It’s fair to label London as one of the culinary capitals of the world. From Chiswick to Stratford, there’s a melting pot of cuisines to be found on nearly every street corner, ranging from Goan to Greek and Indian to Chinese. You’re never stuck for choice, but perhaps overwhelmed by the vast array of eateries to choose from. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re a dedicated foodie on a mission to try something new. 

More good news for foodies: each year brings with it an abundance of opportunity for London restaurant openings. While some have been in the planning room for years, others come in the form of exciting debuts from some of the world’s most celebrated chefs. Either way, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2023. Here’s our edit of the most exciting new restaurants opening in London this year. 

Geode, Knightsbridge

Located in a stunning, thoughtfully-designed three-storey townhouse on Beauchamp Place in Knightsbridge, new restaurant Geode features a surprising fusion concept menu, blending Mediterranean and Asian influences and exploring different ways of roasting, grilling, and barbecuing. Led by Salvatore Broccu and Marios Louvaris, formerly of Novikov Group, the service is exquisite – attentive, knowledgeable, and personal – while the open basement kitchen, sculptural bar, and plush furnishings, make it the kind of place you want to spend an evening.

Menu highlights include the King Crab legs gratin with sumac yoghurt, cooked to perfection on a robata grill and served with spicy vinaigrette; the crispy fried rock shrimp; the beef tartare gunkan with truffle; and an unctuous rack of lamb, also cooked on the robata grill. The menu changes regularly (and the prices are sky-high), but whatever you go for, you won’t be disappointed.

Projected opening: 12 September 2023

Address: 14-15 Beauchamp Place, London SW3 1NQ

Visit geode.london

The Bugis, South Kensington

Celebrating authentic Singaporean, Malaysian and Chinese cuisines made from locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, The Bugis (and its Bailey’s bar) relaunched in South Kensington on 20 July. Taking its name from the bustling area in Singapore renowned for its flair of street food and flavours, The Bugis originally opened in London in 1995 and has long been recognised as one of London’s best Asian restaurants. Since then, it has relocated inside The Bailey’s Hotel and has undergone a full renovation, now featuring a modern interior and an upscale bar with a cocktail menu inspired by Lord Bailey’s journeys in the Far East. Expect dishes of steamed giant diver scallop with black bean sauce and aromatic crispy duck pancakes to start, before larger plates of crispy king prawn in passion fruit sauce, seafood claypot and braised beef short rib in Chinese herbs. 

Projected opening: 20 July 2023

Address: 140 Gloucester Road, South Kensington, SW7 4QH

Visit thebugisrestaurant.com

Luci, Covent Garden

One of London’s first Italian dining bakeries, Luci opened its doors on Covent Garden’s Long Acre at the end of August to bring a taste of the grand Milanese cafes to the capital. With a long bancone counter showcasing a huge selection of tasty ‘al forno’ baked goods – freshly made on the premises in Luci’s ovens and changed throughout the day – guests can take away or eat in with a sit-down menu of Italian classics served upstairs. 

Executive chef Andrea Pesenti heads up the kitchen and has divided his menu into time slots: at midday, a selection of thin focaccia Genovese, delicious ciabatta and weekly-changing wood-fired pizza by the slice – all topped and stuffed with artisanal Italian cheeses, ham and seasonal vegetables – will be served. Later in the evening, guests can indulge in the a la carte menu offering homemade ravioli with smoked scamorza cheese and datterini tomatoes and Culatello di Zibello e Rucola pizzas featuring cured meats from Parma. Finally, finish off with a spoonful of homemade gelato and a selection of cakes. Stuck for choice? We’d highly recommend the torta al limone flaunting a charred meringue top filled with a zesty curd sandwiched between light layers of vanilla sponge. 

Projected opening: 31 August 2023

Address: 136 Long Acre, WC2E 9AA

Visit lucirestaurant.co.uk

Llama Inn, Shoreditch

New York-Peruvian restaurant Llama Inn, which opened to critical acclaim in Brooklyn in 2015, launched its London outpost at The Hoxton, Shoreditch, earlier this month. Known for its modern approach to Peruvian cuisine, Llama Inn is led by Juan Correa and chef Erik Ramirez and has become a cult favourite on New York’s restaurant scene. Channelling its sister’s spirit, the London restaurant draws inspiration from Erik’s Peruvian-American background and will be headed by Marcin Maliczowski, who has worked at famed Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio’s Barcelona restaurant Yakumanaka. Dishes are rooted in the diverse heritage of Peru but seen through an American lens, forming plates of pork shoulder bun with sweet potato, salsa criolla and spicy mayo, scallop ceviche with yuzu kosho, lomo saltado with chive crepe, pickled ajies, avocado and rocoto cream.  

