This week, a follow-up to Dotori arrives as well as the long-awaited Claridge's Bakery with its own take on French Fancies.
The Azuki
Holborn - Rolls Passage, London EC4A 1HL
It had some setbacks along the way to opening (the site being taken over by squatters for a bit), but The Azuki is opening its doors this week. The restaurant comes from Alan Tse, best known for the hugely popular Dotori restaurant in Finsbury Park. In this latest opening, his aim is for the restaurant to be "blending fine Japanese cuisine with the soulful energy of a Tokyo backstreet izakaya." We're fans of Dotori ourselves, so this one is well worth watching.
Opening date: 20 January 2026
Claridge's Bakery
Mayfair - Brook's Mews, London W1K 4HR
Over a year in the planning, Claridge's team-up with hugely influential baker Richard Hart is finally opening this week. In the past, he's headed up Tartine in San Francisco and founded Hart Bagery in Copenhagen with René Redzepi of Noma. Definitely more of a bakery than a cafe (at the time of writing, we don't believe there are any eat-in spaces here), there will be a focus on British bakes, including "the ultimate Claridge’s sausage roll" and Richard's take on a French Fancy, among others.
Opening date: 21 January 2026
Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud
Mayfair - 66 - 67 Burlington Arcade, London W1J 0QU
Nicolas Rouzaud has been running a patisserie at The Connaught for the past few years but now he's going it alone with Le Café. Likely to be the first of a few Le Café's in London, this sees him bringing a host of new pastry creations and brioches to a beautifully designed home in Burlington Arcade.
Opening date: 23 January 2025
This week's events
20-31 January (Canary Wharf) - During the Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival, Roe is running a chicken shawarma stand on the trail and as well as the shawarma, will have hot chocolate and sticky toffee pudding soft serve.
21 January (Chelsea) - Tom Kerridge's Chelsea pub The Chalk Freehouse is launching a book club, starting with Tom Sachs who will be discussing Tom Sach's Guide. It's paired with a three-course dinner, with dishes including slow-cooked shin of beef with carrot & pearl barley risotto. Tickets are £45 (or £80 with a book).
Here's what opened last week:
DakaDaka (Mayfair) - A modern Georgian space takes over the 10 Heddon Street site
Tiella (Hackney) - Dara Klein launched her permanent Hackney home
ONSU (Soho) - The Asian bakery proved to be an instant hit.
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