We're over halfway through the year, so that means it's time for our round-up of the best openings of the year to date...
December 2024
Pinna
Mayfair - 43 Curzon Street, London W1J 7UF
Pinna is one of a host of new openings this year from restaurateurs George Bukhov-Weinstein and Ilya Demichev. Taking over an old bank on the fringes of Shepherd Market in Mayfair the Sardinian restaurant looks like it’s been on this site forever. Pasta made fresh on site daily is a high point and the Sardinian wine list is worth a good look too.
The Brave
Islington - 340-342 Essex Road, London N1 3PB
Chef James Cochran’s exile from Islington after the closure of 12:51 was thankfully shortlived as he returned to open the bistro pub The Brave. It might be a pub in name and looks, but both the bar snacks and dining room menus reveal Cochran’s creative hand, from jerk spiced Scotch eggs to the hay emulsion that comes with the slow-cooked shin of beef.
November 2024
AngloThai
Marylebone - 22-24 Seymour Place, London W1H 7NL
Sometimes great things come to those who wait and that's certainly the case with AngloThai. The restaurant by John and Desiree Chantarasak has been in the planning stages for four years, but that long waiting period has ended up delivering a fantastic restaurant. Known for blending Thai cuisine with British ingredients, this sees them working at the top of their game, with an early review by David Ellis in The Standard agreeing - "This is thoughtful, elegant food, understated but marked by a sense of absolute confidence in the kitchen."
Read our Test Drive of AngloThai
The Georgian
Knightsbridge - Fourth Floor, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL
There is absolutely nothing understated about The Georgian - a 130 year old restaurant at Harrods which has just had the mother of all makeovers. It competes with Sucre for the most chandeliers in one London dining room. Best of all they've brought in Pie King Calum Franklin to oversee the evening menu which, as you might imagine, has a distinct pie focus. Etiquette expert William Hanson has already been in and Jessie Ware and Dr Who's Yasmin Finney were spotted at the opening party.
Read our Test Drive of The Georgian
Amélie
Belgravia - 19 Motcomb St, London SW1X 8LB
Part of the reworking of the Pantechnicon building included getting rid of their retail operation and replacing it with this gorgeous-looking Provencal restaurant with an ex-Annabel’s and Arts Club chef in the kitchen. Dishes plunder the Mediterranean coast for inspiration but the must-have dish is the crab toast with tomato and caviar.
Café Mondo
Camberwell - 42 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8PX
Having built up a stellar reputation for their sandwiches, the Mondo Sando crew have now settled down in Peckham. Their new home, in a former greasy spoon, sees them serving up top-tier sandwiches during the day with a more extensive menu in the evenings. It’s been a successful move with some great reviews from the critics.
Row on 5
Mayfair - 5 Savile Row, London W1S 3PB
Jason Atherton is behind a veritable tsunami of restaurant openings in London this year, but this flagship restaurant on Savile Row is where he’s hoping for Michelin recognition. It’s not a vain hope; Michelin have already given the Dubai version of this two stars. Chef Spencer Metzer (ex-The Ritz) is the man in the kitchen making the magic happen - expect culinary fireworks across a multi-course tasting menu.
October 2024
Fonda
Mayfair - 12 Heddon St, London W1B 4BZ
If the arrival of a slew of A-listers is anything to go by (and of course it is) then Lastra's new Mayfair Mexican restaurant is white-hot at the moment. Stars from Tom Cruise to Keira Knightley have been spotted checking out the chef's more casual offering on Heddon Street. The Standard's David Ellis was also a fan calling this: "Kol with the tasting menu cuffs undone."
Canteen
Notting Hill - 301 Portobello Road, London W10 5TD
If you want to show that you're serious about your latest Italian restaurant opening in London, it always helps to have a couple of ex-River Cafe folk running the kitchen. Here at Canteen (from the same team that brought us The Pelican and The Hero) chefs Jessica Filbey and Harry Hills are in charge of a daily changing menu that features both pizza and pasta alongside a few larger sharing plates in a very casual space. It got five stars from David Ellis in The Standard who said "I’d cross town for lunch here".
