19 London Openings To Have On Your Radar
RESTAURANTS
74 Duke
Mayfair
The likes of The Dover and One Club Row have helped put NYC bistro-style drinking and dining – not to mention martinis – back at the top of the list of things Londoners look for when booking a table. Another spot doing this right is ten minutes down the road from The Dover. On Duke Street, 74 Duke is elegant and darkly lit – but most importantly, fun. Guests can – and should – kick things off with a sharing tray of martinis while eyeing up the menu, a US/French affair featuring the likes of white asparagus with truffle cream; wagyu cheeseburger with dijonnaise; spicy harissa spaghetti; and grilled king shrimp with cognac butter. Leave room for the sharing brown butter choc-chip cookies with banana and caramel ice cream.
Visit 74Duke.com
Mareida
Fitzrovia
Mareida brings a fresh lens to London’s culinary scene, spotlighting the rich, underexplored food culture of Chile. While we first tried the concept at a pop-up at Carousel last autumn, the official restaurant is now open in Fitzrovia. This is the debut spot from Prenay Agarwal, with head chef Trinidad Vial Della Maggiora at the helm and a bold, heritage-led opening menu co-created with acclaimed chef Carolina Bazán. Expect elegant plates rooted in tradition: Milcao potato pancakes with Chilean caviar are an absolute must-order; the ceviche, with sweet potato, huacatay, quinoa and a green chilli granita, is one of the best we’ve tried; steak a lo pobre is a signature dish comprising crispy fries and confit egg; Chupe de Jaiba is a rich Chilean crab cake from the southern coast made with fresh crab meat, cream, cheese and sofrito; and there’s a standout dulce de leche flan made by award-winning pastry chef Gustavo Sáez. The drinks list is equally intentional, with Chilean wines and cocktails such as pisco sours made using native spirits. Designed by Santiago-based architect Macarena Aguilar, the restaurant itself is modern but warm, blending clean lines with authentic art and a wall dedicated to an impressive collection of Chilean rocks.
Visit Mareida.co.uk
Duchy
Shoreditch
Duchy is a new restaurant from Alex Grant and chef Simon Shand, who have taken on the old Leroy site in Shoreditch, where they first met while both working there back in 2021. Duchy is an entirely new beginning, however, with a menu that combines Simon’s classical French training at the likes of Arbutus, Wild Honey and Frenchie with his passion for the game, pasta and antipasti of northern Italy. The menu begins with must-order snacks such as the brown crab arancini and anchovies with lardo on marjoram toast (perfect with an Americano cocktail as the sun streams in from outside). There’s also a great lunch set menu of two courses for £26 – we loved the fresh spaghetti with courgette, mint and lemon, while a whole monkfish tail and aioli from the a la carte also impressed. We also loved the puddings – an orange île flottante with candied almonds and burnt brown sugar cake with strawberries – the relaxed service and the huge stack of vinyl being turned every 20 minutes or so.
Visit DuchyRestaurant.com
Shanghai Me
Mayfair
Set to open on the rooftop of 22 Park Lane later this month, Shanghai Me is the latest upscale dining concept from Fundamental Hospitality, the team behind Gaia and La Maison Ani. Already a hit in Dubai and Doha, the London outpost will be the tallest restaurant in Mayfair (it’s taken over what was lovely Galvin at Windows), promising skyline views from the Hilton Park Lane’s rooftop – spanning Buckingham Palace Gardens to the Thames. Inside, the space channels 1930s Shanghai glamour – think art-deco elegance with a modern edge – while the menu offers a luxe take on pan-Asian cuisine, with hero dishes including yellowtail carpaccio with black truffle, Cantonese-style roast duck topped with foie gras and caviar, and spicy bluefin tuna oshizushi. A late-night lounge, Bund, will also sit within the space – offering cocktails and light bites until 4am at weekends.
