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London’s best new restaurants of 2024

This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to London

2024 saw the introduction of dozens of excellent new restaurants in London, from thrilling newcomers to the offspring of the city’s most storied institutions. With food inflation, increasing operating costs and higher rates, prices continued to trend upwards too, but there is still value to be found, with the set lunch menu once again coming to the fore. The prix fixe nouveau can be partly credited to a new wave of bistros that has reinvigorated London’s love affair with classic French cuisine, some of the tastiest found at the tourist-heaving Borough Market, which even locals will admit is back and better than ever with so many celebrated new eateries in the mix. Canary Wharf is also at risk of becoming cool, a trend most Londoners wouldn’t have predicted for anyone who isn’t paid to be there or doesn’t don a suit. But that is the joy of the UK capital: it is constantly reinventing itself, and for those of us who like to eat, it has never been more exciting.


Agora and Oma

2-4 Bedale Street, London SE1 9AL
Two men in black T-shirts working in the open kitchen at Agora
The open kitchen at Agora
A selection of crudos in brown bowls at Oma
A selection of crudo dishes at Oma

A restaurant inspired by different visions of Greece; the ground floor, Agora, is canteen-style with an open kitchen, baker’s ovens and charcoal grills. Here you can’t really book (they offer a limited number of reservations), but you can join a queue of London’s young and tasteful that moves pretty quickly. Upstairs — Oma — is a bookable dining space, part of which hangs out like a balcony into the iron tracery of Borough Market’s roof. 

You’ll want to order at least a couple of clementine mini-gimlets or apricot sharpeners, several rounds of the açma verde — a soft, herbed bagel/roll, baked fresh downstairs and Instagrammed by everyone. There’s hummus, obviously, served masabacha-style (with whole chickpeas) and a fresh green zhoug. Expect baba ganoush, charred squid and grilled lamb, but sea bass is served as a crudo rather than the more obvious charcoal grilling, and the spanakopita comes as a gratin. Oma buzzes with all the joy of a taverna, with added sophistication. Agora: Website; Directions. Oma: Website; Directions

— Tim Hayward, food writer, FT Weekend Magazine


Café François

14-16 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD
French dishes including escargots on a table at Café François
French classics are on the menu at Café François

I confess my first arrival at Café François, the diffusion line spin-off of the immaculate Maison François of St James’s, involved repeatedly muttering “Jesus Christ, I’m never ever coming here again” until a glass of crémant had taken the edge off shuffling through Borough Market tourists (all the while fearing you are now suspended forever in the tractor beam of The Ginger Pig’s sausage-roll queue). 

But once you’ve made it to the safety of a banquette, you are so very well looked after it’s impossible to sulk. The pared-down menu is handled lovingly — a pal of mine is so keen on the quiche she orders it every time; personally I favour the rotisserie section, but that’s the roulette of weekend brunch. The wheely bureau-of-delights dessert trolley has not made the journey from the mothership (or it’s probably stuck outside in line for a loaf of sourdough), but the macarons and tartes have sneaked in. The prices are Côte-adjacent and you’re getting a Mayfair experience. I believe there may be plans to open more, and that alone is a reason to look forward to 2025. Website; Directions

Janine Gibson, FT Weekend editor


Joséphine Bouchon

315A Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH
Rabbit in mustard sauce in a yellow dish at Joséphine Bouchon
Rabbit in mustard sauce at Joséphine Bouchon
Joséphine Bouchon’s signature rum baba sitting on a white cake stand on a counter
The restaurant’s signature rum baba

So powerful is the draw of Lyon-born chef Claude Bosi that even London’s food mafia, who seem loath to venturing further west than, well, the West End, made the uncustomary journey to an SW postcode — and thus Joséphine Bouchon opened in March to much critical fanfare. The menu at this neighbourhood-style, notably Lyonnais bouchon is generous with options, portions, sauces, butter and other fats, and (for this part of town and Bosi’s CV) price, with a deal of a daily special (£15.50), and an à la carte offering and wine list that mostly won’t break the bank unless you’re trying to.

