11 London Openings To Have On Your Radar
HOTELS
The Peninsula London
Hyde Park
Opening this spring, The Peninsula London will overlook Hyde Park Corner and Wellington Arch. Drawing inspiration from surrounding Belgravia architecture and three royal parks, the hotel will have 190 bedrooms and suites, plus a state-of-the-art spa with a 25m pool; saunas and steam rooms; and treatment rooms for therapeutic massages, aromatherapy, and face and body treatments. While many details are still under wraps, we do know there will be several restaurants, including a rooftop restaurant promising fine-dining seasonal British food from Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi. On the ground floor, Cantonese restaurant Canton Blue will celebrate the spice-trade union of Asian and British cultures with menus of creative dishes by chef Dicky To, and there will be cocktails at Little Blue bar. Meanwhile, The Lobby will offer afternoon tea and The Peninsula Boutique & Café will serve a relaxed grab-and-go concept.
Visit Peninsula.com
The OWO
Whitehall
This one’s been on our radar for a while. Opening this summer, the former Old War Office in Whitehall will open as The OWO. The building has undergone a monumental transformation and will be home to Raffles London at The OWO, comprising 120 rooms and suites alongside 85 private residences. The hotel will have nine restaurants and three bars, including a grand space on the building’s rooftop and three dining experiences by renowned chef Mauro Colagreco. One of them is Café Lapérouse, the Parisian restaurant, which will land in the capital. Seating 80 guests in an indoor pavilion, the space has been designed by art director Cordélia de Castellane (renowned for her work with Maison Dior) and is inspired by the travels of French explorer Jean-François de La Pérouse. The spa at Raffles London will be home to a wellness concept by Guerlain and a members health club by movement specialist Pillar.
Visit TheOWO.London
RESTAURANTS
Akub
Notting Hill
Akub is another exciting new opening for Notting Hill. From chef and restaurateur Fadi Kattan, the restaurant celebrates the rich culinary history of Palestine. Reimagined dishes include arak-cured sea bream, red lentil moutabal, shish barak with beetroot (spiced lamb dumplings, beetroot tahini) and the national dish of Palestine, mousakhan, here served as mousakhan packet – a mix of chicken, confit onion and sumac wrapped in a thin layer of baked taboun bread. Along with a selection of natural and classic wines, Akub will offer beers, arak and other spirits from Palestine. Spread over three floors – complete with a striking internal courtyard covered by a glass roof – the lively space is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday.
Visit Akub-Restaurant.com
Claridge’s Artspace Café
Mayfair
The legendary Mayfair hotel has opened the doors to Claridge’s ArtSpace Café. With its own entrance on Brook’s Mews, the café is open daily and has been designed by the renowned John Pawson. The café features a patisserie counter, marble communal table as a central spot and entry down to Claridge’s ArtSpace, a new free-entry gallery. On the food front, there are a number of fun staples: first, the Claridge’s iconic seafood cocktail has been transformed into a crêpe filled with native lobster, white crab meat, lettuce and quail’s egg, marie rose sauce and caviar. Champagne – poured from dawn until dusk – is also on the menu, served in takeaway coffee cups, café style. And then there’s the ‘Mega Mayfair Madeleine’ – a vast version of the iconic French delicacy, made of citrus sponge with a gooey caramel centre.
Visit Claridges.co.uk
TBC at 10 Golborne Road
Notting Hill
Two of Amsterdam’s most talked about young chefs have landed in Notting Hill, bringing their inventive luxury comfort food to London for the first time. Gabriël Verheij and Alexandre Scour have built a fanbase through pop-ups, residencies and collaborations across the Dutch capital. Now, under the name 'TBC' (which stands for The Butter Club), they have taken over 10 Golborne Road, serving a concise menu of globally inspired dishes: think fried chicken with nori mayo and caviar; BBQ langoustine and Sichuan butter sauce; Hokkaido milk bread lobster roll; fried oyster mushroom bao bun with soy glaze kimchi and pickled daikon; and the boys’ signature fried buttermilk chicken brioche feuilletée. Londoners will also be able to sample their Insta-friendly original square croissant creations, with fillings including cinnamon and pecan praline; corn and pickled blueberries; and dark chocolate and cacao nibs.
