There’s no denying London is home to one of the world’s greatest foodie 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 soon-to-open Newman hotel (read more here), Brasserie Angelica promises an elegant new 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 centrestage 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 will bring a slice of Hong Kong’s vibrant food scene to East London this year. 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 grilled curry fish ball skewers, steamed scallops with glass noodles, Iberico secreto char sui and wok-fried monkey head cheung fun in shiitake XO. 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 will reopen 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 will be 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 Mediterannean spirit. Think salt-baked sea bass, fruit de mer towers and cacio e pepe served from the cheese wheel, all accompanied by serves from chamapgne 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: March 2026
Address: 10 Trinity Square, EC3N 4AJ
Visit cooperscutlondon.com

Mitsu, Shoreditch

The latest in London's growing clutch of izakaya restaurants, Mitsu will open 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: Spring 2026
Address: 10-50 Willow St, EC2A 4BH
Visit mitsurestaurant.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: Spring 2026
Address: 94 Piccadilly, W1J 7PB
Visit auberge.com

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: Spring 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

Read more: The travel trends to know in 2026