16 London Openings To Have On Your Radar
RESTAURANTS
Poon’s, Somerset House
A milestone moment for one of London’s most cherished culinary families, Poon’s at Somerset House marks Amy Poon’s first permanent restaurant. Rooted in the dishes cooked daily in Chinese homes, the menu showcases recipes that are steeped in tradition, alongside signature dishes from Poon’s in Lisle Street and Poon’s of Covent Garden, including Zha Jiang noodles, claypot rice, with were both introduced to the UK by Amy’s father, Bill Poon. More than a recreation of past Poon’s restaurants, the opening represents an evolution that pulls together Amy’s past pop-ups, residencies and retail range (we’ve long loved her crispy chilli oil), while introducing new dishes tied to personal stories. Inside Somerset House’s New Wing, the restaurant has been designed with intimate, deeply personal touches such as books, artwork and family photographs. Guests enter through the Library, which is lined with Chinese cookbooks curated in collaboration with John Sandoe Books, before stepping into the Dining Room, home to a mural of an imagined Chinese landscape, complete with wind-dried meats hanging from trees and a cigar-smoking lobster, an artwork that pays homage to a now-lost mural in Poon’s Covent Garden.
Visit POONSLONDON.COM
Martino’s, Chelsea
Fresh from the success of The Dover, Martin Kuczmarski has brought his signature blend of elegance, hospitality and impeccable design to Sloane Square with the arrival of Martino’s. Inspired by 1960s Italian trattorias, the Milan-meets-Chelsea dining room has been created by Studio Drago, with an all-day feel that moves effortlessly from early breakfasts to aperitivo hour and candlelit dinners. Expect comforting, expertly executed classics – short rib ragù tagliatelle, seafood fritto misto and meatballs “zupetta” – all served with that old-school charm Kuczmarski does so well. And there’s more. Just a few doors down from The Dover, he’s also opened Dover Street Counter, a more playful sibling designed as a neighbourhood hangout. Inspired by counter-style dining in 1950s Los Angeles, it brings a youthful, rebellious energy that adds something fresh to the Mayfair street.
Visit MARTINOSLONDON.COM
Motorino, Fitzrovia
Motorino brings together two major talents in modern London dining: Luke Ahearne (Lita, Luca) and restaurateur Stevie Parle, fresh off the runaway success of Town. Their Fitzrovia beautiful, emerald restaurant offers a contemporary take on London-Italian cooking, with dishes such as chopped Dexter with fermented green chilli, porcini ketchup and shoestring fries; hand-rolled pastas including gigli al gin with fennel sausage, tomato and Fords gin; wild sea bass with caponata and shellfish sauce; Old Spot chop with mustard fruits and pear; and Amalfi lemon meringue pie. The bar, run by Kevin Armstrong of legendary cocktail spot Satan’s Whiskers (regularly ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars), is a destination in its own right, pouring seasonal cocktails on tap and ultra-cold direct martinis.
Visit MOTORINO.LONDON
Nora, Canary Wharf
Nora is the latest project from brothers Ozgur and Sidar Akyuz, offering a fresh, modern interpretation of Istanbul’s dynamic food culture. Led by head chef Daniel Alt (formerly of The Barbary and Ottolenghi), the restaurant spans centuries of Turkish cooking, from Ottoman-era classics to present-day street dishes. The wine list, curated by sommelier Donald Edwards, focuses on ancient Anatolian vines, celebrating the cradle of winemaking. Designed by Ola Jachymiak Studio, the interiors balance mid-century modern lines with minimalist touches and Anatolian textiles, echoing the brothers’ refined aesthetic from Café Beam.
Visit NORA.LONDON
Plaza Khao Gaeng, Borough Yards
If you love Speedboat Bar, you’ll love this. Opening beneath the arches of Borough Yards, Plaza Khao Gaeng is a vibrant celebration of southern Thai cooking. Like it’s smaller, original space at Arcade beneath Centre Point, the restaurant reimagines a traditional raan khao gaeng, meaning ‘curry over rice’, with dishes that blend coastal and jungle flavours rarely seen outside Thailand. Expect heat, brightness and punchy spice, all anchored by ultra-seasonal British produce. Highlights on our visit included the excellently crisp fried chicken, a moreish beef shoulder massaman curry, and a beautifully balanced strawberry salad with mango, chilli, fried fish and coconut. Many ingredients are grown in chef-owner Luke Farrell’s own Ryewater Nursery greenhouses, making this a hyper-local, hyper-flavourful take on authentic Thai dining. It’s also a brilliant option for veggies and vegans and has its own eight-course ‘deep south’ tasting menu for the table to share.
