Read all about the hottest new restaurant openings of the last six months.
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Feb
Sep
Il Gattopardo - W1S
London
Scheduled to open in September 2023 in Albermarle Street, Mayfair, this high-end Italian from the group behind Zuma and Roka takes inspiration from 'la dolce vita" and the glamorous 1960s highlife of the Amalfi coast, Sicily and Italy's southern islands. A key feature is the hidden courtyard terrace with a fully retractable roof.
It's Bagels - NW1
Sandwiches, cakes, etc
London
Self-taught baker Dan Martensen and Caravan head baker Jack Ponting have worked on perfecting a New York bagel recipe; after a stint at Caravan, Martensen opened this bricks-and-mortar place in September 2023.
Meet Bros - W2
Steaks & grills
London
The first European venture from one of Malaysia's leading restaurant groups is a steakhouse in Craven Road, Paddington, that takes its name from the meeting of Eastern and Western food cultures. No alcohol is served and the meat is fully halal, with cuts flavoured by infusion in Asian marinades.
Fazenda, Rodizio Bar & Grill - EC2M
South American
London
The first London venue from this Leeds-based Brazilian rodizio operation has opened in the City of London's new 100 Bishopsgate skyscraper. There's a set price, and waiters bring a succession of grilled meats to the table until they are signalled to stop by a green card being turned over to red.
Lavo - W1U
Italian
London
The first London opening from the US Tao group, which owns Hakkasan, is a branch of its nightclubby high-end Italian brand, Lavo, in Marylebone High Street's new BoTree hotel, opening October 2023. Expect resident DJs and maximalist food, including signature wagyu meatballs and 20-layer chocolate cake.
Now Or Never - LA1
Lancaster
This ambitious restaurant in a listed building in the old town centre takes ingredients from Lancashire and Cumbria and gives them Japanese or Middle Eastern treatment. Chef Jeff Marshall and his wife Nichola are well known locally for their brunch and coffee venue, Journey Social Kitchen.
Sushi by MASA - SW1X
London
Veteran Japanese sushi master Masayoshi Takayama is the star turn in the October 2023 reopening of Harrods Food Hall, where his team recreates dishes from his three New York restaurants, headed by the three Michelin-starred Masa. The ultimate experience is an omakase meal at £350 a head.
Kinoya - SW1X
London
Making her London debut in Harrods Food Hall from October 2023, self-taught chef and ramen obsessive Neha Mishra – a New Delhi-born former video producer – showcases the Japanese-inspired creations that have made her famous in Dubai for the supper club she ran from her home, and more recently her restaurant Kinoya.
Aug
Bundobust - B2
Indian
Ladywood
The Manchester-based Gujarati street food and craft beer specialist headed south to Brum in summer 2023, finding a city centre perch in a Grade II listed building in Bennetts Hill, serving 100% vegetarian food and beer from their own brewery, as well as a wide range of guest ales.
Sticky Mango - SE1
Pan-Asian
London
Replacing Cantina del Ponte (RIP), the late Sir Terence Conran's Butlers Wharf venue near Tower Bridge, this new branch of the Waterloo-based Malaysian restaurant features a 70-seat covered terrace with spectacular views of the Thames and the City. Opened August 2023.
The Pearl at Park Hill - S2
Park Hill
Opened in August 2023, this spacious venue from the duo behind Sheffield bar-restaurant Bench is the latest addition in the renewal of the city's famous Park Hill modernist development, Europe's largest listed building. Cocktails, craft beer and natural wines will be on offer alongside pintxos-style snacks showcasing top-class suppliers.
Pendergast’s Steakhouse & Bar - WA1
Warrington
Opening autumn 2023 in the town's Cultural Quarter, this steakhouse, grill and bar aims to shake off the macho image of the genre, with a combination of chic interior design and a selection of plant-based and fish dishes alongside prime steaks. If successful, its founders plan to open branches across the northwest.
Azzurra - SW1X
London
Opening autumn 2023 in Sloane Street, a vibey Italian inspired by the Amalfi coast and Sicily, with resident DJs, from Hong Kong's Aqua group, best known for Hutong in the Shard. Expect prime Scottish and Cornish seafood, served with a glossy flourish.
LUCI - WC2E
London
This Italian 'dining bakery' from Hong Kong's Aqua group, in Covent Garden's Yards development on Long Acre, features an 18-metre counter for all-day bites from the oven, or head upstairs for pizza, pasta and a gelato bar.
The Pheasant at Keyston - PE28
British, Modern
Keyston
New owners Martin and Zoe Russell started here in 2021.
San Carlo Alderley Edge - SK9
Italian
Alderley Edge
The San Carlo group bought Gino D'Acampo's Alderley Edge Luciano's in February 2023, and re-opened it after extensive refurbishment in August 2023.
64 Goodge Street - W1T
French
London
The team behind highly regarded central London trio Portland, Clipstone and the Quality Chop House are to open what promises to be a smart French bistro in Fitzrovia, in August 2023. Chef Stuart Andrews’s knowledge of French cuisine stems from his 18 months working in Paris, and he promises to offer "French cooking from an outsider’s perspective".