Fantomas
Chelsea - 235 King’s Road, London SW3
The King's Road hasn't really seen anything like Fantomas for quite some time, as evidenced by the crowds that have thronged there since day one. Chef Chris Denney (ex-Fiend) is in charge of a menu that's loosely European with the odd Japanese influence. "He’s never boring and his menu is delicious but borderline chaotic on a global level," said Grace Dent in the Guardian.
Read our Test Drive of Fantomas
The Yellow Bittern
King's Cross - 20 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DU
Taking in both the column inches and social media controversy stirred up by this new arrival in King's Cross, The Yellow Bittern is 100% a restaurant you're going to want to have an opinion about. It's only open at lunch, you have to phone to book, there's no wine list and you have to pay by cash. A couple of Instagram posts by chef and co-founder Hugh Corcoran have attracted divided reaction but there's been praise for the food too, and it's now booked until the end of the year. the food. Reviews have been mixed with Giles Coren liking the idea more than the food, while Jay Rayner said it "leaves you muttering about having been served school dinners".
Godet
Islington - 382 Essex Road, London N1 3PF
With our Insta reel getting just shy of 200k views, we'd like to think we had something to do with the popularity of this new Islington wine pub. But frankly, they're doing a good job all on their own mixing a vibey, live DJ scene with a really good selection of interesting wines and a top-tier food residency courtesy of Perk'd Up Burger.
Delamina Townhouse
Covent Garden - 13-15 Tavistock Street, London WC2E 7PS
This is the third opening from the Delamina restaurant group and, this time, the offering feels more elegant and refined - serving up Eastern Mediterranean dishes in a gorgeous old Georgian building just off the Covent Garden piazza. What you can be sure of is that everything tastes amazing with the plant-led options being particularly creative and delicious.
Read our Test Drive of Delamina Townhouse
Turo Turo
Tooting - 102 Tooting High Street, London SW17 0RR
It’s taken a decade of slogging through the street food and supperclub circuit to get here, but chef Rex De Guzman (ex-Gordon Ramsay’s Maze) now has a permanent home for his Filipino restaurant. At Turo Turo, he’s shining a light on the country’s street food with a sharing concept that makes this place a particularly pick good for groups.
Long Chim
Soho - Ground Floor, 36–40 Rupert St, London W1D 6DW
Taking over what used to be the ground floor of Hovarda, this sees Australian chef David Thompson, known for cooking Thai food, back in London with an outpost of his casual Thai restaurant. Here, there's a short, tight menu that's specifically influenced by Bangkok.
Read our Test Drive of Long Chim
Bottarga
Chelsea - 383 King's Road, London SW10 0LP
Taking over from Chicama, this new Mediterranean-focused restaurant has been a hit from day one, packing diners in who love its food with a Greek bent. Chef Adam Rawson is back with the group too and together he and Executive Chef, Tzoulio Loulai are giving Chelsea folk what they want.
September 2024
Sael
St James - 1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4QQ
Sael was Jason Atherton's first completely new restaurant of 2024, following the conversion of Pollen Street Social to Mary's. Chef Dale Bainbridge, most recently Head Chef at Pollen Street Social, is in the kitchen and the restaurant is an ode to all things British, albeit through a very fancy lens. The marmite custard tarts are a must-have snack while the whole menu features plenty of hits, including a fantastic snail and beef cheek lasagna.
Wildflowers
Belgravia - Unit 2, 57 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE
Once head chef of Elystan Street, chef Aaron Potter is at the top of his game with this excellent Mediterranean-focused restaurant in Belgravia. He's teamed up with interior stylist, Laura Hart for this beautiful-looking space with a very well-priced upstairs wine bar, which also features excellent snacks from Potter.
Read our Test Drive of Wildflowers
Café Francois
Borough Yards - 14-16 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD
Maison Francois Founder François O’Neill and his team have transformed the old Paul Smith store in Borough Yards into a heavenly French brasserie that's just as perfect for enjoying a martini and plate of gougères as it is for a long, boozy lunch with said steak and a ramble through their great wine list. It's a huge hit with the prime rib with snails and their pistachio eclairs becoming early firm favourites.
