This is our monthly round-up of the restaurants causing the biggest stir in town. This month, Dara Klein's Tiella in Hackney is a huge hit, there's a perma-queue in Soho for Onsu, DakaDaka's Georgian food is winning fans in Mayfair and more...
Tiella
Hackney - 109 Columbia Road, London E2 7RL
In a nutshell: Dara Klein goes permanent with her Italian trattoria
One of the easiest ways to see if a restaurant is ‘hot’ is the simplest - how easy/hard is it to get a booking? Well, we can tell you it’s no easy feat at Tiella. Chef Dara Klein has already built up a loyal fanbase at her residency in Islington before the move to permanent digs on Columbia Road, and they are all keen to check the new place out. So far, the standouts on the Italian menu are the polpette with the chicken Milanese a close second. Ry Jessop, co-founder of The Plimsoll, is running front of house and with much of the wine coming courtesy of Dara’s wine importer dad, the drink side of things is as important as the food.
Claridge's Bakery
Mayfair - Brook's Mews, London W1K 4HR
In a nutshell: High-end bakery with a top baker
Claridge's has a knack for finding new ways to make the most out of its building, and the latest way is by opening their first bakery around the back of the hotel. Not doing anything by halves, they've brought in one of the world's most renowned bakers, Richard Hart, to run things. Alongside the bread, the main attractions are the various cakes and pastries that are based on British classics. So you'll find his (upmarket) versions of Jammie Dodgers and French Fancies in the bakery. There's no eat-in option here, it's purely a takeaway place, but with no other bakeries nearby really competing in the same league, it's well worth heading round the back of Claridge's and treating yourself to a yuzu French Fancy.
Onsu
Soho - 55A Dean St, London W1D 6AG
In a nutshell: Asian inspired patisserie and cafe
A bad (but also badly researched) review by bloggers Bite Twice aside, new Soho bakery Onsu has been hugely popular and has had queues snaking down Dean Street since day one. The reason people are willing to queue in the rain is to check out the Asian-influenced bread and patisserie by chef Michael Kwan, former head pastry chef at The Dorchester. On our visit, the first flush of visitors through the door pretty much cleaned the bakery out of treats like the wagyu beef curry bun and popcorn miso caramel Paris Brests. Go for the cakes, but try and get a table to enjoy the new coffee sensation, their -86 degree lattes (the ube one is the best).
DakaDaka
Mayfair - 10 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BX
In a nutshell: Georgian food in Mayfair
DakaDaka comes from a pair of restaurateurs who previously had big successes with openings like Eggbreak and Seabird with Ennismore. Now going it alone, they've taken over the space at 10 Heddon Street, which has been a proving ground for big restaurants like Fallow and Manteca before. Because they're now the permanent restaurant there, they've reinvented the space, most importantly opening a downstairs bar. As for the food, that's all Georgian, with dishes including Khinkali, a Georgian soup-dumpling and Khachapuri, cheese-filled bread. The wine continues that Georgian focus, with top sommelier Honey Spencer in charge of the list.
Corenucopia
Chelsea - 18-22 Holbein Place, London SW1W 8NL
In a nutshell: Core's Clare Smyth opens a luxury bistro
As the chef patron of one of the country’s rare three Michelin-starred restaurants, anything Clare Smyth opens is always going to be of interest. First through the doors was love him or hate him blogger Eating with Tod, who declared Clare’s chicken with caviar ‘a three Michelin-starred version of KFC’. Whether his visit entices you, or has quite the opposite effect, this bistro affair also offers a standalone potato menu and a very high-end take on fish and chips. “cosseting, decadent, calories-be-damned cooking,” said Grace Dent in her review. We’re already hearing strong Michelin buzz for it, and it may well get its first star in almost record time.
Aces Foodcraft
Fitzrovia - Address
In a nutshell: Global-inspired food by a returning chef
Aces Foodcraft sees the return of chef Alex Craciun to London (previously seen at Jason Atherton's Sosharu) and together with his wife Aleksandra Jazevica he's created a little marvel of a restaurant in Fitzrovia. In the beautifully designed restaurant, Craciun mixes in global influences with a strong Japanese focus to create a produce-led affair that's already become one of our best meals of 2026 so far. The food is fantastic, the tasting menu is great value when compared with anything else at this calibre, and they do a mean martini too.