Evi's (FKA Souvlaki Street) - SE22
Greek
London
After nine years in various street markets including Pop Brixton - under the Souvlaki Street moniker that this place was originally launched as too - and more recently as a home-delivery service, Greek street-food specialists Evi Peroulaki and Conor Mills moved into permanent premises on North Cross Road in East Dulwich in August 2023, serving Aegean classics using prime British ingredients such as rare-breed Old Spot pork, plus Greek lager and cola.
Fish Game - E14
Fish & seafood
London
Roberto Costa, founder of the flamboyant steak chain Macellaio RC, launched this fish-and-game concept restaurant in Canary Wharf in July 2023; sustainable British produce is the USP.
En Root - SE27
Indian
London
After running very successful pop-ups all over South London, the Indian-inspired, plant-based pub concept became permanent, taking over the kitchen at The Railway Tavern in Tulse Hill from August 2023.
Wilding Kitchen - RH13
British, Modern
Horsham
Knepp Estate’s rewilding project is now producing and cooking wild meat and fresh produce from their market garden; you can eat in the café, in a restored Sussex barn, in the dog-friendly open-air courtyard (breakfast and lunch every day), or the restaurant (open for lunch, Wed to Sun).
Ma-Hé - LS2
Leeds city centre
This unusual Indian restaurant in the Marrion Centre celebrates the cuisines of the subcontinent's southern and coastal states, from Goa round to Andhra Pradesh. Cocktails are also a strength and the bar stocks the biggest selection of mescals in Leeds, thanks to co-founder Manoj Varma's interests in the spirits industry.
Paro - WC2E
London
Hosted by Covent Garden's Lyceum Theatre, long-time home of The Lion King, 23-year-old chef Niaz Caan makes his West End debut with a 120-seat restaurant inspired by the cuisine of Calcutta and West Bengal. He made his name at Brick Lane's City Spice and has put together a menu of small plates and larger dishes for sharing.
Jul
Arcade Food Hall at Battersea Power Station - SW11
International
London
Just a few months after reviving Arcade Food Hall at Centre Point, in July 2023 JKS Restaurants launched a second opening at Battersea Power Station, with up to 13 different (but no doubt exceptional) food offerings, plus seating for 500, two bars, three restaurants, and a private dining room.
Riviera - SW1
French
London
Originally slated for Autumn 2022, and finally in summer 2023, twin brother restaurateurs Alberto and Arian Zandi opened this restaurant – inspired by the cuisine of the South of France – in St James’s. It is the Zandi’s fourth restaurant and their most prominent, occupying the striking Modernist building next to The Economist magazine that was formerly occupied by Sake no Hana (RIP).
Emmanuelle - EC1R
Middle Eastern
London
Flamboyant chef Yuma Hashemi's latest venture is a Seventies-styled wine bar (complete with a peacock rattan chair, famous from 1974's X-rated film Emmanuelle) directly opposite Tehran-berlin (fka The Drunken Butler), his Persian restaurant in Clerkenwell. The wine list is modern, with natural and biodynamic options, and is backed up by French and Iranian snacks and small plates.
Little Pizza Hicce - N1
Pizza
London
Opposite their pub Hicce Hart, opened in late 2022 in Islington's Chapel Market, chef Pip Lacey and business partner Gordy McIntyre have launched their first permanent pizzeria, with lots of stripped wood and a blackboard menu. Both are offshoots from Hicce, their fashionable flagship at Coal Drops Yard behind King's Cross station.
OATIS - W2
Sandwiches, cakes, etc
London
Have we now seen it all? This oat restaurant (yes, oats) opened in summer 2023, serving sweet and savoury oat-based meals using only the best steel-cut oats.
Four Hundred Rabbits - SW11
London
Open in July 2023 on Battersea Rise, the sixth outlet from the southeast London-based sourdough pizza operation whose fermentation process takes three days. Craft beers, natural wines and home-made seasonal gelatos and sorbets complete the deal.
Kima - W1U
Greek
London
Opened in Summer 2023, from the team behind nearby Opso, this contemporary Greek seafood specialist in Marylebone follows a no-waste "fin-to-gill" philosophy, with fish off-cuts, tails and bones either grilled or used to make stock. Expect some meat choices, and plenty of Greek wines.
Sticky Mango Butler's Wharf - SE1
Pan-Asian
London
In July 2023, pan-Asian restaurant Sticky Mango took over the prime Tower Bridge riverside premises of Cantina del Ponte, which closed down in June 2023 after 31 years.
Origin City - EC1A
British, Modern
London
With executive chef Graham Noonan-Chatham (formerly of Langham Hotel and Daylesford Organic) and owners the Landsberg family (who own the 600-acre farm, oyster beds and vineyard where much of the produce comes from), this Smithfield newcomer is aiming high.
Dovetale by Tom Sellers - W1J
British, Modern
London
Another site from Tom Sellers, of Restaurant Story, who also opened Story Cellar in Covent Garden in April 2023. In a prime location on the junction of Piccadilly and Berkeley Street, it is part of the new 1 Hotel Mayfair, the 1 Hotel group's first UK hotel; opened July 2023.
