Best new restaurants London: new openings and restaurants opening soon

On the hunt for the best new restaurants in London? London is home to some of the best places to eat in the world, with the capital’s dining scene growing exponentially over the last decade, and pretty much every cuisine imaginable being accounted for. With so many great spots to choose from, dinner can become somewhat overwhelming. New restaurants open in London every day, but how do you separate the great from the good? Well, we've done the hard yards for you, heading out to every new opening to see what's what, then rounding up all the cool new restaurants London has to offer.

If you want to visit good new restaurants in London, guaranteed to leave you satisfied and right at the centre of the capital’s cultural zeitgeist, this is the only list you’ll ever need. You can expect the most talked-about chefs, the biggest comebacks, white-hot pop-ups-gone-permanent, or under-the-radar gems that are knocking it out of the park. Scroll this way for London’s hottest new restaurants and be prepared to block out your diary for the foreseeable future.

Scroll down even further and you'll find a little round-up of the exciting London restaurants opening in 2024, with all the biggest names on the horizon. If you want to stay current in this city, it pays to know what big openings are right around the corner. We have our finger on the pulse when it comes to upcoming restaurant openings in London, and you can read more about the most exciting new openings in our 'Best new London restaurants opening soon' section.

Every one of the places featured in the top section of the guide below have been tried and tested by our team of critics, so check out the full reviews by clicking through. Each SquareMeal listing features an independent review, as well as reviews from diners who have visited, together with unique special offers such as limited edition menus and discounts.

Best new restaurants London

This list is home to London's hottest restaurants - the places that everyone is talking about, ranging from fine dining, white tablecloth luxury to rustic gastropubs and easy-going takeaways. 

Fonda, Mayfair

What: When restaurants are as successful as KOL, a second restaurant is always round the corner. Sure enough, Santiago Lastra and MJMK have nabbed a smart corner site on Heddon Street for round two, where Lastra and team deliver something a little closer to traditional Mexican cooking. The results are as spectacular as expected - Fonda's menu revolves around a traditional clay griddle called a comal, where tacos and tostadas are toasted. There's still room for an exceptional short rib mole, lobster al pastor and a typically excellent cocktail programme.
Opening: October 2024
Where: Heddon Street, W1
Read more: Fonda

Fantomas, Chelsea

What: Fast becoming 2024’s hottest restaurateurs, George Bukhov-Weinstein and Ilya Demichev have smashed it with latest restaurant Fantomas, which follows on from Lita in Marylebone and Belvedere in Holland Park (another restaurant we absolutely adored, by the way). They’re joining forces with chef Chris Denney (formerly of the excellent but short-lived 108 Garage) and Denney is up to his old tricks, with full-throttle menu that goes big on high quality Mediterranean produce. The wine list is also outstanding. 
Opening: October 2024
Where: 300 King's Road, SW3 5UH
Read more: Fantomas

Wildflowers, Pimlico

What: This beautiful restaurant, wine bar and deli has recently opened in Newson's Yard, courtesy of chef Aaron Potter (previously head chef of Trinity and Elystan Street) and interior stylist Laura Hart. Potter's food has touches of both has previous haunts - it's more homely and Mediterranean but with the precision of a top-class kitchen, with delicious dishes including lamb tartare with harissa and labneh, cuttlefish fideua with saffron aioli, and fior di latte gelato with balsamic, sea salt and olive oil. You can come in the day for excellent coffee, or grab a seat upstairs for wine and nibbles too. 
Opened: September 2024
Where: Newson’s Yard, SW1W 8NE
Read more: Wildflowers

Three Darlings, Chelsea

What: One of a trio of restaurants that Jason Atherton has opened in the latter half of the year, Three Darlings is the most relaxed of the three, going for a neighborhood bistro vibe. Named after Atherton's trio of daughters and opened in collaboration with his wife Ihra, Three Darlings has a perfect spot on Chelsea’s bustling Pavillion Road, and serves slick breakfast and brunch menus, as well as an a la carte that includes oysters, house-baked flatbreads, Mediterranean-style small plates and a killer Wagyu sausage roll for two. 
Opened: October 2024
Where: 241b Pavillion Road, SW1X 0BP
Read more: Three Darlings

