It’s a fact of life as we know it, that to be a Londoner is tantamount to an epicurean existence, our daily diaries dictated by a bucket-list of the latest and the greatest from the city’s mushrooming myriad of restaurants.
Sure, we all have our old favourites and harbour a delicious secret (or two) of London’s hidden gems… but there’s nothing quite like the thrill of drinking and dining at the most buzz-worthy openings in town too!
Gathered here is a round-up of these new(ish) spots. It’s by no means a comprehensive list (attempting this would essentially be a full-time job!); rather, it’s simply intended as a chronicling of openings which whet my appetite (as I hope they now do your’s too!).
Parillan
Spinning off from their counter dining concept, Barrafina have set up a rooftop terrace as part of their new outpost in the thriving hub that is King Cross’ colossal redevelopment of Coal Drops Yard. The al fresco space constellates on DIY grilling, with diners given mini charcoal grills (or “parrillas” as they’re traditionally known), on which to sear seasoned cuts of meat, seafood and veggies too! Of course, you can expect a few para picar small bites and a couple of Barrafina’s iconic dishes, alongside a concise but intriguing dessert menu featuring ice cream and an artisanal cheese Mel I Mato tart. Parrillan, Coal Drops Yard, Bagley Walk, N1C 4AB
Bob Bob Cité
Situated on the 8th floor of the Leadenhall building (A.K.A. The Cheesegrater), the new spin-off from Soho’s legendary Bob Bob Ricard has allegedly run a cool £25 million in total costs, taking five years to complete. The 190-cover restaurant opens with over 800 bespoke light fittings (in turn requiring more than 1200 light bulbs!) and a wine cellar plied with 200 Methuselahs of fine Champagne to complement Eric Chavot’s rendering of French classics (from onion soup and escargots, to veal blanquette). And yes, there are those iconic “press for champagne” buttons at every booth, to complete the beautifully-rich interiors! Bob Bob Cité, Level 8, 122 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4AB
Marchesi 1824, Mount Street
#AccidentallyWesAnderson aesthetics meet picture-perfect pastries at Prada’s storied pasticceria, Marchesi 1824. The movie-set café has made its way over from Milan to Mayfair’s Mount Street and in true Milanese fashion, serves as a chic spot for aperitivo hour too! Discover more, here.
Gloria, Shoreditch
More is fabulously more at Gloria. Part of Paris’ achingly-hip Big Mamma Group, the new Shoreditch-based trattoria is extraordinarily-extra, with interiors channeling 1970’s Capri. The imaginative menu has a roguish sense of humour (“YouPorn pizza” anyone?), with super-sized portions for sharing, alongside the likes of Cacio e Pepe prepared in a giant wheel of cheese. Just be sure to save ample room for the binge-worthy desserts… Full review, here.
A.O.K. Kitchen & Bakery, Marylebone
For the more virtuously-inclined: health and wellness can be found in the vibrant, flavour-packed plates and colourful drinks of A.O.K. Kitchen & Bakery. Marylebone’s new hangout is just as agreeable as its name suggests, with eminently-Instagrammable interiors (including heaps of vines and blossoms!) and impeccable links to Mayfair’s members-only hub, The Arts Club. Full review, here.
Crazy Pizza, Marylebone
A short walk away, Flavio Briatore has brought his brand of Crazy Pizza to Marylebone’s Paddington Street. To level with you, my experience here was just about alright, not rendering much to wax poetic about, but without much to harshly critique either (beyond the generic artwork and palpable absence of a particularly-craveable quality to the pizza). Try it (and make up your own mind) if you’re a regular at Briatore’s other joints (extending from C London and Sumosan Twiga to Twiga Monte Carlo), or if you’re intrigued/ bewildered by the band of teddy bears lounging outside… Full review, here.
Brasserie of Light, Selfridges
Helmed by Richard Caring’s indomitably-stylish Caprice Holdings (the Group behind Sexy Fish, Scott’s, Annabel’s and all of London’s most sought-after establishments), Brasserie of Light is every bit as outrageously over-the-top as you’d hope it to be.
The shiny new restaurant makes a statement on the fashionable first floor of Selfridges, with a gargantuan crystal Pegasus – sculpted by Damien Hirst no less – towering over the intimately-packed tables. The menu majors in dishes typical of a buzzy brasserie – from burrata and smoked salmon to start, with substantive chicken, fish or burger-based mains (there are vegan/ vegetarian options too). Of course, it’s worth visiting for the desserts alone, specifically the intriguingly-compiled Chocolate Bubbles and Golden Apple (a sublimely-exquisite riff on an apple tart).
Brasserie of Light, Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, Marylebone, London W1A 1AB
Cakes & Bubbles, Hotel Café Royal
The shiny golden surrounds of Cake & Bubbles present a desserts-only restaurant like none other. The exquisite creations here are borne from the imagination of the World’s Best Pastry Chef – Albert Adrià (of the three Michelin star elBulli restaurant), with highlights spanning a frozen coconut flower (enlivened with yuzu and kumquat leaves) and a coffee-soaked chocolate “cork” (it looks exactly like one too!), to a lasciviously-layered egg flan (served in a golden egg).
Star billing goes to The Cheesecake, which resembles a mini wheel of cheese! Made with Baron Brigod Brie, it’s astonishingly-mature in flavour with the potent hit of cheese braced – to some degree – with the not-so-subtle sweetness of white chocolate. Joy of joys, the restaurant constellates on sparkling wine and champagne too, making for an evening all-too-hedonistically well spent at the ever-so-grand Hotel Café Royal! Discover more desserts in London, here.
Cakes & Bubbles, Hotel Café Royal, 10 Air St, Soho, London W1B 4DY
The Coal Office
The latest from Israel’s most celebrated chefs – Uri Navon and Assaf Granit – opened some time last year, but I’m mentioning it within this Edit just in case it missed your radar. Their new(ish) restaurant in Coal Drops Yard is a stylish collaboration with the innovative design powerhouse, Tom Dixons Studio.
Regulars at The Palomar or The Barbary will be quick to recognise the chefs’ signature dishes and adventurous play on bold flavours, albeit elevated by shades of heat against Dixon’s inimitable creations – from beguiling lighting to cutting-edge tableware! More on the best Israeli food in London, here.
Coal Office, 2 Bagley Walk, London N1C 4PQ
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