Mountain - W1
Spanish
London
Opened in July 2023 in the heart of Soho, on the former site of a Byron, Brat chef Tomos Parry's "wood grill and wine bar" is inspired by his travels across Spain and supplied by farmers and fisherman in Wales and Cornwall. Whole roast bream will be a feature as will lamb chops, and Anglesey lobster – all will emerge, as at Brat, from an open kitchen and the venue will incorporate a good deal of counter seating.
Napoli on the Road - TW9
London
The second branch of this Chiswick-based pizzeria is in Red Lion Street, specialising in 'high-crust' pizzas with toppings that change every three months, following the seasons. There's a rustic interior and an open kitchen.
Outcrop - WC2R
British, Modern
London
Billed as a template for a new generation of 'green social clubs', this summer-long pop-up opened in July 2023 next door to restaurant Ikoyi in the Strand. AngloThai chef John Chantarasak has prepared a menu of Thai dishes cooked with British ingredients, served alongside natural wines. He is joined in the venture by teams from the Secret Cinema and restaurants Luca and Clove Club.
Polpetta - L8
Italian
Liverpool
Cage fighter ‘Meatball Molly’ McCann opened an Italian-inspired kitchen and deli in her native Liverpool in July 2023. Polpetta – ‘meatball’ in Italian – is in the Baltic Market street-food centre and serves classic Italian comfort food.
Cowley Manor - GL53
British, Modern
Cowley
Opened in summer 2023, this Cotswolds country house hotel near Cheltenham is now part of the Paris-based Experimental Group (owners of the Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden). Jackson Boxer, chef-patron at high-profile London venues Brunswick House and Orasay, has been hired to take charge of the menu offered in the 50-cover dining room; there is also a 50-seat dining terrace.
Studio Gauthier - W1T
Vegan
London
Vegan Soho chef-patron Alexis Gauthier spun out his meat-free cuisine with the July 2023 opening of two new venues in the BFI Building in Stephen Street, north of Oxford Street. Studio Gauthier is a more relaxed showcase for the upmarket veggie cuisine featured at his flagship, while 123V Bakery offers lighter bites to eat in or take away.
Uli Marylebone - W1H
Pan-Asian
London
The second branch of Michael Lim's Singaporean restaurant has opened in Marylebone's Seymour Village, a full 26 years after the Notting Hill original. Dishes are inspired by Malaysian, Thai and Chinese cuisines, and service levels should be high.
The Bull - OX7
Charlbury
This ivy-clad 16th-century Cotswold pub in north Oxfordshire has been taken over by the duo behind the Pelican in Notting Hill, James Gummer and Phil Winter, who grew up in the village. Smartly refurbed with 10 guest rooms, its kitchen cooks local produce over an open fire.
64 Old Compton Street - W1D
London
This Soho sibling to 40 Dean Street just around the corner is billed as an 'affordable' Italian restaurant, with main courses from £14–£21 and a wine list with no bottle over £50. It opens from 12 noon to 11.30pm seven days a week.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen - SW11
London
Delivery kitchen for the South Londoners who miss the original Northcote Road branch.
Pavyllon, The Four Seasons Hotel - W1J
French
London
Parisian uber-chef Yannick Alléno, who holds a total of six Michelin stars at three separate restaurants under one roof at the Pavillon Ledoyen on the Champs-Elysées, makes his London debut this year at this swish Mayfair hotel, with an anticipated summer launch.
Nairns Bridge of Allan - FK9
Scottish
Bridge of Allan
Opening in July 2023, veteran Scottish TV chef Nick Nairn and his wife Julia's new Stirlingshire restaurant is on the site of Nick's, their previous venue, which was destroyed in a fire two years ago. They plan to showcase the best Scottish produce, including seafood, grass-fed beef and fruit and vegetables from their own plot and polytunnels.
Sushi Kanesaka - W1K
Japanese
London
Bringing his talents to Mayfair from Tokyo’s exclusive Ginza district, sushi master chef Shinji Kanesaka opened an exclusive omakase restaurant at 45 Park Lane, overlooking the park, in July 2023. There's a private room for 4 diners.
Mexican Seoul - E3
Mexican
London
Victoria Park gained a Mexican-Korean fusion taco bar in July 2023 after chef Ashley Chipchase made the leap from street food trader in Brick Lane to permanent restaurant.
Pavyllon - W1J
French
London
Uber-chef Yannick Aléno brings his vision of 'redefined French dining' to the Four Seasons Hotel in Mayfair's Park Lane with his London debut, open from 1 July 2023. Expectations are sky-high – his three restaurants in Paris's Pavillon Ledoyden hold six Michelin stars between them.
Petchi - JE2
British, Modern
St Helier
Jersey-born chef Joe Baker's June 2023 opening in St Helier's historic Liberty Wharf building is a showcase for local produce, especially seafood cooked over a custom-built wood-fired grill. Pêtchi means 'try to catch a fish' in Jersey French, and the menu has plenty of modern Spanish influences. Joe and his wife Charlotte ran Number 10 restaurant in nearby Bond Street for seven years.