Read the Aces Foodcraft Test Drive
Dover Street Counter
Mayfair - 31 Dover Street, London W1S 4ND
In a nutshell: The Dover's more casual cousin
At the end of 2025, Martin Kuczmarski had a very busy time of it, opening both Martino's and this restaurant in quick succession. And just as quickly, both have become instant hits. Just a few doors down from The Dover, you can see how the Counter shares some of its DNA with the original, particularly with the slick design of the place, but at heart it's quite a different beast. While it also looks towards the USA for inspiration, there's more of a diner feel to the menu, with steaks, buns and burgers all present, albeit served with some Mayfair touches. But it's also very well priced for the area and has become quite the scene. Fans of The Dover will love this, and if you're looking for a slightly more affordable/casual version of that restaurant, this should be at the top of your list. As Tim Hayward put it, "this is the place to have an evening you’ll remember your whole life."
More about Dover Street Counter
Read the Dover Street Counter Test Drive
Khao Bird
Soho - 24 Brewer Street, London W1F 0SS
In a nutshell: Thai barbecue restaurant goes permanent
There have been a few top new Thai restaurants opening in London recently, with both Luke Farrell (Speedboat Bar) and the Som Saa team helping to lead the pack in this area. However, Khao Bird had been quietly building a great reputation with its previous Borough residency and the team have taken things significantly up a notch with their permanent restaurant in Soho. Run by restaurateur Mike Palmer and chef Luke Larsson, who started with Lucky Khao in Brighton, this has a menu of Thai barbecue dishes and when we visited, everything we had was fantastic. Always busy (we've passed by a few times since), it's also blessed with an excellent drinks list that kicks off with a cocktail that's gone a bit viral - the I Am Broke, which is essentially a Lidl vodka and tonic. In The Times, Giles Coren was also a fan of the "fiery, sexy northern Thai barbecue cooking".
hg Soho
Soho - 21 St Anne's Court, London W1F 0BJ
In a nutshell: Healthy food sensation from Europe
When it dawned on Londoners that HG in Soho was actually the same as Honest Greens in Europe, then the opening of this Soho health food restaurant turned into a fully viral hit. If you hadn't been to one of their branches across Spain or Portugal, then you might not understand the significance of this. But if you have, you'll know that their menu manages to hit that sweet spot between food being both good for you and tasting great too. The peri peri chicken salad is probably their best-known dish, but there are loads on offer for those looking for plant-forward options as well. If you're thinking of kicking off a healthy eating streak in 2026, this would be a good place to start.
Bonheur by Matt Abé
Mayfair - 43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR
In a nutshell: Le Gavroche reborn
Matt Abé has launched his first solo restaurant in the old Le Gavroche space, with a little help from former boss Gordon Ramsay (Abé was previously Head Chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay). Although you can see some reminders of its previous life in the bones of the room (particularly the alcoves), it's gone through a pretty spectacular transformation, bringing it properly into the 21st century. That's backed up by Abé's cooking, which plays with dishes like quiche Lorraine, but with an incredible amount of detail, all backed up by a light and friendly service. It's already impressed Davis Ellis in The Standard, who said he can see it getting "Two stars, pronto."
More about Bonheur by Matt Abé
Martino's
Chelsea - 37 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8AN
In a nutshell: The Dover goes to Chelsea
Even before it had officially been announced, Martino’s was the kind of restaurant we were getting emails about. ‘What’s that restaurant opening up on the corner of Sloane Square?’ readers asked. ‘It looks like a nice place for a drink.’ Well, it turned out that The Dover restaurateur Martin Kuczmarski had been keeping something rather large under his hat - a new Florentine trattoria to be exact. But while new London Italians are ten a penny, Martino’s stands out for its looks (the design is by the same team behind The Dover), its service and its generous dishes. Look out for the old-school XXL pepper grinder being wielded by waiters and don’t miss out on the lasagna. David Ellis in The Standard is a big fan "I sat with champagne and thought: oh, I’ve found my new favourite restaurant".
The Marlborough
Mayfair - 24 N Audley St, London W1K 6WD
In a nutshell: London's best pizza comes to Mayfair
Obviously, Crisp’s new Mayfair home is hot. How could it not be? The much-loved London take on New Haven-style pizzas has been a barnstorming success with its transfer to The Marlborough, with queues of up to five hours being mentioned. Is it worth the wait? That’s a hugely subjective question but as David Ellis in the Standard put it, “There are many excellent places with empty seats. But they are not Crisp.” Even if you don’t manage to get a table in the subterranean pizzeria, it’s probably worth going for a pint of Guinness to soak up the atmosphere.
