If there’s one thing you can always depend on in London it’s that there are always new restaurants and bars to try out. Sometimes it feels like you can’t walk down any street twice without seeing a new eatery, deli, or cafe opening up as if from out of nowhere! And naturally, given we’re now in a brand-new year, there are plenty of brand-new restaurants to get excited about. Here are some of the new restaurants that we’ve got on our ‘must-visit’ list this year:
New restaurants opening in March
Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana (March 1)
🍽️ What is it? The beloved pizza chain opens another London site, this time in Spitalfields
🧑🍳 Who is it? The chain has opened up several pizzerias all across the UK, and now they’re intending to dominate the London pizza scene.
😋 What to order? Pizza – obviously! But don’t miss their delicious aperitivos and Italian beers – which make the pizzerias a wonderful place to hang out for a few drinks even when you’re done eating.
🗺️ Where is it? 27 Spital Square, Spitalfields, E1 6DX
Find out more here.
Josephine (March 2)
🍽️ What is it? A new French bistro inspired by Lyon’s bouchon restaurants.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Michelin-starred Claude Bosi and Lucy Bosi are collaborating on the restaurant, which is named after Claude’s late grandmother.
😋 What to order? Opt for the classics, like the Rabbit in Mustard Sauce or go all in with the set Menu Des Canut, which features Chicken Liver Terrine with Vin Jaune, Lyonnaise Sausages baked in Brioche, and more. Also make sure to sip at the Bouchon-style metre wine, which allows you to only pay for what you drink!
🗺️ Where is it? 315 Fulham Road, SW10 9QH. The nearest stations are Gloucester Road and West Brompton.
Find out more here.
Cinnamon Bazaar Richmond (March 5)
🍽️ What is it? a new opening inspired by the traditional Indian bazaars and their vibrant energy. Expect punch flavours, delicious drinks, and even a roaming chaat trolley.
🧑🍳 Who is it? It’s the latest opening from Vivek Singh, and joins The Cinnamon Collection of contemporary Indian restaurants.
😋 What to order? You have to get the chaat, just to make use of the trolley (see above)!
🗺️ Where is it? 31-35 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2NQ. The nearest station is Richmond.
Find out more here.
Fino (March 5)
🍽️ What is it? The ground-floor cocktail bar that greets guests arriving at Brazillian rodizio restaurant, Fazenda, officially launches.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Bar manager Michela Castiglioni has come up with an impressive menu of South American-inspired cocktails.
😋 What to order? The Red Wino is difficult to describe (sort of like a mix of red wine and coke, but far better than that suggests) but very easy to drink. Match it with a wagyu beef empanada and some beef ribs croquettes and you’ll be more than content.
🗺️ Where is it? Ground Floor, 100 Bishopsgate, EC2M 1GT. The nearest station is Liverpool Street.
Find out more here.
Shanghai Noir (March 7)
🍽️ What is it? This Indo-Chinese brasserie revisits the comfort food of Indian immigrants with reinterpretations of the fusion of flavours mark the mixing of the cultures.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Executive Chef Amit Bagyal previously worked at Benares and Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, while Head Chef Velino Goes also worked at Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, as well as JKS Group.
😋 What to order? The devil’s chicken lollipop is surely a must-order given the name! We’re also very tempted by the Chef’s Selection, where “the hottest chilli in the world, Bhot Jolakhiya, is prepared with spatchcock chicken and served with a Glenmorangie fire sauce”.
🗺️ Where is it? Old Westminster Fire Station, 4 Greycoat Place, Westminster, SW1P 1SB. The nearest station is St. James’s Park
Find out more here.
Lita (early March)
🍽️ What is it? Produce and seasonality will dictate the menu at this new Marylebone eatery that celebrates southern European flavours with sophisticated twists.
🧑🍳 Who is it? The powerhouse team also opened the Wild Tavern in Chelsea, and includes Canadian-born restaurateur Daniel Koukarskikh, and chef Luke Ahearne, formerly Head Chef at Corrigan’s Mayfair.
😋 What to order? We’ve got our eyes on the Morels with new season wild garlic and lardo di colonnata, and we’re obviously going to finish our meal with the Rum Baba with charcoal cream chantilly!
🗺️ Where is it? 7-9 Paddington Street, W1U 5QH. The nearest station is Baker Street.