The Kirkstyle Inn - CA8
British, Modern
Slaggyford
18th Century inn taken over and refurbished by industry veteran Nick Parkinson in 2023; there's also rooms in The Sportsman's Rest.
Grassfed - NW1
London
The first London opening from chef Paul Foster, of Stratford-on-Avon's accomplished restaurant Salt, is a casual steakhouse in a railway arch at Camden Market's Hawley Wharf, showcasing high-quality sustainable British ingredients. In addition to grass-fed beef, there will be day-boat fish and a list featuring domestic organic wines.
Chuo - EC2A
London
Billed as Europe's first monorail service delivery restaurant, this Japanese venue in Shoreditch serves sushi and izakaya-style dishes which are freshly made to order, rather than being loaded onto a conveyor belt for guests to choose as they trundle past (which runs the risk of a dish circulating for several hours).
Bierschenke - WC2H
London
This Bavarian-style Bierkeller has taken over the former Belgo site in Covent Garden, after operating for 10 years at a lower-profile venue near Liverpool Street. Its hearty menu includes five types of German sausage and a range of Bavarian specialities, washed down with beer imported directly from three Bavarian brewers.
Koba-Ko - B14
Kings Heath
After six years of pop-ups and a study tour of Japan, chef and ramen noodle enthusiast Sam Hill is launching his first permanent venue in Kings Heath, south Birmingham, this year. Expect sizzling bowls of ramen and Japanese small plates, accompanied by sakes, beers and cocktails.
Counter 71 - N1
London
Open summer 2023, former Fenn head chef Joe Laker's debut project is a 16-seater chef's table with a focus on less familiar British produce, presented in a minimalist style. The venue has its own separate cocktail bar, Lowcountry, featuring whiskeys from the Georgia to North Carolina coast under Savannah-born mixologist Ryan Sheehan.
Jun
Mýse - YO62
Hovingham
Chef Josh Overington and his wife Victoria are to open this new restaurant with rooms in North Yorkshire this summer, less than a year after closing their highly rated Le Cochon Aveugle in York. Mýse (which rhymes with cheese) opened in late June in the 19th-century pub most recently known as The Hovingham Inn.
Little Kudu - SE15
South African
London
Opened in June 2023 from Peckham's Kudu Collective, Little Kudu replaces the Smokey Kudu cocktail bar in Queen's Road, which has shifted to the RIXO fashion emporium in King's Road, Chelsea. Expect more of the South African flavours, ingredients and wines that have gained a strong following since the original Kudu opened five years ago.
Elodie, Birch Selsdon - CR2
British, Modern
London
Selsdon has gained a sibling to Birch in Cheshunt, set in an 18th-century mansion with foraged fine dining from ex-Typing Room chef Lee Westcott. See also Vervain, the all-day brasserie at the same hotel, which also boasts three bars, a spa, a Lido (opening Summer 2023), a 200-acre kitchen garden and a co-working space.
Lina Stores - SW4
Italian
London
Opened in summer 2023 on The Pavement overlooking Clapham Common, the long-promised fifth branch of the veteran Soho Italian deli-turned-restaurant group will unfurl its distinctive green-and- white-striped awning to welcome diners for fresh pasta other Italian specialities, including dozens of cuts of cold meat.
The Earl of Derby (Gengelly's) - SE14
British, Modern
London
At the bottom of leafy Telegraph Hill, this independent pub re-opened in June 2023 after the Victorian building was restored to its former glory. The kitchen, Gengelly’s, serves up pies, chargrilled meats & fish and Sunday Roasts.
Manzi's - W1D
Fish & seafood
London
Opened in summer 2023 after years of pandemic-induced delay, this Soho seafood specialist (named after a much-loved 20th-century original) over two storeys of the Bateman's Buildings, between Greek and Frith Streets, is the first major opening from the Wolseley Hospitality Group since it was acquired (and renamed) from ace London restaurateurs Corbin & King last year.
The Baffled King - BS5
French
Bristol
On the former site of The Pipal Tree in Easton, a French small plates bistro
The Portrait Restaurant by Richard Corrigan - WC2
British, Modern
London
After being closed for several years for a major refurbishment - the NPG restaurant reopened in June 2023, with Richard Corrigan in charge. There will also be an all-day café on the ground-floor and basement of the gallery (Audrey Green, run by the Australian group Daisy Green) which will transform every evening into a late-night bar with a small-plates menu.
Audrey Green - WC2H
Australian
London
April 2023: After being closed for several years for a major refurbishment - the NPG reopened in June 2023, with a new all-day café on the ground-floor and basement of the gallery, run by the Australian group Daisy Green, which will transform every evening into a late-night bar with a small-plates menu.
Masala Zone - W1J
Indian
London
The latest branch of this enduring chain run by the high quality Chutney Mary group is at last a worthy tenant for this famous and glorious dining room right at the heart of London on Piccadilly Circus, dating from 1873.
