Best new restaurants London December: New openings and restaurants coming 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 2025, 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. 

Bottarga, Chelsea

What: Where one door closes another door opens for Pachamama Group, which has closed Chicama (a restaurant we liked very much) and reopened the site as Bottarga - a beautiful candlelit Greek spot on the King’s Road. The menu goes big with spreads and dips, full throttle mezze plates and some great raw fish plates, as well as an incredible flame-grilled ribeye served on the bone. Save room for rich desserts - they’re worth it.
Opened: October 2024
Where: 383 King’s Road, SW10 0LP
Book now: Bottarga

Buster's, Brixton

What: Other Side Fried has switched things up, relaunching as burger bar Buster’s right by Brixton station. ‘Traditional hamburgers, French fries & pet-nat’ says the tagline, and frankly, who are we to argue with that as a recipe for success? The signature Buster Burger (a potato roll with a Wagyu beef patty, sauce choron mayonnaise and green peppercorns) goes straight in as one of our favourite burgers of the year.
Opened: November 2024
Where: 3 Atlantic Road, SW9 8HX
Book now: Buster's

Nipotina, Mayfair

What: LSL Capital continues to knock it out of the park when it comes to luxury restaurants, and Nipotina is another feature in the cap of restaurateur Samyukta Nair. Capturing the talents of Passione Vino’s one-of-a-kind wine expert Luca Dusi for a neighbourhood Italian spot looks like a stroke of genius as he brings unique flair to the extensive wine list, whilst the cooking is relatable but delivers the touch of class that we recognise in many of Nair's restaurants.
Opened: 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 is finally here, and it has been worth the long wait. John Chantarasak's rapier sharp cooking has not dulled in the years we've been waiting for AngloThai to find a permanent space, delivering bullish Thai flavours using exclusively British produce. Dainty snacks, killer curries, some of the best oysters in town and a brilliant, diverse drinks list that weaves around the food, AngloThai has surpassed the hype and then some. 
Opened: 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 a new flagship for the renowned chef, replacing Pollen Street Social which closed earlier this year and rounding out a remarkable four new restaurants in as many months. Spread over two floors in a brand-new building on Savile Row, Row on 5 is martialled by former Ritz head chef Spencer Metzger alongside Atherton, and the two direct an experiential culinary voyage that multiple rooms and a dizzying array of courses.
Opened? 6 November 2024
Where: 5 Savile Row, W1S 3PB
Read more: Row on 5

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.
Opened: October 2024
Where: Heddon Street, W1
Read more: Fonda

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 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.

The Brave, Islington

What: When James Cochran closed 12:51 earlier in 2024, it was only a matter of time before we’d see the dynamic chef pop back up in something permanent. And so it is, as Cochran will be rattling the pans at new Islington pub The Brave, serving a mixture of proper gastropub grub, like slow braised shin of beef with potato dumplings and hay emulsion, and a Guinness and cheese toastie for those in snack territory.
Opening: December 2024
Where: 340-342 Essex Road, N1 3PB
Book now: The Brave

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: December 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

Luna, London Bridge

What: Legare pair Matt Beardmore and Jay Patel are long overdue a second site where more of us can enjoy their wonderful hospitality. Luna promises to be more of a wine bar and bottle shop - the perfect foil to the sumptuous Italian cooking going on at Legare - where you can sit with a nice bottle of plonk and feast on plates of carpaccio and oysters. If you hadn’t guessed, we love Legare and think it’s a hugely underrated restaurant, so we’re expecting equally big things from Luna.
Opening? Spring 2025
Where: Unit 6, 36 Shad Thames, SE1 2YE
Book now: Luna

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.