Bottarga, Chelsea

What: We were sad to see Chicama close, but the Pachamama group have come back with Bottarga in its stead - a restaurant that has caught fire on social media thanks to some bold cooking and moody candlelit tables. Make sure you save room for comforting, Insta-friendly desserts like the chocolate burnt cheesecake, giant profiterole and the salted caramel tart.
Opened: October 2024
Where: 383 King’s Road, SW10 0LP
Book now: Bottarga

BAO City, City of London

What: BAO’s seventh restaurant in the capital, brings BAO brilliance to Bloomberg Arcade, in the shape of fast, fun, delicious food and a side of karaoke for city slickers. This BAO has its own vibe - think burgundy banquets and cherry veneer panels - and the menu includes some larger sharing plates for big groups as well as the usual mix of bao, noodles, rice and dessert baos.
Opened: September 2024
Where: 2-8 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR
Book now: BAO City

The Blue Stoops, Kensington

What: Heritage brewing brand Allsop & Sons have opening their first new pub in nearly a century with The Blue Stoops on Kensington Church Street. This venture will honour the Allsopp family's illustrious history by unearthing the family’s ‘lost beers’ and serving them alongside classic seasonal British pub food, with Caravel's Lorcan Spiteri rustling up a menu of elevated pub grub, including anchovy toast, and a chicken, leek and black trompette mushroom pie. 
Opening: September 2024 
Where: 127-129 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LP 
Read more: The Blue Stoops

Mary’s, Mayfair

What: 2024 is a year of change for Jason Atherton and team, and Mary’s is leading the way, replacing the iconic Pollen Street Social in Mayfair. This grill house and restaurant promises an energetic, accessible experience, as well as more reasonable pricing to serve all sorts of different diners. Especially exciting is the 10-seat queue-only burger bar, which serves just one item - a Cumbrian beef smash burger with deep fried pickles, chilli mayo, bacon, cheese and crispy onions.
Opened: September 2024
Where: 8-10 Pollen Street, W1S 1NQ
Read more: Mary’s

SESTA, Hackney

What: The quickest of turnarounds has seen beloved Hackney restaurant Pidgin become SESTA. Former Pidgin stalwarts Drew Snaith and Hannah Kowalski are behind the new site, which delivers an eclectic menu laden with international interpretations of British ingredients. The 'nduja scotched olives are a must-order, as are the prawn and stone bass dolma. Throw in an excellent sustainable wine list from Kowalski and house-made spirits and SESTA has hit the ground running. 
Opened: September 2024
Where: 52 Wilton Way, E8 1BG
Read more: SESTA

Sael, St. James's

What: Jason Atherton announced the closure of Pollen Street Social earlier this year, but he’s coming back to London in a big way, not just with Row on 5 (also on this list) but Sael - a more relaxed British brasserie that has moved into the old Aquavit site in St James’s. Sael is a little more accessible than Pollen Street Social, but offers the sort of seasonal British cooking that Atherton has built his reputation on, but open all day every day. There's also a neat speakeasy bar hidden upstairs called Apples & Pears - definitely worth a visit. 
Opened: September 2024
Where: 1 St James's Market, SW1Y 4QQ
Read more: Sael

The Barbary Notting Hill

What: Zoe and Layo Paskin’s popular east-Med and Middle Eastern restaurant is blasting off again, this time to Notting Hill as The Barbary heads for west London. The Barbary Notting Hill takes over what was the Maddox Gallery and serves up more of the same - delicious seasonal flatbreads, skewers, small plates and vibes on a big central counter. Frankly, The Barbary feels a perfect fit for Notting Hill, and it also promises a bigger wine selection including some rare bottles from seriously big time producers.
Opened: September 2024
Where: 112 Westbourne Grove, W2 5RU
Read more: The Barbary Notting Hill

LEYDI, St Pauls

What: London welcomes Selin Kiazim back with open arms, as she returns to London with new restaurant LEYDI (though perhaps not in person as she's also launching a restaurant in Amsterdam soon). Kiazim is the brains behind the menu of this Turkish restaurant which will be the signature attraction at the upcoming Hyde London City opposite the Old Bailey. Expect delicious pides, lahmacun, shish and more - if you miss Oklava, this should be high on your list.
Opened: September 2024
Where: 15 Old Bailey, EC4M 7EF
Read more: LEYDI

