London is arguably (definitely) the best restaurant city in the world right now, but with so many new openings, not to mention post-lockdown re-openings, keeping up to date with the best new restaurants in London is a full time job. Which is why we’re here of course. Make sure you’re always in the know with our guide to the best new restaurant openings in London and you’ll be leading your mates and dates around the coolest new places around town in no time. Our guide is constantly updated with our curated selection of only the best new restaurant openings you need to know about, so you can always be sure that this little lot will be well worth checking out.
Updated: 27th October 2020
1. KOL
Mexican chef Santiago Lastra, who worked at Rene Redzepi’s Noma Mexico pop-up in 2017, has finally opened his debut solo restaurant KOL in London after a more than a year of looking for a location. KOL is broadly Mexican, drawing influence from across the country as well as making use of British produce too with dishes like langoustine tacos with sea buckthorn, kohlrabi ceviche, lamb leg totasta cured in gooseberries with walnut oil, and tamal with corn husk ice cream.
Opened October 2020
9 Seymour Street, London, W1H 5BT
kolrestaurant.com
2. Pali Hill
Rahul Khanna and Kabir Suri, the pair behind Indian group Azure Hospitality are well established in India, and now they’ve come to try their luck on London’s dining scene. Open in Fitzrovia, Pali Hill has a large grill in the open kitchen so you won’t miss out on the action. You can see the chefs cooking up dishes like girolle & potato stuffed paratha with lime preserve; pan-fried lamb sweet breads with crispy curry leaves & mint; stuffed aubergine with green tomato chutney & hung curd; and a range of flatbreads, chaats and dals. Basement cocktail bar Bandra Bhai, which’ll riff on a quirky, retro Indian smugglers den, is coming later in the autumn.
Opened October 2020
79-81 Mortimer Street, London, W1W 7SJ
palihill.co.uk | bandrabhai.co.uk
3. Akoko
Finalist on last year’s Masterchef: The Professionals and ex-Galvin at Windows chef William JM Chilila is heading up West African restaurant Akoko. Highlighting West African spices and British ingredients, Akoko’s menu includes dishes like lobster with egusi ijebu veloute and pounded yam; grilled 28-day-aged beef suya; quail yassa; smoked jollof rice; and goat’s milk ice cream with uda burnt cream & caramelised Ghanaian cocoa butter. The West African influence extends out from the kitchen with contemporary art by Niyi Olagunju on the walls and Ladi Kwali-inspired ceramics on the table.
Opened October 2020
21 Berners Street, London W1T 3LP
akoko.co.uk
4. Mo Diner
Mourad Mazouz (the guy behind Momo and Sketch) brings a slice of signature Wes Anderson style to Central London with new opening Mo Diner. There’s contrasting colours, sharp lines, neon signs and a hell of a lot of velvet. It’s a Mediterranean take on an American diner so food-wise expect sea bream with sauce vierge tomato and olives; duck confit with pomegranate and shallots; and Masinissa Caesar salad with sucrine, chives, anchovies and parmesan. Not forgetting the boozy milkshakes either, what kind of diner would it be without them.
Opened October 2020
23 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BH
@modinerlondon
5. Heddon Yokocho
Sakagura in Mayfair is out and Heddon Yokocho is in. The Japan Centre has revamped the space into a retro Tokyo-style ramen bar inspired by the alleyways of the city, following the opening of the Showaken ramen bar inside their Piccadilly space. Heddon Yokocho celebrates different styles of ramen from across Japan, so as well as tonkotsu you’ll be able to get Sapporo Miso with miso chicken & pork broth, Hakodate Shio with salt & miso broth, and the Yokocho with soy chicken & pork broth, BBQ pork, naruto fish cake & nitamago egg.
Opened October 2020
8 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BU
heddonyokocho.com
6. The Cavendish
The Cavendish in Marylebone has had a bit of a refresh and has reopened with a brand new team and a brand new menu. Michael Burke (previously at Trade and Soho House) has taken over as GM with Alex Povall (ex-head chef at The Oystermen) heading up the kitchen. In a nod to his old place, Alex has oysters on the menu served with a range of dressings, as well as dishes like beef tartare with horseradish & black sesame crackers; grilled Cornish mackerel with apple, elderflower & wood sorrel; braised rabbit & cep pie; Gloucester Old Spot pork cheeks with butter-roasted celeriac; wild seabass with braised fennel in spiced mussel & saffron broth; and glazed Tahitian vanilla custard tart with poached blackberries.
Opened September 2020
35 New Cavendish Street, Marylebone, London W1G 9TR
35newcavendish.co.uk
7. Noble Rot Soho
Mark Andrew and Dan Keeling have taken over the much loved Gay Hussar Site, which opened in 1953 but sadly closed in 2018. The Sportsman’s Stephen Harris is on board again, along with head chef Alex Jackson, who’s joined following the closure of Sardine. The food is in line with that of the original Noble Rot, plus some references to the Hungarian menu of the Gay Hussar with dishes like eggs casino, cabbage stuffed with game & sour cream and a daily goulash, alongside pate aux herbes and whole roast chicken with morels and vin jaune.
Opened September 2020
2 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4NB
noblerot.co.uk
