On the hunt for the best new restaurants in London? London is home to some of the best places to eat in the world, with the capital’s dining scene growing exponentially over the last decade, and pretty much every cuisine imaginable being accounted for. With so many great spots to choose from, dinner can become somewhat overwhelming. New restaurants open in London every day, but how do you separate the great from the good? Well, we've done the hard yards for you, heading out to every new opening to see what's what, then rounding up all of London's best new restaurants into a handy list.
If you want to visit good new restaurants in London, guaranteed to leave you satisfied and right at the centre of the capital’s cultural zeitgeist, this is the only list you’ll ever need. You can expect the most talked-about chefs, the biggest comebacks, white-hot pop-ups-gone-permanent, or just brand-new restaurants that are knocking it out of the park. Scroll this way for London’s hottest new restaurants and be prepared to block out your diary for the foreseeable future.
Scroll down even further and you'll find a little round-up of the exciting London restaurants opening in 2024, with all the biggest names on the horizon. If you want to stay current in this city, it pays to know what big openings are right around the corner. We have our finger on the pulse when it comes to upcoming restaurant openings in London, and you can read more about the most exciting new openings in our 'Best new London restaurants opening soon' section.
Every one of the places featured in the top section of the guide below have been tried and tested by our team of critics, so check out the full reviews by clicking through. Each SquareMeal listing features an independent review, as well as reviews from diners who have visited, together with unique special offers such as limited edition menus and discounts.
Best new restaurants London
This list is home to London's hottest restaurants - the places that everyone is talking about, ranging from fine dining, white tablecloth luxury to rustic gastropubs and easy-going takeaways.
Josephine, Chelsea
What: Without question one of London’s most recognisable and successful chefs, when Claude Bosi does something, the city sits up and listens. Josephine is the classic Lyonnais bouchon we've always wanted from the Lyonnais chef - traditional southern French dishes cooked with Bosi's uncompromising technique and quality. There's also a fantastic plat du jour menu that features a daily special for just £15.50 at the time of writing, as well as a good value set menu as well. We expect Josephine will be a tough restaurant to book for some time.
Opened: March 2024
Where: 315 Fulham Road, SW10 9QH
Read more: Josephine
Morchella, Clerkenwell
What: Perilla has long been one of London’s most underrated ‘if you know you know’ restaurants, and messrs Marks and Emerson have finally branched out into a second site. Morchella takes up residence in a grand old banking building on Exmouth Market and the Mediterranean-inspired menu still has the signature creative flair that has made Perilla such a hit. The pair are joined by Dan Fletcher (most recently head chef of 28 Market Place in Somerset), who completes the dream team for this exciting new restaurant, which is already staking a claim for one of 2024's best new openings.
Opened: February 2024
Where: 84-86 Rosebury Avenue, EC1R 4QY
Read more: Morchella
Sale e Pepe, Knightsbridge
What: To celebrate its 50th anniversary, this luxurious Italian spot has undergone a major refurbishment, returning the site to its old-school glamour. Extravagant interiors feature patterned wallpaper, bronze mirrors and an impressive marble-topped bar, while the revamped menu includes tagliatelle caviar and plenty of crudi, alongside longtime Sale e Pepe classics.
Opened: 26 February 2024
Where: 9-15 Pavilion Road, SW1X 0HD
Book now: Sale e Pepe
Mortimer House Kitchen, Fitzrovia
What: Not so much a reopening as a refresh, Mortimer House Kitchen is now under the guidance of Tom Cenci (who also looks after sister restaurant Nessa in Soho). Looks like a solid appointment to us, as Cenci has introduced a slick Italian menu that nods to influences across the Atlantic, with dishes like a hulking chicken parmigiana with marinara sauce, and an absolutely wonderful zucchini Caesar salad.
