With the London dining scene evolving so quickly it can be hard to keep up, we thought we’d give you a head’s up on the restaurants that all your foodie friends are going to be talking about in the coming months. From those that have just opened their doors to those still adding the finishing touches, these new London restaurants have caught our eye with their intriguing concepts and the top-level talent behind them. So, whether you’re a local or a visitor, ensure these spots are on your must-visit list so you can stay ahead of the curve.
2210 by NattyCanCook: Caribbean Classics with a Twist
Opening OctoberNathaniel Mortley, better known by his 55,000 Instagram followers as NattyCanCook, hasn’t had the smoothest road to opening his own restaurant. Having initially trained in some top kitchens, Mortley was imprisoned at HMP Brixton in 2019, where he fell in love with cooking all over again thanks to inmate-run restaurant The Clink. Now he is aiming to put a refined spin on Caribbean favourites at 2210. Expect the likes of hand-rolled roti with Scotch bonnet butter or jerk chicken supreme with mango and pineapple salsa.
Motorino: London’s Next Italian Hit
Opening OctoberRestaurateur Stevie Parle has already captured the imagination of London’s on-trend foodies this year with TOWN. For his next trick, he is unveiling a ‘big London Italian’ with Chef Luke Ahearne. You may know Ahearne from his time at Lita in Marylebone, where he showed off his skills with a wood-fired grill. This is a bigger project for him, with space for up to 140 diners to fill what is likely to be a mightily buzzy brasserie. The look will be similar to TOWN’s funky design, but with a yellow colour palette.
Khao Bird: Temporary Thai Turns Permanent
Opening NovemberAnyone who loved this popular residency when it popped up in Borough Market will be delighted that restaurateur Mike Palmer and Head Chef Luke Larsson have found a permanent home for their project. The focus is on barbecued dishes from Northern Thailand, just like the duo’s other venture, Lucky Khao in Brighton. Given that restaurant’s penchant for satisfying dishes packed with bright, fresh flavours, London’s diners will hope for more of the same when Khao Bird opens its doors in what was previously Soho’s last remaining adult film cinema.
ALTA: Fire-Fuelled Flavour
Opened SeptemberOver the last few years, Kingly Court has become one of the best areas to eat in London. A multi-level complex in the heart of lively Soho, it’s already home to Darjeeling Express, Donia and Imad’s Syrian Kitchen – and is now getting an injection of Spanish flavours and flame-powered techniques. An open-fire restaurant taking cues from northern Spain in a way not dissimilar to the immensely popular Mountain, Alta is headed up by Chef Rob Roy Cameron, who has experience at the highest level of Spanish restaurants (El Bulli, 41°).
Corenucopia: Clare Smyth’s Latest Move
Opening NovemberAny new opening from Clare Smyth is worthy of your attention. The chef-owner behind Three-MICHELIN-Star CORE in Notting Hill is one of the city’s very best chefs – which will no doubt lead to intense anticipation around her new venture, Corenucopia. Announced by Smyth as a ‘luxury bistro’, details are light for the new opening, but we do know it will be located in Chelsea – which is coincidentally the neighbourhood where Smyth made her name at the helm of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
Ben Murphy at 74 Charlotte Street: A New Opening on Restaurant Road
Opening AutumnBen Murphy is a name some London foodies may recognise from his time working at Launceston Place, where he gained a following for his innovative and eye-catching food. His next chapter has been teased with future dishes including beef Wellington with braised beefy chips, anchovy and timur pepper; for dessert, there’s the promise of an old-school ice cream trolley. Charlotte Street, where the new opening is located, is already a restaurant hub, with Murphy’s neighbours including Pied à Terre, Kinkally and Elsa.
Bonheur by Matt Abé: An Icon Reborn
Opening 4th NovemberEver since Le Gavroche closed in early 2024, food lovers everywhere have been desperate to find out what will become of its famed Mayfair premises. We now have an answer: Bonheur by Matt Abé. It would be exciting to see anyone step into this culinary hallowed ground, but even more so when that person is Matt Abé. Having steered the Three-MICHELIN-Star ship at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay for over a decade, Abé is now striking out on his own (with Ramsay’s backing) and anticipation could scarcely be higher.
Labombe by Trivet: A Dynamic Duo’s Next Chapter
Opened SeptemberA new project from the team behind Trivet is always worth getting excited about. Their flagship restaurant is an inspired collaboration between Chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal, offering a laid-back atmosphere, an outstanding wine list and Two-MICHELIN-Star cooking. Now the pair are bringing their magic to the COMO Metropolitan hotel in Mayfair, with a permanent version of the Labombe wine bar that used to pop up at Trivet on Monday nights. By-the-glass wines are the focus and the cooking makes heavy use of the grill.
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Solaya: A Newcastle Powerhouse Arrives in London
Opened SeptemberAny Newcastle-based food lover will know who Kenny Atkinson is. The chef behind not one, but two separate MICHELIN-Starred restaurants in the city (House of Tides and SOLSTICE), he is known for his original, complex dishes crafted using top-notch ingredients. For his first solo London project, he’s collaborated with the art’otel London Hoxton, overseeing the menu at Solaya. The sun-influenced name is a clue as to the style of cooking, with southern French and Mediterranean dishes being the focus. Located on the hotel’s 25th floor, city views are a big part of the appeal.
Dué: Mexican Cuisine From Global Talents
Opening Date TBCPotentially representing the next step in the evolution of London’s mouthwatering Mexican dining scene, Dué comes from the mind of Jesús Durón, who was previously the Executive Chef at Two-Star Pujol in Mexico City. We’re unsure what other influences Durón will incorporate at Dué, but such talent arriving in London is always exciting, especially when he’s joined by restaurateur Lindsay Jang, who launched MICHELIN-Starred Yardbird in Hong Kong.
The Hart: The Pelican Team's Next Move
Opening Date TBCYou can never have too many good dining pubs, especially when they come from the Public House Group. A specialist in well-priced pub cooking that puts high-quality produce front and centre, the group is already behind The Pelican in Notting Hill and The Hero in Maida Vale. With The Hart, they’re hoping to bring the same brand of big flavours and no-nonsense dishes to Marylebone. Like The Hero, it will have multiple dining spices with slightly different menus and feels, from a pubby atmosphere to more of a restaurant vibe.
The Shaston Arms: Soho's Latest Gastropub
Opening OctoberAnyone who has been to The Waterman’s Arms in Barnes will know why there’s reason to keep an eye on this upcoming pub reopening. A wonderful gastropub with river views, engaging service and dishes bursting with flavour, The Waterman’s Arms is a real treat for anyone living in London’s southwest suburbs. Now, the same owners are bringing their talent to the central London crowd by reviving a recently closed spot in Soho – with Chef Sam Andrews in tow.
Simpson’s in the Strand: Restaurant Resurrection
Opening WinterIt’s always exciting to see an icon of the London dining scene being brought back to life. Once one of the capital’s most talked-about destinations, Simpson’s fell on hard times before closing its doors. But then Jeremy King came along. The renowned restaurateur – who has been involved in some of London’s biggest success stories – has form when it comes to reviving a beloved restaurant, having rebranded former celebrity hotspot Le Caprice as Arlington with fabulous results. If you like big, traditional brasseries, watch this space.
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Hero Image: A dish from new London restaurant Khao Bird. © Rebecca Dickson Photography
