London’s been through a restaurant drought.
Actually, that’s a little misleading. It was never a drought, it was simply a dam. And now, the floodgates on that dam are being opened, and we’re heading for a deluge….
–The Barbary Next Door | Covent Garden
What is The Barbary Next Door? It’s a restaurant from the team behind The Barbary. And where is it? It’s next door to The Barbary. Frankly, the name is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. But this one’s going to have a slight focus on wine, and if it’s even a fraction as good as its sibling, we’re in for a treat… READ MORE
Opening: October 30th
Soft launch? None announced.
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Isola by San Carlo | Marylebone
Selfridges is about to become the filling in a delicious Italian restaurant sandwich. Playing the part of the top slice up on the department store’s roof, you’ll currently find Alto by San Carlo, a lush, trellis-covered Italian retreat. And soon, the bottom slice will be arriving at the foot of the shop (well, a few yards away in St Christopher’s Place) in the form of Isola by San Carlo, a similarly lavish eatery inspired by the islands of Italy… READ MORE
Opening: October
Soft launch? None announced
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Manteca | Shoreditch
Manteca started out as a residency in Mayfair’s 10 Heddon Street, lasting three months.
People loved it. So they opened their own brick-and-mortar spot in Soho… which lasted for two years. And this October they’re moving further east into Shoreditch, to a venue that – according to our calculations – they’ll temporarily occupy for at least two or three decades before moving into the Thames basin… READ MORE
Opening: November
Soft launch? Possibly, watch this space
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Carmel | Queen’s Park
You know how to find the perfect neighbourhood restaurant? Build it yourself. At least, that’s what Josh Katz is going to do when he opens Carmel in his own neck of the woods, Queen’s Park, this October… READ MORE
Opening: November 15th
Soft launch? None announced.
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Hawksmoor Canary Wharf
Hawksmoor’s never been a place to go for ground beef. And now, they’re one-upping that by opening a floating restaurant. It’s going to be in Canary Wharf – or rather, it’s going to be in the water next to the docks at Wood Wharf. And it’s going to be huge.. READ MORE
Opening: November 25th
Soft launch? Yes, sign up here.
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Lahpet | Covent Garden
Just in time for the season of bleak weather, Lahpet are landing in central London with their spectacularly delicious Burmese food. Classics like the mohinga (catfish chowder) and lentils with roasted chow chow squash are like a hot water bottle for your belly… READ MORE
Opening: November
Soft launch? None announced.
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Arcade Food Theatre | Bloomsbury
The JKS restaurant group already have restaurants like Gymkhana, Hoppers, and BAO under their belts, which is enough to know that they have a knack for this sort of thing. So it’s definitely good news that they’re taking over the space formerly known at Arcade Food Theatre… READ MORE
Opening: November
Soft launch? None announced.
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The Fat Badger | Richmond
The Gladwin Brothers – the trio behind some of the best restaurants across West London – are opening another spot. It’s called The Fat Badger, and it’s going to be stuffed with wine from the family vineyard, treats like oysters and charcuterie, and hearty British classics like stargazy pie.
Opening: November
Soft launch? None announced
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Cavita | Marylebone
Adriana Cavita was born & raised in Mexico City, and has spent the last decade & a half honing her craft at some of the best restaurants on earth, including El Bulli (three Michelin Stars), Pujol (currently 12th on the World’s 50 Best list), and Aska (two Michelin Stars). This will be her first solo outing, and it’s going to capture both her incredible cooking skill, and her rich culinary heritage… READ MORE
Opening: February 2022
Soft launch? None announced.
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Borough Yards | Borough Market
Somehow, a sliver of undeveloped land has still been identified in London Bridge, and next year it’s going to be unveiled as a kind of Coal Drops Yard 2.0, cramming in a slew of new shops and restaurants to the patch surrounding the revived railway arches. And amongst the names already announced, there’s going to be another Barrafina and Parrillan joining the mix, alongside a sherry-slinging Spanish bar from the same team… READ MORE
Opening: Early 2022
Soft launch? None yet announced
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Blacklock Covent Garden | Covent Garden
If the third time’s a charm, then the fourth should be a breeze – at least it will be for Blacklock, the chophouse titans who are planning to open a fourth branch. You’ll find it on Henrietta Street in Covent Garden, and it promises to be just as noteworthy as its predecessors… READ MORE
Opening: TBC
Soft launch? None yet announced
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Chyna | Canary Wharf
Hakkasan. Yauatcha. Park Chinois.
When Alan Yau announces a new restaurant, people tend to pay attention.
And, well, he’s announced a new restaurant. A big one. Called Chyna, he’s billing it as a “Chinese River Cafe”, and it’ll sit in the huge Wardian development in Canary Wharf where it’ll overlook the South Dock. There’ll be enough room for 120 diners, and there’ll be a nice waterside terrace too… READ MORE
Opening: TBC
Soft launch? None announced
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Yau Grilling | Canary Wharf
…and what’s that next door, you ask? Oh, that’s just Alan’s other spot that he’s opening. At the same time. No biggie. It’ll be a 45-seater focused on Japanese grill dishes, with a dedicated oyster bar thrown in for good measure… READ MORE
Opening: TBC
Soft launch? None announced
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Manzi’s | Soho
It seems like anyone who lived in London between the 1950s and early noughties has a story about Manzi’s.
Just off Leicester Square, it was a two-storey seafood restaurant run by the kind of rumbustious Italian family you see in movies. In the midst of red gingham tablecloths and plastic loaves hanging from the ceiling, first dates, children’s birthdays, and silver wedding anniversaries were celebrated over curried halibut and Manzi’s renowned strawberry flan – and now the restaurant kings behind The Wolseley and The Delaunay are hoping to revive it. READ MORE
Opening: TBC
Soft launch? None announced
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Claro | Soho
If you’re going to choose a name for a new Modern Portuguese joint in Soho, the choice is clear…
…a word which in Portuguese translates as ‘claro’.
It comes to us from Leandro Carreira (Executive Chef, formerly of Londrino) and Alex Hunter (founder) of the critically-lavished seafood restaurant The Sea The Sea… READ MORE
Opening: TBC
Soft launch? None announced
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Last updated: 15th October 2021 | Main image: Isola by San Carlo
Want to read about somewhere that’s actually open, like, now? Check out our pick of the best Recent Openings.