This is our monthly round-up of the restaurants causing the biggest stir in town. This month's new additions include the frozen dessert place with the epic queues, a West London barbecue spot doing things differently, and a wine-focused restaurant in Queen's Park where everyone wants to be.
Yo-Chi
Notting Hill- 81-85 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JS
In a nutshell: Aussie fro-yo with party vibes
Even in our wildest dreams we couldn’t have predicted the insane lengths people would go to, to try London’s hot new Aussie frozen yoghurt place. A week on, queues are still impressive, but on the opening weekend people queued for five to six hours for their bowl of topping-heavy dessert. We’ve even seen people who’ve had special Yo-Chi manicures. Quite simply it's the hottest place to be right now.
See also: We're also hearing about long queues for the other hot new fro-yo place in town, Go Greek Yoghurt on South Moulton Street.
Czer
Mayfair - 33 N Row, London W1K 6DE and now Soho - 87 Brewer St, London W1F 9UX
In a nutshell: Chopped chicken Caesar wrap phenomenon
Chopped chicken Caesar wraps are a big thing in America, but had never really happened in London. So hospitality folk Mairi and Marius saw an opening and launched Czer at the back of The Mayfair Food Fair, in true NYC bodega style. Almost overnight after launching, they became huge (our readers were the first to hear about it), with some of London's longest queues, meaning Czer have been selling out every day. Following up from their OG spot, they've now opened up a second place, this time in Soho. The key thing to note is that the original two-item menu has already been expanded with the odd special; most recently they had a lobster Caesar wrap on for a limited run.
Marrone
Soho - 15 Sherwood St, London W1B 5AP
In a nutshell: It’s all about the tiramisu here
If you were wondering whether Londoners were still into the idea of places fixating on one dish, then the first three entries on this list should have convinced you this craze still has legs. Coming in third, but still boasting crazy-long queues, was this Soho spot that’s serving up one thing only: tiramisu. And the first place you heard about it was here on Hot Dinners.
Mardys
Mayfair- Unit 5, Medici Courtyard, Hanover Square, London W1S 1BR
In a nutshell: Mayfair sandwiches worthy of the hype
London’s sandwich game is extremely strong right now, so any newcomer to the scene is going to need to do things really well to get a foothold. So we’re giving props to Mardy’s for not only building some serious hype in the early days of opening, but also properly delivering on flavour too. Local office workers (and Oxford Street shoppers) have definitely had their lunchtime options elevated by its arrival, and if you can get there in time to order one of the limited-supply beef brisket on focaccia, you’ll be doing well.
Bar Blondie
Queen’s Park - 19-21 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RD
In a nutshell: Sceney Queen’s Park wine bar and restaurant
One of the most successful pivots we’ve seen in a while, this saw what was Milk Beach being fully transformed into the kind of wine bar and restaurant we all wish we had just down the road from us. Of course it doesn’t hurt that the wine list is by top sommelier Alexandra Price, who presides over the room (and buzzing terrace) with co-founder Elliot Milne. There has been grumbling over the pushchair (and child) free policy, which only enhances its attraction for many.
Cue Point
White City- 41 Bramley Rd, London W10 6SZ
In a nutshell: Afghan/Tex BBQ in a pub garden
If you haven’t already listened to the Go To Food podcast episode with co-founder Mursal Saiq, go and do that now and you’ll understand some of the background to the success of Cue Point’s move to permanent digs at the outer edges of Notting Hill. Rave reviews from Jay Rayner in the FT and Leonie Cooper in Time Out who called it “maybe the best barbecue we’ve ever eaten on UK soil”, have also helped. Mursal and co-founder Joshua Marone (ex-Smokestak) are serving up inclusive, inspiring barbecue dishes that aren't like anything else in London.
Hon's BBQ
Hackney Wick - The White Building, Unit 7 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN
In a nutshell: Texas BBQ meets East Asian flavours
After finding success during a series of pop-ups and residencies, Man Hon Luk has found a permanent home in Hackney Wick (having taken over the space that used to be Silo). Hon learned all his BBQ skills in Texas and has mixed that with an East Asian twist to deliver something truly unique. He starts the smoking at 5am every day (thankfully he lives close to the restaurant), and once the meats are gone, that's it (so pre-ordering is a must). The results are wonderful with the short ribs on our visit easily among the best barbecued food we've ever had.
