The new London restaurants to try in September 2026

Our editors are on the ball for the latest openings in each London neighbourhood, from Covent Garden restaurants to Shoreditch hotspots. For the ultimate list of places to eat in the city, check out our definitive guide to London's best restaurants.

These are the places that we consider the crème de la crème, from generations-old spots that have stood the test of time and Michelin-starred dining rooms that get better each year to mind-blowing new openings from this list that we decided deserved a spot on the ultimate round-up of the best restaurants in London. For new restaurants opening in London recently, we've seen follow-ups from some of the city's biggest-name chefs and a handful of restaurant openings that have stopped us in our tracks: from London's newfound love for BBQ to a Turkish restaurant that's turning heads. These are our favourite openings of the past six months.

How we choose the tastiest new restaurant openings in London

The best new restaurants in London are the most exciting places to eat that have just opened in the capital city. Ranging from small affairs with daily changing menus from up-and-coming chefs to Michelin-starred spots with fresh new menus, these are London's new restaurants we've got our eye on right now.

Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. When choosing new restaurants, our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination.

We’re always looking for stand-out dishes, a great location, warm service, and serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new restaurants open in London.

Oudh 1772, Borough

Chef Aktar Islam is something of a Brummie legend.

He was the first British-born Bangladeshi chef to be awarded a Michelin star in 2019, just one year after opening his debut restaurant, Opheem, in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. A few years later, Opheem became the joint-first Indian restaurant to receive two stars, alongside London's Gymkhana, in the 2024 ceremony. Opheem's status as the city's go-to Special Occasion table to book is firmly cemented.

So when news of Islam opening in London reached me, a native Brummie, I was naturally a) very proud (how often do chefs find success outside of London and then transplant to Zone 1?) and b) desperate to get through the door. And it is quite the door.

Oudh 1772, Islam's Borough restaurant, is set across a Grade-II listed Victorian townhouse, where each storey sits sort of wonkily on top of the next. That's not to say it's not beautiful: designer Polina Sychova collaborated with Islam on the soft, sumptuously layered spaces – all curvy arches and thick drapes, peppered with antiques from Lucknow and even a bespoke hand-painted ceiling in the attic bar. Rather than bouncing across the Indian subcontinent, Islam's menu focuses on the flavours of Awadh, a historic region in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Regional street food is a playful place to start: chaat with white peas and potato or gol guppa (better known here, perhaps, as pani puri) are crispy and best eaten with your hands, a perfect way to start any evening. We boldly take on the mutanjan dum biryani with oxtail, a king prawn kebab and the Awadhi monkfish curry – be warned that while this might certainly be a white tablecloth sort of establishment, the portions are hearty. They're also, luckily, all perfectly pitched – perfumed biryani, garlicky prawns, creamy curry.

Like Opheem before it, this is undoubtedly somewhere for a properly nice supper – prevented from ever becoming too proper by the friendly team and Islam's plucky menu. Add it to the list for your own next Special Occasion. Sarah James

Address: 66 Union Street, London SE1 1TD Website: oudh1722.com

Kismet, Borough

Somewhat unexpectedly located above The Globe Tavern, a buzzy pub on the corner of Borough Market, is Kismet. After passing a throng of pint drinkers, visitors climb a winding staircase and enter a Turkish meyhane – a traditional tavern known for live music and family-style meals.

Kismet has captured that atmosphere perfectly: dark, glittering mahogany benches, delicate lace curtains and vintage photographs make the restaurant feel wonderfully homely. Turkish music bubbles away in the background, with live performances on the qanun, a traditional string instrument, even hosted every Thursday evening.

The menu follows Turkish meyhane cooking, so come prepared to share. Start with Atom, a thick buffalo milk yoghurt topped with chilli butter; cool and tangy against the gentle heat, it is particularly good scooped up with bread or piled onto Sigara Böreği, a crisp pastry filled with salty white cheese.

From the charcoal grill comes Tavuk Şiş, smoky chicken thigh with red pepper, alongside Patates Kizartmasi, fried Cyprus potatoes. Wash it all down with Basketcase, a bottled lager brewed in partnership with Coalition Brewery, or, my personal favourite, a glass of raki.

The Turkish anise-flavoured spirit is made for sipping alongside food, its clean, herbal finish acting as a refreshing palate cleanser between bites. The final flourish comes with dessert, when waiters glide between tables carrying silver trays above their heads.

Lowered on request, they reveal rows of Turkish tea in delicate tulip-shaped glasses and slices of pistachio baklava drowned in syrup. Kismet is only a year-long residency in the space, so visit while you can.

Amelia Dhuga Address: Upstairs at The Globe Tavern, 8 Bedale Street, London, SE1 9AL

Website: kismet.london

Cue Point, Latimer Road

Cue Point is determinedly not a newcomer to the London restaurant scene.

For a decade, the hybrid Afghan-Texas BBQ of Kabul-born chef Mursal Saiq and head chef Joshua Moroney has been making a name for itself through pop-ups, residencies and stints at breweries. This summer, they've finally found a permanent home for their low-n-slow, fired-up cooking. Cue Point at The Garden Bar is set inside an unchic West London boozer with, as the name hints, a truly enormous garden out back.

