We've seen some absolutely beautiful restaurants open this year, from glitzy high-end Mayfair affairs to Hackney reinventions. Here's our pick of the real lookers.
Simpson's in the Strand
100 Strand, London WC2R 0EW
When we first heard that Jeremy King had decided to relaunch Simpson's we knew it was going to be a mammoth task, but he's more than delivered. Working with designer Shayne Brady, he's taken the main room and fully updated it for the 21st century while losing none of its classic charm. And it's not just the main dining room - from the bar upstairs (which is where we've had more than a few martinis since it opened), to the more louche hidden bar in the basement, everything about the restaurant is perfectly presented.
Teal by Sally Abé
Hackney - 52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BS
We've seen a number of restaurants come and go in this Wilton Way address, but Sally Abe's new restaurant Teal seems to fully inhabit the space in a way the others haven't. Of course the other chefs didn't have interior designer Alice Webster as a sister, so Sally definitely lucked out there. The lovely green panelling, vintage stools and oak countertop, not to mention the gorgeous art, have all combined to make this a restaurant to linger in.
Berenjak Mayfair
Mayfair - 80 Duke St, London W1K 6JG
The first couple of Berenjak restaurants in London have been lovely-looking affairs, but opening in Mayfair meant that they really had to up their game. The whole restaurant is a much more glamorous affair throughout (with the low lighting to make you look as good as the surroundings). Much as the main upstairs dining room looks good, we also loved the look of the downstairs room, with its fun table for two that has a curtain in front if you want a little privacy - perfect for any celebs visiting.
Hoppers Shoreditch
Shoreditch - Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ
Many restaurants in London are relaunched or take over well-known spaces, like Hoppers did when it took over the old Lyle's space. But few have resulted in such a transformation that you start to second-guess whether this really was the same room after all. There's been a complete rework of the space, from the entire layout (moving the bar, for one) to the new booths, much more flattering lighting and the hum of fans whirring above. It's the best-looking Hoppers in London, for sure.
RH London
Mayfair - 7 Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3ES
With a design budget that probably matched the aggregate of all the other restaurants in this list, it’s not surprising that Restoration Hardware’s Mayfair mansion ended up being such a beauty. Those colossal Murano chandeliers in the main restaurant and its double-height ceiling make for a truly jaw-dropping interior. And if you don't believe us, count how many people in this picture are staring up at it. Upstairs, the Anouska Hempel-designed terrace bar is such a hit you’ll have to plan at least a week in advance to get a booking there.
Kinz
Notting Hill - 50 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JD
In the past few years, there have been a few restaurants that have taken over banks, resulting in some very beautiful spaces. The bank that Lebanese restaurant Kinz took over was unusual because of the triple-height entry room, but as a result it looks like no other new restaurant this year. Although it's particularly striking when you walk in, the tables up on the mezzanine are the ones you'll want to grab, as you can look out the massive window at the front of the restaurant (which also makes the place look great on a sunny day).
Sale e Pepe Mare
Area - Address
The phrase 'the wow factor' is definitely overused, but we feel justified in using it when talking about this new Italian restaurant at The Langham London. Of course it helps that the bones of the room itself are good: generous proportions, high ceilings, original features. All eyes are drawn to the feature bar at one end, with its illuminated marble backdrop, but really every table here has a good view, so you can look out for the tableside theatrics happening throughout the dining room.
Bar Blondie
Queen's Park - 19-21 Lonsdale Road, London NW6 6RD
A North West London wine bar might not be the first place you'd expect to find a design inspired by the spaghetti western film genre, but somehow at Bar Blondie it seems entirely natural, not least because this used to be an old stable. The cosy interior also succeeds in making you want to seize a stool at the bar, even though the outside terrace (with its narrow ledge perfect for putting your drink on) is so enticing. This is a restaurant that makes you want to think about your outfit, whether it's making sure your jeans or t-shirt choice are on trend, so that you live up to its style.
Kumori
Soho - 26 Denman Street, London W1D 7HX
Apparently, the design team CAKE Architecture took as their inspiration for this Soho handroll bar the idea of Tokyo Bay at sunset. And certainly the room changes completely depending on what time of day you're dining, with an illuminated fabric installation above the kitchen counter. The stools are also very cute, making diners feel part of a modernist artwork while enjoying Kumoroi's extra-crisp nori handrolls.
The Horses
Clerkenwell - 26-28 Ray Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 3DJ
There’s a distinct design template behind all the Public House Group pubs - the distressed putty coloured plaster, the beautiful carpentry - but we loved spotting all the new touches that bring their latest opening to life. There are hand-painted seafood tiles on the bathroom floor, bespoke push plates on doors and, in the ground floor bar, the gorgeous wine bottle bottomed glass dividers between tables. It’s a beauty.
Nakimushi
Notting Hill - 7 Kensington Mall, London, W8 4DY
If you've ever wondered what a Victorian three-storey building would look like if transported to Japan, then a trip to Nakimushi would give you a good idea. From the street front, it sets out its store with an oxblood-painted frontage. Once inside, that colour palette carries you up through the building. Fans of the group's other Japanese offering, Eel Sushi, will recognise some similarities with the woodwork of both, but we particularly liked how they made the two dining floors have such different energy, from the bustling ground-floor ramen room to the more restrained first-floor restaurant. Our favourite design touch? Those table lamps that can be unscrewed and moved from the centre to the side of the table.
Lunette
Temple - Level 11, 180 The Thames, London WC2R 3DA
This is a restaurant that hasn't actually opened at the time of writing, but a quick preview last month showed us that it firmly deserves a place on this list. Filled with the kind of light coloured furniture that would have you banning red wine if it were in your own house, this makes great use of the brutalist room at the top of Nick Jones's St Clement hotel. And then there's the phenomenal view to behold too. After trying a few snacks, we're pretty sure that Florence Knight's menu is going to live up to the high expectations the room brings.
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