While it’s billed as a starter, the French onion soup, covered with a thick slab of almost impenetrable Gruyère, is a meal in itself, and at £13.50 probably the best value you’ll find in a borough where you can easily spend thrice just taking a breath. There’s rabbit in mustard sauce, which feeds two or three, a chicken and mushroom vol-au-vent that will make you smile and an unmissable chocolate mousse, unfussily presented as an enormous spoonful on a plate. The signature rum baba is determinedly boozy and comes from a trolley like the best things do. The dishes at Joséphine, named after Bosi’s grandmother, are lovingly executed, while the whole package is refined but joyful and unstuffy. It is a tribute one can imagine Joséphine would be proud of. Website; Directions

— Niki Blasina, FT Globetrotter deputy editor


The Dover

33 Dover Street, London W1S 4NF

The Dover is pretty much the perfect embodiment of a Jazz Age Manhattan nightspot, crossed with the cocktail bar of a transatlantic liner. The owner Martin Kuczmarski, late of the Soho House Group, is London’s finest exponent of restaurant mise-en-scène, so I’d say it’s like dining on a film set, if the food weren’t so damned good. 

There’s nothing on the menu that’s going to scare the horses, but truth be told, the room is so special, they could get away with merely adequate food. Fortunately, the Dover’s executions of prawn cocktail, chopped salad, penne arrabbiata or “The Dover” sole meunière (see what they did there?) are exemplary. It’s possibly the most romantic venue in the city. Website; Directions

— Tim Hayward


Ambassadors Clubhouse

25 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BH
The lavish decor at Ambassadors Clubhouse
The lavish decor at Ambassadors Clubhouse
The matka beliram lamb curry
The matka beliram lamb curry is a must-order

Gymkhana in Albemarle Street was always my go-to recommendation for a festive blowout — that is until this summer, when the JKS Restaurants group opened Ambassadors Clubhouse, another absolute banger, closer to Piccadilly Circus on Heddon Street. The focus here is on the food and hospitality of Punjab, and the low-lit, lavish decor matches the sumptuously rich, fiery cuisine. Sink into the plush upholstery, loosen your belt and start as you mean to go on with a tandoori margarita, a smoky, pineapple-y take on the classic, accompanied by seriously moreish chilli cheese pakoda with tomato chutney from the “Bitings” section of the long, toothsome sharing menu. Don’t miss the finger-lickingly tasty barbecue butter-chicken chops or the giant ajwaini wild prawns cooked in the tandoor, but be sure to leave room for the succulent matka beliram lamb curry, silky maa ki (black) dal and a perfectly pillowy yet crunchy butter naan. On my recent Monday-night visit, several groups were clearly at the tail-end of a card-busting Christmas lunch. To me, this is more date-night territory: thanks to the thick swirly carpet, it is one of the few restaurants in this cacophonous city where you can actually have a proper chat. Website; Directions

— Rebecca Rose, FT Globetrotter editor


The Yellow Bittern

20 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DU

There are many reasons this 18-cover, cash-only, lunch spot near King’s Cross warrants inclusion on a list of 2024’s most notable openings. Few other bistros have caused more controversy following comments made by its co-owner about teetotal customers hogging tables. It’s also surely the only restaurant in London where you can make reservations by postcard and purchase poetry from the bookshop in the basement. But for those who appreciate boozy lunches fuelled by impeccable wine and hearty food (think comforting pies, stews and the like) served in Le Creuset pots by the aproned chef who made them, this place is a gem. Tel 020 3342 2162; Directions

— Ajesh Patalay, HTSI food columnist


Morchella

86 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4QY
The green-tile and blond-wood bar at Morchella
Morchella is the sibling of Perilla in north London
A selection of Morchella’s dishes on a blond-wood table
‘Punchy, Mediterranean-inspired flavours’: a selection of Morchella’s dishes

Anyone familiar with Perilla in Newington Green will have salivated at the thought of Morchella: another neighbourhood restaurant, another airy dining room. But while there are similarities between the siblings, the proposition is entirely different. Morchella hits hard with punchy, Mediterranean-inspired flavours. Weeks have passed and I still long for the pork jowl; ditto the mussels and focaccia drenched in spicy pil-pil sauce. You can be sated with a few small plates — spanakopita, vitello tonnato and salt-cod churros — and a glass from the restaurant’s extensive wine list. Or go all-in with a larger plate and Parmentier potatoes. Exmouth Market has a new star venue. Website; Directions