Here, meat – Wagyu brisket, oak-smoked lamb shank, black lime pepper chicken bites – is smoked to meltiness, or else cooked over licking flames. Saiq's immaculate Afghan flavours are anything but shy and retiring, and a perfect match for Moroney's expert BBQ techniques. Those chicken bites' gnarly exteriors give way to soft meat – we boldly paired ours with the smoked pimento garlic chilli cheese flatbread to start.

Wagyu brisket steak served with fluffy Texas naan and cowboy butter is a non-negotiable, although we'd also recommend ordering the flaky chilli-citrus seabass for something a little (emphasis on the word) lighter. The sticky toffee pudding with Bertotti kulfi was a surprise standout: moreish and sweet, Saiq works with West London gelataria Bertotti to perfect the kulfi.

The team serve a special menu on Sundays, when Saiq tells me that people try to sneak in the door; advance reservations are so hard to get. This is West London's opening of the summer, and a must-book for anyone seeking serious flavour. Sarah James

Address: Garden Bar Grill & Smokehouse at 41 Bramley Road, Notting Hill, London, W10 6SZ Website: cue-point.co.uk

Rosina, Wandsworth

It's been 20 years since chef Adam Byatt opened Trinity, which in restaurant years is practically ancient.

In that time, the Clapham Old Town spot has not only survived but thrived, earning a Michelin star and cementing itself as a south London favourite – its signature beef tartare is still one of the best dishes I’ve ever had, and I don’t even like beef tartare. So when Byatt opened his latest table, Italian-inspired Rosina, in Wandsworth Common, it was busy from day dot.

Busy but effortlessly breezy, with smart couples seated at white linen tables adorned with plates of bread, lemons and olives, and single white candlesticks. Antipasti comes to the table with a vibrant flurry – crimson tuna crudo, smoked sardines on toast, and a heavenly bowl of rainbow Datterini tomatoes with basil, nectarine and buffalo mozzarella.

This is the kind of place where everything is confidently simple, and the bread basket is put to good use mopping up every sauce and vinaigrette. For mains, a pillowy turbot is roasted on the bone and swimming in lemon, capers, parsley and wilted spinach.

The intriguingly named ‘post-service pasta’ was my favourite; an understated yet masterful bowl of spaghetti with anchovy, chilli, garlic and parsley, essentially the dish Byatt likes to make for himself after a shift in the kitchen. Wonderfully oily and crunchy in equal measure, I ate every tiny crumb and noodle. Pudding is served from the marble trolley that holds court in the centre of the restaurant, with tiramisu rustically served with a generous dollop tableside.

If there’s room to try two, the not-too-sweet but cheese-heavy Rosina's torte is a worthy option; the torte and the restaurant are named after Byatt’s daughter Rosie, who also works in the kitchen. Lauren Burvill

Address: Rosina, 35 Bellevue Road, London SW17 7EF Website: rosinarestaurant.co.uk

All Roads, Brixton

I visited All Roads during one of London's many 2026 heatwaves, so it says something about how delicious the food is that I wasn't remotely overwhelmed by the plates of mac and cheese, lamb from the house pot or fried wings that were placed in front of me on one of the hottest days of the year.

While the rest of London was digging into light salads, or maybe a barbecue, I was more than happy to get stuck into the hearty dishes from chefs and partners Malika Green and Paschelle Brown, who have finally put down roots in Brixton following three years of sold-out supper clubs. The menu blends Caribbean cuisine with British, European and Southern American influences, resulting in a list of dishes that are hearty, moreish and full of flavour.

Split into snacks, smalls, grill and plates (with just two or three dishes to each), it's tempting to order the whole menu – take three friends, and you probably could. Unfortunately for me, I was with just one friend, so we had to be discerning (albeit still rather greedy).

Having tried over half of the menu, I truly think it would be difficult to order badly here, but my favourites were undoubtedly the chilli parm clams, served in a sweet and salty tomatoey-soy sauce, with crispy pancetta and topped with parmesan, or the impossibly cheesy baked mac and cheese. We ordered a fresh tomato salad to break up the dishes, and ended with homemade sorrel cheesecake ice cream. In the end, despite the heat, there's nowhere I'd rather have been on a Wednesday evening than here in Brixton Village, soaking up the vibe, flavours and fun of this memorable new spot.

Abigail Malbon Address: 44 Atlantic Road, London SW9 8JN

Website: allroadsldn.com

Hon’s BBQ, Hackney Wick

After earning a fiercely loyal following during his two-year residency at All My Friends, chef Man Hon Luk's first bricks-and-mortar restaurant – in the spot formerly occupied by Silo above Crate Brewery – was a natural next step.

I never made it to the pop-up, but just knowing that Hon perfected his craft at world-renowned, Michelin-starred Interstellar BBQ was reason enough to clear the diary, hotfoot it over to Hackney Wick and see what all the fuss was about. The space is cool, casual and buzzing – high ceilings, whitewashed walls and simple red wooden tables and chairs let the food do the talking. Hon’s cooking is clearly shaped by his time in Texas, but what lands in front of us is something entirely his own: smoky, low-and-slow meats elevated with Chinese flavours and techniques.