Ramen Impossible - SE1
Vegan
London
The Amsterdam-based vegan ramen outfit made its UK debut in June 2023, in a summer-long pop-up at Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant & Castle; we'd expect a permanent location to follow. Ramen is famously made with a meat-based broth, but founder and Japanese chef Atsushi Ishida has developed an alternative using miso, cashew nuts and nutritional yeast.
Wonderland - W1D
London
This Soho outfit from the brothers behind vegan fast-food company Raw Imagination pits plant-based versions of fast-food favourites against carnivore counterparts made from sustainable organic meat. Separate friers, grills and workstations ensure that vegans don't accidentally ingest animal products.
Sexy Mamma Love Spaghetti - NG1
Italian
Nottingham
The popular Hockley pasta specialist is opening a second branch in Tudor Square, near Trent Bridge cricket ground, in summer 2023. Owner Edin Gondzic, who has a penchant for arresting restaurant names, will provide good-value Italian cooking in a friendly atmosphere.
Aynho Park - OX17
Banbury
This stately home near the M40 motorway on the Oxfordshire-Northants border is now open to the public for the first time as the gallery and showroom of US home-furnishing company RH, and is equipped to feed and refresh its customers in a handful of venues including the fine-dining Orangery, La Loggia pizzeria, the Wine Lounge, the Tea Salon and a juice bar.
Cantinetta Antinori - SW1X
Italian
London
A new spin-off from a famous Florence-based, international group (founded in the 1950s, whose HQ is the 15th-century Palazzo Antinori) – this summer 2023 newcomer is the brand’s first UK venture. It occupies a three-storey site, just off Sloane Street, from which it offers all-day dining featuring Tuscan food and wine in a fairly old-school vein.
Kachori - SE17
Indian
London
This smart new Indian restaurant at the Elephant Park development scheme near Elephant & Castle boasts a kitchen run by Brinder Narula, a former head chef at Gymkhana and Benares, and a menu focusing on the regional cuisines of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab.
Abbey Inn - YO61
British, Modern
Byland Abbey
Opposite the ruins of Byland Abbey, the latest venue from esteemed Yorkshire chef Tommy Banks maintains the hyper-local focus he has perfected up the road at the Black Swan in Oldstead, with much of the menu grown on the Banks family farm nearby – including the signature Byland burger, which uses Oldstead Dexter beef.
Empire Empire - W11
Indian
London
Open in June 2023, a "disco-themed Indian" from the owners of the Gunpowder group.
Kapara by Bala Baya - W1D
Israeli
London
Inspired by Israeli home cooking as well as the Tel Aviv party scene (Kapara is Hebrew slang for 'darling'), this all-day and late-night Soho spot is from Eran Tibi, the chef behind Bala Baya in Southwark.
La Gamba - SE1
Spanish
London
Overlooking the Thames in the South Bank Arts Centre, this new Gallician-inspired tapas spot from Jack, Harry and Matthew Applebee has a strong focus on fish – as expected from a family whose fish stall has developed over the past 25 years into a prominent Borough Market fixture.
Lucky Cat Manchester - M2
Pan-Asian
Manchester
Gordon Ramsay's second branch of his Japanese concept has taken over the grand Lutyens-designed bank building in King Street formerly occupied by Jamie's Italian. Inspired by Tokyo drinking dens of the 1930s, it follows the formula of his four-year-old Mayfair original with the TV chef's take on Japanese cuisine and cocktails.
El Pollote - W1F
London
This Venezuelan fried-chicken specialist opens its first bricks-and-mortar site this summer in Ganton Street, off Carnaby Street in Soho, after making its mark at 7 Dials and Camden Markets. Expect guava-glazed fried chicken and other South American-flavoured specialities.
May
Bossa - W1G
Brazilian
London
Brazilian chef Alberto Landgraf has opened his first UK restaurant next to the Brazilian Consulate in Vere Street, Marylebone, to showcase the contemporary take on Brazilian cuisine that has earned his Rio de Janeiro restaurant Oteque a place on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Leo's - E5
Italian
London
Chef Giuseppe Belvedere is inspired by his Sardinian heritage at this revamp of the former Jim's Cafe on Clapton's Chatsworth Road, serving cafe staples during the day and more ambitious dishes cooked over a wood fire and served alongside low-intervention Italian wines in the evening and Sunday lunch. He is backed by the team behind Milk Cafe and Juliet's Quality Food in southwest London.
Crudo Cevicheria - WC2H
Peruvian
London
The fourth branch of the Peruvian seafood specialist opened in May 2023 in Seven Dials.
Sam's Kitchen - W6
British, Modern
London
Soft-launching in late May just a few doors along Crisp Street from Sam's Riverside, Sam Harrison's vision of "the perfect little local corner café" offers a full English breakfast and all-day bacon rolls alongside more contemporary dishes such as beetroot with halloumi and za’atar on sourdough with goat's cheese, crushed nuts, pickled red onion, roasted garlic confit and poached eggs.
The Apollo Arms - SW4
British, Modern
London
This Clapham pub has been taken over by the pub operator behind Ganymede in Belgravia and The Hunter’s Moon in South Kensington; re-opened May 2023.
