There’s no denying London is home to one of the world’s greatest food scenes. But even in a city where everything from Polish to pizza is right on your doorstep, there’s always room for more. In fact, according to Harden’s, 2025 was a golden year for new openings, with no fewer than 146 restaurants throwing open their doors – and 2026 looks to be just as strong.

From classic fine dining in Mayfair to fabulous steak at the Four Seasons and innovative eateries from some of the capital’s most promising young chefs, here are the most exciting new restaurants opening in London in 2026. Bon appetit.

Automat, Mayfair

Already welcoming guests to its gorgeous Tomèf Studio-designed space on Mount Street, Automat promises to bring the glamour and sophistication of a New York speakeasy to Mayfair. Accessed via a discreet entrance in the Tanner Krolle leather goods boutique, Automat takes its cues from founder Frederic Krolle’s love of early and mid-century American dining, with a menu of classic fare including lobster rolls, chicken pie, steak tartare and a signature burger.

With just 58 covers in the intimate main dining room, Automat will also house a lower-ground Sporting Club, which will operate variously as an extension of the main dining room, private event space or members-style club for major sporting events. Want in? The Automat Supper Club is an invitation-only no-fee members’ club that gives members guaranteed reservations within 24 hours, a dedicated Whatsapp concierge and access to exclusive dinners and events.

Opening: 7 January 2026
Address: 127 Mount Street, W1K 3NT
Visit automatdining.com

Brasserie Angelica, Fitzrovia

Tucked away within The Newman hotel (read more here), Brasserie Angelica is an elegant all-day dining spot for everything from lavish breakfasts, business lunches, date night dinners and quick bites. Overseen by executive chef Christian Turner, and with upscale interiors by Lind + Almond drawing on Fitzrovia’s Victorian and Art Deco architecture, menus take their cues from contemporary brasserie fare combined with Northern European influences.

Smoking and curing will take centre stage via dishes such as gravlax with fermented cucumber salad and Västerbotten cheese tart with smoked onion purée and broad beans, while a lunchtime sandwich trolley promises to add a little theatre to this everyday staple. In the evening, comforting dishes of Sutton Hoo chicken pie, confit duck leg with haricot beans, and blueberry tart with lemon curd promise to be crowd-pleasing favourites whatever the occasion.

Opening: 1 February 2026
Address: 50 Newman St, W1T 3EB
Visit thenewman.com

Cafe Kowloon, London Fields

A new concept from the team behind Mr Bao and Daddy Bao, Cafe Kowloon brings a slice of Hong Kong’s vibrant food scene to East London. Accessed via popular noodle spot Wonton Charlie’s, Cafe Kowloon will recreate the country’s traditional family-style dining rooms to serve a menu of modern Cantonese fare inspired by Hong Kong’s dai pai dongs (street food stalls), cocktail bars and dim sum houses.

Using seasonal produce largely sourced from local suppliers, menu highlights include prawn toast with pickles, and wok-fried mussels with black beans and chives. Don’t miss the signature Hong Kong French toast; a twist on the classic stuffed with peanut butter crème pâtissière and topped with condensed milk and roasted peanut powder.

Opening: 4 February 2026
Address: 392-393 Mentmore Terrace, E8 3PH
Visit cafekowloon.co.uk

Simpson’s in the Strand, The Strand

Following its closure in March 2020, the historic Simpson’s in The Strand has reopened this year following a major refurbishment by Jeremy King Restaurants. A London institution since 1828, when it opened as a coffee shop and chess club, the reimagined Simpson’s will draw on this 200-year heritage across a variety of spaces, including two restaurants, two bars and a small ballroom for private events.

The heart of the venue is the Grand Divan restaurant: a 110-cover space open for all-day dining. Having carefully restored the room’s original Edwardian features, food will follow suit with the return of Simpson’s famous silver carving trolleys, alongside pies, roasts, game and grills. Upstairs, meanwhile, Romano’s takes its name from an historic restaurant once located at 400 Strand and offers a lighter take on traditional English dining. Expect pre- and post-theatre menus and a dining room drawing on Simpson’s historic connection to chess.