Every bite melts in your mouth, with just the right hit of spice and sweetness and the kind of deep caramelised crispy bits you’d fight your fellow diner for. The beef short ribs with Sichuan peppercorn sauce are the star of the show (tender, peppery and sticky) but don’t sleep on the sides; perfectly crunchy green beans with an umami-rich glaze, and a silky mac and cheese with a tangy mustard-laced sauce.

Our only regret? Opting to share a bowl of the creamy mango coconut pudding – one each is a must.

Sarah Allard Address: First floor, Unit 7, The White Building, Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN

Website: honsbbq.com

Vesper, Exmouth Market

When Jackson Boxer opens a new London restaurant, it’s safe to assume it’ll be a smash hit. The chef and restaurateur behind buzzy Brunswick House, Dove and Henri has just opened a new neighbourhood spot on Exmouth Market.

Interiors are industrial, with bare brick walls, a metal bar in the centre and curtains hiding candle-lit tables in intimate corners. There’s also plenty of tables that spill onto the sun-drenched street.

We dined at Vesper a full month after opening, as tables really are that hard to come by. We made sure to book an early 6pm reservation, as the infamous burger you may have seen plastered all over your Instagram, often quoted as one of the best burgers in London, is ordered off-menu to 10 lucky customers on a first-come, first-served basis.

We secured the fourth burger of the evening. The bun is covered in sweet glaze, hugging a hefty slab of seared and torched beef with a rare centre, layered with caramelised onions and oozing gorgonzola sauce.

We’d recommend sharing, or you’ll be rolling home without a chance to try any of the other delicious plates. Our favourite dish of the night was the fried potato pizzette: a little circular pizza bread topped with pineapple, stringy stracciatella cheese and mortadella. Other highlights include the green bean salad coated in goat's cheese and gooseberry tahini, the chicken agnolotti – al dente pasta pockets bursting with fragrant chicken liver in a madeira jus.

For pudding, order the punchy poached apricot flavoured with ginger and amaretto. Plates were scraped clean, as were our little gimlets, previously filled with the Vesper martini finished with a little squirt of citrus oil.

Sophie Knight Address: 8-10 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QA

Website: vesper.restaurant

Langosteria, Whitehall

Italian seafood restaurant group Langosteria has a knack for attaching itself to smart addresses in glamorous European locations, from Milan's Design District to St Moritz and the waves at Paraggi near Portofino. So it’s no surprise that the Milanese group’s first UK outpost has made a beeline for Raffles London at The OWO.

Whitehall's neoclassical Portland stone grandeur doesn't quite evoke the summery spirit of the Ligurian Riviera, but once you pass through its doors, you're transported to that familiar Langosteria world, with its signature animated wallpaper and matching ambience. Here, everything is bold and impactful with a touch of experimentation – including the bar cocktails. From the concise list, the Pomodoro Mezcal, a smoky take on a Bloody Mary, confused my vodka receptors, but the Spicy Margarita with jalapeño was the unequivocal star.

Food-wise, Langosteria casts a wide net in pursuit of freshness and quality, hauling its catch from Italy, Spain, France and Scotland. Locavore advocates will scream, but the quality is undeniable.

My Sicilian red prawn starter – butter-soft and topped with wafer-thin slices of pecorino – was beautiful. The mains included Langosteria classics like the King Crab Special Edition 2007 and the Brittany Lobster "Spicy Blue”; I plumped for the crispy-skinned black grouper Chateaubriand, its saltiness offset by tangy-sweet caponata (Sicilian aubergine, olive and caper relish). My langoustine with lobster in a puddle of zingy lemon butter was perfectly al dente, but the Milanese turbot with asparagus and saffron proved somewhat immemorable.

I chased it all with a glass of Ferrari Brut from a wine list that features most of the Champagne heavy hitters alongside an impressive, Italian-dominant selection of reds and whites. Portions are generous throughout, and for guests of the Raffles hotel, it's just a short stagger to their rooms upstairs. Noo Saro-Wiwa

Address: Langosteria, Whitehall Place at The OWO, London, SW1A 2BD Website: langosteria.com

Willet's, Chelsea

At the back of The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, is an elegant wooden staircase that King Edward VII (when he was the Prince of Wales) ascended to visit his lover, the Victorian actress and socialite Lillie Langtry. It still stands as a testament to the history (and discretion) of this particular 1880s Chelsea townhouse, and today, though less steeped in scandal, it is as regal and luxurious as ever.

The Cadogan is also home to Willett’s, a new British bistro that seems set to become a hotspot in its own right, even amongst those not staying upstairs. Studio Shayne Brady, the interiors team behind the renovation, has modernised while remaining true to the hotel's history – bathing the space in calming blues and greens.

Executive chef Michael Turner (a Gordon Ramsay alum) is producing à la carte dishes that showcase the very best of British produce in unfussy, delicious dishes. The sourdough crumpets with gentleman’s relish and dressed Dorset crab were the definite showstoppers and are destined to become signature dishes.

Mini but mighty, I’d have been more than happy with plates of those alone. Seasonality and locality are buzzwords thrown around quite loosely these days, but Willett’s really does do credit to everything that is brilliant about the produce of the British Isles. I'd also recommend the succulent Beef Wellington and the Colchester oysters.