Lilienblum - EC1Y
Israeli
London
Israeli chef-restaurateur Eyal Shani has followed up pitta specialist Miznon, in Soho and Notting Hill, with a very different concept off the Old Street roundabout on the edge of the City, serving sharing plates from a menu divided by ingredients rather than courses. Opened in May 2023, Lilienblum is named after a street in Tel Aviv.
Silures - CF24
British, Modern
Cardiff
Two former Gordon Ramsay and Galvin bros staffers have joined forces to launch this high-end restaurant and cocktail bar in the suburb of Roath. The Silures were a powerful tribe of ancient Britain, occupying what is now south east Wales.
Wild at the Cross - N1
British, Modern
London
The signature first-floor restaurant in the former 1990s Kings Cross nightclub The Cross offers a southern Mediterranean menu and organic wines. The six-floor venue also features a range of bars plus a dance-floor and a roof terrace; opened May 2023.
20 Berkeley - W1J
British, Modern
London
The latest venue from Misha Zelman's Creative Restaurant Group (Endo at the Rotunda; Humo) celebrates top-quality British produce, in a Mayfair property never previously used as a restaurant, and kitted out like an English Manor House. It opened in May 2023 under executive chef Ben Orpwood, who sources ingredients at the height of their short seasons for the best results.
Apoy - W1G
London
Meaning 'fire' in Tagalog, this latest venture in the Oxford Street Market Halls from Filipino chef Ferdinand 'Budgie' Montoya (best known for his venture Sarap which ran in Heddon Street, Mayfair last year but is currently homeless) is a celebration of his country's barbecue street stalls, with skewers of meat flavoured in sweet-sour marinades then grilled over charcoal.
Carlotta - W1U
Italian
London
Hot on the heels of Jacuzzi comes this new venture from the Big Mamma Group; they promised a more intimate, pared-back interior, but when the standard is Ave Maria, who knows what restraint will look like - the menu will list a "10-tiered chocolate fudge cake", for example. Opened May 2023.
RenMor - TR7
British, Modern
Newquay
Costing £3million and aiming to provide a 'world class experience', the new flagship restaurant at the clifftop hotel The Headland offers tremendous sea views and a menu showcasing the best of Cornish produce from local fishermen, farmers and small holdings. RenMor means 'restaurant by the sea' in Cornish.
Lasdun - SE1
British, Modern
London
Named for National Theatre architect Sir Denys Lasdun, this new all-day British brasserie will be run by the team behind The Marksman. Opened May 2023.
The Campaner - SW1W
Spanish
London
Opening this summer in the new Chelsea Barracks redevelopment, this all-day venture from restaurateur Mar Martin aims to combine "Barcelona soul" with the best British produce. "Campaner" means bell-ringer in Catalan – heralding an important announcement.
Harvest - NW10
British, Modern
London
Chef Jesse Dunwood Green has returned to Kensal Green for his third restaurant (after nearby Parlour and Six Portland Road in Notting Hill), with a focus on ingredients sourced directly from the grower, farmer or fisherman.
Papi - E8
British, Modern
London
Rising star chef Matthew Scott laid down a marker with creative zero-waste cooking for his HOT4U meal delivery service during the pandemic. He is now in a permanent venue in London Fields that Grace Dent of The Guardian assures readers is "genteel".
Midland Grand Dining Room - NW1
French
London
Set in the stunning pink Gothic Revival St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, and using the hotel's original name, this 'elevated brasserie' promises to serve a modern interpretation of classic French cuisine, under ex-Chiltern Fire House chef Patrick Powell.
Nakanojo - W1U
Fusion
London
A second branch of this Nikkei specialist is opening in Marylebone, with a menu running from sushi and robata grills to tacos and ceviche and a drinks list that also combines Japan and Peru, with pisco sours, sakes and cocktails. The original site on the King's Road in Chelsea has now closed; another branch is due to open in Victoria in late 2023.
Chalk Restaurant - RH20
British, Modern
Washington
Set in a converted 18th-century threshing barn on the Wiston wine estate between Horsham and Worthing in West Sussex, this relaunched restaurant features wines, meat and vegetable produced on the estate and cooking by highly rated chef Tom Kemble, who made waves in London at the Bonham's auction house in the years before covid.
LA BISTROTECA - L8
Liverpool City Centre
Local chef Livia Alarcon's first solo venture is a European-style bistro in the Baltic Market at Cains Brewery on Stanhope Street. Livia made her name as head chef at Maray and raised her profile with appearances on Jason Atherton's TV show Chefs' Brigade.
Homies on Donkeys - E11
Mexican
London
Arriving with a strong reputation from Walthamstow, this hip-hop-blasting, graffiti-walled taqueria has taken over the old Spicebox location on Leytonstone High Road. You'll find standard and more unexpected tacos, mixing classic Mexican flavours with more local ingredients.
