This week, a hidden Hong Kong-style diner opens in London Fields, a big new hotel opens in Fitzrovia, there's a "Bri-talian" pizzeria in Peckham and more...
Cafe Kowloon
London Fields - 392-393 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH
This is the follow-up to Wonton Charlie's, which opened late last year. It's actually hidden away at the back of that restaurant. Cafe Kowloon will be serving up a contemporary London spin on Hong Kong dishes, including Ibérico Secreto char siu and curry fish ball skewers and Hong Kong French toast. The cocktails also sound promising, including the Pocari Sweat milk punch (tequila, yuzu, and a foamy milk wash).
Opening date: 30 January 2026 (50% off food, 30-31 January)
Cato
Covent Garden - 17 Mercer St, London WC2H 9QJ
This Covent Garden cocktail bar comes from hospitality group Bart & Taylor, who have brought in bartender Angelos Bafas to run it. He was most recently at the excellent Nipperkin bar and the Kioku Sake Bar. Here, you'll find cocktails that are inspired by synesthesia (one which includes mushrooms, and another pea vodka) and on the food front, they're planning "elevated American classics".
Opening date: 30 January 2026
The Newman
Fitzrovia - 50 Newman Street, London W1T 3EB
This is the first big new hotel opening of 2026, just north of Oxford Street. On the food front is Brasserie Angelica, an all-day European restaurant of which the daytime sandwich trolley has us most interested. There's also the basement Gambit Bar, which looks very impressive from the designs. All the main cocktails down there will be available alcohol-free too, while food includes flatbreads, oysters and rullepølse (Danish cold cuts).
Opening date: 1 February 2026
Connie's
Peckham - 133 Queen's Road, London, SE15 2ND
Connie's is a new pizzeria from the founder of 081 Pizzeria, but here he's doing something a little different. At the heart of the menu is what he's calling a "Bri-talian pizza" - a London-style crispy pizza, albeit one made by Italians. The signature pizza here is one with tomato sauce, aged mozzarella, soft egg, spinach cream, pepper cream, grana padano, basil and EVOO.
Opening date: 26 January 2026
Sartoria
City of London - 16 New St, London EC2M 4TR
After changing Sartoria from a single Mayfair restaurant to a small group of Italian restaurants, the Evolv group are already onto their fourth Sartoria. This one takes over what was Fish Market in the City, and like the others, will be particularly inspired by Milanese cuisine (yes, there will be veal Milanese). There's also a big terrace here that's apparently inspired by Lake Como. The most recent makeover in this area was Liverpool Chop House, which has been very popular, so this should do well too.
Opening date: 28 January 2026
Mama Li
Canary Wharf - 3 Rivington Walk, London, E22 3AB
Mama Li is all about Cantonese roast meats and, following their Tower Bridge and London Wall openings, they're coming to Canary Wharf. As with the other restaurants, the main event here will be their Siu Mei roasted meats with four to choose from, crispy pork, BBQ pork, soy chicken and roasted duck.
Opening date: 30 January 2026
This week's events
27 January (Soho) - Getting in on the whole tuna action is MOI's Tuna Chop Shop, where a 160-kilo tuna will be ceremoniously broken down by MOI’s master sushi chefs, followed by a menu featuring the best parts of the fish (£160).
30-31 January (Highbury) - Vins may have closed, but they're reopening briefly for a chef takeover which sees Masterchef: The Professionals chef Paule Beke cooking a menu that combines French technique with global influences and her own heritage for The Afrofusion Dinner. Tickets are £59.
31 January (Islington) - Join food photographer Patricia Niven & food stylist Katie Smith for a workshop where they explore how to take better photos using your smartphone camera. The half-day course costs £150.
Here's what opened last week:
The Azuki (Holborn) - The man behind Dotori opens his follow-up.
Claridge's Bakery (Mayfair) - Behind Claridge's is where you'll find Mayfair's hot new bakery.
Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud (Mayfair) - The Connaught patisserie chef opens his own place.
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