Springtime is properly upon us and that's bringing with it lots of new places to eat. From a pub in Camberwell by The Baring team to a high-end seafood restaurant in Belgravia from Tom Brown, here's what's coming your way in April.
Tom Brown at the Capital
Belgravia - The Capital, 22-24 Basil St, London SW3 1AT
After Tom Brown closed Cornerstone, he still had the more laid-back Pearly Queen in Shoreditch under his belt, but until now nothing to rival his previously Michelin-starred restaurant, Cornerstone. This new restaurant changes all that with a more high-end approach and one that sees him returning to the place where he first made his name, what was then Outlaw's at the Capital. Now it's his name above the door, but the focus on seafood for which Brown is known for remains. This will be a tasting menu-only affair, with dishes including cuttlefish “ravioli” (a riff on the cuttlefish lasagna from Pearly Queen) and a chocolate and caviar dessert. We'd expect this one to be catching the eye of the Michelin inspectors, for sure.
Opening: 10 April 2025
More about Tom Brown at the Capital
Boxhall City
City of London - The Arcade, Liverpool Street, London EC2M 7PN
London's food hall scene is booming again, with the opening of Market Halls Paddington last month and this new venture from the people behind Boxpark. Unlike the container village approach of Boxpark, this sees them moving inside, taking over what was once an Edwardian shopping arcade. So it's quite a departure, but they've brought in an impressive line-up of traders, including Sourdough Sophia, Burger & Beyond, Gaucho, Eggslut, Soft Serve Society and more. They'll also be testing new ideas in the Kitchen No.8 space. All in all, it's bound to be a hit with City folk.
Opening: 10 April 2025
The Kerfield Arms
Camberwell - 16 Grove Lane, London SE5 8SY
The team behind this Camberwell pub (taking over what was The Crooked Well) have enjoyed plenty of success in Islington with The Baring and they're hoping to duplicate that south of the river. The current Baring chef will be heading up the kitchen at the new pub and they're promising a seasonal menu that should be just as big a hit in Camberwell as it was in North London. Dishes planned for the opening include cuttlefish & lardo shish, ricotta & nettle dumplings, grilled monkfish with hand-rolled fregola & shrimp bisque and more. There's a great midweek lunch deal and the Sunday lunch, including Ibérico pork belly, should be a winner.
Opening: 15 April 2025
Kung Fu Mama
Covenet Garden - 80 Long Acre, London WC2E 9NG
This comes from Noam Bar-Chang (Ottolenghi's right-hand man) and Chris Hsu the man behind the best-selling Taiwanese noodles brand in the UK, Kung Fu Mama. They've gone into business to open a noodle bar on Long Acre that'll focus on the company's sun-dried noodles.
Opening: 8 April 2025
Mr Porter
Mayfair - 22 Park Ln, London W1K 1BE
As part of a big overhaul of the Hilton Park Lane (which you might have watching as a documentary on Channel 5), two new restaurants are launching in the hotel. First out of the gate will be modern steakhouse Mr Porter, opening on the lower ground floor (where Trader Vic's was). This steakhouse restaurant originally opened in Amsterdam and alongside the steak there will be dishes like avocado carpaccio with beluga caviar and a popcorn crème brulee.
Opening: 28 April 2025
Lilli by Akira Back
Marylebone - 2 Wallenberg Pl, London W1H 7TN
Less than a year after opening at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, chef Akira Back is already getting ready to open at another big hotel, the Montcalm Mayfair (although our deep-seated pedantry would want to point out that it's really in Marylebone). Given that his Dosa restaurant won a Michelin star very quickly, this should be one to watch too. Details of the menu are being kept under wraps even this close to opening, but we're being told that the menu will "honour his Korean heritage and feature modern interpretations of classic British dishes".
Opening: 2 April 2025
More about Lilli by Akira Back
One Club Row
Shoreditch - 1 Club Row, London E1 6JX
Delayed slightly from its original March opening, this is the restaurant above The Knave of Clubs in Shoreditch (itself a big hit since it opened). This restaurant will again have Patrick Powell in charge of the food and they're aiming for a different vibe up here, with a look towards NYC for inspiration. Dishes on the menu include lobster and country ham croquettes, bone-in ribeye with chipotle hollandaise and the very tempting-sounding Dutch baby pancakes baked to order.
Opening: 9 April 2025
Bubala
King's Cross - Unit 1, Cadence Court, 4 Tapper Walk, London N1C 4ED
Three years after a successful opening in Soho, the Bubala team are now working on their third restaurant. Opening in the northern reaches of King's Cross (about a 15-minute walk from the station), it will feature the Middle-Eastern plant-based menu that's won them a lot of fans to date. New dishes will include a charred cucumber tzatziki and they're also introducing Bubala’s Big Pud, a sharing dessert that includes chocolate mousse, brûléed bananas, coconut caramel, tahini, and sesame snaps. Plus, as this is in a more neighbourhood area, there should be plenty of room for outside seating.
Opening: End April 2025
Alfie's
Belgravia - 10 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8LA
The second restaurant to open above a pub this month, this one is upstairs at The Alfred Tennyson in Belgravia, one of the pubs in the Cubitt House group. Executive chef Ben Tish and Head Chef Stevie Phillip (ex-Blanchette and The Dorchester) are leading the menu up here which is aiming for a more elevated vibe compared to the downstairs pub. On the menu, you'll find dishes like Hereford beef tartare served tableside and roasted brill with Cornish mussels and a smoked mackerel sauce. There should be a fair bit of tableside theatre and they've also got a "black book" of wines if you fancy exploring that.
Opening: 14 April 2025
Molly Mc's
Southwark - 96 Isabella Street, London SE1 8DD
This Southwark Irish pub comes from the same people as MC & Sons but it's a little different from their other pubs. This one is being billed as a "singing pub" which includes three ‘shebeen’-style singing rooms (their take on karaoke) as well as lots of trad sessions in the main pub. As for the drink, they'll have a cocktail list based on Irish spirits although the food takes inspiration from elsewhere with a Thai menu being planned.
Opening: Late April 2025
Also look out for...
- Hello Jojo (Camberwell) - Taking over from Forza Win, this will be a combo bakery restaurant that's being pitched as "a celebration of all things Camberwell" (Aiming to open late April).
- Bleecker (Baker Street) - One of our favourite burger restaurants arrives just next to Baker Street station, perfect for diving in on the commute home (Opens 1 April).
- La Spot (Fitzrovia) - A Spanish-inspired sandwich "spot" that features brioche sandwiches with fillings like red prawns cooked with kimchi or pulled oxtail with red wine sauce (Opens 2 April).
- Parasol (Dalston) - The people behind bars like Discount Suit Company and The Sun Tavern are teaming up for this new bar (Opens 17 April).
- Ceru (Clerkenwell) - The latest outpost for the Eastern Mediterranean-inspired restaurant (Opens 14 April).
- Corner Corner (Canada Water) - The team behind Drumsheds are joining with Kerb for this food hall with its own onsite indoor farm (Opens 4 April).
- Tatar Bunar (Shoreditch) - Delayed from last month, this restaurant comes from two Ukrainian restaurateurs (Opens 9 April).
- 081 Pizza (Shoreditch) - The latest outpost for this Naples-inspired pizzeria (Opens 4 April).
- Reemies (Chelsea) - Cake delivery service opens in real life with their banana cakes as the signature bake (Opens 2 April).
All of London's newly opened and upcoming restaurants...
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