Find out more here.
PRELUDE by Oriole (March 13)
🍽️ What is it? a three-month pop-up “restaurant, bar and innovation space” intended as a sort of research space ahead of Oriole’s second permanent iteration later in the summer. A prelude if you will…
🧑🍳 Who is it? From the team behind Oriole, Nightjar, and Bar Swift, PRELUDE has some hefty bar expertise backing it.
😋 What to order? For the first time, food will take an equal footing to cocktails at this Oriole-ish venue – so come hungry. We’ve got our eyes on the Mizuwari cocktail (chocolate-miso-washed scotch, asparagus distillate, amontillado sherry, green walnut vermouth, and cold-brewed Hojoicha tea) which will purportedly pair well with the Huitlacoche, Mushrooms and Egg Yolk dish.
🗺️ Where is it? 23 Slingsby Place, Covent Garden, WC2E 9AB. The nearest stations are Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Find out more here.
Nancy Spains (March 15)
🍽️ What is it? London’s latest Irish pub will open in Shoreditch just in time for St Patrick’s Day! Expect proper Irish cocktails and whiskey, and a rotating offering from the kitchen.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Peter and Nicholas O’Halloran both hail from Kerry, and have worked in the industry all their lives in Ireland. Now they’re bringing a slice of Irish hospitality to London.
😋 What to order? They’ll be bringing the well-known-in-Ireland joys of Murphy’s to our fair city – so start there!
🗺️ Where is it? Curtain Road, Shoreditch
Find out more here.
Rucola (March 15)
🍽️ What is it? Brooklyn-born, Italian-inspired rooftop restaurant atop Covent Garden’s The Conduit. The food is plant-forward, and the restaurant will utilise zero-waste practices.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Rucola comes courtesy of a partnership between Food & Beverage Director, Henry Rich, and Paul van Zyl, Founder at The Conduit.
😋 What to order? The menu is full of cosy classics that focus on special ingredients, making it an easier-than-usual ordering experience for London. But we’d definitely opt for the Fisherman’s Stew and the purple Aubergine with oat milk ricotta and fregola.
🗺️ Where is it? Fifth floor, 6 Langley Street, WC2H 9JA. The nearest station is Covent Garden.
Find out more here.
A Braccetto (March 18)
🍽️ What is it? A modern trattoria serving uncomplicated traditional Italian cuisine that has been given a slight contemporary twist. They’re promising a warm, inviting atmosphere and quality ingredients across the board.
🧑🍳 Who is it? The new opening from Lavval Group Ltd is a modern take on a neighbourhood trattoria that utilises their nearly 70 years of experience running Italian restaurants in London.
😋 What to order? You have to try at least one of the thin Roman-style pizzas and some of the handmade pasta. And make sure you leave room, too, for the Tiramisu della casa.
🗺️ Where is it? 242 Earls Court Road, SW5 9AA. The nearest station is Earl’s Court.
Find out more here.
TT (March 22)
🍽️ What is it? Previously known as TT Liquor, TT breathes new life into the rooftop and ground floor restaurant with a smoke-and-fire-forward food menu.
🧑🍳 Who is it? ex-Oren Head Chef, Sam Lone, also worked with ex-Gordon Ramsay alumni at Cabotte before moving on to The Palomar and Two Lights.
😋 What to order? As much of the sharing food as the table (and your wallet) can bear…
🗺️ Where is it? 17b Kingsland Road, E2 8AA. The nearest station is Hoxton.
The Cocochine (March 25)
🍽️ What is it? Following a six-month delay, this new intimate restaurant is found inside a historic Mayfair property, where it stretches across four floors and celebrates “the joy of eating”. Chef Larry Jayasekara and Mayfair’s Hamiltons Gallery owner Tim Jefferies are working together as self-considered ‘custodians’ of the historic mews house.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Jayasekara has previously worked under and alongside the likes of Marcus Wareing, Alain Roux, Michel Bras, Raymond Blanc, Gordon Ramsay, and Pierre Koffmann and was the Head Chef at Pétrus.
😋 What to order? We don’t know much about the menu, but the importance of their extraordinary ingredients is an indicator of the exceptional dishes diners can expect.
🗺️ Where is it? 27 Bruton Place, W1J 6NQ. The nearest stations are Bond Street and Green Park.