Visit TheButterClub.co
Socca
Mayfair
Socca is a French bistro from Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi of Bibendum and restaurateur Samyukta Nair (Jamavar, Mimi Mei Fair). On a corner of South Audley Street, the pair’s first joint foray will pay homage to their shared love of the French Riviera and the coastal towns of Cannes, Marseille and Nice. Starters will include the likes of globe artichokes and Ortiz anchovy dip or salad of puy lentils, confit shallots and sherry vinegar. Pasta dishes will include blue lobster orecchiette and shellfish rice. Fish and meat dishes will include troncon of turbot, sauce romanesco and whole baked sea bass in salt crust. Next to the dining room is a timber-lined bar on a floral black-and-white mosaic floor, oxblood leather bar stools and a banquette hung with linen skirt detailing. There’s also a smaller snug-style dining room with hand-painted murals, olive-green leather banquettes, pleated wall lights and sunshine yellow drapes that screen off a flexible private dining space for ten.
Visit SoccaBistro.com
Kapara
Soho
This week sees the launch of Kapara, the second standalone project from Israeli-born chef Eran Tibi and the team behind acclaimed Southwark restaurant Bala Baya. Taking its inspiration from the sights and sounds of Tel Aviv’s rooftop bars and the city’s artistic Neve Tzedek neighbourhood, the restaurant will serve elevated Israeli-inspired dishes, such as mackerel with pickled rhubarb, bitter leaves and butternut; and king prawns in a kadaifi pastry shell, sticky bitters, sour cream mayo, Persian lime and nori dust, pistachios and rose. There will be an al fresco terrace, a lounge and bar area, and a main ground-floor restaurant with a raised stage for live music and performances. There will also be a basement space with a luxurious dining room and six-seater counter, all of which can be transformed into a private dining area complete with ‘serve yourself’ bar, a full PA system and multiple bespoke entertainment options.
Visit Kapara.co.uk
Stereo
Covent Garden
Stereo is a live music and cocktail bar from international hospitality brand Experimental Group. Inspired by the vibrant late-night cultures of New York and Paris, Stereo offers a mix of music, food and drinks, and is a central London spot for groups to have an aperitif, stay for dinner then dance until the early hours. Central to the offering is a dynamic and eclectic music programme. Early evenings centre around the Stereo house band, who play relaxed soul, funk and jazz. Stereo is also working directly with record labels to showcase up-and-coming bands and artists on one-off evenings. Food has been devised by chef-restaurateur Andrew Clarke (Acme Fire Cult), with a menu offering American classics with a French influence until late – think cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, hot wings, nachos, macaroni cheese and shrimp cocktails. A ‘Rockstar’ supplement of caviar or truffle can be added to all dishes.
Visit StereoCoventGarden.com
STEVEN JOYCE
BARS
Alma
Soho
Beneath Fernando Trocca’s Argentinian restaurant Sucre, you’ll find Alma, where celebrated mixologist Tony Pescatori has created an experiential drinking den. The newest addition to Soho’s late-night scene offers a progressive drinks menu where Pescatori will showcase forgotten flavours and ingredients that span the globe, from Yemeni myrrh to Ming River baijiu. Designed by Victoria Vogel, Alma’s interiors pay homage to the 1970s – picture soft corduroys and velvets set alongside bronze mirrors and mid-century style wooden veneers. The bar also offers a sharing-style off-shoot menu of the dishes upstairs. Bar snacks and small plates include the likes of cheese and onion empanadas, mini stone bass tostadas, and pork belly and spiced pineapple sandwiches. The late-night bar is soundtracked by disco, soul and funk – all played on vinyl or by live bands.
Visit AlmaBySucre.com
The Alligator Bar
Covent Garden
Guillaume Glipa, the man behind restaurants Zuma, Coya and Chiltern Firehouse, launched Louie London a couple of years back. Drawing inspiration from several eras, Louie is named in honour of both Louis XIV and Louie Armstrong and offers a New Orleans-French menu: think po boys and tarte tartin. As well as the main restaurant – which is filled with antiques and curiosities – you’ll find a roof terrace garden and fresh space The Alligator Bar. On the third floor, the venue features an open lounge and interesting cocktail menu. Live jazz piano and DJ sets run late into the night while guests can spill onto the terrace overlooking the London skyline. Best of all, the bar is open until 2am on Tuesdays to Saturdays.
Visit Louie-London.com
Thirteen
Soho
Chateau Denmark opened in early 2022 on Denmark Street, which is known for its musical heritage – it’s where the Sex Pistols once lived, the Rolling Stones recorded their debut album and is rumoured to be where Bowie invented Ziggy Stardust. This month, the hotel opened an opulent bar, Thirteen. Reimagining the traditional ‘hotel bar’, Thirteen serves an extensive range of spirits from rare mezcals to Scotch whisky, and the team has created new takes on classic cocktails. We like the sound of the ‘Rock Punch’ made with Real McCoy 5 rum, rhubarb, lime and ginger beer and the ‘Ball & Chain’, a champagne cocktail made with 30&40 Eaux de Vie, St Germain and Veuve Clicquot.
Visit ChateauDenmark.com
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.