Opened: February 2024
Where: 37–41 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JH
Book now: Mortimer House Kitchen
Sune, Hackney
What: Broadway Market isn’t short of solid food, but Sune is likely to be the hot destination restaurant in East London for the foreseeable future. With hospitality power couple Charlie Sims and Honey Spencer at the helm (Sims runs front of house whilst Spencer looks after the wine list) Sune boasts a deft and experienced team. Dishes like beef tartare Croque Monsieur show of Sune’s playful but comforting charms.
Opened: November 2023
Where: 129A Pritchard's Road, E2 9AP
Book now: Sune
Pearly Queen, Shoreditch
What: Chef Tom Brown followed up Michelin-starred Cornerstone with a second, more central site in Pearly Queen - a name that foretells the restaurants’ focus on oysters. Quirky decor meets some absolutely spellbinding cooking, including some of the best oysters we’ve ever eaten (the crispy fried buffalo oysters with ranch dressing are, without doubt, one of the best things we ate in 2023).
Opened: November 2023
Where: 44 Commercial Street, E1 6LT
Book now: Pearly Queen
Tashas, Battersea
What: Natasha Sideris - remember the name, because you’re likely to hear a lot more of it over the coming years. Tashas is borderline iconic in her native South Africa, and we can see why based on her debut London cafe-cum-restaurant at Battersea Power Station. Does Tashas break any boundaries? Not really, but it does deliver easy-going, delicious cafe staples with smart little twists at all times of the day. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, we’d happily become regulars at Tashas.
Opened: November 2023
Where: 3 Prospect Way, Battersea Power Station, SW11 8BH
Book now: Tashas
Donia, Soho
What: The duo behind Filipino stalwarts Mamasons and Panadera Bakery have swiped one of the coveted top floor spots in Kingly Court for this wonderful Filipino restaurant, which was one of 2023's most welcome surprise additions to the capital. Cool, trendy and contemporary, Donia blends a bit of upscale bistro romance with straight-up delicious modern Filipino cooking, from 'adobo’ mushroom croquettes to pork lechon with liver peppercorn sauce.
Opened: November 2023
Where: Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, W1B 5PW
Book now: Donia
The Butcher's Tap and Grill, Chelsea
What: The Butcher’s Tap and Grill has doubled up, with a Chelsea site joining the already successful Marlow gastropub. Patron Tom Kerridge also famously holds two Michelin stars at The Hand and Flowers, but The Butcher's Tap and Grill keeps things down-to-earth and pubby, despite the West London surroundings. Like the Marlow site, The Butcher’s Tap Chelsea has its own meat-ageing fridges installed in the back, and you can buy meat from the butchery or sit in for burgers, hot dogs, steaks and more.
Opened: November 2023
Where: 27 Tryon Street, SW3 3LG
Book now: The Butcher's Tap and Grill
Mambow, Clapton
What: Abby Lee’s brilliant fifth-gear Malaysian cooking has moved digs from Peckham to Clapton, where it takes up a nifty site on Clapham High Street. Lee has put some considerable time into launching with a new menu, but you can expect the same full-throttle Malaysian cooking and easy-drinking wines, albeit in a larger site. Long may the good times continue for this exceptional little restaurant.
Opened: November 2023
Where: 78 Lower Clapton Road, E5 0RN
Book now: Mambow
FOWL by Fallow, St James's
What: The Fallow team has ruffled some feathers with their new restaurant FOWL - a walk-in only chicken shop pop-up in St James’s. True to the team’s beak-to-feet philosophy, the menu makes as much use of the bird as possible, serving up a chicken fat crème caramel and a chicken thigh corn dog with the foot still attached.
Opened: October 2023
Where: 3 Norris Street, SW1Y 4RJ
Book now: FOWL by Fallow
The Waterman's Arms, Barnes
What: The newest feather in Patty & Bun founder Joe Grossman's cap, The Waterman's Arms has now opened in his old stomping ground. Head chef Sam Andrews, formerly of The Camberwell Arms, and manager Simon Walsh have joined the cause and created a neighbourhood gem with a simple but elevated British menu in a warm and unpretentious setting.