Two intimate bars, meanwhile, speak to the return of late-night London with Simpson’s Bar open until 1am and Nellie’s calling last orders at 3am. While the former will be more classic in appeal, serving British spirits and sparkling wines alongside rare and unique bottles, the latter is inspired by Dame Nellie Melba (she of the toast and peach) and promises a flamboyant atmosphere and sophisticated experimental serves.

Opening: February 2026
Address: 100 Strand, WC2R 0EZ
Visit simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk

Sale e Pepe Mare, Fitzrovia

Joining The Langham's lauded line up of food and beverage options, Sale e Pepe Mare is the latest opening from the beloved Sale e Pepe Italian dining group, which has been operating in London since 1974. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, as the name suggest, the focus here will be on seafood with a distinctly Mediterranean spirit. Think fruit de mer towers and cacio e pepe served from the cheese wheel, all accompanied by serves from champagne and negroni trolleys. A truly theatrical experience, the 90-cover main dining room will complemented by a 18-seater private dining room, striking central bar and walk-in wine room with enough storied bottles to impress even the most serious of oenophiles.

Opening: February 2026
Address: 1C Portland Place, W1B 1JA
Visit saleepepe.co.uk

Cooper’s Cut, Tower Bridge

Joining the stellar F&B offering at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, which also include fine Chinese and Japanese restaurant Mei Ume, Cooper’s Cut is a modern steakhouse promising the finest cuts from around the world. Named for Sir Edwin Cooper, the architect behind the Port of London Authority building within which the hotel is housed, Cooper’s Cut promises everything you’d want from an upscale steakhouse. Think gorgeous cuts of British grass-fed beef, alongside wagyu and Galician steaks, plus a thoughtfully curated wine list brimming with full-bodied bottles perfect for pairing. We can practically hear the sound of those City expense accounts being emptied already.

Opening: 2 March 2026
Address: 10 Trinity Square, EC3N 4AJ
Visit cooperscutlondon.com

Mrbl, Leadenhall Market

Set within the historic Leadenhall Market, Mrbl is a modern British steakhouse that unfolds across two floors and an outdoor terrace, all overlooking the market’s ornate Victorian architecture. Designed for leisurely lunches, relaxed weekend dining and memorable dinners in the Square Mile, steak and wine naturally take centre stage, built on executive chef Matt Colk’s relationship with award-winning butcher HG Walter. All steaks have been carefully selected for their exceptional marbling and depth of flavour, while every cut is responsibly sourced from native breeds, slow-reared, grass-fed and aged with Himalayan salt before being cooked over charcoal. No stone has been left unturned.  

Mrbl’s menu celebrates the best of the British larder, with nibbles and starters setting the tone – think chipolatas with English mustard and slow-braised rump croquettes – before generous ‘house cuts’, including chateaubriand and porterhouse cooked on the bone. Steaks come with a choice of flavoured butters, enriched with everything from blue cheese to fermented chilli, alongside sides such as rich marrow mash, beef fat triple-cooked chips, and crispy hash browns with black garlic aioli, or lighter options of crisp Caesar salad and charred hispi cabbage. 

Not a steak fan? Not to worry. The menu also offers grilled monkfish tail and succulent roast chicken, all cooked over charcoal, and desserts follow a classic form, with apple pie and custard, a burnt lemon tart, and a British cheese plate all complemented by a concise list of dessert wines, ports, and after-dinner cocktails.