Read the Test Drive of The Marlborough
Poon's
Temple - Somerset House, New Wing, Lancaster Place, London WC2R 1LA
In a nutshell: Classic Chinese restaurant reborn
As the second generation in her family to get the restaurant bug, Amy Poon’s new opening at Somerset House was always going to be of interest. Not only is this a delightful-looking series of dining rooms, but the food also lives up to the promise of great Chinese home cooking. On our visit, the place was packed with one of the broadest customer bases we’ve seen in a while, with students to septuagenarians all enjoying evocatively-monikered dishes like ‘The hill that Amy didn’t die on’. Grace Dent says "Poon’s is sweet, confident, feminine, ballsy and glamorous – a lot like Amy Poon herself, in fact."
Hawksmoor St Pancras
King's Cross - St Pancras, Euston Rd., London NW1 2AR
In a nutshell: Hawksmoor goes fancy
It's been four years since Hawksmoor's last London opening (in Canary Wharf), but their latest might be their most impressive yet. They've taken over what, until recently, was known as The Midland Grand. That was already an impressive room, but with a proper Hawksmoor makeover (wooden flooring, completely new paint job), it looks spectacular and easily the most impressive Hawksmoor to date (with a few new dishes to boot). That's all backed up by The Martini Bar in another beautiful room, that's quickly become one of London's hottest bars. They're coming up to their 20th birthday this year and it's clear that Hawksmoor remains as hot as ever.
More about Hawksmoor St Pancras
2210 by NattyCanCook
Herne Hill - 75 Norwood Road, London SE24 9AA
In a nutshell: Modern Caribbean
When announcing his solo restaurant, much was made (including by us) of Nathaniel Mortley's time in HMP Brixton and how he's reformed himself through his cooking and pop-ups. But even with that compelling background, the chef would have to deliver the goods with his first solo restaurant, and he's definitely done that. Here, the food is billed as "reimagining Caribbean classics with refined flair", and the response so far has been hugely positive. Grace Dent was among the first in, saying "there’s an attention to detail in every dish that makes this place more than fit for a special occasion" and "it’s definitely up there in the best-of list".
Stable Wines
Islington - 344a Essex Rd, London N1 3PD
In a nutshell: Goodbye Horses does a wine bar
This new wine bar from the team behind Goodbye Horses and The Dreamery had barely opened its doors when we went in for a preview, but our visit was sufficient to convince us that this was going to be an immediate hit. And so it's proved as it's now one of the hottest new places in Islington. The upstairs wine shop on Islington’s Essex Road gives no clues as to the labyrinthine delights below ground. Expect a fully natural wine list and delicious small plates like truffled vol au vents and oysters. Your best bet on getting in is to gather a group and book one of the larger tables, otherwise it’s a case of trying your luck with a walk-in.
Ria's Soho
Soho - 29 Fouberts Place, London W1F 7QF
In a nutshell: natural wine and deep-dish
The original Ria's proved to be pretty popular in its original Notting Hill location, but their second opening in Soho has been a massive hit and very hard to get a table at without a lot of notice. It's not hard to see why; the combination of a great natural wine list and a menu of deep-dish Detroit-style pizzas to soak up the alcohol is just perfect for Soho. Look out for their exclusive Soho pizza, the Chilli Crisp.
The Hart
Marylebone - 35 Blandford Street, London W1U 7HA
In a nutshell: The Pelican team with another winner
The Public House Group, which originally launched The Pelican, seem to be on fire when it comes to opening cracking pubs. The Hart is their latest addition and it's also their most central London pub yet. Familiar touches are in place, like a real attention to detail in the design (it looks gorgeous) and the mix of a pub downstairs and a more formal restaurant upstairs (with their trademark low/flattering lighting). Opening in an area which currently has no Chiltern Firehouse has meant that the restaurant has quickly become something of a scene. As ever, the food is supported by produce from their farm, with dishes like bubble & squeak on the menu and particularly great snacks in place for the downstairs pub.
Lilibet's
Mayfair - 17 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QB
In a nutshell: High-end seafood restaurant in very fancy digs
We were early to experience the charms of Lillibet's, an extremely fancy-looking seafood restaurant in Mayfair, but even then, the word had already got out that this was a place to go, with the place packed out from the very early days. Restaurateur Ross Shonhan has form - he’s the man behind Bone Daddies and used to be executive chef at Nobu. Here he’s created that rare beast in this part of town, a glamorous spot to eat out that also has real heart. The seafood is fabulous; our tip would be not to miss the coal-roasted oysters. It's impressed David Ellis in The Standard, who gave it a five-star review, saying "Have I ever eaten anything better? I couldn’t swear to it."