Opened: October 2023
Where: 375 Lonsdale Road, SW13 9PY
Book now: The Waterman's Arms
Kolae, London Bridge
What: The team behind Som Saa, headed by Mark Dobbie and Andy Oliver, has opened their second residence inside an old London coach house in Borough Market. The historic building hosts a buzzing triple-decker restaurant and a ground-floor open kitchen serving grilled dishes celebrating the Southern Thai cuisine of the same name. The signature kolae chicken skewers are a triumph. Oh, and the design team has really hit the nail on the head too, effortlessly blending industrial features and vibrant foliage.
Opened: October 2023
Where: 6 Park Street, SE1 9AD
Book now: Kolae
Solis, Battersea
What: Inspired by co-founder Ana Goncalves’ childhood experience of uncomplicated but flavourful Portuguese food, the team behind TATA Eatery has launched Solis at Arcade Food Hall in Battersea Power Station. Solis delivers nostalgic Iberian and South American cooking which revels in meat and potato simplicity. The menu at Solis revolves around two key items: half spatchcock chicken with a signature smoked aji-aji oil, and a flat iron with a green steak sauce reminiscent of L'Entrecote in Marylebone. If large grilled meats don’t call your name, fret not, Solis also offers a range of nibbles ‘para picar’.
Opened: October 2023
Where: Battersea Power Station, SW11 8DD
Book now: Solis
The Devonshire, Soho
What: Publican royalty Oisin Rogers has returned to the restaurant scene to set up shop in The Devonshire along with Flat Iron founder Charlie Carroll. The gastropub is two-tiered; downstairs is a traditional boozer, offering a good Guinness while the room above hosts a grill restaurant. As it should, The Devonshire keeps things close to home, championing British produce and performing all their butchery in-house. An Irish man and a Cambridge graduate walk into a Soho bar... the rest is history.
Opened: October 2023
Where: 17 Denman Street, W1D 7HW
Book now: The Devonshire
Akara, London Bridge
What: Akoko founder Aji Akokomi has chosen Borough as the location for his second restaurant. Akara is a more relaxed companion to its fine-dining sibling, serving a variety of its namesake black-eye pea fritters which have travelled from West Africa via Brazil to make a formal debut in London. Inspired by hometown dishes and the diverse history of the region, you can expect big flavours at approachable prices.
Opened: October 2023
Where: Arch 208, 18 Stoney Street, SE1 9AD
Book now: Akara
London Stock, Mayfair
What: Crossing the tracks from Wandsworth to Mayfair, London Stock has reopened its doors in the fine-dining district. Acclaimed for their global treatment of British produce, the move has coincided with the award of a third AA rosette for culinary excellence. Courtesy head chef Sebastian Rast and Le Cordon Bleu-trained Andres Bernal and Assem Abdel Hady, lucky diners can experience the pleasure of reasonably priced highly seasonal tasting menus in a comfortable setting.
Opened: October 2023
Where: 6 Sackville Street, W1S 3DD
Book now: London Stock Mayfair
Bistro Freddie, Shoreditch
What: A third opening from the Crispin group - who seem to go from strength to strength each year - Bistro Freddie has lured talented chef Anna Sogaard from Erst in Manchester to rattle the pans in the old Oklava site in Shoreditch. Combined with highly regarded group sommelier Alex Price, Freddie's romantic charm and down-to-Earth food is something special.
Opened: October 2023
Where: 74 Luke Street, EC2A 4PY
Book now: Bistro Freddie
The best new London restaurants opening soon
Restaurants continue to open in the capital at breakneck speed - we've rounded up all the big new openings coming up in the next few months and beyond.
Arlington, St James’s
What: Jeremy King has been much-missed from London’s dining scene, but he returns in style with Arlington - a restaurant that promises all the trappings of King’s old restaurants, in the old Le Caprice site in St James’s. Expect classic European cooking throughout the day and peerless service, led by legendary maître d' Jesus Adorno.
