This is our monthly round-up of the restaurants causing the biggest stir in town. This month's new additions include a new owner for a very old tavern, a genuinely different take on a pizzeria in Kentish Town and a shiny minimalist rooftop spot by the Thames.
Cloth Cornhill
City - 38 1/2 Cornhill, London EC3V 9DR
In a nutshell: Historic City tavern gets a new lease of life
Given what was at stake here - an historic and much-loved City tavern getting a new owner - the Cloth team have done a remarkable job of breathing life into the old Simpson’s Tavern. By celebrating and respecting its history, while seriously amping up its food and drink offering, they’ve shown themselves to be worthy custodians. Both the pub and restaurant have been hits from day one, with Giles Coren an early reviewer in The Times, saying, “the food is much better… it feels more special than ever.”
Read the Cloth Cornhill Test Drive
Bunso
Kentish Town- 1A Hawley Rd, London NW1 8RP
In a nutshell: Filipino pizzeria by night, bakery by day
It’s going to be hard to beat this buzzy new Kentish Town spot for the best designed restaurant of the year. Because this former motorcycle shop and beauty salon is now a gorgeous-looking cafe by day and pizzeria by night. Local restaurateur Omar Shah is the man responsible for the transformation, using his Filipino heritage to inform the menu here, making the pizzas particularly unique. The daytime bakes are great and the place is positively swinging at night.
PAM
Farringdon - 61 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HA
In a nutshell: Live fire Thai in Farringdon
Much was made of chef Karla Knowles previous tenure as head chef of Kiln, but here in Farringdon she’s very much branched out on her own, joining up with brothers Edouard and Romain Bourrillon to open this live-fire Thai restaurant just around the corner from Farringdon station. We were early visitors in the soft launch period enjoying a succession of dishes with the snacks and small plates particularly strong.
Lunette
Temple - Level 11, The Thames, St. Clement 180, 12 Temple Pl, Temple, London WC2R 2NF
In a nutshell: Florence Knight’s rooftop restaurant at the St Clement
Technically, Lunette has only just opened its doors, but this rooftop restaurant at the St Clement has been quietly ramping up by serving invited guests over the past few weeks. We had a very early preview and thought it was wonderful, a view echoed by the FT’s Ajesh Patalay calling his lunch there “brisk, light and faultless.” Chef Florence Knight is serving up a tasting course menu here that’s super seasonal and feels very modern, while the restaurant looks like no other, even having a lounge area (above) set right in the middle, and with the background of a spectacular river view.
Lenny’s Apizza
Covent Garden- 24 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8ND
In a nutshell: New Haven-style pop-up pizzeria goes permanent
There was a lot of love for chef Max Lewis’s homage to New Haven pizzas when it first opened as a pop-up inside a Finsbury Park pub. Now he’s got himself a permanent place in the middle of town and the reviews are already coming in. Food influencer James Dimitri described his Ray Santiago order there as “an absolute banger of a pizza.”
Kid
Soho- 55 Frith Street, London W1D 4SJ
In a nutshell: Super-hyped modern Turkish
In the weeks up to its opening Kid was head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to being buzzworthy. The dream team combo of chef Sertaç Dirik and restaurateur Dave Carter certainly looked good on paper, but works even better in practice. Grace Dent was an early fan, calling it “distinctive, delicious and thoroughly making its mark”. Even the irascible Camilla Long in the Sunday Times was bowled over. Good luck trying to get a weekend table for dinner anytime soon.
Cloudstreet
Stoke Newington - 1 Bouverie Road, London N16 0AH
In a nutshell: Tiny neighbourhood cafe
Not since The Yellow Bittern has there been a new London restaurant opening that was so resolutely offline. So it's unsurprising that The Yellow Bittern's owner Hugh Corcoran was an early fan of Cloudstreet, calling it "one of the most honest and perfect little restaurants I’ve ever set foot in". Cloud Street is only open for dinner twice a week, and you can't book unless you visit in person. But that seems a small price to pay for chef-owners Georgia Lahiff and Frank Guest's honest and delicious cooking. You'll find it in a converted garage just off Stoke Newington Church Street.
Photo: Hetty Appleton-Miles
The Horses
Clerkenwell - 26-28 Ray St, London EC1R 3DJ
In a nutshell: new Public House Group pub, focusing on seafood
As is now traditional with any Public House Group pub, the opening of their latest venue has been a slow one, with them running softs for several weeks. That’s given folk like Marina O’Loughlin the chance to get in early and declare, “ Attention to detail is bonkers: from cutlery to sourcing - that Lindisfarne oyster was sex in a half shell.” She’s not the only one in raptures about the seafood bent of their new pub - the opening has definitely propelled Clerkenwell to the top of London areas to head to if you’re into good food.