Rosina
Wandsworth - 35 Bellevue Road, London SW17 7EF
In a nutshell: Adam Byatt does Italian
Adam Byatt’s new Italian restaurant in Wandsworth is yet another glowing addition both to the chef’s own roster and the food scene in this part of town. So far, only The Spectator has been down to review it, but the good news is they very much liked what they had. On our own visit, we found the place full of regulars from Trinity making the schlep from Clapham to check out the new restaurant. And it’s well worth the trek wherever you are in London for classic Italian dishes cooked with intent and the loveliest of service. make sure to have the enormous Risotto Bianco - it's a really stellar dish.
Cremer
Hoxton - 1 Geffrye Street, London E2 8JH
In a nutshell: Hoxton cafe and canteen
The founders of this new Hoxton cafe are also behind the ‘no photos allowed’ Space Talk bar in Farringdon. But here it’s a totally different story, with phones very much encouraged to take in all the lovely aesthetics of the space. Open during the day only, it’s a place for great pastries and small plates; recent dishes have included sweetcorn and girolles and a must-try croissant ice cream. As a walk-ins only place, you’ll be lucky to get a seat, but it’s worth persevering for one.
Kismet
London Bridge - Upstairs at The Globe Tavern, 8 Bedale Street, London, SE1 9AL
In a nutshell: A Turkish meyhane in Borough Market
The Globe Tavern has had a particularly great run of residencies, with the past two (Khao Bird and Barang) going on to open permanent restaurants. This latest residency might be their most successful yet, run by the same team behind Crispin and Bistro Freddie. Leading the kitchen is ex-Bibi chef Keiran Mustafa, who has created his version of a Turkish/Cypriot meyhane in London. For this residency, they've redesigned the room, making it a much more vibey space and it's already getting harder and harder to snag a table. The dips, particularly the atom when paired with watermelon, are superb and we can definitely see this finding a permanent home after the residency is done.
Johnny Boy's
Stoke Newington - 3 Northwold Road, London N16 7HL
In a nutshell: LA comes to Stokey
It turns out that a SoCal-inspired eatery (they reject the term diner) is precisely what this part of Stoke Newington needed. Founder Julian Dennis hails from LA, and he’s brought a slice of that West Coast cheer to North London. It’s a good place to hit up both for the breakfasts and the steak and chicken dinner plates. The patty melt is already getting a lot of well-deserved attention, but we also rate it for their excellent cocktails too. The best news of all is that on a steaming hot summer’s day in London this new spot is very well air-conditioned.
Read the Johnny Boy's Test Drive
RH London
Mayfair - 7 Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3ES
In a nutshell: Glam US homeware & restaurant emporium
The new opening from RH (the company formerly known as Restoration Hardware) has obviously taken years and an absolutely massive budget to get over the line, but we thnk it was worth the wait. Even on day one, the place was mobbed with Londoners wandering around slack-jawed at the glamour of the place. The second-floor terrace restaurant is the place to be over the summer, while the main restaurant, The Treasury and its Insta-worthy gigantic chandeliers, are more of a late-night vibe. Camilla Long in The Sunday Times wasn't a fan, but we think that if they get the service properly sorted (a month in and they still need work on this), it could be a stellar operation. Even with that said, it's well worth popping along for a look.
Vesper
Clerkenwell - 8-10 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QA
In a nutshell: Jackson Boxer comes to market
As part of this masterplan for reframing Taqueria as Taq in Notting Hill, Boxer took on their Exmouth Market restaurant himself to turn it into Vesper. Think of this as an East London mirror image to the chef’s Dove restaurant in West London. So far the feedback has been very good, with critics praising Boxer’s food and others picking this as a particularly good date spot. The menu at both lunch and dinner is a hit list of what Londoners are loving right now with fougasse, tostadas and gnudi alla vodka all jostling for position. Mina Holland in The Standard gave it five stars while Time Out called it an “instant Clerkenwell classic”. Just get there early if you want to grab one of the ten burgers they make every day.