With its own entrance on Willow Street, Llama Inn sits atop The Hoxton, Shoreditch in a light-filled dining room covered by a glass ceiling and a long bank of windows that fold back when the sun shines – a perfect alfresco dining spot.   

Projected opening: 1 September 2023

Address: 1 Willow Street, EC2A 4BH

Visit llamainnlondon.com

42 Holborn, Holborn

Situated within a remarkable Grade II-listed building designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, 42 Holborn is a new all-day dining restaurant focusing on flavoursome Mediterranean cuisine. Featuring a deep blue geometrically tiled bar, diners can lounge in leather banquettes surrounded by captivating, free-hand artworks while tucking into traditional plates of vegetarian croquettes and Padron peppers, as well as Tuscan chicken and Spanish lentil stew. The team is led by food and beverage director, Adnan Özkara, formerly of Hakkasan, Park Chinois, and Jeru Mayfair, and executive chef Erdal Atas. We can only expect good things…

Projected opening: 9 September 2023

Address: 42 Kingsway, WC2B 6EY

Visit 42holborn.com

Bóha, Chelsea

Image: Lateef Okunnu

Promising the best of British and Irish cuisine, alongside a meticulously-designed list of cocktails, Bóha opened this summer to bring something different to Chelsea’s restaurant roster. With space to accommodate 140 guests across the main floor, covered terrace, and downstairs speakeasy bar, Bóha takes its Irish roots seriously, serving beautifully presented sharing plates made from seasonal produce. Bar bites and snacks, known as Amh & Beag in Gaelic, include foraged mushroom toast served with whipped cauliflower and truffle and a cherry caramel burnt Cambridge cream, served with foie gras, charcoaled milk bread and hazelnut. Larger plates for the table (Don Tábla) include a signature wagyu short rib Irish stew, with stout, malt onions and fermented celery however the real star of the show is the Síniú (signature) section of meats displayed in Bóha’s dry-aged locker. Pick from Irish chocolate-fed wagyu tomahawk, wagyu sirloin and an Irish whiskey-marinated, charcoal-cooked hanger steak, all on display next to its glass-fronted kitchen, allowing diners the opportunity to watch their steaks sizzle. 

The thoughtfully designed speakeasy, inspired by the 1920s and transforming into a late-night destination with DJs on the decks, aims to push the boundaries of creativity and flavour. A highlight of the cocktail menu is the Bóha classic spiced Old Fashioned, made tableside by an in-house mixologist with a rare single malt called The Taoscán – the tonka bean, clove, star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom are all torched in front guests, before the remaining ingredients are added and the drink is served. Elsewhere, My Little Dear is a moreish combination of Tanqueray No.10 infused with peach stones, peach, RinQuinQuin, lemon, and English sparkling wine. 

Projected opening: September 2023

Address: 562 King's Road, SW6 2DZ

Visit bohalondon.com

Eve, Kensington

Located in Kensington’s Ember Locke hotel – just a stone’s throw from the Natural History Museum, the V&A and the Science Museum – Eve is the perfect place for culture vultures to dive in for a bite to eat. Offering an all-day menu inspired by the diverse flavours and breaking bread cultures of the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean, executive chef Talia Prince – whose CV includes Le Gavroche, The Fat Duck and Soho House – has reimagined the fare to create an array of small plates and grill-focussed mains. Think za’atar fried chicken with zhoug mayonnaise, red Mediterranean prawns in smoked garlic, charred mushroom skewers and zhoug stonebass, with smoked tomato chickpeas and caramelised toum. Alongside the restaurant and bar, Eve café will be open daily from 7am to 4pm, serving a menu of pastries, cakes, juices and fresh sandwiches – a relaxed space perfect for working and catching up with friends. 

Projected opening: 13 September 2023

Address: 202-220 Cromwell Road, SW5 0SW

Visit evekensington.com

Chez Rowley, Notting Hill

Images: Steven Joyce

Rowley Leigh, the chef and author behind Le Café Anglais and Kensington Place is returning to West London to launch a residency at Notting Hill club and restaurant, Laylow. Opening this September, the famed chef will open the doors to Chez Rowley: a bistro with nostalgic dishes and classic technique at its core. Taking inspiration from family holidays across Europe, the Italian-inspired menu is designed to be enjoyed family style, featuring dishes of seasonal tomatoes and stracciatella, raw bavette, cep toast and gribiche dressing, and seared mackerel with bread sauce and pickled gooseberries. The true showstopper will be poulet antiboise: a whole chicken roasted with anchovies, black olives, garlic, thyme and white wine and served with hispi cabbage and pangrattato. 