— Rosanna Dodds, HTSI commissioning editor


Fonda

12 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BZ
Baja cod taco at Fonda, with a small bowl of guacamole to its side
Baja cod taco at Fonda © Brian Dandridge

Those who remember the first iterations of chef Santiago Lastra’s Kol when it opened in 2020 — a flag firmly planted for the new-to-London genre of Mexican fine-dining — will recall its arrival with nostalgic reverence. As Lastra’s awards rolled in faster than the time it takes to make a mole, the tasting menu and therefore the prices began to grow too, and Kol today is rather unrecognisable to those who knew the band before it made it big.

So with the opening of Fonda, Lastra’s take on a casual Mexican eatery, excitement to see the chef let his hair and prices down was palpable. It is not cheap for what’s ostensibly meant to be street food (around £200 for dinner for two with cocktails), but Lastra has made no sacrifice in quality or thoughtful sourcing in his more laid-back approach (this is Mexican food with mostly prime, seasonal British ingredients). The tacos are the stars — in particular, rib-eye topped with grilled cheese, and the battered Baja-style cod — while the sea trout ceviche and short-rib mole are also superb. A tower of different salsas is set on the table, with recommendations to accompany each dish, but the fun is in the mixing and matching. The lengthy agave-forward cocktail list is also a thrill to explore; try one of the variations of a paloma. Website; Directions

— Niki Blasina


AngloThai

22-24 Seymour Place, London W1H 7NL
The facade of Anglo Thai, with a white door flanked by two purple columns
AngloThai draws on chef John Chantarasak’s dual heritage © Ben Broomfield @photobenphoto
Squash and roast-coconut curry at AngloThai
Squash and roast-coconut curry at AngloThai © Ben Broomfield

This debut restaurant from husband-and-wife chef and sommelier team John and Desiree Chantarasak was a long time coming (it was first mooted in 2020) and it was certainly worth the wait. Everything virtuosic about Chantarasak’s cooking, which draws from both his Thai and British heritage and builds on his experience at Som Saa in London and Nahm in Bangkok, is on display. Dishes might include lion’s mane mushroom with sunflower-seed satay and wild garlic; pork chop with smoked chilli relish; wok-fired long aubergine with soy-cured yolk; and crown prince pumpkin, honey cake and pumpkinseed ice cream for dessert. The wine list is just as delightful. Website; Directions

— Ajesh Patalay


Row on 5

5 Savile Row, London W1S 3PB
Orkney scallop with salmon roe at Row on 5
Orkney scallop with salmon roe at Row on 5 © John Carey

Jason Atherton is on a roll in London this year, with five new restaurants opening since he called time on Pollen Street Social. The most recent, Row on 5 (with former Ritz head chef Spencer Metzger) is his most daring of all. There’s no à la carte just a 15-course tasting menu (£198.50 per person) served to Atherton’s trademark soundtrack of pop and rock (AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Dexys Midnight Runners). There’s unstuffy fun with his take on a cheese and onion crisp sandwich; the best scallop I’ve ever eaten carpeted with ikura (salmon) roe and bathing in a smoky broth; a deep-fried taro bun filled with slow-cooked venison; and an absurdly creamy and umami bowl of mashed potato with N25 Kaluga caviar. The wine list by Roxane Dupuy, formerly the sommelier at Sketch, offers 2,300 bottles and covers most bases. There’s a touch of The Menu to proceedings, but if anyone can add a bit of earthiness to the hyper-elevated it’s Atherton. Website; Directions

— Tim Auld, HTSI executive editor


Ibai

92 Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BN

Run, don’t walk, to Ibai — a Basque grill from Lurra founder Nemanja Borjanović and one of the latest additions to Smithfield Market that is continuing the area’s upwards trend as a prime dining destination. Located in a capacious former factory space, Ibai has succeeded where others failed, offering a dining experience that’s simple and unpretentious yet upscale and refined.

The highlight for me was the £30 steak-frites lunch special, yet the allure doesn’t stop there; the list of delicious starters and sides — Cantabrian anchovies, Basque pâté, a carabinero (red prawn) tartare — will quickly expand your meal (and bill), each dish packed with flavour.