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Sino
Shoreditch
Bringing contemporary Ukrainian cuisine to west London, Sino (pronounced ‘see-no’) is a new restaurant from Polina Sychova and chef Eugene Korolev, one of Ukraine’s most celebrated culinary talents. In Notting Hill, this 52-cover restaurant is as considered as it is creative, with a menu that pays homage to the diversity of Ukraine’s landscapes, ingredients and traditions. Dishes are complex, refined and focused on storytelling – think smoked potato with pike roe and hay-infused cream; beef tartare with cep sabayon; and BBQed catfish with cherry glaze. The desserts are equally inventive: we love the sound of the halva ice-cream with sea buckthorn, and a honey cake made with buckwheat chocolate. The interiors celebrate Ukrainian craftsmanship, with natural clay walls, hand-sculpted lighting and bespoke ceramics throughout. The wine list brings together small-batch bottles from France, Spain and Georgia, alongside standout Ukrainian producers.
Visit SinoRestaurant.co.uk
Lai Rai
Peckham
Lai Rai is a Vietnamese bar and canteen serving everything from bánh mì and iced coffee by day to snacks, sharing plates and ice-cold beers by night. The space, styled by design duo House of Baby, leans into on-trend buttery tones and shiny textures in a playful nod to Saigon’s classic canteens. Blair Nguyen of Vinaxoa of behind the food and will be familiar to anyone who’s graced any of her pop-ups, which have earned cult status across south-east London. The menu is nostalgic and inventive, drawing from her childhood in Saigon, with dishes like fried prawns wrapped in young green rice on sugarcane stalks with peanut and nước chấm satay sauce; papaya and jellyfish salad; and a velvety fermented tofu dip served with sesame crackers. Larger plates are equally considered: crispy twice-cooked chicken is served with a fresh herb sauce and smoky betel leaf beef is finished with a homemade BBQ coffee jus.
Visit LaiRai.London
Singburi
Shoreditch
Shoreditch’s restaurant scene has never been better – and the arrival of much-missed Leytonstone stalwart Singburi last week confirms it. Run by a trio of friends and long-time collaborators, the Thai hotspot has been reimagined for Shoreditch High Street. Industrial accents, terrazzo flooring and a central open kitchen with 19 counter seats anchor the room, where diners can settle in for a front-row view of live-fire cooking. The menu echoes the blackboard specials at Leytonstone: expect the likes of dill and lemongrass pork sausage; wild ginger chicken thigh; mussels, tomato and sweet basil; and smoked pork belly and green peppercorn. Like the original site, there will be no desserts – and its BYOB policy remains (alongside a decent wine list).
Visit Singburi.London
Noisy Oyster
Shoreditch
From the duo behind Firebird in Soho, Madina Kazhimova and Anna Dolgushina's shiny new concept is a modern and unpretentious take on a coastal bistro, serving up seafood and standout martinis in a striking, stainless-steel enhanced space. The fish-forward menu draws influence from key coastal regions in Italy, Spain, Portugal and France while showcasing the best of the UK’s seafood. Alfie Bahnan (ex-Trullo, Paradise, Legare) leads the kitchen, with playful reimaginings of classic dishes. Think freshly shucked oysters and inventive crudos to start, vibrant main courses of dry-aged tuna steak with pink peppercorn sauce and trout roe or a pressed skate schnitzel with mixed peach panzanella and a rotation of pasta dishes, including crab bisque and fennel orecchiette. On the puds front, we have our eyes on the sweet and salty sundae – silky vanilla soft-serve with brown butter caramel, churros and a caviar topping. Then there’s the selection of sharp mini martinis, with a smaller size that ensures each sip is perfectly ice-cold.