Read the Café Francois Test Drive
Sesta
Hackney - 52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG
This Hackney restaurant took over the space from Pidgin with a couple of their alumni in charge. Chef Drew Snaith leads the kitchen while ex-Pidgin GM Hannah Kowalski leads the room and wine list. It's a big change for the space as the weekly changing menus are gone, replaced by a more seasonally-changing menu. The food remains excellent and the opportunity to hone signature dishes is proving to be a great shift. The scotched olives and beef ragu toasties are worth crossing town for and the whole menu features a consistent delivery of hits. It's a very worthy successor.
Junk
Soho - 49 Old Compton St, London W1D 6HL
In 2024, London just can't get enough of smash burgers. As the Supernova craze died down, another one built up for Junk, a burger joint that originates from France. Oddly enough, this one seems like a mash-up of both Supernova and its sister establishment Creme, as Junk also specialises in big chewy cookies. The stars are the burgers, however, and you can build a five-stack behemoth of them.
Noodle Inn
Soho - 4-6 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TA
Noodle Inn proved to be hugely popular quickly after launch, particularly on social media; the queues snaking down Old Compton Street have become a permanent fixture. Owned by the same people as Kung Fu Noodle, the big draw here is seeing those hand-pulled noodles being made in front of you and consequently seats by the open kitchen are the current gold ticket in London's foodie circles.
Leydi
City of London - 15 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EF
This City restaurant, inside the Hyde London City hotel, is responsible for ex-Oklava chef Selin Kiazim's return to the London restaurant scene. It's a modern Turkish restaurant, with a specific focus on Istanbul, that really brings something new to the City (as well as some excellent cocktails). Breads and meze are a must, as is a tomato-covered burger, the borek and a wonderful kunefe. Grace Dent called it "a whirlwind of a restaurant that aims to incapacitate with kindness."
The Barbary
Notting Hill - 112 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU
The original Barbary spawned a mini Barbary Next Door, but this latest opening is a much bigger venture. Moving west, they have kept much of the original counter-dining approach, but also added much more traditional booth seating for those Notting Hill residents who are a little more laid back. The classic Barbary dishes made the journey too (the hashcake for one), along with new additions like a coffee rub organic chicken.
Mignonette
Richmond - 109 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2PN
The opening of this neighbourhood restaurant saw local chef John McClements coming out of retirement to get back in the hospitality game. The aim was to serve up seasonal French bistro food that was also - drumroll - affordable. Locals would say they’ve more than succeeded. The duck fat brioche served with a selection of terrines is not to be missed.
August 2024
Lolo
Bermondsey - 102 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UB
Lolo marks the third restaurant that Jose Pizarro has opened on this stretch near London Bridge and it has become an immediate hit. Sitting in the all-day casual space that sits thematically between tapas bar José and the more formal Pizarro, this genuinely feels like it's adding something new to the street. Being an all-day affair, there's a focus on egg dishes and sandwiches alongside laid-back sharing plates, all backed up by a well-priced wine list. The Tortilla vaga (lazy omelette) is an absolute must. In his last review for The Standard, Jimi Famurewa said while the menu can be a little unwieldy "some languorous drinks, augmented by those great snacks, may be the best approach here."
Marceline
Canary Wharf - Wood Wharf, 10 Water St, London E14 5GX
Is it a New York-style cafe or a French brasserie? Well, according to the critics Marceline straddles both worlds and that's a good thing. It makes this handy mid-range restaurant in the heart of Canary Wharf as useful a place to go for a business lunch as it is for a boisterous dinner with friends in the evenings. Elite Traveler found themselves in a "butter-induced coma" after enjoying the signature dish of Ravioli Dauphiné. Time Out agreed, calling it a "an oozy, oily, cheesy thing of wonder".
Read our Test Drive of Marceline
Mary's
Mayfair - 8-10 Pollen St, London W1S 1NQ
Mary's kicked off Jason Atherton's incredibly busy autumn, seeing him replace his flagship Pollen Street Social with new grill restaurant Mary's. While it's a very different beast to what came before, Mary's proved to be an extremely accomplished relaunch of the space, with chef Alex Parker delivering some excellent dishes and grills, not to mention a fantastic smash burger. There's also a Blind Pig cocktail bar here that's worth popping into alone. Grace Dent was impressed, saying "Mary’s is hugely enjoyable".