Opening: 3 March 2026
Address: 23-25 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LR
Visit mrbl.co.uk 

Mitsu, Shoreditch

The latest in London's growing clutch of izakaya restaurants, Mitsu opens in Shoreditch this spring to offer Japanese-inspired all-day dining. Centred around a live-fire robata grill, expect sharing cuts served family-style and classic skewers, alongside a selection of traditional izakaya dishes including crispy karaage, kamameshi rice pots, and a wide variety of small plates. Soundtracked by daily-changing vinyl and DJ sets, Mitsu is also set to be a chic drinking den, with a late-night license meaning sake, cocktails and mizuwari serves will flow freely into the small hours.

Opening: 9 April 2026
Address: 10-50 Willow St, EC2A 4BH
Visit mitsurestaurant.com

The Golden Tooth, Newington Green

The team behind cult Hackney restaurant, Papi, has ushered in a new era with its latest opening: The Golden Tooth. The new restaurant-pub sees founders and owners, chef Matthew Scott and wine merchant Charlie Carr, reimagining the once historic Leconfield pub with playful Papi DNA. The large space is loosely split into two sections – the pub, which is a more casual bar snack affair, and the 55-cover dining room – and will serve distinct menus, from freshly-shucked oysters and currywurst to grilled meats, chops, pies and smaller plates designed for sharing (think mussel toast with guanciale, and beef tartare with walnut bagna cauda).

The wine list will also evolve on a weekly basis to ensure regulars are always trying something new and, in keeping with the pub vibe, there is a large array of ciders, beers and spirits to choose from, yet again with a focus on English producers. North Londoners, say hello to your new local. 

Opening: 24 April 2026
Address: 79 Green Lanes, N16 9BU
Visit goldentooth.co.uk 

Tavern, Shoreditch

Formerly known as Nest, Tavern is the second act from the acclaimed team behind Restaurant St Barts – London’s only establishment boasting both a Green and Michelin star. Inspired by the warmth of pub culture, Tavern will channel the buzzy energy of a great local while serving refined, bistro-style food in a gorgeous monochrome, candlelit dining room. The kitchen is headed up by executive chef Brendan Appleby and continues to champion the group’s close relationships with farmers, fishermen and growers across the UK.

Begin with snacks of devilled pig skin with smoked cod’s roe, hogget scrumpets with mint, or the ‘chunion’ puff – a cheese and onion-filled gougère. Larger plates range from Brixham turbot with English sparkling wine and cobnut sauce, to Tamworth pork served nose to tail with cider mustard sauce, and leave room for desserts which also lean into nostalgic British flavours. Think black koji ‘chocolate’ tart with barley ice cream, and bread and butter pudding ice cream. 

Opening: 28 April 2026
Address: 374-378 Old St, London EC1V 9LT
Visit tavernlondon.co.uk 

130 Primrose Hill, Camden

Few restaurants boast a conscience quite like 130 Primrose Hill. Established to recruit, train and employ people that have experienced homelessness, it is the brainchild of executive chef and broadcaster Monica Galetti and will occupy the site formerly known as Home Kitchen Diner: a previous incarnation of the social enterprise that operated until August 2025. 

Candidates for 130 Primrose are being recruited through referrals from partner charities including The Big Issue, Crisis, Beam, Soup Kitchen London and Only A Pavement Away. Each employee is offered a six-month contract as part of the front of house or kitchen team at 130 Primrose, which includes the opportunity to complete qualifications and, upon concluding their time at the restaurant, each employee is supported in finding further opportunities within the hospitality industry.

Open seven days a week from 9am, the menu is inspired by Galetti’s native Samoa and will be served in a relaxed, brasserie-style setting, with additional street-side seating. Plus, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar is set to open on the lower ground floor in June. This is a must-visit this summer. 

Opening: 8 May 2026
Address: 130 Regent's Park Road, NW1 8XL
Visit 130primrose.org 

Ornella, London Fields

From the team behind Roman-inspired restaurant Lupa – Ed Templeton, Naz Hassan, and Theo James (yes, The Gentlemen actor) – comes Ornella, which is rooted in the vibrant flavours of Northern Italy. Reflecting Milan, the city where head chef Naz Hassan was raised, and named in homage to Milanese singer Ornella Vanoni, the restaurant will echo the charm and intimacy of Lupa while bringing the confident, distinctive flavours of the metropolitan city to the bright lights of London. 