We’ve no doubt that this restaurant will become as legendary as some of the hotel’s historic residents. Cass Farrar Address: 75 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SG

Website: belmond.com

Dante, Mayfair

Devotees of all things Stateside were intrigued when one of America's best cocktail bars, New York City's Dante, jumped across the pond in 2025 to pop up at grand dame Claridge’s.

Rather than tire and bloat at yet another cross-Atlantic collab, the gourmands kept coming. And so, a year later, the hotel restaurant closed its doors for a facelift any Mayfair resident of a certain age would approve of, led by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio, with a fresh palette of green-and-blue tones and fantastical, botanical murals by Beth Rodway, to welcome Dante as a permanent resident of the neighbourhood's slickest hotel. We follow Billecart-Salmon Champagne with a taster of the Negroni Rosa, a watermelon concoction that tastes like a swig of the summer to come.

A host of NYC favourites are now on the menu – we sample delicate caviar tarts and champagne pearls and are taken aback by the gargantuan grilled king prawns, their smoky, chilli-butter scent enveloping our booth. If a dish is preceded by the restaurant’s name, you know it’s one the chef’s hedging their bets on. And so the Dante smash burger arrives: a juicy patty coated in provolone cheese and topped with sweet caramelised onion, beside perfectly crispy chips awaiting their saucy demise.

Burger devoured and Parmigiano Reggiano-doused veal Milanese inhaled between us, we call on our second stomachs for pudding with a side of spectacle. It's a fiery finish to a meal I’ll be dining out on for a long time to come.

Connor Sturges Address: Dante Mayfair, Claridge's, Brook Street, London W1K 4HR

Website: maybourne.com

The Sea, The Sea, Chelsea

When we walk into Pavilion Road’s The Sea, The Sea – already a familiar name in Chelsea, but now a restaurant serving far more than just drinks and oysters – we don’t know what to expect.

Above the ground-floor raw bar, tables are bathed in light, and the design is minimalist, but we quickly learn that all attention is poured into the fare. The menu spotlights lesser-known fish, plus whatever catch is locally abundant from the seafood suppliers they've built trusted relationships with.

We start with cold sake and a tin of Imperial (as a caviar enthusiast, I love that the sour cream comes pre-topped with chives), followed by butter-soft Isle of Skye scallops with flowering currant. Often, the raw bar usually outshines everything else to me, but three warm dishes – cuttlefish ragu with green almond, smoked Chalkstream trout on a Jersey royal mash, and a rice vinegar-steeped John Dory with maitake – are impossible to top.

The ragu is nothing like we imagine: no pasta, just clean-cut cuttlefish with an unbelievably flavourful squid ink salsify that results in an immediate repeat order. Come dessert, don’t look beyond the potato ice cream with smoked eel. It sounds hard to wrap your head around, and for that reason, you must order it.

Tamara Southward Address: 243 Pavilion Road, London SW1X 0AW

MA/NA Mayfair

A new opening in Mayfair comes with glitzy high expectations, which we immediately felt as we were swept through the doors of MA/NA by a suave-suited doorman. He guided us through the long, winding bar space with a house DJ and down to our table under huge bonsais and gold statement lighting.

A martini is poured table-side as we browse the extensive menu divided into small plates, robata (meats from the Japanese grill), sushi, steak cuts and large plates. We ordered to share: rock shrimp tempura in a glazed sticky sauce, juicy chicken thigh skewers from the robata grill, a 12-piece sushi platter with fresh cuts as selected by the chef (which could also pass as a piece of art) and the crunchy duck salad with sweet pomegranate.

But, our favourite dish, which – fair warning – comes with a big price tag, was the Japanese A5 Wagyu slices served on a hot Himalayan salt stone, which not only flavours, but sears the meat from its heat. Melt-in-the-mouth slices of the finest beef, packed with flavour.

MA/NA is on par, if not tastier than some of London's favourite high-end Japanese spots, with equally flashy guests and interiors. Sophie Knight

Address: 30 Upper Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 7PH Website: manarestaurants.com

Buvette London, Neal's Yard

14 years since its New York debut, chef Jody Williams has brought Buvette (and with it, the spirit of the West Village) to the cobbled streets of Covent Garden – slap bang in the middle of Neal's Yard.

This charmingly chic bistro – complete with curated antiques and a black bicycle parked out front – somehow manages to strike just the right balance between familiar and fancy, with a day-to-night menu focusing on locally-sourced produce. We start with a crisp glass of bubbles as we make our selection, following the house suggestion of sharing three to five dishes between two. Plates are indulgent yet remarkably delicate; a vibrant ratatouille, fresh steak tartare, garlicky escargot, and decadent dauphinois.

The standout is, unsurprisingly, Buvette's signature croques; we opted for the forestier, a vegetarian riff on the original, paired with a generous pour of white wine (French, naturally). To end, tarte tatin and a mousse au chocolat, followed by a perfectly chilled martini made just the way you like – a highlight among the well-executed classic cocktails on offer.

I can’t wait to visit again, whether for a flaky morning croissant and espresso or another evening encounter with that croque... Drew Burns

Address: Buvette London, 2 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP Website: buvette-london.com

Ornella, London Fields

Foodies and film fanatics flocked to Lupa when it opened its doors in Highbury – an Italian feeding frenzy from restaurateur Ed Templeton and chef Naz Hassan, fuelled by The Gentleman star Theo James’ involvement. The reviews were promising, and bookings soon became hard to come by, so it came as no surprise when the trio announced a follow-up – Ornella.

