s not, but London has a new all-day Alpine-inspired restaurant in the form of Haugen. A huge takeaway café, sit-down restaurant, bar, and rooftop situation overlooking the Olympic Park in Stratford, you can swing by for an apple schnapps cocktail or spend several hours getting involved in schnitzel and friends. And yes, there is a whole lot of fondue on the menu.
The Black Cow
Big news for London carnivores, there’s a new steakhouse in town. The Black Cow is a Middle Eastern-inspired steakhouse spot at Camden Lock, with onglet, Denver steak, and sirloin cooked over fire. Outside of heavy-duty meat items, there are also wraps, harissa wings, and kohlrabi coleslaw.
Mimi Mei Fair
As people who spend an alarming amount of time daydreaming about the perfect duck dish, we’re deeply intrigued by the pictures of glistening apple wood-fired peking ducks this new upmarket Chinese restaurant has been splashing on their Instagram. You’ll find their dim sum, 6-course tasting menu, and pricey cocktails on Curzon Street in Mayfair. FYI there’s also a moody red banquette bar in the basement.
Cave Cuvée
Sound the wine bar klaxon and prepare to politely sip biodynamic wines that you 100% didn’t choose because you liked the funky picture on the bottle, because the people behind Top Cuvée have opened a new not-so-secret secret wine bar. Following the success of their online lockdown venture Shop Cuvée, they turned it into a bricks and mortar spot on Bethnal Green Road, and now it has all gone gloriously full circle with their new basement wine bar hidden beneath the shop. Just keep in mind that for now, it’s only open at the weekend.
This restaurant is named after the cute little affectionate nickname the head chef had for his nans. That’s nice. You know what else is nice? Eating lahori chicken and buffalo milk paneer in a swish Mayfair restaurant. That’s exactly what you can do at this new Indian spot that has an outdoor terrace as well as a 13-person kitchen counter that screams huge date night potential. We’ve also got our eye on the £35 set lunch menu.
Supa Ya Ramen
Like the rest of us, Supa Ya Ramen’s 2020 plans were thrown in the bin thanks to the pandemic. Despite the closure of their Hackney Road site last year, this popular supper club has finally opened their own ramen-loaded BYOB restaurant on Kingsland Road. Expect big affordable bowls of noodles, small plates like roast chicken skin with fermented chilli, and a very intriguing miso and caramel noodle ice cream dessert.
The Sea, The Sea
Following the success of this fishmonger-cum-restaurant’s original Chelsea location, they’ve opened a second spot, except this time it’s a chef’s table in Haggerston. From Wednesday to Saturday you can expect an omakase menu led by chef Leo Carreira, which FYI is already fully booked out for September.
The team behind South African-influenced Kudu Collective have opened a fourth spot, Kudu Grill. And this new Peckham location is all about the open grill with dishes like grilled potato flatbread, fried pigs’ tails, amd whole black bream with zhug butter roti.
AUGUST 2021
Delicious Pho
Huge plot twist, but this new southern Vietnamese spot called Delicious Pho specialises in… pho. The Spitalfields spot has bowls with brisket, tiger prawns, and a couple of vegetarian options, as well as summer rolls, prawn fried rice, and pho xao.
Furanxo
Furanxo in Dalston really speaks to the part of us that considers the major perk of adulthood to be drinking nice wine and buying aesthetically pleasing cans of tinned fish. A little grocery shop inspired by Andalucia’s traditional delis, you can either swing by to pick up artisan charcuterie from Spain during the day or utilise all that lowkey charm for your next wine bar date night.
Wadadli Kitchen
A huge seafood boil, a 1200 sq ft balcony, and a chef you’ve almost definitely seen on the telly. Certified ‘chocolate curry goat loaded fries’ legend Andi Oliver has opened her latest venture in one of those huge spaces on the canal in Hackney Wick. There’s a proper sit-down situation with big Antiguan communal sharing dishes, as well as the Wadali Roadside takeaway diner where you can swing by for Andi Oliver classics like spiced rub spit roast chicken, the mushroom umami curry loaded fries, and plenty of beers to-go too.
The Seafood Bar
An Amsterdam-based restaurant group has opened its first UK outpost on Dean Street, Soho. The Seafood Bar is all about… seafood, shocking we know. With a strong focus on shellfish, you can expect platters of fruits de mer, whole boiled lobsters, and plenty of oysters.
Of all the things to specialise in, French toast specialists are something we need more of. Stat. And this new cafe on James Street gets that. With a menu of sweet and savoury toasts, you can expect your classics like fresh berries, and your not-so-classics like chilli cheese cheeto and shakshuka french toast. They’ve also got a bunch of specialty coffee drinks as well like ube frappes and Freddo lattes.
Danclair's
The man behind Brixton Village stalwart Fish, Wings, & Tings has opened a second spot, also in Brixton, where you can get things like BBQ pork ribs, grilled king prawns, and empanadas.
Aspen & Meursault
From the people behind charming Elephant & Castle wine bar Diogenes The Dog, new bar Aspen & Meursault has just opened in Battersea. A café and deli by day, serving coffee and pastries, and a natural wine bar by night, head here for a fireplace, charcuterie, low intervention wines, and a lot of cheese.
