The February Openings Our Team Are Trying To Book
February has a habit of being underestimated. It’s shorter, colder, and often treated as a holding pattern before spring, but when it comes to eating out in London this year, it’s set to be an incredibly exciting month. New restaurants open without the pressure of a new year or summer crowds, and some of the city’s most confident kitchens have chosen this moment to make their move.
The Newman
The Newman is finally opening, giving home to Brasserie Angelica and The Gambit Bar. Brasserie Angelica seems like it’ll fit right into its neighbourhood. The all-day concept serves a modern European menu built around seasonal British produce. Meanwhile, downstairs, Gambit Bar leans into late afternoons and long evenings with crafted cocktails, local beers and small plates against a backdrop of live music and dim lighting.
Where: 50 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 3EB
Website: www.thenewman.com
Hoppers Shoreditch
Hoppers’ Shoreditch outpost marks a new chapter for a cuisine Londoners have already embraced. Known for Sri Lankan signatures and laid-back energy, this new site digs deeper into South Indian flavours alongside the classics, with everything from fiery Chettinad curries to dosas from Bangalore and coastal bites from Kochi.
Where: Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ
Website: www.hopperslondon.com
The Good Front Room
Dom Taylor is back, and this time it’s permanent. The Good Front Room opens in Dalston Square after the success of his modern Caribbean cooking (including his much-talked-about run at The Langham). The menu reads like the type of food you want in February: short rib brown stew, whole jerk chicken for two, and a sweet potato sticky toffee pudding. Drool.
Where: Thomas Tower, Dalston Square, London E8 3GU
Website: www.thegoodfrontroom.co.uk
Osteria Vibrato
From Charlie Mellor — known for Soho’s The Laughing Heart — Osteria Vibrato lands mid-month with a wine-forward Italian menu that feels generous and thoughtful. Dishes will champion regional diversity, with hand-rolled pastas and seafood brodo that promise to be standouts, while the wine list — worth lingering over — ensures this feels like a spot built for conversations, not just plates.
Where: 6 Greek St, Soho W1D 4DE
Website: WWW.osteriavibrato.co.uk
Sale e Pepe Mare
Sale e Pepe is the seafood-led spin landing at The Langham, inspired by the Italian coastline — think crudo, “perfect pasta”, and their signature Milanese still very much in the mix. It’s positioned as a Riviera-leaning, all-day restaurant with the kind of glamour that makes sense in a hotel like this. Expect to get a booking at Sale e Pepe in the first days of March.
Where: 1C Portland Pl, London W1B 1JA
Website: www.saleepepe.co.uk
Cometa
Cometa emerges from the team behind Carousel and leans hard into a fresh look at Mexican cuisine. While the full menu is still under wraps, the energy around this one is buzzing, think citrus-heavy desserts like and a kitchen led by chefs with international pedigrees.
Where: 19-23 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RW
Website: www.carousel-london.com
San Hao
San Hao brings fresh energy to Chinatown with a focus on noodles built around British produce. It’s a simple idea — expansive broths, hand-pulled strands and a clear respect for the seasonality of ingredients.
Where: 3 Gerrard St, London W1D 5PD
Website: www.sanhao.co.uk
Simpson’s in the Strand
Simpson’s in the Strand, a cornerstone of London dining since 1828, finally reopens this February after a year-long closure. The return of carvery trolleys alone feels like a reset, harking back to classic British dining with service and pomp that’s increasingly rare in the city.
Where: 100 Strand, London WC2R 0EZ
Website: www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk
Tamila
Tamila is expanding again, with a new Soho site opening on Poland Street. Expect the same pull that’s made the other locations such fixtures: made-to-order rotis, big-flavoured curries, and a very Soho drinks list. If you like your South Indian food with buzz, heat, and pace, this one’s going to be all over your feed.
Where: 19-20 Poland St, London W1F 8QF
Website: www.tamila.uk
Bambi 2.0
Bambi’s 2.0 iteration lands this month with twice the space and daily DJs, keeping the energy high and the plates casual. With a chef roster that includes talent from restaurants like Lagom, this feels like a place designed for casual dinners and weekend late starts alike.
Where: 1 Westgate St, London E8 3RL
Website: www.bambi-bar.com
Bara
In Peckham, Bara’s sandwich and café format brings Welsh heritage into the everyday with thoughtful, comforting dishes. Think generous fillings, warm hospitality and a spot that feels like it’s part of local routines while also feeling like a bit of a fresh take on the crowded cafe landscape.
Where: 44-46 Choumert Road, London SE15 4SE
Website: www.baracafe.com
