This is our monthly round-up of the restaurants causing the biggest stir in town - the hottest at this very moment from the much-awaited return of a restaurant supremo to a Singapore hit in Chinatown. (If you're looking for classics, see our all-time London's Best Restaurants guide).
New - Goodbye Horses
Islington - 21 Halliford St, London, N1 3HB
In a nutshell: Vibey neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar
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 Goofbye Horses
New - Lolo
Bermondsey - 102 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UB
In a nutshell: Juse Pizarro's Bermondsey takeover continues
Lolo marks the third restaurant that Jose Pizarro has opened on this stretch near London Bridge and, judging by a recent visit, 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 more of a focus on egg dishes and sandwiches than his other spaces alongside laid-back sharing plates, all backed up by a well-priced wine list. The Tortilla vaga (lazy omelette) is an absolute must.
New - Cornus
Belgravia - 27 Eccleston Pl, London SW1W 9NF
In a nutshell: Medlar sequel
It took fifteen years, but the team behind Chelsea hit Medlar have finally opened a follow-up. This is more of a high-end affair (with some notably punchy prices) and 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."
New - Ambassadors Clubhouse
Mayfair - 25 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BQ
In a nutshell: Gymkhana team's latest
Taking over what used to be Momo, this is the latest big opening from JKS, the team behind Gymkhana, Brigadiers, Hoppers and many more hit restaurants in London. here, they've gone very big and the whole affair is a little more glitzy than the more famous Mayfair sibling. Expect a menu that's dedicated to Punjabi cuisine that we're already starting to hear great things about. This should be a big hit regardless, but time will tell if it will attract the A-listers in the way that Gymkhana has.
More about Ambassadors Clubhouse
New - Alley Cats Pizza
Chelsea - 342 King's Rd, London SW3 5UR
In a nutshell: Viral pizzas take 2
When the original Alley Cats opened in Marylebone, we were taken somewhat by surprise by just how quickly it became a huge viral success. There may have been some question as to whether the same restaurant (owned, let's not forget, by the same people as Angus Steak House) could pull it off again. But it turns out that Chelsea has been very excited by the arrival of the NYC-style pizzas and massive queues have been building down the street here too. It's still massively popular, clearly.
Ibai
City of London - 92 Bartholomew Cl, London EC1A 7BN
In a nutshell: Basque steak in the City
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."
CDMX Tacos
Soho - 1 Green's Ct, London W1F 0HA
In a nutshell: Mexican taqueria
London loves a viral restaurant it seems, and CDMX tacos picks up the pace now that nearby Supernova burgers is calming down. Opening to little fanfare and next to no publicity, but with a striking design, CDMX is clearly the hot new place to try in Soho right now. It's taking a hole-in-the-wall approach to Mexican taquerias and is more of a place to go and grab a few tacos to refuel as opposed to being a place to linger, just as a proper grab-and-go taqueria should be. The tacos come in for a lot of praise and why they may not be at Sonora levels, this is well worth popping into next time you're in Soho.
Miga
Hackney - 1 Mare St, London E8 4RP
In a nutshell: Modern Korean
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 i s 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."
Sandwich Sandwich
City of London - 1 Gresham St, London EC2V 7BX
In a nutshell: BIG sandwiches
Sandwich Sandwich was already big in its original Bristol location and winning the Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year award didn't hurt either. Its arrival in London has shown that it has just as many fans in the capital too, with queues round the block building mere minutes after they announced an opening week giveaway. If you do manage to survive the queue, expect to find enormous sandwiches like the ones pictured. You can either make your own bespoke creations or choose their selections with fillings including sticky hoisin pulled pork, Spanish chicken and more. Expect more of their shops to open in London in the coming months.
Plates
Shoreditch - 320 Old Street, London EC1V 9DR
In a nutshell: Award-winning plant-based food
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.
The Park
Bayswater - 123 Bayswater Rd, London W2 3JH
In a nutshell: Jeremy King goes west in all senses
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 and it's also picked up a fan in Giles Coren who says "everyone will love everything."
Read our Test Drive of The Park
Tollington's
Finsbury Park - 172 Tollington Park, London N4 3AJ
In a nutshell: Four Legs does seafood
With such a huge fanbase it's not surprising that the Four Legs team's latest has proven to be a massive hit. Just a little bit further north in Finsbury Park, Spanish-influenced fish bar Tollington’s took over an old fish and chip shop. The fryers have remained and they've put them to great used, creating small plates like deep-fried devilled crab and some truly outstanding chips bravas. Grace Dent is a fan of those chips - "I shall talk of these chips on my deathbed" - while Jimi Famurewa calls it "an electrically vibey, Spanglish instant classic" in his five-star review.