As you finish, perhaps with a glass of wine in hand, you’ll notice something rare: a bustling, happy crowd still lingering at 2pm or even 3pm. Ibai isn’t just a great spot for lunch — it’s a City institution in the making. Website; Directions

— Arash Massoudi, finance and markets editor


Cloth

44 Cloth Fair, London EC1A 7JQ
A selection of dishes at Cloth
A selection of dishes at Cloth

Firmly one of the best new additions to the City’s dining scene, Cloth, a neighbourhood-style restaurant near Smithfield Market, is the definition of a hidden gem, tucked away on a quiet lane in a cosy Grade II-listed building that was once the home of the poet John Betjeman. The team behind it are wine importers Joe Haynes and Ben Butterworth, and chef Tom Hurst (his CV includes the likes of Lasdun, Brawn and The Marksman), who collectively combine their expertise to excellent effect. Dishes here are simple and seasonal — mushroom risotto, perfectly cooked bavette with anchovy, a wonderfully creamy Jerusalem artichoke soup — while the world tour of a wine list not only makes thrilling exploration for deep-pocketed aficionados but features plenty of reasonably priced, accessible options too. Book ahead: Cloth is usually heaving, particularly at lunchtime, the atmosphere lively as diners squeeze into the rustic dining room with its art-laden walls for an excellent prix-fixe menu (£24 for two courses or £29 for three). Don’t plan to go over the weekend, though: it’s open Monday to Friday. Website; Directions

— Niki Blasina


Arlington

20 Arlington Street, London SW1A 1RJ
The dining space at Arlington, with black and white David Bailey portraits on the wall
Arlington, formerly The Caprice
A plate of duck and watercress salad on a table at Arlington
Duck and watercress salad at Arlington

Before owner Jeremy King opened Arlington on the site formerly occupied by Le Caprice, he referred to it as “Not The Caprice”. The joke was that this place was Le Caprice in all but name. (The original name still belongs to its former owner Richard Caring.) A swish canteen for the art and media crowd, Arlington looks like Le Caprice (down to the black-and-white David Bailey prints on the wall and Art Deco fittings). It feels like Le Caprice too: a spot for preening and people-watching (Bill Nighy and Helena Bonham Carter were among those dining on the night I visited). And the menu looks all too familiar, filled with comforting staples such as steak tartare, salmon fish cake and chopped salad. King’s genius is in giving customers what they want: a restaurant that recreates the buzzy glamour of Le Caprice in its Diana, Princess of Wales heyday. It’s packed most evenings for good reason. Website; Directions

— Ajesh Patalay


Julie’s

135 Portland Road, London W11 4LW

Julie’s, which reopened this year, is in its third iteration finally the neighbourhood haunt that Holland Park has been waiting for. The kind of place where you want to dine weekly, equally suited for bringing your mother, your lover or your best friend for onglet bordelaise or lobster soufflé. Reimagined under the direction of new owner (and local) Tara MacBain and chef-patron Owen Kenworthy, the menu is classic French brasserie fare with a contemporary twist. (Burrata and avocados are banned.) The martini trolley, warm maximalist interiors and vintage Steinway piano invite lengthy sojourns. My best new discovery is the green-tomato martini: clear, crisp and with a subtle hint of umami — a far cry from the Bloody Mary in a martini glass that I anticipated. Website; Directions

— Harriet Agnew, FT asset management editor


Goodbye Horses

21 Halliford Street, London N1 3HB
A man’s hand holding a quarter of a toasty resting on a plate at Goodbye Horses
A toasty at natural-wines-and-small-plates spot Goodbye Horses . . . 
The blond-wood bar beneath lighting whose shade is illustrated with a half moon and a drawing of a man at Goodbye Horses
 . . . where glasses of wine start at £6 © Adam Kang

The natural-wine-and-small-plates combo has long been exhausted in London, and yet Goodbye Horses proves the need for one more spot. Since opening in De Beauvoir’s leafy backstreets in July, the former pub has welcomed a revolving door of pét-nat-sipping revellers. Its 4,000-strong collection of vinyl might look daunting, but the staff are as welcoming to casual drinkers as they are to serious aficionados (glasses of wine start at a very reasonable £6). The unexpected highlight, however, is the food: classic egg mayonnaise, pickle-studded toasties and an oxtail ragout rice so good I’ll never look at risotto the same way. Website; Directions