Laylow has been designed by Bella Freud. Ivory walls, spacious banquettes and a collection of carefully selected artwork will adorn the walls, including works by artist Frank Auerbach, a poem by John Lennon and a piece by upcoming artist France-Lise McGurn. Guests will also have a view of the semi-open kitchen, where they can watch Rowley and his team at work. 

Projected opening: 13 September 2023

Address: 10 Golborne Road, W10 5PE

Visit chezrowley.com

Lavo, Marylebone

Lavo, the highly-anticipated Italian dining experience that is part of Marylebone’s new hotel The BoTree, is set to open on 15 September. After decades of success in New York, Las Vegas, Singapore and Los Angeles, Lavo has garnered a loyal following and is expected to draw quite the crowd in London. Menus are executed by head chef Stefano Lorenzini, formerly of Cecconi’s Mayfair and Shoreditch House, and will be served at lunch and dinner. Tuck into the grandiose wagyu meatball topped with whipped ricotta, homemade pasta such as tagliatelle al limone, infused with marjoram, sweet butter and Kaluga caviar, whole grain flour pizzas, a fresh salt-baked Mediterranean sea bass and a decadent 20-layer chocolate cake. 

At the bar, head sommelier Fabrizio Canino has thoughtfully curated a wine list focused on the Mediterranean coastline, highlighting a large selection of wines from northern to southern Italy with a Vermentino from Bolgheri as well as a Barbera d’Alba from a small raising estate to be poured by the glass. Using fresh botanicals and locally sourced ingredients, cocktails include the spicy strawberry mezcalita, a smoked Old Fashioned and the classic Lavo G&T.

Projected opening: 15 September 2023

Address: The BoTree, 30 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2DR

Visit taogroup.com

L’Atelier Robuchon, Mayfair

The Joël Robuchon group will be relaunching its Mayfair restaurant as L’Atelier Robuchon London on 15 September, three years after its original outpost closed following the famed French chef’s death in 2018. This new restaurant will be a counterpart to the Michelin-starred L’Ateliers in Hong Kong, Miami, Taipei, Las Vegas and Geneva, and will be overseen by executive chef Andrea Cofini who joined the Robuchon brand in 2014. Inside, a sweeping marble countertop which puts the chefs centre stage, a signature feature of all the original Joël Robuchon restaurants where the open kitchen format was pioneered, before making way for the 74-seat restaurant. The colour palette harks back to the Covent Garden L’Atelier with red and black accents, with soft scarlet seating and subtle warm lighting. 

On the menu, the L’Atelier will celebrate some of the legendary Robuchon classics, from the much-revered Purée de Pomme de Terre (often described as the best mashed potatoes in the world thanks to the 2:1 potato to butter ratio) and the sea bream carpaccio simply dressed with lemon and chive, to quail with foie gras, all made using the supply chain the group gained its initial success with. The opening will also see the return of the much-loved dessert trolley: a sleek, marble-topped display of the best sweet treats from the kitchen including fresh á la minute Madeleines and expertly made patisserie classics. 

Projected opening: 15 September 2023

Address: 6 Clarges Street, W1J 8AE

Visit robuchonlondon.co.uk

Claridge’s Restaurant, Mayfair

Claridge’s Restaurant officially opens its art deco doors on Davies Street this September, as it embarks on a new era in its long history. The classically-inspired restaurant is one of the most highly-anticipated openings of the year and is now operated in-house in true Claridge’s style, with chef Coalin Finn heading up the kitchen. The restaurant has been designed by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio, with a contemporary colour palette complemented by Calcutta Viola marble, antique brass, mosaic flooring, central leather banquettes and dramatic pendant lamps. The restaurant’s distinctive art deco skylights were designed by Guy Oliver and artwork has been chosen from Claridge’s extensive private collection, with pieces from Sean Scully, Guggi, Richard Gorman and two new bespoke commissions by Brian Clarke. 

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and served from the kitchen’s striking, marble-framed doors, starters include buckwheat crumpets laden with soubise cream and truffle puree and Dorset snails with parsley and parmesan croute. For mains, dishes span from whole wild turbot with sauce emeline to share, artichoke agnolotti, to grilled native lobster with crushed Jersey royals and sauce Américaine. Desserts include raspberry vacherin and a chocolate souffle tart with cocoa nib ice cream. Head to the glossy tortoiseshell bar to order an aperitif or classic seasonal cocktail. Heroes include the Ambre Highball – a white wine spritzer with notes of stone fruit – and the Peach Piquant mixed with tequila and mezcal. 