Goldies
Carnaby - 10-11 Kingly Court, London W1F 5PW
This opening saw the team behind Blanchette take a slightly different approach, creating a "wood-fired dining experience". We've seen a few of these appear in London, but Goldies is notable because it's also a much more affordable restaurant than many such grills. Jay Rayner became a fan, citing "flame and smoke used less to prove authentic caveman credentials and more just because it makes things taste nice."
July 2024
Ibai
City of London - 92 Bartholomew Cl, London EC1A 7BN
Having opened somewhat quietly in the City, Ibai has quickly become a big hit. Given that it's run by a Basque meat importing company (the same one behind Lurra in Marylebone) it's easy to see why - the steak is phenomenal here. But that's only part of the story with many of the small plates, particularly the prawn/black pudding Croque Ibai, winning dishes in their own right. Charlotte Ivers in The Sunday Times was a fan of the Croque Ibai saying "There’s something almost unholy about the decadence" while Grace Dent says "The pudding list, if the steaks don’t end you, is worth the trip alone."
Plates
Shoreditch - 320 Old Street, London EC1V 9DR
Plates is so hot right now that it's almost impossible to actually book a table before next year. It's easy to see why it's popular. Chef Kirk Haworth became a big star after winning this year's Great British Menu with his inventive and precise plant-based cooking. Previously run as supperclubs or a one-night-only restaurant, he's teamed up with his sister Keeley for this impressive Shoreditch opening, which showcases many of the dishes he prepared in the show. This feels like a restaurant already deserving of a Michelin star, so if you can get a table (and it's worth signing up to hear about cancellations) you're in for a treat. In The Sunday Times, Adam Kay described it as "a vegan restaurant that could easily win over a committed carnivore."
Goodbye Horses
Islington - 21 Halliford St, London, N1 3HB
This wine bar and restaurant has quickly become the hottest ticket in Islington right now. Part of it is down to the reworking of an old neighbourhood pub into a beautiful modern, but welcoming space. Another aspect is the natural, biodynamic and organic wine list that really brings something new to the area. And all that's capped off with an excellent menu of small plates by ex-Papi chef Jack Coggins. The menu makes something simple like egg mayonnaise seem special, and there are some really inventive takes throughout.
Read our Test Drive of Goodbye Horses
Cornus
Belgravia - 27 Eccleston Pl, London SW1W 9NF
After fifteen years, the team behind Chelsea hit Medlar opened a follow-up which is more of a high-end affair (with some notably punchy prices). They've brought in ex-Angler chef Gary Foulkes to head up the kitchen and ex-Allegra pastry chef Kelly Cullen on dessert. We're in fine-dining territory here and there's a huge amount of detail put into dishes like the signature spaghetti with lobster and caviar. Reviews have certainly mentioned those prices but were also impressed by the food. Grace Dent said it's "celebrating exquisite products cooked by a talented team working at a level that only a handful of people in Britain today could even hope to manage." A set lunch has recently been added, which makes the experience much more affordable.
Holy Carrot
Notting Hill - 156 Portobello Rd, London W11 2EB
Holy Carrot sees ex-Acme Fire Cult chef Daniel Watkins team up with Holy Carrot's Irina Linovich for the first permanent restaurant of the former pop-up. It sees them taking the same plant-based and sustainable approach to the pop-up and creating a plant-based menu that pushes what's possible with vegan food without feeling like boundaries have been set. The carrots are a must, but the matcha tiramisu is also excellent, as are the cocktails by A Bar with Shapes for a Name.
Read our Test Drive of Holy Carrot
Sol's
Bayswater - 25 Leinster Terrace, London W2 3ET
Sol's has added to the somewhat unexpected rejuvenation of Bayswater's dining scene (also see The Park), with a wine bar that feels like a slice of East London has moved west. It's a small wine bar that comes from the people behind coffee shop/newsagents Shreeji News and Foreign Exchange News. Expect small and sharing plates alongside a low-intervention European wine list.
