The Best Restaurants That Opened In 2019
Wowee, what a year for London’s foodie scene! We’ve seen newly opened restaurants bagging already themselves a Michelin star, food legendary names opening their first ever foodie endeavours and instaworthy gems awaiting your discovery. So in celebration of 2019’s finest restaurant openings, we’ve popped together a mega list of our favourites. Here’s to another year of feasting!
January
February
March
April
The Sea
The Sea, docking up in Chelsea, is somewhere you’re going to want to dive into. If you take the plunge, you’ll enjoy fish galore at the chef-led fishmonger, deli and seafood bar. It’s all about fresh, fresh, fresh and chefs will work tirelessly to educate guests about all things fishy-dishy. From interactive masterclasses (oyster shucking, fish filleting and curing) and regular guest fishmonger series, there’s something for everyone.
So, if you’re on the sea food and eat it diet, this one’s for you…
Where: 174 Pavilion Road, Chelsea SW1X 0AW
Website: www.theseathesea.net
May
Robata
Tuck into ‘tapas’ style dishes at ROBATA, an Izakaya style Japanese restaurant that specialises in charcoal cooking. Head Chef Charles Lee has used his Michelin-star experience to create a unique and modernised take on Japanese cuisine. You’ll find everyone from grilled skewers to sushi to bao – plus a whole selection of veggie goodies too! Having created a concept with the customer in mind, it’s the perfect spot for a relaxed night with the girls or the guys.
Where: 56 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 4UE, UK
Website: www.robata.co.uk
June
Circolo Popolare
Ooo Mama! Big Mamma opened Circolo Popolare in Fitzrovia and boy is it a whopper of a resto. If you’re familiar with Gloria, the epic Italian trattoria that opened in Feb that has since infiltrated Insta feeds all over, then you’ll be familiar with the Big Mamma family.
Their latest child/restaurant features 20,000 bottles of spirits lining the walls – sounds like our Friday nights – and 280 covers, 60 of which will be snug on the outdoor terrace. The menu boasts a slightly ‘over the top’ nature, made comprising small cicchetti as well as larger platters and well, our tummies are positively rumbling…
Where: 40 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, W1T 1HX
Website: www.bigmammagroup.com
Wild Honey
When the news broke of Wild Honey St James spreading its pollen to a new, coveted London location, foodies were practically banging their well-travelled knives and forks on tables. And, in June of this year, as Chef Anthony Demetre opened the doors to the restaurant at a new site at Sofitel London St James, those with their ears to the ground on the culinary front were prowling the web for croutons of feedback.
Housed inside the dominant and grand building standing on 8 Pall Mall, is a smorgasbord of alternative dishes, with French-based contemporary, seasonal cooking methods still at the helm, partnered with a nod to the British Isles, where Wild Honey first gained notoriety. It’s clear to see that, twelve years on, Wild Honey despite a change of location was still sensationally popular.
Where: 8 Pall Mall, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5NG
Website: www.wildhoneystjames.co.uk
Siren at The Goring
The Queen’s favourite hotel opened their royal doors to a brand new restaurant this June for the first time in 109 years. So you could say Siren’s entrance was a pretty big deal. Showcasing the best of Cornish produce, Siren’s menu shines through with seafood at the forefront.
Where: 15 Beeston Place, Belgravia, SW1W 0JW
Website: www.thegoring.com
Lucky Cat
June saw Lucky Cat’s doors swing open in Mayfair for the first time, bringing with it a new style of Asian inspired flair. Filled with plush banquettes, mirrored ceilings and low lighting, Lucky Cat takes inspiration from Asian eating houses and the late-night lounges of 1930s Tokyo. The menu celebrates Asian cuisine through a series of signature dishes, culinary styles and cooking methods.
Where: 10 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, W1K 6JP
Website: www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com
The Grand Duchess
The Grand Duchess is the second offering from the London Shell Co. team that’s moored on the Grand Union Canal at Paddington Central. On board, you’ll be dining on the freshest fish available in London, plus a few friendly British classics thrown in.
