With the London dining scene evolving so quickly that it can be hard to keep pace, we thought we’d give you a head’s up on the restaurants that all your foodie friends are going to be talking about in the coming months. From those that have just opened their doors to those still adding the finishing touches, these new London restaurants have piqued our interest with their intriguing concepts and the top-level talent behind them. So, whether you’re a local or a visitor, ensure these spots are on your must-visit list so you can stay ahead of the curve.
An artist’s impression of what the new Hero’s Return pub in Battersea will look like. © The Hero’s Return
The Hero’s Return: Battersea Power Station Levels Up Opening September
Anyone who’s taken a 10-minute stroll around the redeveloped Battersea Power Station will know how swish the area now is – so it’s about time it had more high-quality dining options. The people behind Bancone are hoping to address that with a new ‘Best of British’ pub that has Chef Jonathan Woolway at the helm. Woolway is ex-St. JOHN and now cooks at The Shed in Swansea, which impressed our Inspectors with its hearty, big-flavoured dishes. The pub is named after a 1983 Pink Floyd song, inspired by the band’s connection to Battersea.
Kong: A London Dining Pub with a Twist Opening Autumn
Any good new pub opening in London is great news, especially in buzzing Shoreditch – but this one comes with an extra layer of excitement. Alongside the pints and late-evening laughs will be a ‘Chinese kitchen’ from none other than Andrew Wong. The chef behind Two-MICHELIN-Star A. Wong is the UK’s leading ambassador for top-level Chinese cuisine and rarely focuses on anything outside his flagship. All of that makes Kong a rare and exciting prospect, with the all-day menus promising noodles, dumplings, grills and more.
The Talli Queen: Another Pub with a Twist Opening September
It seems the ‘pub with international food’ sub-genre is having a moment. Alongside Kong, we know have The Queen Adelaide pub in Shepherd’s Bush reborn with Indian cuisine and a slight redesign, melding the British pub with “Kerala’s toddy shops, Bangalore’s neighbourhood pubs and bars, the military canteens of southern India and the chai stalls and kebab joints of Lucknow”. The chef behind it all is Avi Shashidhara, who has pedigree from his time running the kitchen at MICHELIN-Selected Pahli Hill.
Dishes being prepared at Endo at the Rotunda, the previous venture from Endo Kazutoshi. © Ben McMahon/Endo at The Rotunda
ENDO: The Sushi Master Returns Opening October
This opening, in a converted Chelsea townhouse, marks the next chapter for celebrated sushi master Endo Kazutoshi. His flagship Endo at the Rotunda restaurant held a MICHELIN Star before sadly being fire damaged last year. While it undergoes repairs and refurbishment, Kazutoshi has announced this 10-seater counter where his talents will be on full display across an omakase experience. Upstairs, there will be Moga, a drinking spot inspired by the small, hidden bars of Tokyo and the modernisation of Japanese culture in the 20th century.
KID: Turkish Cuisine From an Experienced Operator Opening September
One of the many things we’ve witnessed from the last few years of London dining is that when David Carter is behind a restaurant, it’s likely to be a hit. With the energetic duo of OMA and AGORA, the restaurateur raised the bar for Greek cuisine in London and, before that, he did the same for proper US barbecue at Smokestak too. Now, he’s hoping to repeat the trick with Turkish cuisine by backing Chef Sertaç Dirik, who gained a following cooking at his parents’ restaurant and is now ready for his first solo venture.
One of the Japanese dishes from upcoming opening NAKIMUSHI in Notting Hill. © Eleonora Boscarelli
NAKIMUSHI: Two Restaurants in One From the Dorian Crowd Opening September
Few restaurants have captured the imagination of London’s foodie hipsters quite like Dorian. Now the team behind that and other Notting Hill favourites like Eel Sushi and the Supermarket of Dreams are taking over a three-storey townhouse with the help of Chefs Yuji Shimokawa Kelly and Robin Kosuge. The pair have garnered buzz for their residencies Urchin and Robin’s Ramen respectively, and will now run one kitchen each at NAKIMUSHI. Kosuge will operate a ground-floor ramen bar, while Shimokawa Kelly will serve a wider range of Japanese food upstairs.
Lunette: Florence Knight is Back (and On a Rooftop) Opening September
The recently opened St Clement Hotel by the Thames is setting out its culinary stall with a new 11th-floor restaurant from Chef Florence Knight, who forged her reputation at Polpetto and then went on to produce vibrant, unfussy and flavour-led cooking at Sessions Arts Club. That restaurant was also beautiful to look at, so perhaps a similar sense of style will make its way here, where the rooftop location will surely bring an added dash of glamour. The menus are currently under wraps, but will be a set affair with four courses at lunch and eight at dinner.
Salone: The Lita Team Take on Italian Cuisine Opening Autumn
A new opening from the group behind Lita in Marylebone will be music to the ears of London food lovers. That restaurant is among the new breed of MICHELIN Stars where sharing plates, cooking over fire and a buzzing atmosphere are the headline attractions. The Fortune Family group who own it have now turned their attention to a lovely space near Regent Street and have recruited Luca Natalini as executive chef, who has made a name for himself with his seasonal, produce-driven cooking at Autem* in Milan.
Daniel Boulud and Clare Smyth, who will open restaurants in the Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch this year. © 2026 Hilton
Café Boulud: A French Master Back in London Opening Autumn
One of the biggest upcoming stories in London hospitality is set to be the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch. The stunning Arch is a bona fide London landmark and has had many uses over the years, including as the home of British military intelligence. Soon, it will begin a new chapter as a luxury hotel, and Waldorf Astoria have recruited two of the best to head up the food and drink offering: Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud. The latter will be returning to London with a new branch of Café Boulud, his all-day dining concept which has had success in New York and Riyadh.
Coreus by Clare Smyth: The Revered Chef’s Latest Opening Autumn
The second of the Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch’s headline attractions – and with one of its best views down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace – Coreus is equally exciting for being a new venture from Clare Smyth. Having added to her Three-MICHELIN-Star CORE with a Star for the luxurious Corenucopia in Belgravia, it will be exciting to see what Smyth has in store next. Coreus is billed as a celebration of British produce, with a special focus on lesser-known varieties of seafood. The venue will also include a branch of the Whiskey & Seaweed bar debuted at CORE.
Hero Image: A dish from upcoming NAKIMUSHI in Notting Hill, one of the new London restaurants to open this autumn. © Eleonora Boscarelli
Written by
Andrew Young
Andrew is the MICHELIN Guide’s Restaurant & Travel Editor for the UK and Republic of Ireland. Originally from Manchester, he is now based in London and loves exploring cuisines from around the world.