Opening: Spring 2024
Where: 20 Arlington Street, SW1A 1RJ
Read more: Arlington
Lita Marylebone
What: Lita is running a little under the radar, but we’ve long been fans of head chef Luke Ahearne and his cooking at Corrigan’s Mayfair (and Luca before that). Modern Mediterranean cooking is the name of the game here, and with the team behind Chelsea’s Wild Tavern also in on the venture, this could be a huge hit.
Opening: March 2024
Where: 7-9 Paddington Street, W1U 5QH
Read more: Lita
Carmel, Fitzrovia
What: We’re big fans of the original Carmel in Queens Park (one of many excellent restaurants on Lonsdale Road). Josh Katz is, thankfully, bringing his delicious signature flatbreads and natural wines to a more central location, opening Carmel 2.0 in Fitzrovia any day now.
Opening: Spring 2024
Where: 7-8 Market Place, W1W 8AG
Unlock, Hackney Wick
What: Simultaneously functioning as a pizzeria, cocktail bar and art space, Unlock is bringing more Neapolitan pizza to London, this time courtesy of Napoli-born siblings Arianna and Giovanni Izzo. Cocktails are just as enticing, with twists on Italian classics served along a 10 metre concrete bar.
Opening: March 2024
Where: 1 Monkwood Way, E3 2EG
Read more: Unlock
NIJU, Mayfair
What: We thought 20 Berkeley (and indeed, the Nipperkin bar underneath) were both rather fantastic when they opened in 2023, but it looks like Creative Restaurants and Endo Kazutoshi are keen to mix things up, rebranding the space as NIJU and shifting to a modern Japanese menu later this year. Don’t worry though - the Nipperkin isn’t going anywhere.
Opening: Spring 2024
Where: 20 Berkeley Street, W1J 8EE
Rucola, Covent Garden
What: One of London’s more lovely (and eco-conscious) member’s clubs, The Conduit has gone all in on rebranding the rooftop restaurant. Rucola will be open to the public when it opens (Thursday and Friday evenings, and all day on Saturdays) and the menu will be similarly sustainable and plant-forward, with a focus on northern Italian cooking.
Opening: 15 March 2024
Where: 6 Langley Street, WC2H 9JA
Read more: Rucola at The Conduit
Kioku by Endo, Westminster
What: The last piece of the OWO puzzle is yet to come, in the form of another restaurant for Endo Kazutoshi - the multi award-winning master sushi chef behind Endo at The Rotunda. This rooftop spot will feature a Japanese-influenced menu from the sushi master, as well as a sake bar on the ground floor.
Opening: Early 2024
Where: 57 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX
Read more: Endo at The OWO
OMA, London Bridge
What: In Smokestak and Manteca, David Carter has his thumb in two of London's hottest pies, so a third project was bound to cause a stir when announced. OMA promises much - a 60-cover dining room with plenty of white-stone and Aegean architectural details, and a broad Greek menu that focuses on wood-fired cooking. A 400-bin wine list will focus on lesser-known Greek wines too.
When does it open? Spring 2024
Where: 2-4 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL
Read more: OMA
Mimosa, Marylebone
What: Taking up residence in the space once occupied by Roux at the Landau, Mimosa is a Riviera-inspired restaurant coming to The Langham Hotel. Already a smash hit in Paris, this exciting new operation promises much and we’re thrilled about the imminent return of The Langham to London’s dining scene.
Opening: Early 2024
Where: The Langham Hotel, 1C Portland Place, W1B 1JA
Julie’s, Holland Park
What: A restaurant with some pedigree, Julie’s is returning to Holland Park a year after closing, complete with split two-floor dining area and a lovely al fresco terrace. New owner Tara MacBain has drafted in Owen Kenworthy (formerly head chef of Brawn and most recently of The Pelican) to lead the charge in the kitchen, so we’re expecting big things.