Where: Sheldon Square, Paddington, W2 6EP
Website: www.londonshellco.com
July
The Berkeley Bar & Terrace
The Berkeley has been up to its old tricks again, this time with the launch of The Berkeley Bar and Terrace. You’ll be channelling your inner bougie wine connoisseur in no time, indulging in a fine selection of rare wines, Champagne and dark spirits.
From July 15th, they engulfed guests in the rich design story conceived by Irish interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan thanks to the opening of The Berkeley Bar and Terrace. It’s the second bar to open at this landmark five star hotel joining the notorious Blue Bar, which opened back in 2000.
There’s a really intimate feel to this new bar, with a sense of old world glamour and its own terrace for the warmer evenings overlooking St Paul’s Church. The space oozes 1970s vibes thanks to the decor and the central material is a stunning walnut wood, taken from a 300-year-old tree from the Fullback Estate, Lincolnshire. It’s coupled with a colour palette of soft corals, creams and pinks to offset its earthy richness. It’s so dreamy, and you simply must go!
Where: Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL
Website: www.the-berkeley.co.uk
Heritage
Opening to the applause of Londoners all round, Heritage veers away from tradition with its classic Swiss dishes and Swedish theme that captivates the restaurant space on Rupert Street. Located a short walk from the buzz of Soho, Chinatown and Piccadilly Circus, is the wafts of fondue, raclette, rösti, charbonnade and more, that can be found at the charming restaurant. Alongside this, wash down food with wine, cocktails and more amongst refreshing, rustic interiors.
Where: 18-20 Rupert Street, W1D 6DF
Website: www.heritagerestaurant.co.uk
Skylark
Oh, sultry Skylark, how we adore you! This roof garden is the kind that makes you plead for sunnier days to consume summer, especially as it makes for the most marvellous sun trap. Perched overlooking Notting Hill, you can people watch galore and gaze at the stomping ground that saw Hugh Grant finally see sense and ask Julia Roberts on a date! Opening for lunch, dinner or simply drinks every Saturday and Sunday, the coveted spot has Insta goals written all over, no filter needed.
Where: 10th Floor, 4 Kingdom Street, W2 6BD
Website: www.skylarkroofgarden.co.uk
WE11
This neat newbie is a gym-cum-foodie spot, positively oozing wellness. WE11 is the Great Portland Street venue that moulds together co-working with work-outs, all accessible simply by clicking! The space has been created to appease freelancers that keep their ear to the fitness ground, but struggle with the restrictive nature of some mainstream gyms. Expect chic spaces, designed by award-winning architects Bergman Interiors, that include The Lounge. This is a place to fuel up on lunch, protein shakes and the likes whilst you indulge in the fast, free Wi-Fi and cosy seats, before hitting the gym!
Where: 29-31 Great Portland Street, W1W 8QG
Website: www.we11.com
August
Bloomsbury Street Kitchen
Bloomsbury Street Kitchen brought snug neighbourhood vibes with it when it arrived in London this August. The kitchen showcases contemporary Mediterranean and Japanese small plates, alongside a variety of wines, sake and signature cocktails to get you in the mood for food! The interior magic fuses together the locations of the food, with Mediterranean gardens and Japan’s minimalist vibes intertwining.
Where: 9-13 Bloomsbury Street, WC1B 3QD
Website: www.bloomsburystreetkitchen.co.uk
September
Terra Terra
If there’s one thing better than Italian food, it’s more Italian food. How about all day Italian food? Pass the olives…
Terra Terra is the new Italian restaurant from the folks that brought us the Mondrian, Manhattan Loft Project and Dreamland in Margate, and so the bar’s set high. And it looks like this North West London Finchley Road eatery is going to take that bar and down every drink in it because the restaurant is, of course, serving all day bar snacks and Italian cocktails – an Italian Mary (vodka, tomato juice, balsamic, Mediterranean herbs and pickles, in case you were wondering) anyone? The drinks are the the creation of mixologist Walter Pintus, formerly of The Ritz, so this is the level we’re working with here.
