The Best New Restaurant Openings in London this Spring

It seems London has officially defrosted – and before daylight savings, no less. With the new season upon us, we thought it’d be the perfect time to bring you a list of the best and latest restaurant openings in London.  Whether you’re chasing long, lazy lunches in the sun or late-night tables worth dressing up for, these are the new spots to book now.

The Brooke and Badger - Fulham 

A Sunday spent in a West London pub is a Sunday well-spent. As a greener, sleepier part of town, it’s primed for a long lunch with loved ones. For the latest go-to, head to The Brooke and Badger in Fulham, just launched by experienced publican Eamonn Manson and pop art dealer Adrian Palengat, who has designed the space to be a pub with benefits – centred on great food, drink and a warm welcome but with the added perks of a chic design. The daily offering is exactly as you’d expect, featuring all the pub classics: chicken pie, fish and chips, cheeseburgers and steaks. Proper food, done right. What more could you want?

Visit brookandbadger.com

Teal by Sally Abé – Hackney

Described as a “little British bistro”, chef Sally Abés first solo restaurant is filled with food she’d want to eat herself. Honest, generous and deeply satisfying. Formerly at the iconic Bull at Charlbury, Sally’s seasonal bold flavours promise to convince even the snobbiest of East London “foodies”. The menu looks like it’ll start with snacks, labelled as “savouries”, featuring all the good stuff – brawn scotch egg, devils on horseback, bread and butter. As the rest of the offering unfurls, we see the same unpretentious confidence (with a retro twist) in dishes like artichoke and mushroom vol au vent, baked bone marrow and mussels.

Bookings are now open tealbysallyabe.com

Sova – Notting Hill

Eastern European cuisine seems to have flown relatively under the radar in London up until recently, thanks to a slew of hyped new openings like Daka Daka and Sino. The latest joining that list is Sova, the wine and vinyl bar opening in Notting Hill this April. The Slavic-inspired menu has been created by Moldovan chef Denis Calmis, who combines classical European technique with distinctive Eastern European character. Unsure what this looks like? Well, starters will span slow-roasted peppers with anchovies and dill oil and beef tartare on borodinsky bread with horseradish mayonnaise. Mains feature whisky and honey-roasted baby chicken, crispy sea bass with fennel and grapefruit and miso-glazed confit duck. It’s the desserts that have us salivating, particularly over the chocolate mousse and sour cherry crumble. All to be enjoyed alongside the soothing sounds of guest DJs.

There’s a mix of bar stools and table seating, which can be reserved at sova.london

Miko Mei Fair – Mayfair

Conceived as a home away from home, MIKO Mei Fair promises to be an elegant take on convivial dining. Set in a Georgian townhouse, the space is intimate, catering for up to 50 guests. Led by Chef Soonthorn Apaipat, Head Chef of KOYN Thai, the menu is crafted with the art of Thai balance: freshness and heat, lightness and depth. Featuring dishes from across Thailand, fire-led cooking is at the heart of the offering. Menu highlights include netted spring rolls, toasted rice beef tenderloin, lobster cho chee and apple wood fire Peking duck Penang curry.

For a taste of maximalist interiors and refined yet relaxed cooking, head to mikomeifair.com

Sabine – Holborn

Following on from its success in St Paul’s, Sabine London is opening a second spot in Holborn this April, replicating the year-round rooftop destination with sweeping city views and bright, joyful interiors. Tasty small plates and a cocktail programme will be at the centre of the experience, featuring some signature dishes – fingers crossed, the salt and pepper calamari fries or bourbon braised short ribs. An electronic retractable roof and fully retractable windows allow the venue to open to the sky in warmer weather and create a comfortable enclosed atmosphere during cooler months.

Tables at Sabine can be reserved at sabinelondon.co.uk

MITSU - Shoreditch

“Where East London edge meets East Tokyo soul” is the tagline for new neighbourhood izakaya, Mitsu, in Shoreditch. Opening in early April, you can expect Japanese small plates with big flavours. At the heart of the kitchen here is the robata, producing smoky flame-kissed cuts designed for sharing. If you’re happy to be led by the chefs, opt for the set menu to get a taste of the full offering, which spans squid karaage, pork belly sandos, seafood dumplings, pork tomahawk and more. Dessert is not to be skipped either, where you can choose between matcha tiramisu, sesame basque cheesecake and miso ice cream.

Find out more at mitsurestaurant.com

The Latimer – North Kensington

A true family affair, The Latimer is the culinary-led boozer from St John co-founder Jon Spiteri, Rochelle Canteen matriarch Melanie Arnold and their children Fin, Lorcan and Molly. Once the former neighbourhood stomping ground for Britain’s musical elite, the Latimer will reopen to serve reworked classics and traditional British pub grub – think black pudding confit potato, masala monkfish, oxtail with mash and horseradish to tempura mushrooms. We expect the Sunday roasts to be a huge draw with sharing platters of the best British meats with all the trimmings. Thanks to Fin’s long-standing relationships with independent brewers, winemakers and distillers, the drinks list is set to be just as exciting as the food.

Drop in or book a table at thelatimer.co.uk

Kinz - Notting Hill

All-day contemporary Lebanese dining lands in Notting Hill Gate on 27th April with the opening of KINZ. Set in a former bank designed by architect, Sir Edward Maufe, known for his work on Heal’s department store, you’ll find the wine room in the original bank’s vault and an all-day deli at the opening of the mesmerising triple-height dining room with mezzanine seating. From a full Lebanese breakfast to a delightful array of mezze – think baba ghanoush with crisp pita, tabbouleh and spiced lamb – every dish is designed to be a shared celebration of vibrant flavours.

Book a table at Kinz kinzrestaurant.com

The Sea, The Sea – Chelsea

After supplying some of London’s best restaurants with seafood, including Ikoyi and Kol, the beloved Chelsea seafood bar and fishmonger is now opening a bistro. Just across the road from the original outpost, The Sea, The Sea will open in May. Chef Nick Marsden’s ethos for sourcing directly from fishing vessels using low-impact methods will lead the menu, which will feature the likes of hand-dived scallops and line-caught bass. Guests can expect small plates such as cuttlefish, pickled salsify and cauliflower purée or confit sea trout, white asparagus and mustard greens. Larger dishes come from the grill, featuring the likes of skate wing, trombetta courgette, nettle and Gordal olives, and grilled half Cornish lobster with vin jaune sabayon and brown butter. White wine makes up the lion's share of the wine list, but there will also be a capsule collection of reds, orange wines, and sake, as well as playful cocktails.

Secure a seat at theseathesea.net