On the corner of a leafy suburban street in London Fields, this new arrival is an edible love letter to Milanese fare that the capital’s food scene has long been crying out for, named in honour of the late singer Ornella Vanoni. Inside, it’s simultaneously cosy and sexy, diners tucked into banquettes and huddled around circular tables illuminated by flickering candlelight.

Proceedings start over punchy sbagliato and caffè amaro cocktails – easy on those, mind – before the fluffiest focaccia in town arrives, warm and doused in glittering olive oil, alongside wafer-thin slivers of salty mortadella and coppa. There’s a choice of four starters – shoutout to the sea bream tartare, I hear, from my companion – followed by five ‘primi’ dishes. We slurp on salty onion broth and twirl our forks to catch shavings of cheese in the simple yet moreish butter and Parmesan tagliatelle, all washed down with generous pours of Venetian Manzoni Bianco.

Naturally, onto secondi, a satisfyingly crisp chicken Milanese, used mostly to mop up heaps of silky mashed potatoes that likely contain more butter than potatoes (no complaints from us). We saunter into the night, hands in circular motions on our stomachs, remarking on how beige and calorific our spread became. No regrets at all, mind, as we plot our return to get snug in one of Ornella’s corners when the mercury drops, if not before.

Connor Sturges Address: Ornella, 51 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG Website: ornella.restaurant

Mezzogiorno by Francesco Mazzei

It’s no small feat bringing Italian summers to London, so it comes as no surprise to any Italophile that Francesco Mazzei is the one leading this charge for the foodie moment that’s taken root within the grand dame walls of London’s Corinthia Hotel.

Designed to transport, its namesake and menu are inspired by the southern regions of Italy, where the sun is the most intense at midday, translated as ‘Mezzogiorno’. Personally more accustomed to London’s shades of grey, I was surprised to enter the opulent Northall bar and find myself in a nonna-esque open kitchen that doubles as a walk-through to the main restaurant. Here, a communal oval table sits opposite the kitchen, where an intimate group sit watching folds of dough being expertly handcrafted into pasta and breadsticks by the chefs in their whites.

Inspired by the Baroque palazzos of Southern Italy, the restaurant is adorned with custom-made Murano chandeliers hanging from tall ceilings, held up by dramatic pillars adjoined to a waffled terracotta ceiling, which makes me think of a gelato cone. The scene here on a Tuesday evening is mostly out-of-town pals sharing plates, business comrades and on this occasion, a Hollywood A-lister, but the winning majority here were couples holding hands across tables and huddled in booths.

We start by nibbling on the longest breadsticks I’ve ever seen - simple and all unique, the only concern is filling up on them, but they are surprisingly light. Next comes an injection of colour with the Pipi Cruski Limone Di Rocca Mayo, a traditional dish of fire-red peppers that are fried and best enjoyed slovenly dipped into lemon butter. Despite the colour, these aren’t spicy and have the most excellent crunch.

Among the tables, we tuck into an antipasti of Orkney scallops, which are tender but fragrant alongside Batutta Di Manzo Inglese, a refreshing mix of chopped beef, salad leaves, pomegranate seeds and large shavings of black truffle. Mouths still full but contentedly chatting, it’s easy to see the inspiration behind this place. With excellent company and ambience, come and come again, but definitely share the hand-made pasta with native blue lobster sauce and T-bone among the table, while you snack on humble traditional Sicilian vegetables and of course, an entire bowl of zucchini sticks.

To finish, the showstopping Tiramisu is necessary - presented to the table in a family-style bowl, the friendly server affectionately spoons the dessert onto our plates, like they are welcoming us to the family. Megan Wilkes

Address: Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2BD, United Kingdom Website: corinthia.com/en-gb/london/mezzogiorno/

Kumori, Soho

Slap-bang in the heart of Soho, Kumori is a 30-seat handroll bar where most of the action happens at the counter, creating an intimate, immersive feel.

Inside, the space feels a little like stepping into a spaceship – all brushed-metal surfaces and iridescent pink and purple lighting. From the plump made-to-order handrolls to the carefully curated soundtrack, everything about Kumori feels cool, fresh and considered. Knees brush as we pore over the tick-box menu, leaving me spiralling as I weigh up how many of the handrolls I can reasonably fit in; there are simply too many good options.

The cocktail list is an equally delicious debate, eventually landing on a yuzu mezcal margarita and sitting back to settle in for the show. Behind the counter, chefs move with speed and precision through a menu curated by head chef John Randy De Guzman (formerly Nobu, Tobi Masa and Katsuya). Each roll is served from chef to patron the moment it’s made, turning dinner into a kind of live theatre.

Lucy Bruton Address: Kumori, 26 Denman Street, London W1D 7HX

Website: kumorirestaurant.com

Tavern, Shoreditch

I’m still thinking about those little melted cheese-filled choux buns that kicked off dinner (the chunion puff), and the dense brown butter muffin that we finished on. But also every course we inhaled in between, which was cooked on open flames from the team behind Michelin-starred Restaurant St Barts in Farringdon.

