We’ve had plenty of catching up to do this year when it comes to socialising with friends and family, so you’d be forgiven if you’re running out of places to meet.
Luckily, London’s dining scene is always moving, growing and changing, with new restaurants popping up across the city regularly. This month alone, there are several new restaurant openings to check out, across a wide range of different cuisines.
Here are just five of the exciting new restaurants that either have opened or are set to open this month…
Vergine Maria
15 St. Mary’s Road, Ealing W5 5RA
With the number of those following a vegan diet increasing by thousands each and every year, it makes perfect sense that restaurant owners are looking to branch out and accommodate this growing group of environmentally-conscious diners.
Enter Vergine Maria, the exciting new vegan opening by founders of top-tier pizzeria Santa Maria. Traditionally, vegans have a raw deal when it comes to this Italian favourite – if there’s a vegan option on a pizza menu, it’s likely a little underwhelming. However, the team behind Santa Maria are keen to change this, having put together a vibrant, varied menu for their plant-based patrons.
The new opening will take over their flagship Santa Maria restaurant, but don’t worry – Santa Maria is opening in a new store on Bond Street.
19 Bellefields Road, Ferndale, Brixton SW9 9UH
A great new spot for those who enjoy a little taste of the Mediterranean, Bellefields is set to open within The Department Store on Ferndale Road.
The restaurant is family-run and will feature a vast menu of modern classics inspired by the seven seas of the Mediterranean, from the Aegean to the Balaeric to the Levantine basin. Beautifully decorated within, the restaurant will also feature a charming cobblestone courtyard where patrons can step out and enjoy the long summer evenings.
In a time where we still can’t head out on holiday, this is certainly one way to recreate that feeling.
16 Essex Road, The Angel N1 8LN
67 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch E2 7DJ
Is there any scent quite as comforting as that of freshly baked goods?
It’s a charm that seems to have been working brilliantly for the team behind Jolene, Newington Green, where the team have been delighting hoards of customers to their restaurant bakery for years. Now, they’re keen to branch out, opening up not one, but two new stores.
With the flagship store having been described by The Guardian’s famous food critic, Grace Dent, as ‘earthly, imaginative and slightly saintly’, it’s no surprise that there’s already plenty of hype surrounding their new openings. We certainly recommend checking it out for yourself.
42 North Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 6ZR
Taking over the site that formerly hosted French favourite Truc Vert, Bibi is designed to deliver a fine dining experience with an Indian-inspired menu.
The latest opening from JKS Restaurants – the team behind Michelin-starred spot Gymkhana – Bibi is said to have taken pointers from the iconic Indian street food dishes served across the country, placing a focus on cooking methods such as wood-and-charcoal grilling. The dishes can also be accompanied by a wide range of different wines, cocktails and champagnes.
Given that Bibi is situated in Mayfair, London’s fine dining hub, we’d recommend booking a table for this one ASAP.
The Park Tower Knightsbridge, 101 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RN
Remember the chef who found himself achieving viral fame as Instagram’s ‘Salt Bae’ back in 2017? That’s Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gokce, the man behind London’s newest steak spot Nusr-Et Steakhouse.
The chef says that he will ‘personally select’ every cut of meat that the restaurant serves to ensure that each diner is getting the very best food available, with only the very best cuts making it into Nusret’s theatrically-served dishes – including his famous 24k gold steak.
This is a highly-anticipated opening – and it’s easy to see why!
More information regarding each restaurant can be found on their respective websites.