Read our Test Drive of Tollington's
Kioku by Endo
Whitehall - The OWO. 7 Horse Guards Ave, London SW1A 2EX
In a nutshell: Endo Kazutoshi on the roof
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. Less of a fan though is Giles Coren, who loved the food but wasn't so much a fan of the setting.
Read our Test Drive of Kioku by Endo
Cloth
City of London - 44 Cloth Fair, London EC1A 7JQ
In a nutshell: Historical quarter's wine-led hit
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.”
Julie's
Holland Park - 135 Portland Rd, London W11 4LW
In a nutshell: Much-loved restaurant reboot
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 and the restaurant has found a new lease of life as a celeb magnet. They brought in ex-The Pelican chef Owen Kenworthy to run the kitchen and it really helps that it's now owned by someone who lives in the area. 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. Giles Coren said "it was all utterly historic" while Jay Rayner agress that "its time has clearly come again."
Read our Test Drive of Julie's
The Hero
Maida Vale - 55 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JD
In a nutshell: Classic pub gets a major overhaul
This 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. It's already become a massive hit with locals with The Standard's David Ellis noting "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." The grill restaurant has just opened upstairs so expect the hype to only build from here.
Read our Test Drive of The Hero
Oma and Agora
Borough Market - 2-4 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
In a nutshell: Lively Greek-inspired duo
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. 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. It's the new party place in the area, for sure. In The Standard, Jimi Famurewa was an early fan, calling it suitably "epic" while Giles Coren calls it a "a standout, hands down, pants off, run around screaming, slam-dunk best-of-the-year-so-far joint."
Read our Oma and Agora Test Drive
Josephine Bouchon
Chelsea - 315 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH
In a nutshell: Claude Bosi's Lyonnaise home
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
The Devonshire
Soho - 17 Denman Street, London W1D 7HW
In a nutshell: Hottest pub and grill in town
Still the very hottest thing in this list of hot restaurants, The Devonshire's success continues to be bigger than really anyone could have predicted with a parade of stars visiting to see what the fuss is about (NYC food royalty Danny Meyer has just been in and even Bono's popped in for a look). The excellent reputation of the grill restaurant has well and truly spread and it's still almost impossible to get a booking. Reviews have also been stellar. Giles Coren best summed it up as "What. A. Place." Even if you can't get into the restaurant, it's well worth squeezing your way into the pub for a Guinness.
Read our Test Drive of The Devonshire
The Dover
Mayfair - 33 Dover St, London W1S 4NF
In a nutshell: Old-school hospitality in Mayfair
Another restaurant that's been attracting the A-Listers, The Dover continues to be very hot. The man behind it is Martin Kuczmarski, once Nick Jones' right-hand man at Soho House and he's created a slice of old-school, understated Mayfair glamour crossed with a classic New York Italian restaurant (and an excellent bar). Good hospitality and a great menu mix very well here and the spaghetti meatballs have found a fan in Giles Coren who called them "immense. Delicious. Fathomless." It's already quite the A-list hangout spot - Harry Styles and Selena Gomez were the most recent to be spotted heading to the dining room.
Read our Test Drive of The Dover
Warming up...
Here are a few more restaurants creating buzz recently that we think are worth keeping an eye on...
Marceline (Canary Wharf) - The French grand brasserie in Canary Wharf seems to be just what the area needs.
Mauby (Brockley) - The team from Jerk Off BBQ go permanent and they've already has a stellar review from The Standard's Jimi Famurewa
Mary’s (Mayfair) - Pollen Street Social has relaunched as this new grill restaurant, bar and burger joint (with a full refurb to come later)
Oriole (Covent Garden) - After popping up just across the way, the bar settles down in its new permanent home.
Perma-hot restaurants
There are some London restaurants that have been open for a while but are still hotter than ever.
Mountain (Soho) - Tomos Parry's Soho restaurant is still extremely hard to get into, but worth it for that spider crab omelette
Bouchon Racine (Farringdon) - The return of Henry Harris remains one of London's best restaurants for many.
Crisp Pizza (Hammersmith) - Alley Cats may get the press, but this pizzeria is still the best for many
Arlington (Mayfair) - Jeremy King's revival of the original Le Caprice is still a bit hit.
Where's Hot, mapped.
Here's how the Hot Dinners "Where's Hot" restaurants are spread across town.
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