Various versions of tuna at Igni, London
Rebecca Dickson
London’s newest restaurants continue to be globally inspired, from fire-driven fine dining rooms and ingredient-led tasting counters to neighborhood bistros and chef-led debuts. Here are 12 of the hottest recent launches across the capital.
1.Hopper’s, Shoreditch
Hoppers, Shoreditch, London
Hoppers
It has been ten years since the first Hoppers launched in Soho, followed by equally popular sites in Marylebone and King’s Cross. The fourth restaurant has opened in Shoreditch inside the historic Tea Building. The décor is inviting and characterful, inspired by the historic Chettiar family homes of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Carved timber, patterned Athangudi tiles, custom-made furniture, sculpture, art and photography by artists from Chennai, all transport you to a far off place. As for the menu, it’s as stellar as you’d expect, with strong flavors and south Asian comfort food like spiced Dindigul-style beef short rib biryani, slow-cooked with short-grain rice from Tamil Nadu. Other highlights include: crab kari omelette; prawn Paniyaram; Kochi chilli chicken chop and Kerala sizzling fish.
2.Orrery by Pierre Minotti, Marylebone
Orrery by Pierre Minotti
Justin De Souza
Under Executive Chef Pierre Minotti, formerly of two-Michelin-starred Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, the beautifully revamped Orrery offers creative, often changing, five-course or seven-course tasting menus. Chef Pierre Minotti says “Orrery has its roots in French fine dining and my role is to bring back that dynamic by reinterpreting classic French dishes with a modern approach.” John Dory with brown crab, fresh peas and lemon verbena showcases the quality of Plymouth’s day-boat catch and the chef’s close relationships with British fishermen. Cornish mackerel is lightly cured and pickled, while quail sourced exclusively from Pierre Duplantier near the Pyrenees is cooked on the bone with black trumpet mushrooms and a foie gras farce beneath the skin. It is served alongside chestnut gnocchi and English asparagus, and finished with a Vin Jaune sauce from Minotti’s native Jura. A palate cleanser of lovage sorbet atop galanga-infused jelly, with Green Chartreuse served at the bar mid meal, is a clever touch. The interiors feature rich velvets, dark wood, rose marble and drapes around each table for two ensure an intimate dining experience.
3.Brad & Dills, Belsize Park
Brad & Dills, The Hill Belsize Park, London
Martyna Wlodarska
Brad & Dills, the Hertfordshire bagel and coffee brand, has opened its first London site, The Hill, in Belsize Park. Founded in 2021 from a mobile van in Harpenden, Hertfordshire the independent business is now operating four cafés, including this bright, airy north London space. The Hill is an 80-seat café with two terraces and an all-day brunch menu featuring all the classic brunch dishes like eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, pancakes and full English breakfasts. A brunch menu highlight is the delicious smoked salmon, poached egg and cream cheese on a rosti potato base. Freshly made bagels are very good, with fillings including salmon and cream cheese, spicy fried chicken, falafel hummus and classic ham and cheese, plus vegan options. It feels like a secret spot as it’s tucked away on a side street off Haverstock hill near the Royal Free with no other businesses nearby. And if you like the coffee, their own brand is available to purchase on site.
4.Igni, Mayfair
Tofu dessert at Igni, London
Igni
Igni, taking the place of Humo (under the same ownership) with a new Chef, Theo Clench (Akoko, Cycene), also uses open fire cooking behind a long counter where customers can watch the action. This time the focus is on seafood and produce in the three, five or eight course tasting menus. By infusing subtle smoke and flame throughout the menu, each beautifully presented course has a delicious slightly smoky taste. Menu highlights include: ember-cooked oyster with cucumber sauce and aged turbot served on brioche with charred lettuce. Another standout course features sustainably sourced bluefin tuna, showcasing multiple cuts of the fish through combinations such as hutoro with foie gras, shiso and wasabi. Desserts continue the restaurant’s smoky, layered approach with an incredible smoked, super creamy tofu blended with chocolate.
5. MOI, Soho
At MOI, Head Chef Nick Tannett (ex-Endo) uses predominantly British ingredients and live fire cooking to produce sensational Japanese-inspired dishes. At the sushi counter, sashimi, nigiri, maki and hand rolls are prepared by hand, rooted in traditional technique with a subtle contemporary edge. An à la carte menu is available for both lunch and dinner. The “Chef’s choice” three course lunch (£38) with dishes like Bluefin Toro Taku Temaki, Cornish Squid, Lamb Belly and Red Mullet.