Chez Rose
Mayfair - 5 Pollen St, London W1S 1NE
In a nutshell: Metzger and Atherton have another team-up
Jason Atherton had already accepted an offer for his old Little Social site when his chef partner at Row on 5, Spencer Metzger, came to him saying he wanted to take the space on. Now Metzger, who already has two Michelin stars for his other restaurant, has opened this gorgeous French bistro. The menu is full of hits, with the most-ordered being the XXL chocolate soufflé, and you’re already looking at weeks before an end-of-week dinner table becomes free. "I could honestly drink it by the pint" was Eating with Tod’s view on the Café de Paris butter sauce while Grace Dent said "like all good French cooking, it is ruthless simplicity that blows your mind".
Cafe Clement
Strand - Ground Floor, St. Clement, 12 Temple Pl, London WC2R 2NF
In a nutshell: Cafe from ex-Soho House boss
If you’re a Soho House or 180 House club member, you were probably part of the early cohort discovering the delights of the first restaurant to open at Nick Jones St Clement hotel (which still only officially opens in September). The rest of us have been playing catch-up after Giles Coren gave it a big thumbs-up in The Times saying; "This restaurant will, I think, define the summer of 2026." To be fair, he does also go on to mention that he’s mates with Jones. The food here is Italian, which already makes it very on-trend for London this year and the chef, Danny Bohan, is ex-River Cafe so he ought to know what he’s doing. It’s already very, very hard to get a booking and it's already a great place to spot celebs.
Zylia
Covent Garden - 6 Bedford St, London WC2E 9HZ
In a nutshell: Greek/Cypriot taverna
Every once in a while, a London restaurant opens with the kind of team behind it that gives food writers a sense of reassurance that things will be done well. And so it is with new Covent Garden taverna Zylia, where the heft of the Arcade brand has been reinforced by the arrival of Singburi’s Nick Molyviatis and Cypriot restaurateur Barry Karacostas. Grace Dent loved the look and feel of the place, saying "It has about it the feel of a family taverna that’s been here for about 62 years." While Josh Barrie, writing for the Standard, declared it "a fabulous taverna, one trumpeting the joy of Hellenic lands with passion and élan." On our visit, it seemed a massive hit with second-generation Greek and Cypriot Londoners and the general restaurant-going public alike.
Bar Etna
Newington Green - 47 Newington Green, London N16 9PX
In a nutshell: Four Legs do pizza
Etna’s co-founder Ed McIlroy must be used to generating hype, having been responsible for Four Legs, The Plimsoll and Tollington’s. Now he’s partnering up with American pizza giant Joe Beddia, who’s had similar hyperbolic praise for his pies back in the States. The net result is a Newington Green pizzeria that has all the hallmarks of a massive hit. There are four pizza bases to choose from, with a range of toppings for diners to build their perfect pizza. It’s also a beautiful space, with a massive bar that’s only going to make this even more popular. Weekends are insanely busy and we hear Nick Grimshaw has been spotted in the restaurant.
The Victory
East Dulwich - 157 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8HX
In a nutshell: Classic restaurant reborn as a neighbourhood pub
When a much-loved neighbourhood restaurant gets a new lease of life, there’s always going to be plenty of interest from locals who want to see what the new owner has done with the place. But judging by our FYP, it looks like half the restaurant industry has already been down to see what The Begging Bowl’s Jamie Younger has done to what used to be Franklin’s in East Dulwich. Early word on the street is good, with ex-Noble Rot chef Seán Breen’s menu going down well, particularly his Cornish crab vinaigrette. We'll have to pay a visit soon to try some of their Nick and Nora's martini list. Time Out gave it five stars, calling it "A neighborhood gastropub that wears its excellence lightly. "
The Golden Tooth
Newington Green - 79 Green Lanes, London N16 9BU
In a nutshell: Papi's pub
Their previous venture, Papi, burned bright but briefly, not quite making it to its third birthday in London Fields. But chef Matthew Scott and wine merchant Charlie Carr have pivoted quickly, taking over this pub just north of Newington Green for their new place. Here they’ve opened a grown-up gastropub, one where you can sit up at the bar with a pint and platter of oysters, or move to the dining room for a more leisurely stroll through a menu with highlights currently including a savoury cheese tart and amazing pie. Grace Dent was a big fan saying: " There is a precision and earnestness to the cooking that is light years from the hip positioning and hype that surrounds this new venture."
