New opening

It was this time last year that restaurateur Martin Kuczmarski revealed he was about to open a new, naughtier sibling to the Dover, the Dover Street Counter (as well as his first Chelsea restaurant, Martino's). And for this year's early Christmas present, he's rather stealthily opened a second version of Dover Street Counter in Chelsea.

The Chelsea Counter is, like its Mayfair counterpart, channelling the counter dining scene of 1950s Los Angeles. The menu, as Martin has said, is inspired by luxury hotel in-room service, so a happy mix of everything from French dip burgers to

Back in the summer Crystal Palace residents were dismayed by the closure of indie pizza place Bar Palazzo. And at the time, locals worried that a big chain would be its replacement.

Well, we're happy to tell you that another independent pizza business is taking over. Nuvola have been wowing Brixton folk since opening in Brixton Village last year. They also have a stall at Boxpark Croydon. Owned by an actual Neapolitan pizzaiolo, Fatjon Nuvola, they specialise in artisan Italian pizzas made with a signature 100% biga dough.

It looks as though there are several new dishes on

Updated 30/9/26 with opening date

Another US chain is on its way over to the UK as Jersey Mike's, a sub shop which has over 3000 stores in America, is coming to London. 

Jersey Mike's has been running since 1956 and it's all about sandwiches, made in sub rolls and served to-order, with bread baked throughout the day. Their particular USP is that all the meats are sliced as you order. You'll find subs like Mike's Hot Italian (ham, salami, pepperoni, melted provolone cheese) or the Club Supreme (roast beef, turkey, Swiss, Applewood smoked bacon). There are

Updated 2/11/26 with opening date

In the five years since they opened their first restaurant in Islington, the plant-based Chinese restaurant group Tofu Vegan has gone from strength to strength. Not only did they manage to turn the blighted site on Upper Street, which had seen off a string of other restaurants over the years, into a huge success, but they've also opened four more branches across town since then. And whenever we go past the one in Fitzrovia it's always rammed, so clearly they're doing something right.

Now they're about to head further into town

This week sees the latest opening from Big Mama, this time in the City, an Eastern European chophouse in a crypt, Portuguese food in Soho and the launch of a much talked-about rooftop restaurant. 

All the latest news on every upcoming London restaurant that's going to be opening in the capital. The only Coming Soon list you need.

Here's a complete guide to all the new London restaurants that have opened...

Out of all the smashburger joints in London (and there are quite a few these days), Junk (which hails from Paris) is the one that is clearly going big on the expansion trail. After opening in Spitalfields a few months ago, they're already getting ready to unveil another Junk, together with the companion cookie shop Puffy (they're taking the old Avocado Show space).

It's not the only smashburger place to open in Covent Garden either, as ...

30/10/26 - Updated with the opening date and menu details.

A couple of decades ago, there were advanced plans, if you can credit it, to demolish the lovely Victorian buildings that surround Smithfield Market. Happily, the whole area has now been protected as part of the new London Museum development, and to add to the general joy, we also have a new pub on the way.

The Poet comes from the same stellar team that are behind Sune in

It's the last big month of the year for new openings and it is busy. From the launch of the new London Museum and a host of restaurants and bars there to new openings from Tom Booton, the Kudu team and more, it's a packed month. 

Since opening back in 2021, Toklas Bakery (which is a few doors down from the restaurant) has established itself as one of London's best bakeries. However, over in Temple, it may not be in one of the handiest places to get to (even though St Clement has turned the area into something of a hot spot). 

Now, according to hospitality website Propel, that's about to change. A second Toklas bakery is getting ready to open, this time all the way across town in Chelsea. 

Apparently, they'll be taking over the old Bread Ahead site on Pavilion Road. Bread Ahead themselves

Updated 27/10/26 with opening date

Their Borough Market restaurant Camille has quietly forged a stellar reputation for its French food. But when the same team opens B. Penhale in Smithfield, they're moving instead to Britain and Ireland for inspiration. The restaurant, whose name they're already shortening to Penhale's, is just across the road from London's historic meat market. So it stands to reason that it'll focus on a whole-carcass approach in the kitchen.

But we're intrigued by the idea that they'll also be focusing on super traditional dishes from the

South Woodford locals are in line to get a hot new bakery that Londoners are going to want to cross town for. Baker Zakiyah Syeda has been growing her reputation ever since the days post-lockdown when she started her micro bakery, doing local deliveries.

A Cordon Bleu-trained chef, she's worked at Mamasons, Little Bread Pedlar and as a pastry chef for Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley. Most recently, she was head baker at the highly rated Farha in Leyton, and she also sells her chocolate bars on Delli. It's not a huge surprise that a standalone bakery was always on the cards, and now

Bancone have only just opened a restaurant in Bloomsbury, but they already have their next one lined up, and this one is in a much more prominent location. 

The seventh Bancone will be the first restaurant (that we know about so far) to open in the old Debenhams location, now known as The M Building. That's turning into a mixed-use building - offices, more retail spaces etc - with Bancone on the ground floor. And given that Oxford Street has just been pedestrianised (a stretch which does include this building), it's certainly a good time to open. It'll make a nice change from

Widely touted to be one of the best breakfasts you can get in Newcastle, local favourite Pablo's (or to give them their full, fabulous name Pablo Eggsgobao) will be on offer to Londoners from the new year.

It's a student favourite up north and here in London it'll be on offer inside the Covent Garden sports bar BLOODsports. If, like us, you haven't experienced the joy of a Pablo's before we hear that the thing it's best known for is the classic breakfast bao filled with a pork patty, hash brown, loads of melted cheese and a spicy and sweet sauce. We're also intrigued by the Hashie