Mauby
Brockley - 1 Harefield Road, London SE4 1LW
Mauby is the latest venture for a couple who first made a name for themselves with their amazing jerk chicken and barbecue, with the very popular Jerk Off BBQ. At Mauby, they are hoping to bring "a bit of Soho energy to Brockley" serving everything from fresh fried seafood, stewed beans and tasty vegetable plates to lesser-known homestyle West Indian dishes and great desserts. Jimi Famurewa approved, saying "I really hope that this immensely likeable slice of British-Caribbean cool is here for the long haul."
Ukiyo
Covent Garden - 8 Slingsby Place, London WC2H 9JZ
Ukiyo is a sushi bar in Covent Garden that focuses on hand rolls but also offers up a full omakase experience that happens to be one of the most affordable in central London. Alongside the rolls, there are maki, nigiri and sashimi as well as an interesting sake and cocktail offering.
June 2024
Miga
Hackney - 1 Mare St, London E8 4RP
Miga is another restaurant that has built up an impressive following, relying on word of mouth and social media buzz to get the word out there. A family business (it's run by two brothers, with their father in the kitchen), its modern approach to Korean cooking brings something unique to the Hackney food scene. The restaurant is continuing to evolve, with a new-look menu promised in September and they're also trialling omakase-style dinners. That buzz has already translated to a five-star review in The Standard from Jimi Famurewa who says they are giving "their father’s remarkable, soulful cooking the platform it deserves."
Henri
Covent Garden - 14-15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QH
Chef Jackson Boxer is a busy man, but he’s still found the time to open this gorgeous Parisian-inspired bistro in the heart of Covent Garden. The seaweed canelés bejewelled with trout roe are a must-have and there are numerous dishes on the reasonably-priced menu that make this just as much of a place to pop in for a dish and a drink as for a pre or post-theatre dinner.
The River Café Café
Hammersmith - Thames Wharf Studios, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
Obviously, Ruth Rogers’ first new restaurant opening in thirty years was going to cause quite a stir in London’s foodie circles. Fans of The River Cafe - and they are legion - will want to try anything new they do, but anyone who’s perhaps been put off by trying the OG by the punchy pricing might look to test the waters with this new riverside cafe first. Expect great pasta but also pastries and coffees making this more of an all-day offering.
The Park
Bayswater - 123 Bayswater Rd, London W2 3JH
Restaurateur Jeremy King’s latest restaurant opening is, he says, his love letter to America. You’ll find it on the edge of Hyde Park taking up the whole ground floor of a multi-million-pound apartment block in Bayswater. And where Jeremy goes, his fans follow in their droves. Business is already booming with the ham hock pie and prawn cocktails being early favourites but it’s a big restaurant so you should still be able to secure a table if you keep trying.
Read our Test Drive of The Park
Tollington's
Finsbury Park - 172 Tollington Park, London N4 3AJ
With such a huge fanbase it was always going to be interesting to see what the Four Legs team did after their massive success with The Plimsoll. Moving only a little bit further north in Finsbury Park their next opening is Spanish fish bar Tollington’s, which has taken over an old fish and chip shop. The fryers may have remained but that’s all as this part of North London has become a corner of Spain instead. Bookings are going to be hard but the good news is there’s more room free for walk-ins in the front bar.
Read our Test Drive of Tollington's
May 2024
Julie's
Holland Park - 135 Portland Rd, London W11 4LW
This is the second time in just a few years that there's been a full revamp of Julie's, but this one has clearly been an unqualified success. Bringing in an ex-The Pelican chef (Owen Kenworthy) and the fact that it's now owned by someone who lives in the area has certainly helped to make this a hit again. The French brasserie style is a much more fitting approach for the area and crowd and the terrace is the place to be on a sunny day. We expect a lot of potential star-spotting at this place in the coming months and in the meantime, Giles Coren said "it was all utterly historic".
Read our Test Drive of Julie's
Kioku by Endo
Whitehall - The OWO. 7 Horse Guards Ave, London SW1A 2EX
Nothing restaurant-wise has really taken off at the massive OWO/Raffles development on Whitehall so the stakes were high for this new rooftop spot by Endo Kazutoshi. The sushi, as you might imagine, is on point but there are lots of other interesting dishes to try too. The good news is that it’s already an immediate hit - the arrival of the British summer and the amazing views from the terrace here aren’t hurting any.