Visit PLAZAKHAOGAENG.COM
Khao-Sō-i, Fitzrovia
One of Chiang Mai’s most beloved restaurants has arrived in London. Founded by husband-and-wife duo chef Win Srinavakool and Por Haruethai Noicharoen, Khao-Sō-I’s menu spotlights generational recipes, including the signature khao soi, a rich coconut curry noodle soup layered with homemade paste, crispy noodles and aromatic spices. Small plates include sai oua (northern Thai sausage), larb dib (raw, spicy beef salad) and tum khanun (young jackfruit salad). Cocktails lean playful, such as the Lanna Old Fashioned with coconut milk and peanut butter, finished with a refreshing coconut sherbet.
Visit KHAOSOILONDON.COM
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Hawksmoor, St Pancras
Home to both a grand restaurant and a martini bar, Hawksmoor St Pancras is now open under the soaring neo-gothic arches of one of London’s most remarkable buildings. The St Pancras menu brings together everything Hawksmoor does best: a new seafood platter is a feast in itself, with Scotch bonnet oysters, dressed Dorset crab, scallop crudo, crevettes and pickled cockles; and the steak list continues the Hawksmoor tradition, with sustainable 35-day dry-aged cuts seasoned simply with flaky Maldon salt for crunch and minerality. New for this site is the Prime Rib Roast, an all-week roast that’s a love letter to US prime-rib houses, served with a Yorkshire pudding, bone-marrow gravy and creamed horseradish. Celebrating the group’s long-standing love affair with the martini, a dedicated bar will serve everything from Pink Gibsons to Duke’s-style Direct Martinis. Accompaniments might include a hot Scotch olive (think Scotch egg, but as an olive stuffed with molten Stichelton) or a dill-pickle gilda.
Visit THEHAWKSMOOR.COM
Ronnie’s, Mayfair
American fashion brand Kith is set to launch its first-ever restaurant. Ronnie’s will be a Mediterranean-inspired New York bistro, named after Kith’s founder, Ronnie Fieg. In the same building as the brand’s London flagship on Regent Street, the restaurant will officially open its doors on 12th December. Guests can enter Ronnie’s through the main entrance or through Kith’s womenswear section on the ground floor, where they’ll be greeted by an elegant cocktail lounge, with vintage-style red leather barstools, serving Vesper martinis, Old Fashioned and Spicy Margs. The main dining room features family-style booths beneath a gallery of photos dedicated to Kith’s home city – plus there’ll be a takeaway café and outdoor seating.
Visit KITH.COM
Automat, Mayfair
Once a trailblazer for bringing New York diner glamour to London, Automat has made a slick return, this time on Mount Street. Tucked behind a hidden door inside a luxury leather goods shop, the revived restaurant takes its name from the early 20th-century automats where diners selected dishes from behind glass windows. Today, the vibe is far more refined: crisp white tablecloths, low lighting and expertly chilled martinis set the tone. The menu stays true to its roots with a line-up of elevated American comfort classics such as burgers, waffles, lobster rolls, mac ’n’ cheese and an all-American pecan pie. We’ll see you there for the Automat Martini Hour, which takes place every Tuesday to Thursday from 4-7pm.
Visit AUTOMATDINING.COM
Corenucopia, Chelsea
Corenucopia by Clare Smyth is an elegant new bistro in Chelsea. Here, the three-Michelin-starred chef’s menu pays homage to British dishes, prepared and elevated with the same care and integrity as her flagship restaurant, Core. Highlights on the menu include Dover sole fish and chips with lobster mousse and an unmissable sherry trifle. We also love that there’s a dedicated potato side menu inspired by Clare’s love of potatoes, shaped by her childhood growing up on a farm in Northern Ireland. Downstairs, you’ll find The Cellar Room, an eight-seat space for private parties.