Less trattoria, more ristorante, Ornella will balance crowd-pleasers, such as mondeghili meatballs, penne alla vodka, and risotto alla Milanese, with signature dishes like vitello tonnato and decadent desserts like mille foglie alle fragole – a traditional custard layered cake topped with strawberries. Milan lays claim to the aperitivo hour, so naturally it will play a central role in Ornella’s considered drinks offering. Highlights include Italian classics such as negronis and sbagliatos, alongside a selection of seasonal serves. Our favourite? The rhubarb Americano, featuring classic Venetian bitter Select Aperitivo, Martini Rosso from Turin, and rhubarb soda, undercut with British foraged wild meadowsweet for a floral finish. 

Opening: 8 May 2026
Address: 51 Wilton Way, E8 1BG
Visit ornella.restaurant 

Yopo Zaytoun, Fitzrovia

Five-star hotel, The Mandrake, will relaunch its signature restaurant and terrace this spring. Both named Yopo Zaytoun – the latter word meaning 'olive' in Arabic – it marks a new chapter in the hotel's culinary evolution, with head chef Viktor Yordanov, formerly of Mazi in Notting Hill, leading the restaurant’s new direction. Nodding to Cypriot flavours, all-day menu highlights will include harissa glazed ribeye, Mandrake shakshuka and native oysters and citrus gremolata, followed by desserts such as pistachio mille-feuille and olive oil ice cream.

Also reopening in May is the award-winning Jurema Terrace. Set within a lush hanging garden of jasmine and passionflower, the open-air space offers a curated menu of ethnobotanical cocktails, created by head of bars and mixology Anas El Bahhaj. Go for the new signature Zaytoun martini – a blend of olive oil-washed Bombay Gin, fortified bergamot, preserved lemon brine, and bespoke vermouth – and stay for the vibes. 

Opening: 14 May 2026 
Address: 19-21 Newman Street, London, W1T 1PG
Visit themandrake.com 

Vesper, Exmouth Market

There’s no slowing Jackson Boxer down. The lauded chef recently announced the opening of Vesper in Exmouth Market following his critically acclaimed launch of Dove in Notting Hill last year. Named after the Roman word for the planet Venus, this restaurant will adopt Dove’s creative, approachable spirit with a relaxed 70-cover space spanning both a richly-textured, candlelit dining room and a terrace of bistro tables for sipping, snacking and people-watching. So, what’s on the menu? Paying homage to Exmouth Market’s seafood reputation, star dishes are set to include croquette 'Arnold Bennett' with tarragon mayonnaise, sole fritters with pickled radish and curry sauce, chicken liver agnolotti and grilled gurnard in crab butter. 

Opening: May 2026
Address: 8-10 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QA 
Visit instagram.com 

Mour, Marylebone

Situated within the boutique Leonard Hotel, Mour is a new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant set to open this summer. Boasting a 20-seater sun-lit courtyard, open all year round courtesy of its retractable roof, Mour has been designed by Marta Gaset Studio. Inside, open fireplaces, libraries and curated artwork, tapestries and artefacts will sit alongside clean lines, marble accents and European fabrics to create a sanctuary in the middle of Marylebone. The menu, meanwhile, has been curated by Saachi Sehgal, who will be whipping up a variety of dishes perfect for both all-day dining and late night soirees. 

Opening: June 2026
Address: 13 Seymour Street, W1H 5BT
Visit mour.uk 

Rosina, Wandsworth

Nestled in one of his favourite neighbourhoods, with his Michelin-starred Trinity restaurant in Clapham just a stone’s throw away, Adam Byatt will open Rosina in Wandsworth this summer. After honing his craft in British and French cuisine, this marks Byatt’s first professional venture into Italian cooking – and, rumour has it, he is hoping to bring his starry touch to this restaurant too. Named after his daughter, the restaurant will include a large dining room, standalone bar, terrace, and private dining room (with its own terrace too). The menu remains firmly under wraps, but what we can say is that in classic Byatt fashion, it will showcase some of the best Italian and British produce, wines and recipes. Watch this space. 