Visit NoisyOysterLondon.co.uk
Myrtos
South Kensington
Chef Asimakis Chaniotis – formerly of the excellent Pied à Terre – brings his Michelin-trained precision to traditional Greek cooking at Myrtos, a stylish opening in South Kensington. Inspired by the beauty of Kefalonia’s famous beach of the same name, the interiors are light and elegant, with olive trees, natural stone and artworks by Greek contemporary artists. The menu is a love letter to Greece’s culinary landscape. Expect mezze-style starters like taramasalata with trout roe and dill oil, snails with smoked cheese from Metsovo, and generous sharing dishes including lobster giouvetsi with orzo and pink bream in a lemony five-herb sauce. Home-baked breads come in endless supply, including a superb olive focaccia and squid ink pita. The drinks offering is also a reason to book a table, as one of our favourites – Athens-based cocktail bar Line – brings its signature serves over to London via the likes of spiced pomegranate mules and bloody marys reimagined with sundried Greek tomatoes and beetroot molasses.
Visit MyrtosLondon.com
Lupa
Highbury
Lupa is a new Roman-inspired neighbourhood restaurant from Carousel 's Ed Templeton and actor Theo James (The White Lotus and The Gentlemen). Up in Highbury, Lupa’s head chef Naz Hassan is serving crowd-pleasing classics, alongside seasonal dishes that nod to the specialities of the Eternal City. Menu highlights include fiori di zucca, carbonara, bucatini all’amatriciana, slow-roasted porchetta and the all-important tiramisù. The vibe is laidback: low lighting, packed-in tables, comfortable seats, upbeat music that stays secondary to the chatter of the evening’s guests, and unhurried service.
Visit Lupa.Restaurant
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HOTELS
The Connaught Suites
Mayfair
The Connaught has always set the standard for refined London stays – and now, its newly launched Connaught Suite Collection takes things to a new level. Fully butler serviced and filled with thoughtful touches, these suites offer an immersive experience in true Connaught style. Expect tasteful luxuries at every turn: chilled martinis from the award-winning Connaught Bar delivered to your door, in-suite cakes from pâtissier Nicolas Rouzaud (make ours a Connaughty Hound), bespoke shoeshines courtesy of John Lobb and tailored spa treatments from Aman’s wellness team. An in-room film collection curated in partnership with the BFI celebrates famous guests past and present, from Grace Kelly to Alfred Hitchcock, for the ultimate movie night. We’d combine those two greats and opt for our 80th viewing of Rear Window…
Visit The-Connaught.co.uk
The Permit Rooms Lodgings
Notting Hill
Last month saw the Dishoom team welcome guests to stay overnight for the very first time. Sitting above the newly opened Permit Room on Portobello Road, the boutique hotel – named The Lodgings – blends Dishoom’s signature warmth with elegant design and considered comforts. Interiors by Macaulay Sinclair riff on mid-century Indian influences with soft lighting, wooden panelling and deep jewel tones. Inside, expect rooms filled with character – picture vintage finds, a stocked cocktail cabinet that allows guests to mix up their own drinks, books and mags from local legends Books for Cooks and Shreeji News, and vinyl curated in partnership with The Permit Room’s Notting Hill neighbours Rough Trade West. Chai is complimentary (just pick up the phone) and mornings start with a decadent, Dishoom-style breakfast in bed.
Visit PermitRoom.co.uk
Sea Containers Cabin Suites
South Bank
Sea Containers London has always embraced its riverside setting. Now, it’s taken things further with the launch of four new Cabin Suites that channel the golden age of ocean travel. These one-of-a-kind rooms are inspired by different design eras, including art deco, Edwardian, mid-century modern and 80s glam. Each suite has been styled by Jacu Strauss using curated vintage pieces sourced via Vinterior and features a small library of era-appropriate books chosen by Phaidon. Lyaness, the award-winning bar downstairs, has even created bottled cocktails inspired by the themes – from smoky, 1920s-style punches to tropical tiki twists. We loved test-driving the art-deco cabin. From deep silver roll-top baths, a bed with the most spectacular headboard to views looking down on the OXO Tower, this is just the place for a transportive staycation in the city.
Visit SeaContainersLondon.com
Four Seasons Park Lane
Mayfair
Four Seasons Park Lane has just upgraded its collection of 18 suites. Designed in collaboration with London studio Interiors With Art, the new suites are sleek, serene and deeply luxurious, channelling the rhythms of Hyde Park just outside the windows. Soft green hues, sycamore wood panelling, brushed metals and bespoke Murano glass lighting create a space that feels more like a Mayfair apartment than a hotel room. Guests can enjoy exclusive touches including butler service, private in-room styling by Threads Styling and VIP access to Bicester Village and the V&A Museum.