Find out more here.
Unlock (March)
🍽️ What is it? Pizza meets cocktails and art in this new Hackney Wick opening with carefully considered interiors and decor.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Napoli-born siblings, chef Arianna and restaurateur Giovanni Izzo, bring a wealth of experience and knowledge and a dedicated pursuit of the perfect Neapolitan pizza.
😋 What to order? This pizzeria has a set menu, allowing you to try a slice of each artisanal pizza topping paired with cocktails.
🗺️ Where is it? 1 Monkwood Way, E3 2EG. The nearest station is Hackney Wick.
Find out more here.
Carmel (March)
🍽️ What is it? London’s second Carmel will land in Fitzrovia with its typical array of eastern Mediterranean flavours and left-of-field pasta dishes.
🧑🍳 Who is it? The team behind the two Carmel restaurants also run the much-loved Berber & Q. The kitchen will be run by Jeremey Borrow, formerly the head chef at The Palomar.
😋 What to order? Opt for at least one of the flatbreads that are one of the favourites from the Queen’s Park location, and we’ll be ordering at least three of the dried lime, sage and rose Negronis.
🗺️ Where is it? Expected to open on Market Place.
Find out more here.
Three Sheets Soho (March)
🍽️ What is it? The legendary Dalston bar is opening up a second site under the same name in Soho.
🧑🍳 Who is it? Brothers Noel and Max Venning also own and operate a bar in North London, Little Mercies. Three Sheets’ Dalston site currently sits at the seventh position on the recent list of the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars. The new site will offer food from ex-Lyle’s chef and butcher William Blank and coffee from Dead Good Coffee.
😋 What to order? They’ll have most of the classics, but a few of their own offerings. New drinks include the Mango Ice Tea (pickled mango, rum, and a mix of teas), and the Scottish Coffee (buttered scotch, salted coffee, and shortbread cream).
🗺️ Where is it? Manette Street, Soho.
Find out more here.
Opening later this year
Naturally, there are TONS of other restaurants set to open throughout 2024. Here are a few of the top openings to be aware of when planning your meals out this year.
🤤 Oma (Borough Market) – a new Greek-inspired restaurant featuring talent from cult London spots like Manteca, Kiln, Smokestak, and more, will open this spring. Dishes will be cooked in traditional Cretan clay pots sourced from Crete.
🥘 Kricket (Canary Wharf) – the modern Indian restaurant group’s fourth site will open in the spring, featuring their most-loved dishes and a hefty cocktail bar.
🥪 Bangers (Shoreditch) – the delivery concept (with famous breakfast butties) is bringing smashed sausage® sandwiches, coffee, drinks, tunes, and more to their first brick-and-mortar breakfast bar on April 19.
🍷 Mimosa (Marylebone) – luxuriate in the flavours and spirit of the French Riviera at The Langham as famed French restaurant Mimosa opens its first international outpost in London, taking over from Roux at The Landau in early 2024.
🥩 Roe (Wood Wharf) – the trio behind the acclaimed Fallow and chicken shop FOWL will launch a new “nose-to-tail and root-to-stem” eatery this Spring. The new 350-cover restaurant will span three floors, featuring a chef’s table and a terrace to boot.
🍷 Crispin at Studio Voltaire (Clapham) – the founder of the Crispin bistros and wine bars will launch a new 50-cover restaurant and counter wine bar this Spring. The site will also feature an outdoor drinking garden, and a dining terrace when the weather warms up.
🍝 Lina Stores (South Kensington) – the acclaimed group of delis and restaurants will open their newest site this spring serving breakfast in the mornings and all sorts of pasta, antipasti, secondi, and more throughout the rest of the day.
🌮 Los Mochis City (London City) – the Pan-Pacific restaurant group will boost its numbers in London this April with a new flagship site with a rooftop restaurant complete with a 3,000-square-foot outdoor terrace. The new venue will also follow in the footsteps of the Notting Hill location, with a connected Omakase set to open in the Summer.
🍻 Albert’s Schloss (Shaftesbury Avenue) – the one-time Rainforest Cafe site will be transformed into an enormous Bavarian bier and pleasure palace this Summer.