Nest, the high-end tasting-menu restaurant that once sat on this site, is no longer open. The trio behind it, Johnnie Crowe (Co-founder), Brendan Appleby (executive chef), and Kirsty Easterbrook (head chef), have moved away from fine dining, rebranding and reopening as Tavern, a much more casual affair with a nose-to-tail concept using seasonal British produce.

I loved the new bistro-style interiors mixed with oldy-worldy pub furnishings. Dark, mismatched wooden chairs, scattered with shaggy sheepskins, are tucked beneath linen-topped tables with flickering candles.

Kick things off with a Tavern Pickleback cocktail – a dirty martini infused with pickle juice, served with a cocktail stick of cured meat inside. Small plates (actually on the larger size) are flung out of the kitchen quickly; order the fire bread coated in wild garlic and, obviously, the chunion puff to start.

For mains, we loved the asparagus with a dollop of buttery hollandaise and cured egg yolk, the pork and cuttlefish sausage with squid-ink mustard and the huge joint of smoky sirloin with a side of charred leaves, beetroot and horseradish. For dessert, have the black koji custard tart, bitter and sweet at the same time.

Sophie Knight Address: Tavern, 374-378 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT Website: tavernlondon.co.uk

The Latimer, North Kensington

The Latimer is a true family effort. It's been recently brought to life by Rochelle Canteen co-founder Melanie Arnold, St John and Sessions Arts Club partner Jon Spiteri, and their three children, Lorcan, Fin, and Molly, who have brought their own prowess to London hotspots Caravel and Koya, respectively.

Given this resume, I already knew I’d be in good hands when it came to the food, but the clan have also captured a remarkably warm neighbourhood feel. Though it’s been open for just over a week, when we visit, guests here walk around comfortably with a sense of knowing the place.

We ordered grilled asparagus in a herb sauce we’d drink by the bowl if we could, confit trout with green beans and new potatoes, and our must-have: unbelievably tender pork belly skewers braised in cider, served with a dollop of applesauce. Grilled-to-perfection sea bream with tiny green and yellow tomatoes in a delectable aioli, and a courgette linguine tossed in stracciatella followed. There are two desserts – an amaretti crumble and a chocolate mousse.

Plus, I’m impressed by the drinks here – at £12, they’re decently priced for West London and the chicest thing about the pub. I opt for the Westway, a tequila-and-blood-orange shrub short drink, but mentally bookmark South of the Border, a black coffee-and-reposado tequila drink, for when I’m next here on a weekend.

Tamara Southward Address: 274 Latimer Road, London W10 6QW Website: thelatimer.co.uk

Bar Etna, Newington Green

Does London really need another hype-y pizza joint? Having been left as cold as a next-day margarita by a couple of recent openings, I was sceptical – but having spent the evening being charmed and carbloaded by the team at Bar Etna, I can attest that it absolutely does.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised – this is the dream-team project from Four Legs’ Ed McIlroy (Finsbury Park’s Tollington and The Plimsoll) and Joe Beddia (owner of Philadelphia-based, Bib Gourmand-garlanded Pizzeria Beddia). Their special relationship has resulted in an East Coast pizza bar with mid-century Milanese design and top-notch seasonal British ingredients. The downstairs bar is reserved for walk-ins, while upstairs is (slightly) more formal tables, where we huddle knee-to-knee with strangers in front of an open kitchen from which servers twirl out piping pizzas.

The menu is no-fuss: three spritzes plus a special (a tomatini-inspired affair on our visit); negronis or vermouth on tap; an Italian-focused wine list; a couple of snacks; and four thin-crust, Italian-American style pizzas to choose from. Creamy “judion” (butter) beans arrive floating in silky olive oil and liberally doused with salt and lemon zest – perfectly simple and perfectly done, a hint of what’s to come.

The must-order tomato pie is a Philly staple of salty, herby tomatoes spread on springy focaccia. My fellow diner deems it “the best, most upscale version of primary school traybake pizza you’ve ever had”. For pizza, we go for a simple Number One (tomato, mozzarella and Neal’s Yard coolea), which elegantly manages the dance between a thin, crispy base and a satisfying amount of flop.

The Number Two (cream, cantabrian chillis, greens, coolea) is our favourite, with just the right amount of chilli heat, but the appropriately volcanic Etna Curry Pizza blows my socks off with one bite; it’s not for me, but those made of stronger stuff might enjoy this playful tribute to a curry house saag paneer. A stainless steel coupe of espresso soft serve is tiny and chic and just right to cut through all the carbs.

One night after opening, Bar Etna was heaving, with a real house party feel. With plans for late-night pizzas by the slice on Fridays and Saturdays, I can already tell that the pavement outside will be spilling over this summer – and with the recently opened The Gold Tooth (from the pair behind London Fields’ Papi) and existing favourites Cadet and Yield nearby, Newington Green is fast becoming one of the buzziest food spots in this part of town.

Olivia Squire Address: 47 Newington Green, London N16 9PX

Website: instagram.com/bar.etna.london

Idalia at Pillar Hall, Olympia

There’s something sparkly happening in West London.