Americana - SW1Y
London
In the heart of Theatreland, close to Piccadilly Circus in the Haymarket, this Southern US-themed all-day restaurant serves a menu of classic dishes and cocktails until late at night. There's Texas chilli, New Orleans gumbo, and plenty of burgers and steaks for less adventurous diners.
Barnaby\'s at Trevibban Mill - PL27
Nr Padstow
Open from May to September, the summer pop-up from the team behind Prawn on the Lawn returns to a vineyard and sheep farm outside Padstow, serving local fish and produce cooked along Mediterranean lines, plus wines and ciders made on site.
Hoko - E1
Chinese
London
Hong Kong regional specialities are the USP here, with lai cha (milk tea) a hot favourite.
Bao Marylebone - W1U
London
Open in May in James Street, Marylebone, the latest from the Bao group is a tribute to the Taiwanese dumpling house. Open all day from noon, it will also serve cold plates for diners in a hurry. The group has five other venues in London, with another opening in Battersea this summer.
Apr
The Three Horseshoes - BA4
British, Modern
Batcombe
Margot Henderson of Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch has taken over this restored 17th-Century Somerset inn with rooms, which reopened after refurbishment in early 2023.
Faru - DH1
British, Modern
Durham
A couple of long-term senior staff at Newcastle's House of Tides have quit their jobs to launch their own ambitious restaurant in Durham, with the blessing of their mentor, House of Tides founder Kenny Atkinson. Faru means journey in Old English.
Jake and Laura Siddle will open on Durham's Silver Street this spring, offering a seasonal tasting menu of British and local produce to 10 tables. The venue will be converted from a Mountain Warehouse shop, with a stained-glass window rediscovered during the building work to take pride of place in the open kitchen.
Epicurus - NW1
Middle Eastern
London
The latest venture from a pair of ex-Palomar chefs, in Camden Market's North Yard, marries North American diner food with Middle Eastern flair and flavours. Shiri Kraus and Amir Batito already run the Black Cow steakhouse nearby.
The Fish Shop - AB35
Fish & seafood
Ballater
A new venture from ArtFarm, the hospitality and development company behind The Fife Arms in Braemar; opened in late April 2023 and already visited by HM The King and Queen. Expect stylish interiors and local seasonal fare. There's also a fishmonger attached.
Boudica - SW11
International
London
Named after the Ancient British queen (aka Boadicea) who burnt Roman London to the ground, this latest addition to the Battersea dining scene close to the renovated power station offers an internationally inspired menu from a former Corrigan's chef, Italian-born Luigi Vairo.
Canary and Kitchen - B60
International
Bromsgrove
MasterChef UK 2019 contestant Mike Eaglesfield and wife Antonia, who was born in the Canary Islands, have been running home dining experiences since before lockdown and now have their own 8-seater restaurant. Expect "familiar flavours with a twist".
Trinco - SE22
Sri Lankan
London
Vibushan Thirukumar launched this Sri Lankan “community focused, sustainable restaurant” inside his co-working and wellness hub Oru Space (co-founded with business partner Paul Nelmes in 2020); the vegan and vegetarian dining is rooted in Tamil culture.
Purnell’s Café & Bistro at Charterhouse - CV1
British, Modern
Coventry
'Yummy Brummie' Glynn Purnell, in partnership with Historic Coventry Trust, opened a cafe and pizzeria in the cloisters of this Grade I-listed 14th former Century Carthusian monastery in April 2023. Once fully restored, Charterhouse will be an interactive heritage and educational visitor attraction.
Chungdam - W1D
Korean
London
This newly opened Korean barbecue restaurant in Soho is bringing the pyeon beak steambox to London – a three-tiered box made from hinoki wood, a type of cypress. It's taken over the site formerly occupied by Chinese restaurant YMing in Greek Street, and is named after Cheongdam-dong, an affluent – and foodie – district of Gangnam in Seoul.
There's also a private karaoke room if that's your thing.
Restaurant 8 by Andrew Sheridan - L2
British, Modern
Liverpool city centre
The flagship restaurant of award-wining chef Andrew Sheridan, 8 is one of the UK's most progressive dining experiences. Located in the heart of Liverpool - next to the original Cavern Club - diners are treated to an immersive sensory experience focusing on high quality food and drink, and music. Expect the unexpected.
Tiella - N1
Italian
London
Opened on April 14 2023 in a backstreet Islington pub, Tiella is a six-month residency offering rustic Italian cuisine named after a Pugliese casserole of rice, potatoes, onions and mussels. Chef Dara Klein grew up in New Zealand with a family from Puglia, and her CV takes in highly rated kitchens including Sager + Wilde, Trullo and Brawn.
Vervain, Birch Selsdon - CR2
British, Modern
London
Selsdon is gaining a sibling to Birch in Cheshunt, set in an 18th-century mansion with foraged fine dining from ex-Typing Room chef Lee Westcott. See also Elodie, the dine-dining option at the same hotel, which also boasts three bars, a spa, a Lido (opening Summer 2023), a 200-acre kitchen garden and a co-working space.