Read our Test Drive of Kioku by Endo
The Hero
Maida Vale - 55 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JD
Another successful revamp is the revival of what was once The Hero of Maida by the same people who made The Pelican such a big success. Stripping back the decor has created a beautiful-looking pub, while the food takes a new approach to pub classics (with a grill restaurant upstairs to follow soon). It's already become a massive hit with locals, and another local, The Standard's David Ellis also approves: "This might just be the best-looking pub in the world." Meanwhile, Jay Rayner says "they have made the sweetly familiar blissfully new again" while Giles Coren after visiting early said "it’s going to be good. Very good."
Read our Test Drive of The Hero
Inis
Hackney - 13 Rookwood Way, Fish Island, London E3 2XT
Fans of an impeccably fried breakfast may want to make the trek to Fish Island in Hackney Wick to try out the feast that Inis is serving up. Word has spread not only of the morning offering but the interesting mix of British and Irish dishes that this independent restaurant has on its menu. It’s already won quite the following from locals but deserves visitors from further afield too.
Cafe Britaly
Peckham - 191 Rye Lane, London SE15 4TP
Italian purists appear to have calmed down since the appearance of Cafe Britaly’s carbonara dish with cream and a fried egg topping first elevated their blood pressure. Numerous reviewers have enjoyed working their way through the menu at this greasy spoon meets Italian cafe in Peckham. A place that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Read our Test Drive of Cafe Britaly
April 2024
Oma and Agora
Borough Market - 2-4 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
Coming from David Carter, the man behind Smokestak and Manteca, it was fair to expect big things from his Greek-inspired restaurants in Borough Market, even if they were something of a creative departure for him. But barely weeks after opening, both restaurants are heaving, bringing a taste of Shoreditch vibes to Borough. The walk-in-only Agora channels a busy Greek taverna against live-fire cooking while the upstairs OMA features next-level dishes like their lobster-bisque borek. Breads are baked in-house (the acama is wonderful) and OMA is also blessed with an upstairs terrace that overlooks the market. It's the new party place in the area, for sure. In The Standard, Jimi Famurewa is an early fan, calling it suitably "epic".
Read our Oma and Agora Test Drive
Roe
Canary Wharf - Five Park Drive, Wood Wharf, London E14 9GG
Over the years, Fallow has built a big reputation both for its cooking but also by becoming a master of social media. For their next proper restaurant (outside of spin-off Fowl), the team here have gone a whole lot bigger for their Canary Wharf restaurant Roe. Huge though it is, the style of food that made Fallow such a hit, low waste, with a strong focus on local and sustainable, is very much in evidence here. From excellent skewers to a properly game-changing banana dessert, the food is excellent. They're also now open all day making it perfect for the Canary Wharf workers looking for a power breakfast spot.
Cloth
City of London - 44 Cloth Fair, London EC1A 7JQ
Tucked away off Smithfield, this cosy little British bistro (with a strong wine offering) has hit the ground running, winning a slew of good reviews. The Guardian’s Grace Dent is a fan saying; “There’s nothing hokey, disappointing or out of a tin at Cloth.” It was also popular with The Financial Times critic Tim Hayward who said; “even though the meal was just short of stellar, I’m determined to return many times.”
ABC Kitchens
Knightsbridge - Old Barrack Yard, Belgravia, London SW1X 7NP
The Emory is the brand new suites-only hotel from The Maybourne Group that's right next door to another of their hotels, The Berkeley (and connected to it by a door through to Cedric Grolet). Blessed with a hidden courtyard, it also boasts the latest London restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten (he also teamed up with Maybourne at The Connaught). This is essentially an amalgam of the various ABC restaurants he's opened in America, featuring some of his best-known dishes like the spring pea guacamole. It's already a hit with the Knightsbridge folk, and has a brass-hued interior design that really comes to life at night.
Read our ABC Kitchens Test Drive
Los Mochis City
City of London - 9th Floor, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT
It’s notoriously hard to impress the demanding City crowd but this rooftop spot at 100 Broadgate has clearly done just that. Do diners love the Mexican-Japanese fusion food and the interesting cocktail list or are they here for the amazing-looking roof terrace? It’s buzzy every night of the week and there are more elements still to open here.