— Rosanna Dodds


Bao City

2-8 Bloomberg Arcade, London EC4N 8AR

If you want a good lunch in the Square Mile and are not of the steak-and-truffle persuasion, my advice until recently would have been to head north to Farringdon. Now it’s the brilliant Bao City, which has managed to inject real soul into the charisma vacuum that is the Bloomberg Arcade. The new Bao looks like a retro diner meets whisky bar-cum-high-end design studio with money to burn. The menu of Taiwanese bao, small plates and noodles is playful (as in clever, not gimmicky) and, as with all of the London mini-chain’s restaurants, there’s an attempt to anticipate what Londoners might want next, rather than mimic existing trends. Here, that means upscale karaoke booths on either side of the dining room. Website; Directions

— Harriet Fitch Little, FT Weekend Magazine food and drink editor


Sesta

52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG
Tables dotted with dishes of food by a white wall on which hangs a painting of a woman holding a wine glass, at Sesta, east London
Sesta, in east London

In a location like Sesta’s — five minutes from London Fields — you could get away with being average. Thankfully, founders Drew Snaith and Hannah Kowalski have serious ambitions. The pair have an imposing legacy to continue: Sesta resides in the space formerly occupied by much-loved Pidgin, and has almost the same front- and back-of-house teams. But the concept is more relaxed than its predecessor’s. In place of a tasting menu is a lively, seasonal à la carte and the requisite selection of natural wines. Sauces are king here, be it gentlemen’s relish with a neat hunk of Hereford beef rump, or the parsley pesto butter served with the housemade rolls. Order the nduja scotched olives and then order them again. Website; Directions

— Rosanna Dodds


The River Cafe Cafe

Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
A female member of staff in green trousers and top carrying a carafe of water to a table beneath one of Damien Hirst’s ‘Cherry Blossom’ paintings in The River Cafe Cafe
One of Damien Hirst’s ‘Cherry Blossom’ paintings in The River Cafe Cafe
A selection of The River Cafe Cafe’s vegetable dishes
A selection of The River Cafe Cafe’s vegetable dishes

This was nothing if not a surprise: the first and only opening since 1987 from the (needs no introduction) River Cafe, one of London’s best-known and most influential restaurants. Next door to the original, the site of the new café was previously the restaurant’s shop; it has been refitted as a breezy, all-day casual canteen, serving plates of beautiful ingredients and delicious, simple Italian antipasti, primi and vegetable dishes. (Don’t expect to find a bargain, however; it’s less expensive than the restaurant next door but a simple pasta will still set you back £23.)

The veggies here are the low-key star; a roast violetta aubergine dish with chilli and oregano was a favourite, as was the earthy and sweet roast pumpkin. Plates of prosciutto, mortadella and salumi, with warm, freshly baked focaccia, should kick off proceedings, followed by a pasta or risotto — I enjoyed the rotolo al forno, which here is essentially stuffing (spinach and ricotta) wrapped in a layer of thin fresh pasta dough, cooked and sliced, en croûte-style. Do save room for dessert — you’ll spy some icons available from the original venue, including the famed Chocolate Nemesis cake. Website; Directions

— Niki Blasina


Abc Kitchens

the emory, Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP
Blond-wood walls and red-leather banquette and chairs in Abc Kitchens
Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Abc Kitchens, in The Emory hotel © Kensington Leverne

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Abc Kitchens glows in a small alley off the tunnel end of Knightsbridge. The chef’s first London outpost of his feted line of Abc-titled NYC eateries is the restaurant of The Emory hotel, one of architect Richard Rogers’ final projects — an elegant high-tech bookend to the London thoroughfare, overlooking Hyde Park.

The dining room spans from a courtyard conservatory to the glassy front facade and contains a selection of intimate or more public tables, all wrapped around interior designer Rémi Tessier’s warm and wonderfully shiny copper bar.

