Hugely popular not only in its original West Village location, but also in Paris and Tokyo, hip New York bistro Buvette has landed in London.

Homeboy, the modern Irish cocktail bar run by Aaron Wall and Ciaran Smith in Islington, is expanding. We've been hearing for a while that they were searching for a second site and now they've settled on Embassy Gardens. If that sounds familiar, it's in the same area where you'll find Darby's, right next to the US Embassy at Nine Elms.

If you're unfamiliar with

The confluence of various Covid restrictions last year had one unfortunate consequence for popular East London grocers, the De Beauvoir Deli. Restricting the number of customers inside the deli during the pandemic, as well as the associated queuing outside, meant they lost both their indoor and outdoor seating.

But when one door closes, another opens - and in this case that door was literally opposite

A new Italian restaurant is coming to Fitzrovia, via Brighton. The original Cin Cin has been a hit and also won a Michelin Bib Gourmand. They've now announced that they're taking over the space that used to be the Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack. 

Looking at the Brighton menu, expect a combination of a small a la carte menu, or a five-course set Italian dinner. Here's an example of

The Dorchester has unveiled its alfresco plans for London's grand reopening next month and they include the arrival of a brand new roof garden. It's the first time the hotel has expanded its outdoor plans to its roof and the space will play host to a variety of pop-ups hosted by the hotel's various chefs, from executive chef Mario Perera to The Grill at The Dorchester's Tom Booton and Jean-Philippe Blondet

Updated 26/3/21 with the opening date

Boutique hotel chain NoMad are taking over the Bow Street Magistrates Court in Covent Garden, a 19th Century listed building that should look pretty damned impressive once kitted out. 

If you're unfamiliar with the original hotel, one of the best reasons to visit the NoMad in New York is the restaurant that was originated by Daniel Humm

Given Five Guys' fairly massive rollout across the UK. it was only a matter of time before more US chains started heading this way. We already have the impending return of Wendy's, and joining them soon will be American chicken juggernaut Popeye's. 

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They closed in London in 2020 and moved out to the Osea on the Essex Coast but now Native are returning to London, taking up a space in the luxury retailer Browns' new store in Mayfair.

The restaurant will be in the flagship Browns on Brook Street, with

Updated 24/3/21 with opening date and more info

It seems the pandemic isn't stopping plans for big new openings in London. Among them will be the huge Japanese udon noodle chain Marugame Udon which has taken a site just opposite Liverpool Street. 

The restaurant is all about Sanuki Udon, popular in the Kagawa Prefecture of Japan (and the name Sanaki was what Kagawa was called in the

Highgate is about to get a new Irish pub and the people behind it have an interesting background. Called Brendan the Navigator, it's going to open on Highgate Hill, taking over the prominent building that used to be The Tourian Lounge, and before that the Old Crown Inn.

As reported by ...

 Top Italian sommelier Maurizio Titone joins forces with entrepreneur Marco Petrozzi for this boutique wine bar on Archway Road.

They already have a restaurant on Tooley Street but now, according to submitted planning documents, Flat Iron are hoping to open a new site on nearby Clink Street (taking over from the old Gourmet Burger, just by The Clink museum). 

It's early days yet, in the planning process, but we're going to assume this will be something pretty similar to the existing

Amazon Fresh opened its first UK store just weeks ago in Ealing, attracting huge queues. Since then, another has just opened in Wembley Park and we're just getting wind of yet another new opening in Islington too.

We've heard that they're taking over the large ex-tram depot building on Upper Street in Islington, The Mall, last used by Sofa.com and a whole slew of other operators before it. It's one of the most prominent buildings in