Projected opening: 18 September 2023

Address: Claridge's, Brook Street, W1K 4HR

Visit claridges.co.uk

Bébé Bob, Soho

From the team behind Bob Bob Ricard, a new sister to the Soho site comes in the form of Bébé Bob, opening this September. Located on the corner of Golden Square, Bébé Bob will feature the original's classic red and blue colour scheme, and feature an intimate 12-seater circular bar with a golden granite top and terrazzo flooring furnished with curved soft leather banquettes and geometric glass screens. Specialising in rotisserie, two varieties of chicken from different regions in France, Vendee and Landes, will lie at the heart of the menu. Renowned for their flavour, quality and provenance, both birds will be cooked rotisserie-style and served whole at the table alongside sides of truffle French fries, winter leaf salad, sauteed kale and Albufeira sauce. However, no Bob Bob opening is complete without a caviar offering; Bébé Bob will specialise in baerii, oscietra and shrenkii caviar, served with large blinis and made fresh tableside. Oysters sourced from the shores of Jersey will also be available to kick off proceedings. 

The wine list at Bébé Bob will be short and dynamic, with head sommelier Giacomo Recchia honouring classic white and red Burgundy, as well as a variety of rosé wines – all with a fresh, crispness in mind to bring out the chicken’s juiciness. A large selection of wines on the menu will be served by the glass, poured using a Coravin system to ensure tasting notes remain uncompromised, and the restaurant will continue to cap the markup on all fine wines at £75, no matter the price of the bottle. 

Projected opening: September 2023

Address: 37 Golden Square, W1F 9LB

Visit bebebob.com

Bocconcino Soho

Experience a slice of la dolce vita in the heart of Soho with the opening of Bocconcino on 21 September. The renowned Italian restaurant from Mayfair – famed for its authentic cuisine, wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas – will open its second restaurant on 59 Great Marlborough Street. Expect a dining experience full of Italian soul, including new aperitivo dishes and a first for Bocconcino, cicchetti (Venetian-inspired small dishes specially designed for sharing) with mini versions of its popular handmade pasta – the famous tagliatelle with black truffle or pistachio pesto and Sicilian red prawns returns – and antipasti, served alongside signature wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood and meats.  

The elegant interiors, spread across two floors, are a modern interpretation of an Italian trattoria. The picture-perfect dining area houses an open kitchen and marble counter seating, whereas downstairs there will be a cosy subterranean speakeasy bar set to open in October. 

Projected opening: 21 September 2023

Address: 59 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JY

Visit bocconcinorestaurant.co.uk

Paper Moon at The Old War Office, Westminster

Paper Moon, the renowned restaurant established more than 35 years ago, will be opening its first UK restaurant at The Old War Office (OWO) hotel in Whitehall later this month. Situated equidistant from London’s bustling West End and the Houses of Parliament, Paper Moon is expected to be a dining hotspot for everyone from tastemakers and creatives to the political power players of Whitehall. Grand in both size and stature, the Grade II-listed building is set to serve as a perfect backdrop for the Paper Moon’s delicious fare when it opens as the UK’s first Raffles Hotel with 85 private residences, nine restaurants and three bars.

Paper Moon London’s design draws inspiration on a traditional Italian house, featuring olive trees, terracotta colours and travertine marble. The extensive menu, offering an array of delicious antipasti, primi and secondi piatti, pizze, proposte leggere and dessert, comprises house favourites, from beef and tuna tartare and Mediterranean monkfish to traditional parmigiana and fresh homemade pappardelle and ravioli. 

Projected opening: 29 September 2023

Address: Whitehall, SW1A 2EU

Visit raffles.com

London Stock, Mayfair

Fine dining restaurant London Stock has announced it will be unveiling its new home in the heart of Mayfair on 4 October. The first restaurant founded by Le Cordon Bleu-trained Assem Abdel Hady and Andres Bernal, London Stock originally opened in Wandsworth in January 2020 with the aim of redefining the traditional fine dining experience. The new space at Sackville Street is elegant and modern with the main restaurant featuring an open kitchen where gastronomes can observe the chefs at work. Downstairs, the new site also offers an intimate private dining room with its own bar in the old wine cellar which can host up to 12 guests.

The kitchen is run by head chef Sebastian Rast, previously of Above at Hide, and London Stock is committed to cooking sustainably through striving towards a zero-waste kitchen and using only the highest quality, fresh produce with a flexible, ever-changing menu. Some of the dishes available now include cherry tomato risotto, Suffolk lamb shoulder with Mediterranean puree and cured seabream ceviche. 