Cafe Francois, Borough

What: A sister restaurant to Mayfair’s excellent Maison Francois, Cafe Francois offers a more laid-back all-day dining with a deli and restaurant spread across two floors. Like it's big sister, the cafe remains grounded in French brasserie cuisine, but the menu here also takes inspiration from international sources too, like the excellent soft shell crab banh mi. The steak frites here is perhaps the best we've had in London and at just £19, it's reason enough on its own to keep coming back, but add a menu packed with delicious classic bistro dishes, an outstanding dessert list, a pastry counter and more, Cafe Francois is set to become one a Borough Market landmark. 
Opening: September 2024
Where: Borough Yards
Read more: Cafe Francois

Ambassadors Clubhouse, Mayfair

What: JKS Restaurants are already responsible for a number of London’s best Indian restaurants - Gymkhana, Trishna, Brigadiers and BiBi, for example - but Ambassadors Clubhouse is the group’s first brand new Indian concept in five years, bringing regional Punjabi cooking to Mayfair. Drinks and general merriment is a big part of the bargain, with a lower ground floor bar that stays open until 3am playing Punjabi dance, hip hop, house and garage.
Opened: September 2024
Where: 25 Heddon Street, W1B 4BH
Read more: Ambassadors Clubhouse

The Grill at The Hero, Maida Vale

What: The pub formerly known as The Hero of Maida has had a lovely little makeover and a slight name change, courtesy of the good people behind the wildly successful Pelican in Notting Hill, and The Bull at Charlbury. Expect more of the same here - gorgeous interiors and classic, delicious pub grub. Downstairs is more relaxed and pubby, but the upstairs Grill Room is now open for business, serving duck pies, sardines on toast and sweetbreads with lobster gravy. 
Opened: September 2024
Where: 55 Shirland Road, W9 2JD
Book now: The Hero

Cornus, Belgravia

What: Opening up in the spanking new Ice Factory development in Belgravia, Cornus boasts a killer team, bringing together the team behind Medlar in Chelsea with chef Gary Foulkes (previously of the superb Michelin-starred Angler in the City). The restaurant promises a lovely little rooftop terrace, and the food should be phenomenal too.
Opened: August 2024
Where: 27c Eccleston Place, SW1W 9NF
Book now: Cornus

Marceline, Canary Wharf

What: Continuing the procession of big new openings heading to Canary Wharf, Marceline is moving into the upper floor of the large site next to Hawksmoor, courtesy of chef Robert Aikens (believe it or not, the twin brother of chef Tom Aikens). Robert's kitchen CV includes Le Gavroche and Tom’s Kitchen, and Marceline brings proper Gallic cooking to the table, including eclairs with duck liver mousse and skate kievs with pomme puree.
Opened: August 2024
Where: Wood Wharf, 10 Water Street, E14 5GX
Book now: Marceline

Goodbye Horses, Islington

What: Achingly cool, even for the boat shoes and floppy hair of De Beauvoir, Goodbye Horses has clearly taken a huge amount of care and attention to put together. This is clear as soon as you enter, if you notice the lovely custom rotary mixer and vinyl set-up, and the huge vinyl collection, oddly frequent with Cliff Richard records. The food is very clever - sometimes a little too clever perhaps - but on the whole delicious, and backed up by an excellent natural wine list. If you enjoy woodwork, grab a seat on the one-piece, handmade oak counter.
Opened: August 2024
Where: 21 Halliford Street, N1 3HB
Book now: Goodbye Horses

Ibai, Farringdon

What: This magnificent beef-focused Basque grill is a barnstorming addition to The City, bringing absolutely top-tier quality Basque steak cookery to a lovely cobbled square in Farringdon. We can’t speak highly enough of the cookery on display here - not just the exceptional steaks but also a superb blackened poussin, excellent jamon, and meaty anchovies in olive oil. The restaurant itself is lovely also, big and spacious but still with character, lit by the glow of wood-fired grills in the kitchen.
Opened: July 2024
Where: 90 Bartholomew Close, EC1 7BN
Book now: Ibai

Tollington’s, Finsbury Park

What: We’re huge fans of Four Legs at The Plimsoll (in fact, its featured in our list of the Top 100 London Restaurants for two years on the trot). Imagine our delight to hear that the Four Legs chaps are opening a new site later this year - Tollington’s - which will become north London’s first (probably) Iberian fish bar. Expect all the good things you’d expect to eat on a holiday to the Spanish coast, alongside a bit of irreverence and plenty of vermouth.
Opened: July 2024
Where: 172 Tollington Park, N4 3AJ
Book now: Tollington's

The best new London restaurants opening soon

Restaurants continue to open in the capital at breakneck speed - we've rounded up all the big new openings coming up in the next few months and beyond.