Last month saw the opening of Pillar Hall – a landmark new live music venue, 30,000ft restaurant and speakeasy set within a truly magnificent Grade II-listed space, as part of Olympia’s tidy £1.3 billion regeneration. Originally designed in 1886 by architect Henry Edward Coe, it was built for exhibitions, concerts and even the circus. Vivienne Westwood staged her first catwalk show here; Britain hosted one of its earliest film screenings; and now, 140 years on, it’s back with a new outfit for a fresh dose of razzle-dazzle.

At its heart sits the sweeping restaurant, Idalia. The name is an alternative moniker for Aphrodite that was rather more in vogue in the 1880s.

The vast, gleaming dining room is all verdant glamour, inspired by the nearby gardens of Kensington and Olympia, with space for 300 – so not your quiet Tuesday supper spot. The sparkling wine list is all English and excellent, but do start with one of the cocktails, which are playful, theatrical things served in everything from pink-crusted globes to glass handbags as an homage to Dolce & Gabbana.

Of course, it’s a fine dining experience. In the kitchen, Samantha Williams – formerly Angela Hartnett’s executive chef – delivers a modern British menu with the odd Asian interlude. Reasons why, unsure, but why not, I say – and to be fair, the Asian stuff is really good.

A bowl of Gochujang chicken thighs are juicy, crispy and drizzled in zesty sriracha mayo, while the whole roasted Turbot, which arrives theatrically and is deboned tableside, comes with a heaping scoop of shichimi togarashi butter oozing atop the skin and some fresh pickled daikon. It’s melty-soft and perfect for sharing, best served with a side of the beef tallow chips – the swankiest fish and chips you’ll eat all year bar none.

Finish with the pistachio cheesecake, which is truly humongous and has famously racked up quite a reputation in only the first week of opening. This is a thoroughly grand affair perfect for your next big do – and such a glitzy night deserves a little flourish. Charley Ward

Address: Pillar Hall, Olympia Way, London W14 0EY Website: pillarhall.co.uk

Fenix, Mayfair

I’ll never say no to a Greek salad, but a salad plus endless dips, pittas and charcoal-fired meats and seafood? Count me in.

Fenix is a smart Greek-Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Mayfair (right next to Green Park station), serving sharing plates with a slightly modern twist. The menu is split into spreads, salad, cold dishes, meze, open fire, pasta and rice and sides, and the choice is overwhelming – in the best way.

At first glance, I knew I'd have trouble choosing from the vast menu, and there were multiple extra dishes I’d have chosen if I had endless stomach space, but in the end, we went for a little bit of everything. Start with the dips – the spicy feta is creamy with a bit of a kick, but the smoked taramasalata was the real star of the show; full of flavour, a perfect smooth texture and just gorgeous spread across pillowy pita.

We saved a little bit of our dips for the meze (the halloumi tempura and caramelised aubergine with tahini miso are must-orders) and added spicy sea bass carpaccio, spicy sweetcorn and orzo with langoustine and feta to finish things off. There wasn’t a dish I regretted, although in hindsight I was probably too stuffed for the crème brûlée – but who can say no to a sweet treat?

The space is massive, but it still feels intimate. During our Thursday night dinner, we were catered to by multiple members of staff (all of them friendly and knowledgeable) and our reservation was stretched out for nearly three hours, without ever feeling rushed. The decor is clearly slightly themed towards a taverna (think raffia and wood, plenty of greenery and paved flooring) but avoids being gimmicky thanks to the chic combination of textures and light colour palette.

I’d come back here with friends visiting London to show them a cool spot in the city, and for a menu with an endless list of crowd-pleasers. Address: Fenix, Stratton House, 80 Piccadilly, London W1J 8HX

Website: fenixrestaurants.com

Café Jikoni, Stratford

It’s rare for a toastie to be anything more than a rushed, forgettable meal, but at Café Jikoni, that all changed. The Goan aubergine achaar and Mony’s cheddar toastie was one of the best bites I’ve had this year, and without question the finest toastie I’ve ever eaten.

The staff insisted we try it, and despite my initial scepticism at choosing a sandwich over something more elaborate, I was quickly proved wrong. It was spicy, oozing, and bright with freshness.

To me, the mark of an exceptional chef lies in their ability to elevate the humble. Ravinder Bhogal is a clear master of this, able to refine even the most staple of dishes. Born in Kenya to Indian parents, she is an award-winning food writer, TV presenter, journalist, cook, and restaurateur, and her breadth of experience is evident in every dish.

Jikoni Marylebone has long been an essential part of London's dining scene, and now Bhogal has expanded the concept with an all-day café and restaurant housed on the lower ground floor of the new V&A East Museum in Stratford. The striking building feels like a natural home for her food: elevated yet relaxed, inclusive, and creative. Standouts ranged from the nibbles – such as the Shambaa pickles and umami-rich oregano fries – to larger plates like butter beans aglio e olio, topped with irresistibly crunchy pangrattato, and a deeply comforting massaman curry.

As someone who eats predominantly plant-based, I found Jikoni sets a high bar for vegetarian cooking, proving it can be just as inventive, flavourful, and satisfying as any meat-based dish. The tofu massaman and butter beans were particularly vibrant and memorable. From the drinks list, the sweet, smoky strawberry margarita and a satisfyingly dry martini are both worth your time.