Projected opening: 4 October 2023

Address: 6 Sackville Street, W1D 3DD

Visit londonstockrestaurant.co.uk

Stereo, Covent Garden

Inspired by the vibrant late-night culture of New York with undertones of Parisian chic, Stereo is Covent Garden's hottest new cocktail bar offering a masterfully-curated mix of serves, delectable food and great music. Central to Stereo is its eclectic daily music programme, where the in-house band plays relaxed soul, funk and jazz tunes in the early evening before building the tempo seamlessly throughout the evening. Stereo is also working directly with record labels to showcase up-and-coming artists at one-off performances and Thursday night events called the Stereo Collective.

Heading up Stereo's menus, chef Andrew Clarke (formerly of Brunswick House and St Leonards) was inspired to include American classics with French influences, so you'll find plates of cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches and Stereo hot wings alongside halibut T-bone, lobster pie and Highland Porterhouse steaks. At the bar, pick from bottles by South Bermondsey microbrewery Partizan, Thames Distillers (creating Stereo's house vodka and gin blends), Biercraft and The Lakes Distillery, alongside an exceptional cocktail menu. Signature serves include the Stereo Michelada, combining The Pickle House tomato mix, Partizan Mexican saison beer, nixta corn liquor and lime, as well as Californication with tequila blanco, red pepper, agave, chipotle tincture and pink grapefruit soda.

Projected opening: January 2023

Address: 35 The Piazza, WC2E 8BE

Visit stereocoventgarden.com

Kibako, Fitzrovia

Images: Ola Smit

Now open in Fitzrovia, Kibako is one of London’s newest Japanese restaurants offering an array of dishes that blend traditional techniques with modern flair. At the centre of the restaurant’s offering is its signature kibako: the expertly curated, omakase-style boxes after which the restaurant is named. Every box contains between six and 12 hand-crafted sushi and sashimi dishes per diner, with the selection chosen personally by the kitchen for each guest. Elsewhere, Kibako’s menu reimagines classic dishes that combine specialist Japanese ingredients with the highest-quality produce from around the world, including hand-picked Maldon rock oysters and 36-month-aged organic Parmigiano Reggiano alongside Kagoshima wagyu beef and Sanpuku nori. 

Diners can also opt to go a la carte, selecting from a menu of sushi, sashimi, maki and carpaccio, as well as larger, hot dishes such as a premium selection of seafood and A5 Kagosihma wagyu with fresh wasabi and aged soy, all of which are classically served with rice, miso soup and Japanese pickles. The delectable Japanese dishes are served in the intimate dining room of the 50-cover restaurant, featuring traditional wood panelling and low, warm lighting. However, we recommend sitting at the restaurant’s sushi bar, watching the chefs expertly prepare sushi, sashimi and carpaccio before your eyes. 

Projected opening: March 2023

Address: 3 Windmill Street, W1T 2HY

Visit kibakolondon.com

Lasdun, Southbank

Images: Maureen Evans

Jon Rotheram, Tom Harris and John Ogier — the team behind critically acclaimed The Marksman in Hackney, which became London’s first Michelin-starred pub — opened a new brasserie and restaurant, Lasdun, at the National Theatre on 11 May. Paying homage to the landmark building’s eminent architect Denys Lasdun, the restaurant aims to reinvent traditional notions of theatre dining with locally sourced ingredients while showcasing the very best of British seafood from smoked eel, pressed potato and cured ham to Cornish crab with salt lemon and a saffron bun as starters. For the main event, pick from the exquisitely designed marble oyster bar and smoked fish fridge, or sharing plates such as whole Cornish John Dory and a hearty chicken, wild garlic and leek pie.

Post theatre, take a seat at Lasdun’s dark marble bar for a nightcap along the Thames and pick from a carefully curated selection of cocktails, wines, shellfish and small plates. 

Projected opening: 11 May

Address: National Theatre, Upper Ground, SE1 9PX 

Visit lasdunrestaurant.com

Carlotta, Marylebone

Images: Jerome Galland

A new opening from the Big Mamma Group (the culinary brains behind extravagant Italian trattorias Gloria, Mario and Circolo Popolare), Carlotta is the brand’s latest outpost on Marylebone High Street. The new restaurant, which opened on 12 May, is a suave, elegant homage to Italian-American tradition, paying tribute to the Italians who packed up their bags, recipes and heritage and took them across the pond to create a wealth of new Italian cultures. Split across two floors, Carlotta has an intimate ambience, from the team’s own family wedding pictures adorning the walls through to the retro red leather banquettes and dark wooden tables. 