Opening: Early 2024
Where: 135 Portland Road, W11 4LW
Read more: Julie’s
Wildflowers, Pimlico
What: Wildflowers will open in early 2024 in Pimlico's recently developed Newson's Yard. The restaurant, deli & wine bar, which comes from interior stylist Laura Hart and chef Aaron Potter (previously head chef of Trinity and Elystan Street), will serve dishes inspired by the Mediterranean, albeit with a twist - think crispy Cadiz shrimp fritters, cuttlefish and crab fideua and fig leaf pasteis de nata. We loved Potter's cooking at Maria G’s, so Wildflowers is high on our hit list for 2024.
Opening: Early 2024
Where: Newson’s Yard, SW1W 8NE
Read more: Wildflowers
The Cocochine, Mayfair
What: After much anticipation, head chef Larry Jayasekara and Hamilton Gallery owner Tim Jefferies are one step closer to opening their elegant restaurant at Bruton Place. Jayasekara’s rap sheet covers 20 years in fine dining restaurants including Petrus where he was head chef. The menu is very much under wraps, but we are told to expect influences from his varied travels and a celebration of ‘the joy of eating’.
When does it open? 2024
Where: 27 Bruton Place, W1J 6NQ
Read more: The Cocochine
Akira Back at the Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair
What: Michelin-starred Korean chef Akira Back is the starring attraction at the brand new Mandarin Oriental in Mayfair, where he'll be looking after an exciting new dining experience consisting of two restaurants and two bars. The stunning triple-height dining room will be adjoined by three separate private rooms available for hire, whilst the rooftop ‘ABar’ will afford unbeatable views over Mayfair. As expected from such a renowned chef, the dinner menu is set to be a culinary journey mostly based in the chef's Korean heritage but also featuring Japanese elements and executed with French cooking techniques. The Mandarin Oriental is still a way off completion so don't expec this until late 2024 at the earliest.
When does it open? Late 2024
Where: 22 Hanover Square, W1S 1JP
Read more: Akira Back at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
Row on 5, Mayfair
What: The newest venture from Jason Atheron, Row on 5 is set to be a new flagship for the renowned chef - his first new opening in London since The Betterment, which closed in 2019. Spread over two floors in a brand-new building on the famous tailor's street, there will be an open kitchen downstairs with counter seating and tables available on the ground floor. There is limited information available concerning the menu, however, rumours are it will be a ‘culinary voyage’ journeying through a multi-course dining experience.
When does it open? 2024
Where: 5 Savile Row, W1S 3PB
The Park, Bayswater
What: A welcome return to London for Jeremy King, The Park is planned for Spring 2024 and will open inside the new Park Modern Building, opposite Kensington Palace Gardens. Little is known at the moment but King himself has said we can expect a restaurant that riffs on the same European ‘grand cafe’ style that made Corbin & King so iconic.
When does it open? 2024
Where: 123 Bayswater Road, W2 3JH
Read more: The Park
Fonda, Mayfair
What: When restaurants are as successful as KOL, a second restaurant is always round the corner. Sure enough, Santiago Lastra and MJMK have nabbed a corner spot at the top of Heddon Street in Mayfair, promising more of his creative modern Mexican cooking, this time centred around the ‘comal’ - a clay griddle used to cook corn tortillas.
Opening: 2024
Where: Heddon Street, W1
Read more: Fonda
Carbone, Mayfair
What: Headlining London’s new obsession with Italo-American food is Carbone - New York’s iconic Italian restaurant slash mob wife immersive experience. Carbone will likely be the star attraction at the upcoming Chancery Rosewood Hotel in Mayfair, still under construction and coming in 2025.
Opening: 2025
Where: The Chancery Rosewood Hotel, 30 Grosvenor Square, W1K
Read more: Carbone
If that’s whetted your appetite, check out our pick of London's coolest, trendiest restaurants.