Visit CORENUCOPIA.COM
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BARS & CLUBS
The Sloane Club, Chelsea
Earlier this year, The Sloane Club reopened its Chelsea HQ following a major refurbishment inspired by its century-long history as a residential club founded for women in the armed forces. Working with Russell Sage Studio, the redesign introduced new restaurants, bars, private dining rooms, an all-season roof terrace, a co-working hub, extensive wellness facilities and fully refurbished bedrooms inspired by the charm of Chelsea Mews. Now the club has opened Lila, a 90-cover South-East Asian-inspired restaurant designed for year-round dining, private hire and cultural events. Another fresh space is Venus, the club’s signature dining room, which is centred around a striking communal table beneath a sculptural chandelier. Seasonal British dishes anchor the menu, paired with an impressive wine list curated by the club’s sommelier. Beyond these, members will find Helena’s all-day restaurant, the Demob cocktail bar and The Study, a new co-working and screening space.
Visit THESLOANECLUB.COM
Tokkia, Covent Garden
Opened last week, Tokkia is London’s first luxury Korean matcha house. Founded by Sooji Im – previously behind Exmouth Market’s beloved be-oom – the café invites guests to slow down and experience the quiet ritual of Korean tea-making from start to finish. Named after the affectionate Korean phrase meaning ‘hey bunny’, the space will serve Korean matcha lattes, hojicha and warming seasonal specials like the Persimmon Cinnamon Matcha Latte, all whisked to order in front of guests. Alongside the drinks comes a trio of the trending Korean saltbreads: classic salted butter, cream-filled matcha and comforting hojicha. Tokkia also offers a curated retail edit of teas and ceremonial sets so visitors can recreate the ritual at home.
Visit TOKKIA.WORLD
Christabel’s, Soho
A cult fixture in the city’s nightlife scene, Christabel’s has returned with a glamorous new flagship at 4 Winsley Street. Found between Soho, Fitzrovia and Mayfair, the club has been created in collaboration with the legendary Chinawhite team and is a 1970s-inspired dreamscape of peach velvet, rose-glass chandeliers and glossy wood panelling. With a rare full live music licence and extended opening hours (until 4am, and 6am on special occasions), it’s poised to become one of London’s most exciting after-dark venues. Expect a nightly rotation of live bands, burlesque, DJs and all the hallmarks that made the original Christabel’s so popular.
Visit CHRISTABELSLONDON.COM
Chet’s Bar, Shepherd’s Bush
Chet’s, the Thai-American restaurant at The Hoxton in Shepherd’s Bush, has now opened Chet’s Bar, a lively drinking spot inspired by long LA nights. The bar serves up Thai-influenced cocktails, including a Lychee Martini with manzanilla sherry and our pick, the Chet’s ‘Super Sour’, plus a line-up of small plates from head chef Carolyn Or. Highlights include tuna tacos with chipotle-sriracha mayo and caviar, pulled pork sliders with Tajín aioli and pickled pineapple, plus crowd-favourite Chet’s smash burger. Guests can choose t0 settle into the bar for cocktails and snacks, or move through to the main restaurant.
Visit CHETSRESTAURANT.CO.UK
Smokey Kudu, Marylebone
Following its relocation from Peckham to Moxon Street at the end of the summer, Kudu has now introduced a beautiful cocktail lounge upstairs from the main restaurant. Designed as both a pre-dinner pit-stop and a late-night hideaway, the bar pairs South African-inspired snacks with a creative cocktail list from head bartender Brian Tapera. On the menu, you’ll find 15 drinks that draw on South African flavours: such as the Kalahari Sunset with pisco, apricot brandy and apple; the Cape Old Fashioned enriched with frangelico and cherry heering; and the Wild Mary, a smoky reimagining of the classic with mushroom mezcal and pineapple-tomato mix.
Visit KUDUCOLLECTIVE.COM
Stable Wines, Islington
Opening just off Essex Road, Stable Wines is the latest project from Alex Young and George de Vos, bringing a new wine shop and subterranean bar to Islington. The striking glass-fronted space houses a central oak-and-volcanic-stone counter – crafted from the same oak tree as the bar at their popular bar Goodbye Horses – beneath a hand-painted Noguchi lightshade by artist Lucy Stein. Here, wine director Nathalie Nelles curates an ever-changing selection of natural, zero-zero bottles, with tastings and expert guidance for anyone wanting to explore progressive winemaking. A staircase behind the counter leads to the atmospheric underground bar, formerly a bank vault. Much of its original architecture remains – picture iron railings, sculptural wine shelving and candlelit alcoves, complete with a labyrinth of arches seating ten each.
Visit STABLEWINES.COM
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