Nakimushi
Notting Hill- 7 Kensington Mall, London, W8 4DY
In a nutshell: Two-in-one from the Dorian team
If you can’t get a table at Dorian (and other than the Beckhams, who can?) then the next best thing for a buzzy night out is to check out the same team’s new opening in Notting Hill. With two chefs behind the menu here, Robin Kosuge and Yuji Shimokawa Kelly, you can enjoy everything from exceptionally good ramen to excellent small Japanese dishes. Word of warning, though, the tables are very close together…
Cassette
Covent Garden- 42 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7LJ
In a nutshell: Levan comes to Covent Garden
Cassette saw the team behind Peckham's longstanding European bistro opening a Parisian-inspired French bistro on the edge of Covent Garden. They've taken their inspiration from newer openings like Bistrot Des Tournelles and as a result, have a menu that feels extremely Gallic while also bringing something new to the table. The pie is a must-have, but everything on the menu is working very well, all in a great-looking room with a good sound system. We visited only a few days after they launched and at the end of the night it was completely packed, so it's started very well.
The Albatross
City of London- 8-10 Old Jewry, London EC2R 8DN
In a nutshell: The Wild team launch a pub
When we tipped up here on a Thursday night post-work, there was a distinct Devonshire-like vibe from the crowds drinking outside this new City pub. And while there is a substantial section that is most definitely for drinking, the dining room here stretches across two floors, so there’s plenty of space to sit and eat too. This seafood-led pub is from the same team as two other establishments on this street, Goodman and Wild Izakaya, so they know what they’re doing.
Soraya
Marylebone - 96 George Street, London W1U 8AF
In a nutshell: Persian dining from the Nina team
Although it isn’t officially open yet, trying and succeeding in getting a table at Soraya is already something to boast about. It feels like everyone wants to check out the newest opening from the same team behind such hits as Lagana and Bottarga and we hear it’s definitely cultivating the party vibe. This time the food is their take on Persian and there are several must-orders in the dessert department; creme brulee cheesecake, we’re coming for you.
Cue Point
White City- 41 Bramley Rd, London W10 6SZ
In a nutshell: Afghan/Tex BBQ in a pub garden
If you haven’t already listened to the Go To Food podcast episode with co-founder Mursal Saiq, go and do that now and you’ll understand some of the background to the success of Cue Point’s move to permanent digs at the outer edges of Notting Hill. Rave reviews from Jay Rayner in the FT and Leonie Cooper in Time Out who called it “maybe the best barbecue we’ve ever eaten on UK soil”, have also helped. Mursal and co-founder Joshua Marone (ex-Smokestak) are serving up inclusive, inspiring barbecue dishes that aren't like anything else in London.
Hon's BBQ
Hackney Wick - The White Building, Unit 7 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN
In a nutshell: Texas BBQ meets East Asian flavours
After finding success during a series of pop-ups and residencies, Man Hon Luk has found a permanent home in Hackney Wick (having taken over the space that used to be Silo). Hon learned all his BBQ skills in Texas and has mixed that with an East Asian twist to deliver something truly unique. He starts the smoking at 5am every day (thankfully he lives close to the restaurant), and once the meats are gone, that's it (so pre-ordering is a must). The results are wonderful with the short ribs on our visit easily among the best barbecued food we've ever had.
Rosina
Wandsworth - 35 Bellevue Road, London SW17 7EF
In a nutshell: Adam Byatt does Italian
Adam Byatt’s new Italian restaurant in Wandsworth is yet another glowing addition both to the chef’s own roster and the food scene in this part of town. So far, only The Spectator has been down to review it, but the good news is they very much liked what they had. On our own visit, we found the place full of regulars from Trinity making the schlep from Clapham to check out the new restaurant. And it’s well worth the trek wherever you are in London for classic Italian dishes cooked with intent and the loveliest of service. make sure to have the enormous Risotto Bianco - it's a really stellar dish.
Cremer
Hoxton - 1 Geffrye Street, London E2 8JH
In a nutshell: Hoxton cafe and canteen
The founders of this new Hoxton cafe are also behind the ‘no photos allowed’ Space Talk bar in Farringdon. But here it’s a totally different story, with phones very much encouraged to take in all the lovely aesthetics of the space. Open during the day only, it’s a place for great pastries and small plates; recent dishes have included sweetcorn and girolles and a must-try croissant ice cream. As a walk-ins only place, you’ll be lucky to get a seat, but it’s worth persevering for one.
Kismet
London Bridge - Upstairs at The Globe Tavern, 8 Bedale Street, London, SE1 9AL
In a nutshell: A Turkish meyhane in Borough Market
The Globe Tavern has had a particularly great run of residencies, with the past two (Khao Bird and Barang) going on to open permanent restaurants. This latest residency might be their most successful yet, run by the same team behind Crispin and Bistro Freddie. Leading the kitchen is ex-Bibi chef Keiran Mustafa, who has created his version of a Turkish/Cypriot meyhane in London. For this residency, they've redesigned the room, making it a much more vibey space and it's already getting harder and harder to snag a table. The dips, particularly the atom when paired with watermelon, are superb and we can definitely see this finding a permanent home after the residency is done.