Sky-high views and small plates - with not so small price tags - are what you can find at this new rooftop terrace in Peckham, brought to you by the people behind Skylight. As well as serving their menu of things like roast beef on sourdough toast and cumin spiced lamb skewers, they’ll be hosting events and festivals on the weekends.
When Infatuation LA’s Brant Cox reviewed the original Pizzeria Mozza, he argued that the goats cheese pizza was the one to order, however it’s the Butterscotch Budino we’ve got our eye on. Brant says it’s incredibly simple but also magic. And heaven knows we all need a bit of magic in our lives right now. The London outpost of Nancy Silverton’s much-loved LA spot is now open at the Treehouse Hotel on Langham Place.
Café Cecilia
Café Cecilia is a daytime-only spot on the Regent’s Canal in Hackney, just opposite Oval Space. Serving breakfast from 9am Wednesday through Sunday, there are scones with butter and apricot jam, black pudding, potato cakes, and kippers. Lunch offerings are served till 3pm and include stuffed tomato and onion, and lemon sole with marinaded peppers.
Bar La Rampa
Following on from recent adventures developing menus at Mr Ji and Korean Dinner Party, the TATA Eatery folks have teamed up with the people behind KOL Restarant & Mezcaleria and Vinegar Yard on a Cuban-themed bar and restaurant on Market Place, near Oxford Circus. With a clutch of rum-forward cocktails, Cuban sandwiches, foot-long chicharrones, an outdoor terrace, and live music from a house band Wednesdays through Saturdays, Bar La Rampa promises to be boozy and fun.
If you’ve spent as much time as we have gazing at the old courthouse on Clerkenwell Green and wondering what goes on in there, then listen up. The artfully distressed space is now home to a bar, some kind of rooftop infinity pool, and the promise of live music. Importantly, it’s also home to a restaurant (and terrace) from chef and newspaper columnist Florence Knight in what is her first appearance in a restaurant kitchen since leaving Polpetto in 2015. Despite the Session Arts Club’s exclusive-sounding name, it is open to all, although you might have to fight off the see-and-be-seen crowd to sample menu options like mackerel, datterini and capers, and lamb sweetbreads, lettuce and lovage, and a wine list put together by the people at Noble Rot.
Bocca Bocca
Antipasti, red, white, and green base pizzas, and homemade tiramisu are on the cards at this new spot from the same people behind recent coffee shop opening Unity Cafe, also in Leytonstone.
Yes Please
Ridley Road in Dalston has a brand new restaurant that’s offering self-proclaimed ‘camp small plates’. Yes Please is the latest venture from the owner of glorious good times queer underground club, Adonis, and it promises to be an inclusive restaurant with a serious sense of humour. Case in point: there’s something called a pornstar tartini on the menu. We can’t tell you exactly what that is, but we’re very much willing to find out. Slide into their DMs to book a table.
The brand new Mondrian Shoreditch is the sixth location for Bibo, an international chain which already has restaurants across Spain’s southern coast, Ibiza, and Doha. Serving Andalucian-inspired cuisine in the kind of foliage-filled setting you’d very much expect of a restaurant in a big budget hotel, you’ll find a menu full of picoteo and tapas - including oxtail brioche and ink croquetas, a selection of heuvos rotos, and a variety meats and seafood including family style sharing plates like a £120 turbot, a whole lobster paella for three, and Roasted Chicken Rice.
Christina’s
Also in the Mondrian, Christina’s is a 7am-to-late situation serving tea and coffee alongside pastries from Chestnut Bakery (one of London’s Best New Bakeries), an all-day menu featuring no fewer than seven separate sandos (including a sweet one with fruit salad and whipped crème fraiche) and, importantly, fried cheese tater tots. There’s also a whole range of classic cocktails.
JULY 2021
Hector's
Another day, another London wine bar has opened. But we’re particularly excited about this one because it’s from the people behind Hill and Szrok and importantly, looks charming af. A daytime café and bottle shop in De Beauvoir Town, this place becomes a full sit-down wine bar and small plates situation come Thursday nights. It’s walk-in only but look out for any and all upcoming wine events on their Instagram.
Two More Years
Taking over the site of the old Stour Space, Two More Years is everything you’d expect of a music, art, food and drink venue in Hackney Wick. Spread across three floors, there’s room enough for 300 people, food from Burger and Beyond, a huge waterside terrace, and a focus on sustainable beers, biodynamic wines, and having a good time.
Marugame Udon
London could always use more udon, and Marugame Udon get that. This new Japanese restaurant, just a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street station, is all about comforting noodles. The menu includes things like curry udon, kimchi yaki udon, vegan kamaage, and tempura, and they’ve got plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too.
The Dusty Knuckle Harringay
Dalston’s Dusty Knuckle is one of the best bakeries in the biz, so we’re very excited about the pizza restaurant setup at their new outpost on Green Lanes in Harringay. It’s only going to be running on weekends for starters, but of course there’s still bread, wondrously-filled focaccia sandwiches, morning buns, and all the other gems they make as well.