The food is Latin American-inspired with local twists: pea guacamole, Dover sole tacos, beetroot carpaccios — all fresh, fine and zingy. The dining spaces exude comfort and consideration, the prices are suitably steep and the wine selection is superb. It is all finished off with an exposition of vivid artworks by Damien Hirst. An excellent addition to a crowded scene. Website; Directions

— Edwin Heathcote, FT architecture critic


Kioku by Endo

sixth Floor, The OWO, 2 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2BD
The rooftop terrace at Kioku by Endo, with large plants dotted between the tables and chairs, and overlooking the Houses of Parliament
The rooftop terrace at Kioku by Endo

Rooftop dining doesn’t get any more glamorous than Kioku by Endo, the latest opening from chef Endo Kazutoshi at Raffles London at The OWO, itself one of London’s most anticipated and delayed openings. Our experience began at ground level at the cosy wood-clad Kioku bar, in our case with an Ooba, a clean-tasting yet punchy shiso- and gin-based cocktail from its extensive drinks and sake list, before whizzing up to the sixth floor to be seated for dinner. But not before gawping at the incredible sunset views of the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Horse Guards and, from one particular spot, Nelson eclipsing the Post Office Tower. Diners go mad for the nigiri here: plumptious, ridiculously fresh and among the most expensive morsels in London. We steered towards two Endo signatures, a delicate starter of cuttlefish ribbons with fresh pesto and peas, followed by an umami-rich lobster, fregola and sansho-pepper dish washed down by a nutty sparkling sake. NB: book the circular turret room for a private dinner and a 360-degree perspective of the capital. Website; Directions

— Rebecca Rose


Camille

2-3 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA
The forearms and hands of people dining at a table covered with several dishes at Camille
‘Unpretentious regional French-inspired cooking’: Camille in Borough Market

This intimate little restaurant tucked just inside Borough Market is a far cry from the chaos beyond its doors: cosy and rustic, with a tiny bar, just a handful of tables and unpretentious regional French-inspired cooking, Camille transports guests from one of London’s most touristed grounds to a charming, under-the-radar corner of Paris. Appearing from a little service hatch, each dish from chef Elliot Hashtroudi hails from a short, oft- changing menu and a blackboard-written list of specials.

A meal at Camille should start with a dirty vodka martini and some oysters, which here are topped with a virid, frozen verjus; subsequently, order as many plates as possible to share. We particularly enjoyed smoked eel tartiflette, sausages with kale and perfectly cooked monkfish, and finished with the exemplary milk tart. Camille is probably not one for unadventurous eaters or vegetarians: fish and meat make up the majority of the menu, and offal — liver, hearts, other curiosities — is very much a feature. The wine list is French-forward but not entirely traditional; the Alexandre Jouveaux white burgundy we enjoyed was probably the best natural wine I’ve ever had. Website; Directions

— Niki Blasina


Buster’s

3 Atlantic Road, London SW9 8HX
A person prepares cheese sauce using a whipped cream dispenser, placing it into a metal bowl, with a tray of food including a burger, fries, and a drink alongside a bottle of wine on a countertop. A green label on the siphon reads ‘Buster’s Opening 30.10.24.’

This small counter-and-stool bar under an arch in Brixton may be home to the finest burgers in town. The brainchild of Matt Harris and Tommy Kempton (behind Clapham restaurant and wine bar Ploussard), Buster’s offers three burgers — a hamburger, cheeseburger and the “Buster” burger, which features their signature brown butter, tarragon and tomato sauce — all made with Wagyu beef patties. You might find better french fries elsewhere, but few sides top their Wagyu-fat or chicken-Kyiv mayo or foamy cheese sauce piped from a whipped-cream dispenser. Pét nat is by the glass, but the must-order is the picante (tequila and green chilli) cocktail. Website; Directions

— Ajesh Patalay


The Don

19—23 St Swithin’s Lane, London EC4N 8AD
Five slices of vitello tonnato on a plate at The Don
Vitello tonnato at The Don

