There’s good news and bad news folks. The bad news is that London is expected to have a very, very rainy summer. The good news is that there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the season (indoors) at London’s newest bars and restaurants.
Whether you’re craving classic British cuisine, some authentic Thai, or you’re keen for a fun night out at a new cocktail bar, we’ve rounded up the most exciting new openings in London this month for every palette.
AKIRA BACK
Bringing his greatest hits to London is world-renowned chef Akira Back who is all set to make his UK debut this month. Offering modern Japanese cuisine, Akira Back and the accompanying ABar Lounged are nestled in the freshly opened Mandarin Oriental Mayfair at Hanover Square. Offering modern Japanese cuisine, the restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will have Akira’s signature dishes on the menu plus some London specials. Chef Akira currently operates 28 restaurants across the world including locations like Las Vegas, Dubai, Paris, Beverly Hills and more, and has become popular for his innovative culinary offerings and the vibrant atmosphere at each of his eateries. A former professional snowboarder, Akira’s dishes are influenced by his childhood memories growing up in Korea, and he is known to bring a sense of adventure of creativity to his kitchens around the world uniting distinguished cuisine in a playful setting.
when: opening on 3rd june
Where: Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Hanover Square
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com
KOYN Thai
Samyukta Nair, the force behind London’s Michelin-starred, Jamavar, along with Bombay Bustle, Mimi Mei Fair and Socca is opening a new restaurant with chef Rose Chalalai Singh. KOYN Thai will be found nestled below Nair’s Japanese restaurant KOYN Japanese and will serve a menu inspired by the North, South and Central provinces of Thailand. Dishes you can look to forward include toasted coconut pomelo salad; wild garlic, green chilli and Thai basil escargots; a Chiang Mai platter featuring spicy homemade pork sausage, capsicum nam prik, sticky rice and crackling pork skin.
when: opening on 16th june
Where: 38 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair
Website: koynrestaurants.com
Bar Kroketa
If you love tapas, this Spanish restaurant with a menu centred around croquetas will interest you. With the first branch located in Soho’s Beak Street, Bar Kroketa is now coming to St Christopher’s Place with its offering of seasonal small plates to share, that are complemented by Northern Spanish-influenced cocktails and wines – plus a breakfast menu set to launch in July. Signature dishes include crab toasties with house pickles, king prawn kroketa with prawn head aioli, white peach gazpacho with peach, cherry tomato and almond pickle, cuttlefish cooked in its own ink served with potatoes, and an exquisite looking Nacarii caviar. Guests will be able to sit on the terrace on good weather days or at the bar counter. For a more immersive experience you can even head down to the basement to enjoy the theatre of the open kitchen.
When: opening on 10th june
Where: 23 Barrett Street, St Christopher’s Place
website: kroketa.co.uk
IBAI
Head Chef Richard Foster, formerly of Chiltern Firehouse, is behind London’s new 80-seater Basque steak restaurant, Ibai. Featuring lesser-known produce from the French Basque region, you can expect dishes like king crab rice, boudin blanc black pudding, tuna t-bone, Aldabia corn-fed chicken and of course, classic steaks. The wine list will also champion Basque producers with mature vintages of sought-after classics such as Vega Sicilia and Lopez de Heredia.
When: opening on 20th june
Where: 90 Bartholomew Close
Website: www.ibai.london
The Little Violet Door
Violet is the colour of the summer, at least in this particular flatshare turned restaurant. With sister venues in Soho, Notting Hill, Fulham and Clapham, The Little Violet Door is now coming to Carnaby, this time covered in violet hues. Open seven days a week from noon onwards, you can expect discos in the kitchen and late-night cocktails amidst interiors that draw inspiration from the music and fashion scene of London in the 60s and 70s.
If you like the idea of a party at home (just not yours), this one’s a great spot to unwind in a homely setting with drinks served from teacups and tin cans and a menu that includes your classic house party essentials like mezze boards, pizza and tacos. Bookings are open now, plus you can get 50% off your total bill for groups of up to six people from 10th to 16th June.
when: opening on 10th june
where: Kingly Street, Carnaby
Website: thelittlevioletdoor.co.uk
Studio Five
Located within the iconic Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, that has brought musical legends like The Beatles and Freddie Mercury to the stage, Studio 5 is relaunching this month with a delicious menu and an impressive roster of live music acts. Great for pre or post-theatre meals, dishes on the menu include crispy fried aubergine with coconut raita, pork cutlets with Kashmiri chillis, and a modern take on fish and chips accompanied by minted pea puree and chilli ketchup. The venue was previously used to host live shows like The X Factor, Pop Idol and Britain’s Got Talent, and you can expect Studio Five to continue its musical legacy with a roster of exciting jazz, blues and pop music on the schedule to enjoy over your meal.
When: Opening on 8th june
Where: Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Website: studiofive.restaurant
Jones & Sons South Woodford
With the aim of showcasing the best of British produce, Jones & Sons had it’s moment in the spotlight when the Dalston kitchen served as the location for the filming of the one-shot film Boiling Point. But now, Jones & Sons is bringing its signature British cuisine to South Woodford.
Known for their seasonal fare that showcases the best of British produce, the restaurant will offer bottomless brunches and a knock-out Sunday roast – think grilled asparagus, Iberico ham and smoked peach and ricotta for starters; mushroom wellington or slow roast pork belly for mains and date pudding, sorbet or cheesecake for dessert, all served up in the setting of a Georgian mansion.
When: Opening on 14th June
Where: 98–106 HIGH ROAD, SOUTH WOODFORd
Website: www.jonesandsonslondon.com
Henri
Set to open in Covent Garden’s Henrietta Hotel, Henri is Jackson Boxer’s newest launch. Boxer is known for his other hugely successful eateries in London including Brunswick House in Wandsworth, Orasay in Notting Hill and Selfridge’s The Corner, and his latest opening is definitely one to keep an eye out for.
Designed to be Jackson’s interpretation of a Parisian bistro, with a nod to the chef’s British roots, the restaurant is interestingly rumoured to be a late-night dining spot. While there’s no word on the menu yet, we’re excited to see what the chef has up his sleeve for this one.
When: Opens on 10th june
where: 14-15 Henrietta St, London
Website: henriettahotel.com
Archive & Myth
Located in the heart of London’s West End, Archive & Myth is the latest among London’s mysterious “secret bars“. Located beneath the Hippodrome Casino, there will be a password-protected door that takes you to the intimate but luxurious setting where you can look forward to some artistically created cocktails, spearheaded by award-winning bartender and mixologist, Jack Sotti.
Guests can expect a mix of classic cocktails and bespoke vintage spirits that you can enjoy in this elegant space that is richly-inspired by the heritage and legends of the venue itself. Offering limited seating, Archive & Myth has rich interiors designed by award-winning production designer Rachel O’Toole, who has styled the space with a collection of lore-inspired relics including an iconic gramophone – you can even create your own soundtrack for the evening using recordings of past Hippodrome headlining performances, archived from their 124-year history.
When: opening on 13th june
Where: Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square
Website: ArchiveAndMyth.co.uk