In the kitchen, chef Armando di Costanzo has devised a menu of antipasti, primi, secondi and dessert, with an array of Italo Americano classics such as spaghetti and meatballs, the 1980s-inspired seafood alla vodka finished with clams and fresh Cornish crab and the Fettuccine Alfredo al Tartufo. We recommend starting with the Scottish razor clams, breaded and baked in garlicky butter before tucking into a 1kg-deshelled Cornish lobster to share, served whole in a rich beurre blanc sauce with Venetian caviar or a huge, provola-filled, chicken parmigiana. Bellissimo! 

Projected opening: 12 May 

Address: 77 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5JX 

Visit bigmammagroup.co.uk

George, Mayfair

Courgette flower

Cauliflower steak

George, a heritage private members’ club celebrating creativity and culture, will reopen on 1 June after an impressive refurbishment. Designed by Richard and Patricia Caring, George will be home to Mayfair’s largest terrace for dining al fresco and is open until 1 am for post-theatre bites. Inside, members can enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired menu from executive chef Marcus Eaves, which will be served across two thoughtfully decorated dining rooms. Highlights include courgette flower stuffed with Sicilian prawns and red pepper sauce; slow-cooked shoulder of lamb on a bed of soft polenta, with marjoram and black olive; and potato and parmesan gnocchi with spring greens — all best enjoyed in the navy-blue surroundings adorning acclaimed art by David Hockney. 

Descending the spiral stairs, guests will be welcomed by the antique brass bar and rich mahogany stools of the Hound Bar. The menu, like the decor, will be a departure from upstairs and will focus on tapas-style dishes served alongside Mediterranean-inspired cocktails, crafted from a unique selection of homemade syrups and infusions. Head Mixologist Santo Borzi and his team will be embodying a zero-waste ethos where excess citrus and peels will be used to create house liquors, sherbert and citrus tincture to create cocktails such as The Royal Hound and A Bigger Splash as the bar transforms into a live music hub. 

Projected opening: 1 June

Address: 88-89 Mount Street, W1K 2SR

Visit georgeclub.com 

Counter 71, Shoreditch

Images: Rebecca Dickson

The debut opening from chef Joe Laker (formerly of London’s Fenn and Anglo), Counter 71 is set to be one of Shoreditch’s newest restaurants offering an intimate dining experience with just 16 covers per night. Served on raised marble countertops, Laker’s tasting menus are a culinary ode to the British Isles adhering to a ‘fewer-ingredient’ philosophy.

The dishes will also make use of the restaurant’s lesser-known British larder, presenting produce not typically tied to the UK but which have been thriving in recent years due to soaring temperatures, such as citrus fruits and chillies. Set to continually evolve with the seasons, expect fresh plates such as langoustine broth and pickled carrot, brown crab doughnut and scallop roe as well as eel tart, fried seaweed and caviar. Downstairs, Counter 71’s sister bar, Lowcountry, will pay homage to the culture of the American South in its serves which you can enjoy in an earthy-green drinking lounge featuring Japanese tiled footrests and boucle upholstery.

Projected opening: Late June 2023

Address: 71 Nile Street, N1 7RD 

Visit counter71.co.uk

Humo, Mayfair

Humo is the debut restaurant from exciting culinary talent Colombian-born chef Miller Prada, protégé of Endo Kazutoshi of Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda. Directly translated as ‘smoke’ in Spanish, Humo will revolve around a four-metre-long grill where no electricity or gas is used as cooking fuel. Instead of conventional methods, this new wood-fired culinary concept uses a range of British wood including oak, cherry, walnut and beech to flavour food. 

The menu features dishes including Ike-jime trout marinated and smoked in juniper and hand-dived Orkney scallop grilled while lunchtimes promise a delectable three- or four-course set menu perfect for wowing business clients and dates alike. 

Projected opening: 18 January

Address: 12 St George's Street, W1S 2FB

Visit humolondon.com

Darjeeling Express at Kingly Court, Soho

2023 marks the return of Darjeeling Express both to London’s restaurant scene and to its ‘spiritual home’, with the restaurant moving back to the site it first opened at in 2017. The Indian-inspired cuisine moved to Covent Garden after it outgrew its spot in Soho in 2020. However, after opening afresh at Garrick Street in November later that year (at the height of the pandemic), it became clear to founder and pioneering restaurateur Asma Khan that the space didn’t align with her vision for the restaurant. So after a fair bit of back and forth over the past few years, the Darjeeling Express team reopende on the second floor of Kingly Court earlier this year. 