🔥 Nela (Queensway) – the Amsterdam-born live fire restaurant will open an enormous restaurant in The Whiteley in the autumn of 2024.
Recently opened new restaurants
But it’s not just upcoming openings that we’re excited about – there are also plenty of new restaurants that opened recently that we’re excited to try out. Here are some of London’s newest openings that we can’t wait to check out:
🔥 Mambow (Clapton) – explore the depth and possibility of Malaysian food at this Peckham Market residency turned brick-and-mortar restaurant from one of London’s most exciting chefs, Abby Lee.
🍷 Alfi (Spitalfields) – a pubby take on a wine bar, with wine-dispensing taps far outnumbering the beer, and food from a lava stone robata grill.
🍲 Singapulah (Chinatown) – what started life as a pop-up that birthed London’s beloved Arôme bakery gets a second life to celebrate lesser-known and hard-to-find dishes that Singaporeans love. Also houses a retail site for Singaporean products and ingredients.
🌮 Trejo’s Tacos (Notting Hill) – the Anthony-Bourdain approved tacos from the Hollywood superstar land in West London at one of London’s most anticipated new restaurants.
🥢 YiQi (Chinatown) – a new two-floor restaurant from seasoned Chinatown restaurateurs and chefs with a handpicked menu of dishes from across Southeast Asia.
🎣 Morchella (Clerkenwell) – the team behind Perilla opens up a new restaurant with modern Mediterranean sharing plates.
🌊 Bellazul (Marylebone) – diners are transported to the Mediterranean shores with food and vibes coming straight from Southern Europe. Dishes draw inspiration from all around the area, from Italy to Greece and even Morocco.
🍢 Big Night (Hackney) – food on sticks is the focus at this restaurant that is conceptually inspired by the yakitori izakayas, but decidedly not Japanese in the food itself. Big Night opened in early January with good vibes, good booze, and good British food (on sticks).
👨🍳 Francatelli (St James’s) – superstar chef William Drabble’s new restaurant draws inspiration from his culinary idol Charles Elmé Francatelli. Francatelli was the author of the 1846 cookbook/gastronomy bible ‘The Modern Cook’ and was Queen Victoria’s head chef.
🍕 Detroit Pizza Islington (Islington… duh) – London’s beloved Detroit-style pizza vendors open up a restaurant with Italian American classics like deep-fried lasagna, HUGE meatballs, and more. Oh, and plenty of their thiccccc eponymous pizzas, of course!
🍾 Mistress (Mayfair) – an ultra-swanky Parisian-inspired restaurant and after-hours lounge “for those that relish the finer things in life”. Expect champagne, steak, oysters, and hefty prices.
🍣 Juno (Notting Hill) – “the smallest and most intimate Omakase restaurant in London” boasts just six seats, and opened in early January above Los Mochis. Executive Chef Leonard Tanyag has worked at OKKU and Zuma, and Head Sushi Chef Han has worked at Nobu and Roka.
🥘 Pravaas (South Kensington) – Chef Shilpa Dandekar’s second restaurant offers up an eclectic mix of dishes that draw from years of experience in Michelin-star restaurants. Expect the likes of wasabi chicken tikka, slow-cooked venison ribs, and more.
🍔 Whyte’s (Hackney) – the pop-up legend that is Whyte Rushen settled into a permanent location in December of 2023 with a food menu as exciting as his pop-ups would have you expect.
🍷 Bar Bruno (Victoria Park) – A wine shop by day that transforms into an intimate wine bar at night with -checks notes- filled pretzels to snack on.
🌏 Sune (Hackney) – a sprawling food menu with feet in all manner of continents tied up its many influences into a wholly acclaimed offering thanks to the expertise of sommelier Honey Spencer and partner Charlie Sims (who previously worked at none other than the famed Noma).
🥐 Capilungo (Covent Garden) – “a new cafe and wine bar inspired by the cafés found along the winding streets of Puglia’s picturesque city, Lecce.” Capilungo opened in mid-December and is a simply charming spot for a pastry, a coffee, or a relaxed drink.
🍣 INÉ By Taku (Hampstead) – the team behind the Michelin-starred Taku Mayfair opened a new restaurant back in December of 2023. INÉ By Taku features a contemporary Japanese a la carte menu, premium sushi, and a 15-course Omakase menu at the 8-seat counter.