To finish, I watched the sun set over the canal while indulging in an intensely rich Vietnamese coffee brownie, alongside a picture-perfect yuzu, pandan, and strawberry iced bun. Address: Café Jikoni at the V&A East Museum, 107 Carpenters Rd, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, E20 2AR Website: jikonilondon.com

Teal by Sally Abé, Hackney

Tucked along a leafy Hackney street, Teal by Sally Abé feels immediately at home among neighbourhood pubs, cafés and delis, just a short stroll from London Fields. With its soft green interiors, potted plants and light-filled dining room, the space strikes a balance between relaxed local charm and quietly confident fine dining.

This is the latest opening from Sally Abé, whose résumé spans some of London’s most respected kitchens, including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, The Ledbury and The Harwood Arms. Here, her cooking leans into British produce with a sense of nostalgia, revisiting historic touches such as the £1 “penny lick”, a playful nod to Victorian-era street treats.

The menu opens with thoughtful bites, including a standout Locket’s savoury: a salty-sweet mouthful of Stilton on toast, with a fruity finish. Starters showcase the kitchen’s finesse, particularly a delicately balanced asparagus tartlet with Old Winchester, and a Dorset crab royale lifted by peas and lovage.

Mains are richer and more robust, from an artichoke and hazelnut vol-au-vent to beef sirloin with wild garlic, Cornish mussels, and a deeply flavoured haunch of deer. Desserts are a highlight.

A marmalade ice cream sandwich walks the line between bitter and sweet, while a marshmallow teacake paired with Earl Grey custard offers a playful finish. While traditional British menus can lean heavily towards meat, Teal makes a strong case for its vegetable dishes, which stand confidently alongside their counterparts.

The wine list is thoughtfully curated yet accessible, with English options such as Sussex sparkling wines appealing to the local crowd. Service is warm and assured, completing a restaurant that already feels like a natural fixture in the area. Address: Teal by Sally Abé, 52 Wilton Way, London Fields, E8 1BS

Website: tealbysallyabe.com

Taverna Ermou, Marylebone

Taverna Ermou is the closest you’ll feel to being in a Greek taverna in London.

Tiled chequered floor, marble tables topped with a little candle, traditional chairs made of wood and straw and lots of framed hand crochet doilies often seen in old-school Greek homes. Staff dressed in white shirts and black aprons run around serving a packed out and very loud restaurant off the already busy James Street in central London.

This is the second branch of Ermou, following the original in Athens. It’s warm, welcoming and slightly chaotic – a recipe for a fun evening with friends.

The menu is like the interiors: extremely traditional. Expect classics like tzatziki, Greek salad, and super succulent chicken souvlaki.

Plates are meant to be shared, served on stainless steel platters and thrown in the middle of the table – we were happy to find there's no skimping on portion sizes either. Every dish was big enough for at least three or four people to share happily.

You’ll want to order a bunch of dips, we can’t recommend the deconstructed spanakopita dip enough – a warm spinach and feta paste served with crispy bread. Then order mezze plates, including the Saganaki, which we have seen pop up all over our Instagram: a runny graviera cheese coated in a flaky kataifi phyllo sprinkled with pistachios and spicy honey.

A fresh salad and a few bigger plates from the grill and pasta section, such as spiced beef and lamb kebabs, charred octopus and rich creamy crab orzo. We’ve also heard great things about the brunch menu.

This all-day dining spot might have just taken the lead as the best Greek restaurant in London. Sophie Knight

Address: Taverna Ermou, 38-40 James Street, London W1U 1EU Website: ergonfoods.com

Burro, Covent Garden

Burro – or butter, in Italian – certainly lives up to its name. Simple ingredients reign supreme here, but in our three-course dinner, we had anchovies with butter and crostini, sole with a butter-and-prosecco sauce, and garlicky Jersey royal potatoes swimming in the good stuff.

Personally, I had no complaints (the more butter, the better), but diners should be warned that it’s easy to lean towards heavy dishes… although, isn’t that what lovely Italian dining should be about? It’s very easy to over-order when the menu starts with a selection of antipasti so tempting you could ask for one of each, but I’d certainly recommend the aforementioned anchovies, plus pillowy-fresh foccacia and melty Salumi. When it came to Primi, we misjudged; the fettuccine with duck and porcini ragù was heavy and a little salty; in all honesty, I had hoped for a little more flavour or fun.

The sole lifted my spirits a little, but it was dessert – rhubarb granita with vanilla cream – that really left me wanting more. It’s rare for me to skip a tiramisu, but in this case, I was ready for something a little bit lighter, and thank god, because I stumbled upon one of my favourite puddings in a long time.

The restaurant is undoubtedly set for big things: its location in Floral Court in Covent Garden is pretty perfect, and comes from a known name in the industry, Conor Gadd, co-owner of much-loved Highbury restaurant Trullo. This is a more suave, grown-up version, where theatre-goers mingle with after-work diners, and the vibe inside is relaxed and fun – helped along by a great team of staff who happily share suggestions.

High ceilings, fancy tablecloths, and art dotted across the walls add to the opulence. I'll certainly return to try the constantly changing menu, but I'll be hoping the granita remains. Abigail Malbon