Of course, the main event is the food. And, unsurprisingly, the menu is looking mouthwateringly delicious, with Italian dishes inspired by the food markets of Florence and Bologna.
To find out more, pop this way!
Where: 120 Finchley Road, London NW3 5JB, UK
Website: www.terraterra.co.uk
10º
Following a successful thirteen years at the top of the restaurant scene, Galvin at Windows has recently decided to take its offering to new heights and revamp its bar. Enter 10º, romantically named after evening’s golden hour and dressed with burnt orange and ochre interiors courtesy of Aylott + Van Tromp. The reimagined bar space radiates a dusky golden glow, usually only achievable with an £80 tub of Clarins self-tan, and an impressive amount of greenery for a venue that is approximately 280 feet above Hyde Park.
An inventive fusion of French and Korean bites have been curated to complement the drinks offering, led by crowd-pleasing stand-out dish Joo’s Fried Chicken. Elsewhere cocktails are led by crowd-pleasing spirits – 10º appears to be quite pally with Pernod Ricard – with darker spirits often balanced by sweeter or fresher recipes.
Where: 22 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1BE
Website: www.10degreeslondon.com
Mama Shelter
Mama Shelter is a snug sanctuary in Hackney hidden away from the cacophony of London’s streets. As a self-proclaimed home away from home, Mama Shelter is an eclectic, playful spot, sporting whacky interiors from Parisian designers Dion & Arles. Inside, expect several private atelier-style meeting rooms, a spacious and playfully designed bar and restaurant, outdoor courtyard and Japanese-style karaoke rooms, ideal for anyone who wants to, well, do anything really – Mama Shelter is your oyster!
Where: 437 Hackney Road, E2 8PP
Website: www.mamashelter.com
October
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught
Following an extensive refurbishment, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught reopened this October, and boy, is it looking beautiful! If you’re after an evening to remember, book yourself in at the newly installed Chef’s Table. You’ll find glorious bespoke Matteo Gonet lamps dazzling on the customised pink, marble tabletop, surrounded by plush armchairs. The menu has also received a glistening update, with each meal starting with a seasonal consommé to cleanse your palette to begin the dining experience.
Where: Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL
Website: www.the-connaught.co.uk
Wilder
Looking for a new sustainable restaurant to add to your list? Say hello to Wilder, the all-new restaurant sourcing a 100% of their produce from the British Isles, with as much local as possible. McLellan has partnered with restaurateur Sir Terence Conran opening his first solo venture down in the basement of east London institution, Boundary London. As the name suggests, each dish will include a wild element – many of which McLellan foraged himself! On the menu expect to find: bread cracker with carrot emulsion and carrot oil; venison, beets, elderberries and rye; and meadowsweet with white chocolate and fig leaf oil.
Where: 2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, E2 7DD
Website: www.wilderlondon.co.uk
Lyon's Seafood and Wine Bar
Seafood and wine? Utter perfection. Which is why we can’t tell you how excited we are about the newly launched Lyon’s Seafood and Wine Bar! The resto focuses on exceptional, sustainable seafood from the British Isles and sheds a light on showcasing independent wine producers. The menu is decided by the fresh catch of the day boats, with much of it cooked over charcoal added another layer of flavour.
Where: 1 Park Road, Crouch End, N8 8TE
Website: www.lyons-restaurant.com
Wild By Tart
The magnificent duo behind Tart London, Jemima Jones and Lucy Carr-Ellison, and founder of Lock Studios, Tom Warren have launched the newest neighbourhood resto you need on your radar, and there’s no doubt the Insta-worthy dishes will help you dazzle away your following. You can expect Lucy and Jemima’s signature wholesome fare making its way onto the menu. A little favourite of ours is their mushroom tortellini with fermented shiitake dashi, celeriac and Sichuan oil. Alongside the Wild by Tart resto will be a bar, deli, juice and coffee kiosk, retail store, events space and photography studio (wowee, that’s a mouthful!).