Vesper
Clerkenwell - 8-10 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QA
In a nutshell: Jackson Boxer comes to market
As part of this masterplan for reframing Taqueria as Taq in Notting Hill, Boxer took on their Exmouth Market restaurant himself to turn it into Vesper. Think of this as an East London mirror image to the chef’s Dove restaurant in West London. So far the feedback has been very good, with critics praising Boxer’s food and others picking this as a particularly good date spot. The menu at both lunch and dinner is a hit list of what Londoners are loving right now with fougasse, tostadas and gnudi alla vodka all jostling for position. Mina Holland in The Standard gave it five stars while Time Out called it an “instant Clerkenwell classic”. Just get there early if you want to grab one of the ten burgers they make every day.
Cafe Clement
Strand - Ground Floor, St. Clement, 12 Temple Pl, London WC2R 2NF
In a nutshell: Cafe from ex-Soho House boss
If you’re a Soho House or 180 House club member, you were probably part of the early cohort discovering the delights of the first restaurant to open at Nick Jones St Clement hotel (which still only officially opens in September). The rest of us have been playing catch-up after Giles Coren gave it a big thumbs-up in The Times saying; "This restaurant will, I think, define the summer of 2026." To be fair, he does also go on to mention that he’s mates with Jones. The food here is Italian, which already makes it very on-trend for London this year and the chef, Danny Bohan, is ex-River Cafe so he ought to know what he’s doing. It’s already very, very hard to get a booking and it's already a great place to spot celebs.
Bar Etna
Newington Green - 47 Newington Green, London N16 9PX
In a nutshell: Four Legs do pizza
Etna’s co-founder Ed McIlroy must be used to generating hype, having been responsible for Four Legs, The Plimsoll and Tollington’s. Now he’s partnering up with American pizza giant Joe Beddia, who’s had similar hyperbolic praise for his pies back in the States. The net result is a Newington Green pizzeria that has all the hallmarks of a massive hit. There are four pizza bases to choose from, with a range of toppings for diners to build their perfect pizza. It’s also a beautiful space, with a massive bar that’s only going to make this even more popular. Weekends are insanely busy and we hear Nick Grimshaw has been spotted in the restaurant.
The Golden Tooth
Newington Green - 79 Green Lanes, London N16 9BU
In a nutshell: Papi's pub
Their previous venture, Papi, burned bright but briefly, not quite making it to its third birthday in London Fields. But chef Matthew Scott and wine merchant Charlie Carr have pivoted quickly, taking over this pub just north of Newington Green for their new place. Here they’ve opened a grown-up gastropub, one where you can sit up at the bar with a pint and platter of oysters, or move to the dining room for a more leisurely stroll through a menu with highlights currently including a savoury cheese tart and amazing pie. Grace Dent was a big fan saying: " There is a precision and earnestness to the cooking that is light years from the hip positioning and hype that surrounds this new venture."
Read The Golden Tooth Test Drive
Impala
Soho - 13- 14 Dean St, London W1D 3RS
In a nutshell: Next-level Soho grill
Every once in a while, a restaurant opens with such a weight of expectation surrounding it that you wonder how the team don’t buckle under the pressure. Happily for the Super8 Restaurants group and their star chef Meedu Saad, their latest opening, Impala, has thrived under such conditions. From day one, getting a table here to try Meedu’s eclectic menu has been nigh on impossible. If you do succeed, then we urge you to get the sweetbreads and that amazing roasted duck dish. Reviews have been ecstatic too, with David Ellis in The Standard saying, "This is a one-off" while Grace Dent in The Guardian said "Impala is shamelessly, brilliantly too much."
Ones to watch...
And there are a few more restaurants creating buzz recently that we think are worth keeping an eye on...
Talli Queen - The latest Indian pub to open in London
Trindle - We're already hearing positive vibes about Abbie Hendren's new home in Kew.
Da Pino - Stoke Newington's newest Italian is getting a bit of heat.
Perma-hot restaurants
These are the London restaurants that have been open for a while but are still hotter than ever.
The Dover and Dover Street Counter (Mayfair) - Martin Kuczmarski's two Mayfair restaurants are still hard to get into and a delight to dine in. Not only will you often spot an A-lister dining, but you'll feel like a star yourself, thanks to the pitch-perfect service.
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 mind often boggles at the length of the Agora queue).
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.
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.
Where's Hot, mapped.
Here's how the Hot Dinners "Where's Hot" restaurants are spread across town.
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