Opening: Summer 2026
Address: 35 Bellevue Road, SW17 7EF
Visit rosinarestaurant.co.uk 

Langosteria London, Whitehall

The first UK opening from the Milanese seafood group of the same name, Langosteria London will sit within Whitehall’s Old War Office, on the ground floor of the Raffles Hotel also housed in the building. Offering a unique twist on the global seafood concept, adapted with the London food scene in mind, the menu will take guests on a globe-trotting journey of the world’s finest seafood, beginning with oysters and crudi di mare from the raw bar before moving on to classic starters like seafood salad.

A selection of robata grills offers an Asian spin on main courses while, this being an Italian restaurant at its heart, a dedicated pasta offering will include crowd-pleasers such as paccheri with seabass. There will, of course, also be tiramisu for dessert. Also promising a vast and accomplished wine cellar, plus a private dining room up to 18 guests, nights out in London’s political epicentre just got a little more stylish.

Opening: Summer 2026
Address: Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD
Visit theowo.london

Cloth Cornhill, City of London

Simpson’s Tavern, the beloved Farringdon chophouse which has been open since 1757 and was once frequented by Charles Dickens and William Thackeray, is set to get a new lease of life this year as Cloth Cornhill. Reimagined by the team behind Farringdon’s Cloth restaurant, the Grade II-listed building will be carefully restored to retain the historic charm of its wooden booth seating, fireplaces, and wood-panelled walls, while modern touches promise to bring the dining room into the 21st century

While, due to legal complications, the Cloth team are unable to use the original Simpson's Tavern name, they do promise that the spirit of the restaurant will remain across a menu of chops, steaks and grills, served alongside the modern British cuisine chef Tom Hurst has become known for. If you’ve got important clients to entertain this year, look no further.

Opening: Summer 2026
Address: 38 1/2 Cornhill, EC3V 9DR
Visit clothrestaurants.com

16 Charles Street, Mayfair

French hospitality firm Loulou Groupe is set to open its first UK location in 2026 with 16 Charles Street in Mayfair. Set across a 25,000 square foot Grade II*-listed townhouse, the new opening will draw on the style and sophistication of French fashion muse Loulou de la Falaise, who has inspired all of Loulou Groupe’s existing locations across France, imbuing the space with a spirit of warmth and conviviality.

Promising an array of drinking, dining and social spaces, as well as becoming the London base of Loulou Groupe’s members community, Les Amis, the culinary offering will be overseen by executive chef Benoît Dargère. While menus remain under wraps for now, dishes at the group’s Paris restaurant features the likes of vitello tonnato, truffle alfredo tagliatelle, Basque lamb chops with lemon thyme and vanilla millefeuille. Needless to say, the bar is high.

Opening: Autumn 2026
Address: 16 Charles Street, W1J 5BH
Visit loulou-groupe.com

Major’s Grill, Mayfair

Major Food Group, the international restaurant group behind Carbone New York, Sadelle’s and ZZ’s Club, has announced a new partnership with Cambridge House, a lavish new Mayfair hotel set to open this spring. Major’s Grill will be an entirely new concept from the group, drawing inspiration from classic London grills of years past. Expect a meat-heavy menu that pays homage to British classics and a big focus on pairings. While final menus are yet to be announced, Major’s Grill is already promising ten different variations on the quintessential martini plus a wine list boasting First Growth Bordeaux, Grand Cru Burgundy, and rare vintages

Opening: Autumn/Winter 2026
Address: 94 Piccadilly, W1J 7PB
Visit auberge.com

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