Read our Test Drive of Los Mochis City
March 2024
Arlington
St James - 20 Arlington St, St. James's, London SW1A 1RJ
The first of Jeremy King's three new restaurants of 2024 continues to be a massive hit, even without star MD Jesus Adorno. So many A-list celebs have already been through the doors during its testing weeks that it's unquestionably the new place to be seen in right now. Essentially Le Caprice in all but name, it's been a hit with the old and new crowd. Of the former, Giles Coren says "the food is great. Just great." while Jimi Famurewa is a fan of the restaurants which lets you "party like it’s 1989." Yes, it's something of a throwback, but as Grace Dent puts it: "It ain’t broke, and neither is its the clientele, so nobody needs to fix it."
Lita
Marylebone - 7 Paddington St, London W1U 5QE
Almost out of nowhere, Lita has quickly become one of the hottest restaurants in town. Crossing over into the space that made Chiltern Firehouse such a big hit, it mixes great cooking with a laid-back-luxe vibe that's proving very popular with the well-heeled Marylebone set. Of course, it helps that the food by chef Luke Ahearne is exceptionally good (the tuna dish pictured is a showstopper) and has already garnered some stellar reviews. In The Standard, Jimi Famurewa called it "a marvel" while Jay Rayner was in "heavenly raptures over the cooking here".
Josephine Bouchon
Chelsea - 315 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH
It's been a busy 12 months for Claude Bosi with this being the third restaurant he's opened in that time frame; one of them already has two Michelin stars. This restaurant, a team-up with Bosi's wife Lucy, feels like more of a neighbourhood affair and one that's closer to Bosi's heart, being a local bistro that harkens back to his family's roots. It's become a massive hit for both locals and those further afield. Very much an old-school affair, Jay Rayner calls it "a beautifully executed act of remembrance." Make sure to order the rum baba, served tableside.
Read our Josephine Bouchon Test Drive
TT
Shoreditch - 17b Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA
The rooftop of what was TT Liquor used to host pop-up restaurants but this year they've redesigned it and put a permanent chef in place, ex-Oren chef Sam Lone. He's making ample use of their smoker for an excellent rooftop menu featuring some of the best barbecued meats in town (as well as some amazing croquettes). The roof is fully weatherproofed so it's great even when the rain is pouring down.
The Cocochine
Mayfair - 27 Bruton Place, London W1J 6NQ
This restaurant comes from the team of gallery owner Tim Jefferies and chef Larry Jayasekara. It's set in an absolutely beautiful space, adorned with artwork from Jefferies' galleries. It's a fine dining affair with much of the produce coming from produce from the Rowler Estate in Northamptonshire. Expect intense attention to detail in the cooking and make sure to try one of their pies if they're on the menu.
Read our Test Drive of The Cocochine
Thirty7
Covent Garden - 37 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9EN
Thirty7 comes from the Oystermen (Matt Lovell & Rob Hampton) and is just around the corner from their first Covent Garden restaurant. They describe the restaurant as a neighbourhood restaurant and bar which goes beyond the seafood focus of before (although you will find oysters on the menu). Make sure to have the cheddar beignets and also pop down to the very handy bar downstairs.
Read our Test Drive of Thirty7
Dream Xi'an
City of London - Unit 2A, Tower Place, London EC3R 5BU
When chef Guirong Wei (Master Wei) opens a restaurant, she might not tell many people about it but people sit up and take notice. Her latest place here in Tower Hill includes some of the greatest hits of Master Wei, which means those amazing hand-pulled noodles, as well as a focus on dumplings inspired by Wei’s Shaanxi upbringing.
Chapel Market Kitchen
Islington - 2 Chapel Market, London N1 9EZ
Tucked down the far end (some might say the wrong end) of Chapel Market, this seafood spot has been turning out superlative dishes since opening quietly early in 2024. Chef Maoz Alonim has swapped the markets of Tel Aviv for North London and in doing so has given Islington this enticing oyster bar and grill.