Nela
Bayswater - 149 Queensway, London W2 4YN
In a nutshell: Live fire cooking inside what was Whiteleys
Jeremy King proved that the people of Bayswater were looking for a great restaurant when he opened The Park and now, down the other end of Queensway, Nela is doing the same. The live-fire restaurant originates in Amsterdam and is the first to open and the revamped Whiteleys building, now called The Whiteley. The menu has hints of Nobu, but at a more accessible price point, and the vibe takes a similar approach. So it adds a bit of glamour to Bayswater, but still feels at home in the neighbourhood. Absolutely packed on the Friday night when we visited, it's clear that the word has got out already.
Kudu
Marylebone - 7 Moxon Street, London W1U 4EP
In a nutshell: South African-influenced restaurant migrates from Peckham to Marylebone
From Peckham to Marylebone is quite the leap, but that’s precisely what South African-inspired restaurant Kudu has done. Chef Patrick Williams and his wife Amy Corbin (yes she’s the daughter of one half of uber restaurateurs Corbin & King) have consolidated all three of their South East London restaurants into one glamorous spot in the centre of town. There’s no denying that the new place looks fabulous, and they’ve manged to keep the charm that made everyone love them. As Grace Dent said in her review, "Kudu is already a delight". You mustn’t miss the showstopping dessert Kit Kat tart with burnt marshmallow.
Singburi
Shoreditch - Unit 7 Montacute Yards, Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6HU
In a nutshell: Second coming of a legendary Thai restaurant
Singburi was a crazily popular restaurant in its original Leytonstone location, but this move to Shoreditch has pushed things into the stratosphere. Taking a slightly new approach with chef Sirichai Kularbwong fully taking over the reins from his parents (with a little help from an ex-Kiln/Oma chef) this has been an instant hit with the release of bookings for the restaurant generating huge excitement. Getting a table is challenging, but not impossible (particularly if you avoid weekends), and it's worth it for some of the very best Thai food in the city. Reponses from the critics have been mixed from "stunningly good" food but unimpressed by the space by David Ellis in The Standard to a rave from Jay Rayner in the FT. Neither critic seems well able to navigate Shoreditch though...
Read our Test Drive of Singburi
Osteria Angelina
City/Shoreditch - 1 Nicholl's Clarke Yard, off Blossom Street, London E1 6SH
In a nutshell: Japanese/Italian mash-up follow-up
Fusion restaurants can, by their very nature, be divisive, but the Japanese and Italian influences behind Dalston's Angelina have always proved to be a winning combination. Certainly, they have legions of fans who have followed their progress into the City with this opening on the borders between Shoreditch and Spitalfields. For their second restaurant, they've moved away from their tasting menu concept to more of an a la carte offering. Grace Dent loved it, saying "It will also offend purists everywhere, but being upset has never been so delicious." Look out for their in-house pastaio making pasta in a glass boxed kitchen beside the dining room.
Read the Osteria Angelina Test Drive
Warming up...
And there are a few more restaurants creating buzz recently that we think are worth keeping an eye on...
Cafe Kowloon (London Fields) - Hong Kong-inspired restaurant hidden behind a wonton bar.
Ruth's (Putney) - we're hearing a lot of early buzz about this neighbourhood spot.
Perma-hot restaurants
These are the London restaurants that have been open for a while but are still hotter than ever.
One Club Row (Shoreditch) - Still one of Shoreditch's hottest spot and very, very hard to get a table at peak times (unless you manage to see the "walk-in" light on). The pub, The Knave of Clubs is well worth a visit too.
OMA and Agora (Borough Market) - the Greek-inspired duo from David Carter continues to be one of the biggest draws in the area.
The Devonshire (Soho) - Both the pub downstairs and the grill restaurant remain, one year on, the hottest places in town. It's also still a great place for celeb spotting.
The Dover (Mayfair) - Martin Kuczmarski's restaurant has a real understated Mayfair glamour and is a great place for star spotting. It's also one of the best bars in the area with an excellent cocktail list.
Mountain (Soho) - Tomos Parry's Soho restaurant is still 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. Even if you can't get into the restaurant, the food in the pub downstairs is well worth a look. A recent visit confirmed it's still operating at the highest level.
Arlington (St James) - Jeremy King's revival of the original Le Caprice remains a solid hit. It's one of the best and buzziest restaurants in St James.
Where's Hot, mapped.
Here's how the Hot Dinners "Where's Hot" restaurants are spread across town.
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