6.Whitely’s Kitchen, Six Senses, Bayswater
Whitely’s Kitchen, Six Senses, London
Sam Lort
Whitely’s Kitchen, in the newly opened Six Senses hotel, the first in the UK, is led by Executive Chef Eliano Crespi, whose career spans a decade across London’s top hotels and is a member of Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, alongside Head Chef Jose Jara, formerly with two Michelin star chef Henrique Sa Pessoa. Fermentation and fire-led cooking, with a vegetable-focus help to set this new restaurant apart from other restaurants serving a British Modern cuisine. A recent menu featured charcoal-grilled Suffolk pork enriched with shio koji and mustard jus, handmade gnocchi with cavolo nero, Stilton, and toasted English walnuts, and salt-baked English pear served with rooibos-infused crème légère and house-made crumble.
7.JUL’s, St James
Jul’s, 12 Waterloo Place, London
Juls London
Jul’s is the new restaurant from the same team behind Jul’s in Ibiza opened in 2018. Executive Chef Christos Fotos alongside Jem Akyuz and his son Ilhan, have created a Greek-inspired Mediterranean menu shaped by seasonality and locality. The appealing menu features Bluefin Tuna Tartare with blood orange ponzu and raspberry and beetroot sorbet; Slow-cooked Lamb Flatbread; and a decadent Lobster Risotto butternut squash, with truffle and espresso butter. Interiors in this former bank are super chic and there’s a DJ performing nightly with music that’s not intrusive but adds to the cool vibe.
8.La Petite Maison, Mayfair
La Petite Maison, spring dishes
La Petite Maison
La Petite Maison London isn’t actually new. In fact it’s been a popular Mayfair spot for almost two decades. But this spring, the French Riviera–inspired restaurant has reopened after a major refresh of its interiors. The relaunch is paired with an updated spring menu, from charred sardines and courgette flower tempura to ricotta and langoustine ravioli, alongside enduring classics including its trademark Tomatini cocktail.
9. Tobi Masa, Rosewood Chancery hotel
Tobi Masa Main Dining Room at The Chancery Rosewood, London
The Chancery Rosewood
Fans of Chef Masa Takayama’s superb Japanese menus at Kappo Masa (2 Michelin stars) and Bar Masa in New York City can now visit the newly opened Tobi Masa, in the Rosewood Chancery hotel (the former US Embassy). An unusual signature dish is “Masa Pasta,” a surimi noodle made entirely from fish (white fish or prawns). Rather than recreating pasta, Chef Masa transforms fish into a noodle that is cleaner, protein-rich and naturally gluten-free. Some customers visit for these fish noodles alone but of course a full fine dining experience is available with a menu that combines traditional Japanese technique with subtle international influences, featuring dishes such as nigiri, toro tartare, and small plates that highlight seasonal fish. An omakase counter offers a more immersive experience, where guests sit directly in front of the chef as a structured tasting menu unfolds course by course.
10.Flatiron, Piccadilly
Flatiron spread
Justin De Souza
Just around the corner from the first Flatiron that opened in Soho 13 years ago, this new launch continue’s the restaurant’s commitment to serving remarkable and reasonably priced steak for all. As with all Flat Iron restaurants, the menu centres on the signature “Flat Iron” steak (£15), cut from the feather blade and prized for its flavor, tenderness and juiciness. A rotating selection of blackboard specials will include Wagyu dishes and a Green Chilli Cheese Burger made with beef from the brand’s own herd in Thirsk, Yorkshire. Sides feature favorites such as beef dripping chips, crispy bone marrow mash, creamed spinach and truffled macaroni cheese.
11.Brasserie Angelica, Fitzrovia
Brasserie Angelica, The Newman
Helen Cathcart
Brasserie Angelica, an all-day dining spot at the recently opened Newman Hotel, features an excellent Northern European menu and live fire cooking. The menu has comforting classic dishes like steak tartare, gravadlax with fermented cucumber, roast chicken, grilled sea bass with fennel and herb dressing and slow-braised lamb with root vegetables. Desserts are what you’d expect in a classic brasserie: crème brûlée, tarte tatin and chocolate fondant. Be sure to also head downstairs to the lovely art deco style bar, Gambit Bar, which has impressive non alcohol cocktail list as well as a full alcohol offering.
12.Crust Brothers, Covent Garden
STRAIGHT OUTTA HELL pizza at Crust Bros
crust bros
Crust Brothers claims to have perfected the classic Neapolitan pizza and it is indeed excellent. Their pizza dough that is made fresh daily on site to create that classic airy, fluffy dough and then baked at 500 degrees for that charred leopard print crust. The menu includes all the Classic Neapolitan pizzas (Margherita, marinara, salami-based specials) as well as Build-your-own pizzas, allowing full customisation of dough, sauces, cheeses and toppings. The latest opening, in buzzy Covent, follows on the success of locations in Waterloo and Earl’s Court.
Dining and Cooking