Fatto a Mano, Bethnal Green

What: Neapolitan pizza specialists Fatto a Mano are expanding their five-strong roster with this new restaurant in Bethnal Green. The Brighton born restaurant group already own two London sites (King's Cross and Covent Garden) but this will be the first time the pizza spot heads East. The team will be serving up 24-hour proven dough with their signature toppings, from 'Carolina's Meatballs' to Margherita Buffalo, all made with the best British and Italian ingredients. You can find it tucked under the station's railway arches where it's split over two levels, including a mezzanine area overlooking the main dining room and a central open kitchen on the ground floor. 
Opening: 1 November 2024
Where: 250 Paradise Row, E2 9LE
Read more: Fatto a Mano

Nipotina, Mayfair

What: LSL Capital continues to come up with great restaurant ideas, and Nipotina looks set to be another feature in the cap of restaurateur Samyukta Nair. She’s bringing together chef Somaia Hammad and Passione Vino’s one-of-a-kind wine expert Luca Dusi for a neighbourhood Italian spot that we’re sure will have a touch of class about it.
Opening: 4 November 2024
Where: 49 South Audley Street, W1K 2QD
Read more: Nipotina

AngloThai, Marylebone

What: The long-awaited bricks and mortar site for supper club phenom AngloThai has finally been announced for October this year, taking up a smart spot on Seymour Place in Marylebone. Expect the same full throttle Thai cooking and slick natural wine selection from John and Desiree Chantarasak - get ready, because this one is going to be good.
Opening: 11 November 2024
Where: 22-24 Seymour Place, W1H 7NL
Read more: AngloThai

Row on 5, Mayfair

What: The newest venture from Jason Atheron, Row on 5 is set to be a new flagship for the renowned chef - his first new opening in London since The Betterment, which closed in 2019. Spread over two floors in a brand-new building on the famous tailor's street, there will be an open kitchen downstairs with counter seating and tables available on the ground floor. There is limited information available concerning the menu, however, rumours are it will be a ‘culinary voyage’ journeying through a multi-course dining experience.
When does it open? 6 November 2024
Where: 5 Savile Row, W1S 3PB
Read more: Row on 5

Calong, Stoke Newington

What: When one door closes another one opens - such is life in Stoke Newington, where local favourite Rubedo is soon to be replaced by new Korean restaurant Calong. Head chef Joo Won spent seven years as head chef of Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows before deciding he wanted to cook more of his own food, so Calong could be something very special indeed.
Opening: November 2024
Where: 35 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0NX
Read more: Calong

Don’t Tell Dad, Queen's Park

What: This neighbourhood restaurant and bakery in Queen’s Park is rounding up a stellar team, including former Layla head baker Keren Sternberg, and chef Luke Frankie (recently of Noble Rot and Forza Wine). Come in the morning for hazelnut brown butter croissants, then nab a table for some relaxed Anglo-French cooking. We’re excited about this one.
Opening: December 2024
Where: 10-14 Lonsdale Road, NW6 6RD
Read more: Don’t Tell Dad

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High at 22 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street

What: Gordon Ramsay has announced the biggest new expansion of his restaurants in many, many years, taking over the top floors of 22 Bishopsgate to deliver a whopping five new sites. The most exciting among those is probably a new outpost for his peerless three Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which will be called Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, but a new Lucky Cat complete with London’s highest roof terrace also sounds appetising.
Opening: February 2025
Where: 22 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AJ

Carbone, Mayfair

What: Headlining London’s new obsession with Italo-American food is Carbone - New York’s iconic Italian restaurant slash mob wife immersive experience. Carbone will likely be the star attraction at the upcoming Chancery Rosewood Hotel in Mayfair, still under construction and coming in 2025.
Opening: 2025
Where: The Chancery Rosewood Hotel, 30 Grosvenor Square, W1K
Read more: Carbone

If that’s whetted your appetite, check out our pick of London's coolest, trendiest restaurants. Or if you're the kind of foodie who loves keeping tabs on the best up-and-coming chefs, then check out these stellar supper club events where you're sure to discover some of the UK's hottest culinary talent.