From inception, Darjeeling Express has operated with an all-female team and takes pride in showcasing the traditional family dishes of Khan and her team. The menu will include the signature Kosha Mangsho-Bengali goat curry and favourites from the original restaurant will also be returning, such as the mutton Shikampuri Kabab and beetroot chop. On Sundays, the team will be serving up a traditional Indian brunch of Halwa Channa Puri (stuffed parathas with masala omelettes) alongside bottomless masala chai as a delicious weekend special. 

Projected opening: 30 January

Address: Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, W1B 5PW

Visit darjeeling-express.com

Edit, Hackney

Over in Hackney, former architect-turned-restaurateur Elly Ward launched hyper-seasonal, veg-forward restaurant Edit in February. The kitchen is led by chefs Fabrice Jacquet and Beth Olivier, who have curated a modern British plant-based menu using ingredients sourced from local small-scale farms, foragers and independent producers. 

The daily-changing menu is devised in accordance with seasonal availability and harnessing the ‘root to fruit’ principles of zero-waste cooking. Diners can expect small plates, such as roasted salsify with smoked aioli, crispy kalettes with purple potato mash, and beetroot à trois, followed by larger plates of wild mushroom fricassée with creamed barley and wilted chard, salt-baked turnip with lentil ragu, and seaweed-cured celeriac with oyster leaf and radish.

Projected opening: 1 February

Address: 217 Mare Street, E8 3QE

Visit edit.london

Joia, Battersea

Henrique Sá Pessoa, one of Portugal’s most celebrated chefs, opened his Iberian restaurant Joia across the top floors of the new Art’otel London at Battersea Power Station this year. Sá Pessoa already has several successful restaurants to his name, including Lisbon’s Michelin-starred Alma and the relaxed trans-Iberian tapas spot Tapisco, as well as the critically-acclaimed restaurant in Art’otel Amsterdam. However, Joia is Sá Pessoa’s London debut. 

The menu showcases Sá Pessoa’s culinary heritage and will be influenced by the robust flavours and cooking techniques of Catalonia and Portugal, using the best British and Iberian produce. Joia — meaning ‘jewel’ in Portuguese — will comprise a 14th-floor bar and an 85-cover restaurant on the 15th floor, both overlooking the iconic power station and the Thames below. 

Menus feature a selection of snacks, petiscos and tapas, including La Bomba de Lisbon — Sá Pessoa’s signature croquette made with potato and traditional Portuguese Alheira sausage, served with tomato and sofrito sauce — and octopus salad with red pepper, potato and smoked paprika in a modern interpretation of classic Portuguese fare. 

Projected opening: February 2023

Address: Art’otel London Battersea Power Station, 1 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ

Visit joiabattersea.co.uk

Socca, Mayfair

Located on South Audley Street, Socca pays homage to the European coastal towns of Cannes, Marseille and Nice, with an emphasis on French-Mediterranean-style dishes and wines by the glass. Co-founder Samyukta Nair has worked with Fabled Studio to breathe new life into the former Richoux site, an institution that has been serving diners since 1909, transforming it into a modern French bistro in time for its spring opening. 

French chef and co-founder Claude Bosi has curated a menu with simplicity and seasonality at its core. Socca, named after both chickpea flour (the staple ingredient of panisse) and the elegant pea flower, will serve comforting but skilfully presented dishes. Bosi aims to draw upon childhood memories spent in the South of France to create nostalgic sharing plates enriched with the flavours of the French Riviera. 

Projected opening: 14 February

Address: 41 South Audley Street, W1K 2PS

Visit soccabistro.com

1 Warwick, Soho

Say hello to 1 Warwick, one of the newest members' clubs in Soho which opened this spring. Having undergone an extensive renovation, the 1910 Neo-Baroque house is set over six floors and features a members-only, year-round rooftop and bar, as well as lounges, a gym, private and shared workspaces and meeting and event rooms. 

The menu at 1 Warwick’s wrap-around rooftop terrace, named Yasmin, has been designed by renowned chef Tom Cenci — formerly of Loyal Tavern and Duck and Waffle — and the food is inspired by his time spent in Istanbul. Alongside Guy Ivesha (also of Maslow's), Cenci will also oversee the ground-floor restaurant, Nessa, serves a menu of British classics.

Projected opening: March 2023

Address: 1 Warwick Street, W1B 5LR

Visit 1warwick.com

Empire Empire, Notting Hill

This spring, Harneet Baweja of Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Gunpowder launched his latest venture: Empire Empire. Taking inspiration from the late 1970s Indian disco era, this venue has music, art and authentic Indian cuisine at its core. Fitted with a custom-made Marshall jukebox, Bollywood bangers will be the score while the walls will be adorned with works by two of the 20th century’s most respected Indian artists: Jogen Chowdhury and Rabin Mondal. 