February 2024
Morchella
Clerkenwell - 84-86 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4Q
After success with Perilla in Stoke Newington, the same team has opened a much bigger restaurant close to Exmouth Market that's quite a different beast. Focusing this time on a modern interpretation of Mediterranean dining, they prove that they're no one-hit-wonder with an extremely assured parade of snacks and sharing dishes, all with their own unique spin. In The Standard, Jimi Famurewa says the restaurant "traffics in the sort of rare brilliance that it’s hard to keep secret for very long." meanwhile, Grace Dent says the kitchen is creating "an intense mix of decadent, surprising, weird and usually utterly triumphant dishes".
Read our Test Drive of Morchella
Liu Xiaomian
Carnaby - First floor, Kingly Ct, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
Previously popping up in residencies, Liu Xiaomian's noodles have been very popular, counting none other than Nigella Lawson among their fans. Run by Chongqing expats Liu Qian and Charlene Liu, this sees them finally getting a permanent space in Carnaby's Kingly court. The menu centres around two dishes - Xiaomian wheat noodles in an aromatic and spicy broth and a hot and sour glass noodle dish with new pig's trotter noodles making the menu too. If you're yet to try their noodles - then now's the time.
Bruno
Victoria Park - 211a Victoria Park Road, London E9 7JN
After his success with Sager + Wilde, Michael Sager has concentrated on his own neighbourhood for his latest opening, a small, cosy wine bar just off Victoria Park. Named after his father, the bar is stocked with many wines from his own private collection and those are backed up with a carby menu that's led by huge filled pretzels. This is exactly the kind of wine bar you want to appear in your neighbourhood and will make you jealous of the Victoria Park locals.
Camille
Borough Market - 2-3 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA
After success both in London with Ducksoup and out of town with Osteria Emilia, Clare Lattin and Tom Hill's latest restaurant sees them pivot to a pretty traditional French bistro. With ex-P Franco chef Elliot Hashtroudi as head chef, the very French menu is already finding its fans. In The Guardian, Grace Dent "got the sense that this is a truly great little restaurant" while Jimi Famurewa called it one of the year's "most intoxicating openings".
Singapulah
Chinatown - 53 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6LB
Once a pop-up, Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew is relaunching Singapulah, this time teaming up with the Singapore tourism board. Behind a "secret" door, you'll find the restaurant which features classics like Bak Chor Mee, Singapore Laksa, and Mao Shan Wang Durian. It's already fully viral on social and hopefully should be the restaurant to make a success of what recently has been an ill-fated site.
The Shoap by Auld Hag
Islington - 406 St John Street, London EC1V 4ND
In a nutshell: Scottish deli
After years working as a market stall under the Auld Hag title, Gregg Boyd has gone permanent with this deli, cafe and bar in Angel, immediately proving that there was a pent-up need for "Scottish scran". Since opening, there have been queues out the door for their filled morning rolls, tattie scones, cakes and more. Get there as early as you can to make sure you grab some baked goods, but it's also a great place for a late afternooon/early evening drink in Angel. In The Standard, Jimi Famurewa was impressed, saying that when you leave, you'll be "plotting an immediate return".
January 2024
Juno
Notting Hill - 2-4 Farmer St, London W8 7SN
We may have contributed to the buzz around this tiny new restaurant tucked away upstairs in Los Mochis in Notting Hill after our Instagram reel garnered 370k views. But while we're unlikely to ever get a seat here again given that there are only six, we can't be sad if that's because more of you are heading down to try this exceptional omakase spot.
Farm Shop wine bar
Mayfair - 64 South Audley Street, London W1K 2QT
Farm Shop started life out on an actual farm, Durslade Farm in Bruton, and this is their Mayfair location which, as well as being a shop and butcher, has an extensive wine bar below ground. The entry-level wines by the glass are surprisingly affordable for Mayfair and they're backed up with cheese and charcuterie boards, toasties and more. The perfect little hideaway in the middle of Mayfair.
Read our Test Drive of Farm Shop
Alley Cats Pizza
Marylebone - 22 Paddington St, London W1U 5QY
Alley Cats Pizza has been something of a phenomenon. The pizzeria is based on NYC-style pizzerias with huge pizzas on offer and built up an avid following overnight. There are no bookings so queues are likely at peak times and when you get a table expect the classic crisp-based pizzas to fill the whole table. They do offer click & collect if you're queue-phobic and more branches are on the way.
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