Visit FourSeasons.com
Templeton Garden
Earl’s Court
Templeton Garden is west London’s newest hotel. Part of the Miiro group, which has design-led hotels in Paris, Barcelona and Gstaad, it has 156 rooms and suites, an expansive private garden and a cocktail bar, as well as a state-of-the-art gym. As part of the launch, the hotel has partnered with writer Raven Smith to create a library edit. The selection features a handful of Raven’s most-loved books, from Don’t Look Now by Daphne Du Maurier to Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. Guests at the hotel will find a book from the collection in their room, along with a note from Raven explaining the inspiration behind his choices.
Visit MiiroHotels.com
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BARS, MEMBERS CLUBS & GALLERIES
V&A East Storehouse
Stratford
The most anticipated launch on this list, the V&A East Storehouse opened in Stratford last month, giving visitors unprecedented access to the behind-the-scenes world of the world-famous museum’s collections. Home to over half a million creative works – from The Glastonbury Festival Archive to PJ Harvey and Elton John’s costumes, vintage football shirts, Dior and Schiaparelli haute couture, Roman frescos, Samurai swords and mid-century furniture – the V&A East Storehouse’s world-first ‘Order an Object’ experience means anyone can book to see any object they like, seven-days a week. Over 100 mini curated displays ‘hacked’ into the ends of storage systems reveal new stories and connections – from east London’s rich heritage of making, artistry and activism to recent acquisitions. Co-produced displays, new works and commissions with young east Londoners, communities and creatives bring new perspectives to objects throughout, including a fragment from Robin Hood Gardens, a former residential estate in Poplar. This September will see the David Bowie Centre open with a series of rotating displays, installations, guest-curated content and the opportunity to book to see anything from The David Bowie Archive. We’ll see you there.
Visit VAM.ac.uk
The Arding Rooms
Clapham
Clapham has welcomed its first private members’ club. The Arding Rooms can be found in the historical Arding & Hobbs building, which has been given a major facelift. Its standout space has to be the rooftop terrace, which offers panoramic views, although its elegant interiors also impress. Elements of the original building can still be seen, with the main restaurant space sitting under an incredible original domed stained-glass window. Antique furniture and objects can be found throughout the club, many referencing the building’s department store past. The restaurant will serve seasonal small plates, classic mains and shareable snacks, while behind the bar, members will find an impressive selection of wine and cocktails (like The Arding Room Old Fashioned and House Picante), plus a range of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol options.
Visit Club.XAndWhy.co.uk
Marjories
Soho
Marjorie’s is a new Parisian-inspired restaurant and wine bar just off Carnaby Street. Named after co-owner Michael’s late grandmother (a self-certified Francophile), the venue is open seven days a week for lunch through dinner, serving a French food and wine menu. At the heart is the ‘all-French’ shorter-than-the-norm wine list curated by Michael, which has been designed to complement the menu. The list aims to showcase the breadth of wine across the country, from Reims to the Riviera, allowing space for both contemporary, small-batch producers as well as more carefully chosen, classic varietals.
Visit MarjoriesLondon.co.uk
The Chalk Freehouse
Chelsea
Chef Tom De Keyser has opened The Chalk Freehouse in Chelsea alongside The Tom Kerridge Group. The former head chef at two-Michelin-starred The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, this opening is just off the Kings Road in a two-storey Victorian property. The Chalk Freehouse plans to celebrate everything great about traditional British gastropubs. Comforting classics will feature throughout the menu, including The Hand and Flowers’ signature chicken and duck liver parfait with poultry jelly and apricot chutney; a pork chop schnitzel with smoked bacon cabbage and fried duck egg; as well as a warm pork fat Chelsea bun served with a vanilla custard to finish.
Visit TheChalkFreehouse.co.uk
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