Where: 3-4 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, SW1W 9AZ
Website: www.wildbytart.com
November
14 Hills
Over the last few months we’ve seen an influx of rainforest-inspired restaurants and bars popping up all over the city, with the newest addition being 14 Hills. Trees, shrubs and foliage fill the restaurant from floor to ceiling, and the views showcase the best of London’s skyline twinkling at night – it’s truly magical. As you waltz through the doors, your eyes will be drawn impressively to the oval onyx bar slotted in the centre of the room boasting an extensive cocktail menu and stellar pink stalls.
As for food, the grab-and-go Deli serves up sandwiches, salads and freshly baked cakes, cookies and tarts, while diners in the restaurant can expect to enjoy a blend of British cooking with a touch of French flair. Pull up a pew at the bar and enjoy the rainforest ride.
Where: 120 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 5BA
Website: www.14hills.co.uk
The Grill at The Dorchester
The Grill at The Dorchester has already built up quite the reputation. At the helm, 26-year-old Tom Booton has relaunched the restaurant into a brand new realm. The youngest head chef to grace the floors of the luxurious 88-year-old restaurant, Booton’s menu champions British cuisine and celebrates the rich British ingredients we’ve all grown to know and love.
Where: 53 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1QA
Website: www.dorchestercollection.com
Le Comptoir Robuchon
Following the tragic closure of the Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in April, and the death of Joël Robuchon himself in August 2018, all of the foodies out there were extremely excited to hear about the new opening of Le Comptoir Robuchon this November. The chef’s name lives on with the two new restaurants.
Le Comptoir’s menu replicates Robuchon’s love of simpler things, with an emphasis primarily on light and small dishes, while Le Deli serves lunchtime and breakfast classics so you’ll be glad to know there’s another brekkie spot to add to your never-ending list…
Where: 6 Clarges Street, Mayfair, W1J 8AE
Website: www.robuchonlondon.co.uk
Amazónico
Prepare to be guided along the Amazon river, uncovering the Latin American culinary experience, right in the heart of Mayfair as you enter Amazónico. You’ll find yourself surrounded by tropical animals, even a peacock will be gracing the bar countertop. As for food, expect Peruvian-style sushi, traditional Brazilian dishes and cachaça cocktails.
Where: 10 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J 6AA
Website: www.amazonicorestaurant.com
December
Gaucho Charlotte Street
If you’ve been reading The Handbook for a while now you’ll know we’re a little bit obsessed with Gaucho. Whether it’s their succulent Argentinian steaks or their dog friendly lunches, we’re all over it. So when we heard Gaucho Charlotte Street was getting a major refurb, we were jumping with joy!
As you wander through the doors, you’ll find yourself transported into their private wine room before making your way through to the main restaurant. Expect flamboyant Buenos Aires inspired interiors, exceptional food and a whole lotta fun.
Where: Gaucho - Charlotte Street, Charlotte Street, London, United Kingdom
Website: www.gauchorestaurants.com
Bancone Soho
If you’re looking for somewhere to get your pasta fix Bancone’s latest venture will be sure to satisfy. Drawing influences from the 20 regions around Italy, Bancone’s pasta is made in house by hand every day so you can expect to be munching your way through bowls of potato gnocchi and pasta laced with spicy ragu.
Opening Thursday 12th December
Where: 8 Lower James Street, Soho, W1F 9EL
Website: www.bancone.co.uk
Davies and Brook
One of the world’s best restaurants, New York’s Eleven Madison Park, is getting a sibling this December and it’s coming to London in the form of new restaurant Davies and Brook. Having collected three-Michelin-stars for Eleven Madison Park, Daniel Humm will be bringing his expertise to Claridge’s this month. His Claridge’s offering will be bringing over some of the best dishes from Eleven Madison Park while championing British produce.
Where: Claridge's, Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HR
Website: www.claridges.co.uk
Sucker for an opening? Here’s the best restaurants that opened in 2018