Smokey Kudu - SW3
London
Relocated to Chelsea within the new RIXO flagship store in April 2023, having vacated its original premises in Queen’s Road, Peckham. Part of the Kudu Collective owned by by South African chef Patrick Williams and his partner Amy Corbin.
The Gurkhas - W1W
Pan-Asian
London
From Nepalese team behind Hot Stone in Islington, this upmarket new venue in Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia aims to showcase an 'elevated' take on classic Nepalese cuisine. Head chef Joe Allen has a Nepalese wife and Gurkha father-in-law, and has travelled extensively in Nepal to study some of its culinary secrets.
Sheesh - W1S
International
London
Dylan Hunt brings his celeb-magnet brand to Mayfair, serving wagyu beef and truffles alongside more standard kebab staples. The Chigwell original entertains Essex royalty from Harry Kane to Rod Stewart, and visitors including the Gypsy King himself, Tyson Fury.
Cavo - WC2H
Mediterranean
London
This huge new Mediterranean restaurant in the Now Building, part of the new Outernet entertainment complex adjacent to Tottenham Court Road tube station, can accommodate 240 diners inside and many more in its roof gardens. It has a raw fish and carpaccio bar, and a wine list stretching from Spain to the Middle East.
Noble Rot Mayfair - W1J
British, Modern
London
The wine-led restaurant group opened its third venue in April 2023, in the picturesque Shepherd Market, on the former site of Boudin Blanc (RIP).
Maene - E1
British, Modern
London
Townsend at the Whitechapel Gallery and former Anglo chef Nick Gilkinson opened this all-day bistro, at the top of a four-storey Victorian warehouse in Spitalfields, in early April 2023. The name is "an old English word meaning public or universal, but which also translates to a sense of community".
Story Cellar - WC2H
French
London
This new Covent Garden venue from hot-shot chef Tom Sellers is an offshoot of his celebrated Restaurant Story, inspired by his love of Parisian brasseries. Dine at the ground-floor counter or in the cellar on specials including rotisserie chicken and large cuts of meat from the grill to share. There's also a good selection of wines by the glass. Opened 1 April 2023.
Ploussard - SW11
British, Modern
London
Seasonal plates to share and low-intervention wines – including an example made from the ploussard grape in the French Jura – are on the menu at this 35-cover neighbourhood spot from Tommy Kempson and chef Matt Harris, who used to run the site as an offshoot of their Brixton-based Other Side Fried chicken burger outfit.
Terra Moderna - NW3
Australian
London
Modern Italian cuisine with Antipodean influences – including an impressive list of Australian and New Zealand wines – is to be found at this new venture in the heart of Belsize Park from Australian founder and coffee entrepreneur Jeffrey Young, who is also behind the England's Lane café next door.
Assaggini - EH2
Edinburgh
This spacious casual-dining Italian in New Town's Rose Street offers small sharing plates of pasta and Roman-style hand-stretched pizza alla pinsa, made using a combination of Italian and Scottish ingredients. Private dining is available downstairs.
House of Ming - SW1E
Chinese
London
India's upscale Taj group brings its take on the cuisines of Sichuan and Canton to the St James's Court hotel, between Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. It's stablemate to the hotel's Keralan superstar Quilon, so expect the highest standards.
Mar
Mano Mayfair - W1S
South American
London
This Brazilian-Japanese fusion restaurant and lounge opened in Mayfair's Mill Street at the end of March 2023, after a sojourn last year in nearby Heddon Street, with a promise of "fun dining" against a backdrop of house music. Chef Rafa Gomes, a Brazilian MasterChef winner with three restaurants in Rio and one in Paris, is in charge of the menu.
X by Harry Guy - CH1
British, Modern
Chester
Chef Harry Guy (ex-Savoy Grill and Mallory Court Hotel) opened his debut restaurant in Wildes Group’s new Chester boutique hotel in Spring 2023.
Gwen - SY20
British, Modern
Machynlleth
Ynyshir chef Gareth Ward has opened this wine bar / restaurant, named after his mother, to offer a more affordable taste of Ynyshir; head chef Corrin Harrison will be cooking 10-course meals for just eight diners. There are also plans to open a pizzeria next door, using a pizza oven bought from fellow-chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias following the closure of his Pi Shop in Bristol. Opened March 2023.
Freak Scene - SW6
Pan-Asian
London
Ace Aussie chef Scott Hallsworth has revived his raved-about Freak Scene pan-Asian restaurant once again – this time off Parson’s Green in Fulham. The new venture follows his Double Dragon pop-up, which ran for several months in 2022 in Clerkenwell and also generated much enthusiasm. Freak Scene itself started out as a pop-up in Farringdon, and was followed by mark II in Soho
The Parakeet - NW5
British, Modern
London
Former Brat chefs Ben Allen and Ed Jennings opened this "culinary-led pub" (FKA gastropub) in March 2023, serving “locally sourced, seasonal dishes” cooked over flames.
The Beefsteaks @ M. Manze - N1
British, Modern
London
The historic Islington pie and mash shop in Chapel Market closed in 2018 but has now reopened as a low-intervention wine bar serving British small plates by Alex Pashby of street-food trader The Beefsteaks.