Well situated just off Cannon Street for a City lunch, The Don nestles in the building that was the home of Sandeman, makers of port and sherry, until 1967 and still has, in the cellars beneath, the iron lifts for the barrels dating back to the 18th century. The current buzz, however, is all about the new menu by Rowley Leigh, the pioneer of modern British cooking behind Kensington Place and Le Café Anglais. I started with the vitello tonnato — five tender slices of veal anointed with a creamlike tuna mayonnaise and punchy anchovy — followed by a main of roast-onion squash, celery and chestnuts agrodolce, which was earthy and tangy, with a vinegary nod to the building’s historic links. There are grilled lamb chops, côte de boeuf, rib-eye steak and french fries for meatosaureses and the return of Leigh’s iconic scallops with pea purée. The wine list is extensive and the Deco setting airy and warm. Set lunch menu, £35; à la carte, mains from £22.50. Website; Directions

— Tim Auld


The Barbary Notting Hill

112 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU

Light pours in through the huge wraparound windows of The Barbary in Notting Hill, the second — much larger — site of the original restaurant in Neal’s Yard, which takes its culinary inspiration from southern Europe to northern Africa. Park up at the yellow marble horseshoe-shaped counter, where you can watch the chefs in action and smell the lamb cutlets sizzling on an open fire. The warmth and fluffiness of the flatbreads (with Swiss chard, feta and pine nuts) were such that it prompted my dining companion to temporarily abandon his gluten intolerance. And the deliciousness of the desserts proved so irresistible that we followed up the basbousa, a syrup-soaked semolina cake (here served for two) with an exquisite chocolate crémeux with a hint of coriander seeds, and a deliciously dense and buttery pistachio-hash cake. Website; Directions

— Harriet Agnew


Roe

5 Park Drive, Wood Wharf, London E14 9GG
The blooming onion at Roe: ‘The most Instagrammed allium in all of London’
Detail of the contemporary dining space at Roe, with a long marble-topped bar counter in the foreground and the walls adorned with a unique floral pattern in red and white. The ceiling has a wooden slatted design
Roe is the 500-seat, Canary Wharf outpost of Fallow in St James’s

Roe is the latest offering from the team behind Fallow, the lively St James’s restaurant where a seasonal nose-to-tail ethos showcases ingredients that are typically destined for the bin (most notably cod or pig’s head, for example). Named after Britain’s native deer, Roe is similarly sustainability-focused — and with 500 covers and several dining spaces, it’s easier to score a table here too. Punters will be pleased to see many Fallow favourites on the menu with a local twist, like smoked hispi cabbage, mushroom parfait, which somehow tastes meatier than any animal-based variety, and venison tartare, as well as a slew of original new dishes that suit the more casual set-up: shareable skewers, flatbreads and a giant blooming onion — the most Instagrammed allium in all of London. Go with a group to share with: you’ll want to try as much of the menu as possible. Website; Directions

— Niki Blasina


The Hero

55 Shirland Road, London, W9 2JD

Maida Vale was lacking decent gastropubs, but this has all changed with the reopening of The Hero under new operators. As at its sibling establishments, The Pelican in Notting Hill and The Bull in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, its aesthetic is the epitome of rustic chic: four floors of stripped-back wood, plaster walls and Windsor chairs. The boisterous pub on the ground floor does high-end comfort food that is steeped in nostalgia: cocktail sausages, Scotch eggs and a showstopping cheese and onion pie. In the grill on the first floor, speciality cuts of meat and fish are cooked over an open fire. Website; Directions

— Harriet Agnew


Marceline

5 Water Street, London E14 5GX
Rotisserie chicken in a brown jus on an oval plate at Marceline
Rotisserie chicken at Marceline © Bennie Curnow

Marceline, a stylish French brasserie with a menu overseen by chef Robert Aikens, is a boon for E14’s business diners (and worthy of off-duty attention too). Here you’ll find classic French dishes cooked with panache — think rotisserie chicken, fillet steak au poivre, an impeccable twice-baked soufflé — with dashes of fun: steak tartare is punctuated with hazelnut, mint and artichoke chips to delightful effect, while the ravioli dauphiné (with Comté and crème fraîche) is served as a sheet of uncut pasta in a pool of brown butter. Madeleines, made fresh to order, are a must. The wine list is, unsurprisingly, French-forward, but full of surprises, though if visiting on regrettably restrained business, the two-sip dirty vodka martini will do the trick. Website; Directions

— Niki Blasina

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