The 40-cover restaurant is lined with tables on one side, each dressed in crisp white linen covered with paper cloths, reminiscent of India’s old-school curry houses. The adjacent side of the restaurant are home to a bar stocked with natural wines, beers and ciders from 40ft Brewery, alongside a concise selection of pre-batched cocktails and a considered wine list curated by Mattia Bianchi of Berber & Q and Carmel. 

The menu is predominantly inspired by the northwestern cuisines stretching across the old Punjab Empire, from Bihar to Afghanistan. Dishes, such as the Lasooni Tangdi kebab, Nizam Chicken kebab and Bihari Boti kebab, are made by slowly charring the meats over hot coals, some of which will then be combined with rich sauces to create authentic curries. Marking a shift from Gunpowder, which rarely serves breads, Empire Empire also offers perfectly prepared naans and roti as well as all of the other delicious trimmings you’d expect at a classic Indian feast. 

Projected opening: March 2023

Address: 16 All Saints Road, W11 1HH 

Visit gunpowderrestaurants.com

Harvest, Kensal Rise

Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Jesse Dunford Wood opened his third restaurant, Harvest, in Kensal Rise in early 2023. You’ve likely heard his name before: he’s the man behind modern European and British dining joints Six Portland Road in Holland Park and Parlour in Kensal Rise. Inside, diners will find lots of natural colours and bare wood with the restaurant aiming for a lived-in, comfortable atmosphere. Step outside to find the secret heated and covered garden and a street-facing European-inspired terrace.

Joining the array of new restaurants flocking to the area, Harvest will be a bright and airy all-day restaurant with a seasonal, frequently changing menu focusing on British ingredients. Dunford Wood is ensuring Harvest will bring a great emphasis on contemporary vegetarian dishes, which will complement British-caught fish and sustainably farmed meat sourced from local, trusted suppliers. 

Projected opening: March 2023

Address: 68 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, NW10 3JJ

Visit harvestrestaurantuk.com

Akira Back London at Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair

Korean-born, Michelin-starred chef, Akira Back, made his UK debut this spring within the luxurious new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair on Hanover Square. Coinciding with the opening of one of London’s most opulent hotels, Akira Back London is the latest venture from the former professional snowboarder turned global chef, whose culinary footprint has expanded to 16 restaurants in locations including Bangkok, Las Vegas, Singapore, Paris and Istanbul. 

In partnership with Mandarin Oriental, the 148-cover Akira Back London sits at the heart of the new property. Set across two restaurants and a bar, as well as a rooftop experience, Back offers an exciting menu showcasing the elevated Japanese cuisine with a Korean-American influence that he’s become renowned for.

Projected opening: Spring 2023

Address: 22 Hanover Square, Mayfair, W1S 1JP

Visit mandarinoriental.com

Manzi’s, Soho

Manzi’s, the long-awaited seafood restaurant which was first announced in 2019, finally opened its doors this spring. The restaurant is named after its much-loved forefather which famously served delicious fish dishes to Londoners off Leicester Square for more than half a century before it closed in 2006. After four years in the planning room, it’s safe to say expectations for Manzi’s were high.

Located at Bateman’s Buildings, a wide alleyway running south from Soho Square, the restaurant is set over two floors decorated in soft blues, whites and elegant sea greens. The décor by Fabled Studio incorporates the hedonistic escapism that the original Manzi’s was known for into a modern, glamorous guise, with mermaids and mermen, whimsical nautical adornments and an abundance of sea creatures on the walls. 

The new restaurant embodies a more relaxed dining affair than other seafood eateries in the capital. Dishes encompass everything from moules marinière to a wide range of crustacea, a ‘catch of the day’ and a classic Dover sole. 

Projected opening: May 2023

Address: 1 Bateman's Buildings, Soho, W1D 3EN

Visit thewolseleyhospitalitygroup.com

Yannick Alléno at Four Seasons Park Lane, Green Park

Celebrated French chef Yannick Alléno will make his London debut at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane in late spring. Alléno is one of France’s most acclaimed and innovative chefs with 15 Michelin stars across his 14 restaurants. 

Situated on one of London’s most prestigious addresses, this promises to be one of the most exciting openings of 2023. The new restaurant and bar will offer elegant, approachable dining from breakfast through to dinner, where guests can expect contemporary and creative plates that embody Chef Alléno’s modern philosophy for French cuisine. 

Projected opening: Summer 2023

Address: Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Hamilton Place, W1J 7DR

Visit fourseasons.com

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