Read The Golden Tooth Test Drive
The Latimer
274 Latimer Rd, London W10 6QW
In a nutshell: Hospitality family launch a pub
When we first heard that the entire Spiteri family was uniting to launch a west London pub, we knew it was going to be great. A lot of that is down to the main players, Fin and Lorcan Spiteri, who were also behind the excellent restaurant on a boat, Caravel. At The Latimer, they've created the best of both worlds. Half of it is a proper pub, albeit one with an excellent bar snacks list led by their masala haddock bites, paired with very good cocktails and wine for a fiver. The other half is a dining room with an inventive, seasonally changing menu that already has a standout signature dish with the pork belly skewers. It's a class act throughout. In the Sunday Times, Camilla Long professed not to like pubs, but called this, ahem, "almost erotic."
Oudh 1722
London Bridge - 66 Union St, London SE1 1TD
In a nutshell: Two-Michelin-starred chef's London home
Aktar Islam's Opheem in Birmingham was the UK's first two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, and now the chef has opened in London, with this restaurant concentrating on Awadhi cuisine, with a particular focus on the Lucknow region. Set within a three-storey Victorian building in London Bridge (which used to be Lupins), Oudh 1722 is in a warren of rooms with a great bar right at the top. The menu delivers plenty of delights, from the melt-in-the-mouth Herdwick lamb gilawat kebabs to a very good (and huge) oxtail dum biryani. The chef has more than lived up to high expectations with his London debut.
Weezie's
Belgravia - 14-15 Eccleston Yards, 21 Eccleston Pl, London SW1W 9AZ
In a nutshell: Pizza + wine
If you thought that London’s appetite for hot new pizza places had been sated, then the presence of two of them as new entries to the Hot Right Now list this month shows you couldn’t be more wrong. Weezie’s may not have the culinary credentials of the likes of Bar Etna or Crisp Pizza, but what it lacks there it more than makes up for in being a genuinely fun place to eat out in an area not all that blessed with them. You’ll find it packing them in, in Eccleston Yards, with folks as happy to secure seats in the sheltered courtyard as inside the restaurant itself. The fact that the owners also produce their own wines, makes this combo of pizza and wine even more compelling.
Impala
Soho - 13- 14 Dean St, London W1D 3RS
In a nutshell: Next-level Soho grill
Every once in a while, a restaurant opens with such a weight of expectation surrounding it that you wonder how the team don’t buckle under the pressure. Happily for the Super8 Restaurants group and their star chef Meedu Saad, their latest opening, Impala, has thrived under such conditions. From day one, getting a table here to try Meedu’s eclectic menu has been nigh on impossible. If you do succeed, then we urge you to get the sweetbreads and that amazing roasted duck dish. Reviews have been ecstatic too, with David Ellis in The Standard saying, "This is a one-off" while Grace Dent in The Guardian said "Impala is shamelessly, brilliantly too much."
Tiella
Hackney - 109 Columbia Road, London E2 7RL
In a nutshell: Dara Klein goes permanent with her Italian trattoria
One of the easiest ways to see if a restaurant is ‘hot’ is the simplest - how easy/hard is it to get a booking? Well, we can tell you it’s no easy feat at Tiella. Chef Dara Klein has already built up a loyal fanbase at her residency in Islington before the move to permanent digs on Columbia Road, and they are all keen to check the new place out. So far, the standouts on the Italian menu are the polpette with the chicken Milanese a close second. Ry Jessop, co-founder of The Plimsoll, is running front of house and with much of the wine coming courtesy of Dara’s wine importer dad, the drink side of things is as important as the food.
Ones to watch...
And there are a few more restaurants creating buzz recently that we think are worth keeping an eye on...
Carmy’s (Covent Garden) - The Carmela's team (which includes Bite Twice) are turning out great slices here.
Appalacia (Shoreditch) - What was once Counter has embraced Americana.
Perma-hot restaurants
These are the London restaurants that have been open for a while but are still hotter than ever.
The Dover and Dover Street Counter (Mayfair) - Martin Kuczmarski's two Mayfair restaurants are still hard to get into and a delight to dine in. Not only will you often spot an A-lister dining, but you'll feel like a star yourself, thanks to the pitch-perfect service.
One Club Row (Shoreditch) - Still one of Shoreditch's hottest spot and very, very hard to get a table at peak times (unless you manage to see the "walk-in" light on). The pub, The Knave of Clubs is well worth a visit too.
OMA and Agora (Borough Market) - the Greek-inspired duo from David Carter continues to be one of the biggest draws in the area (the mind often boggles at the length of the Agora queue).
The Devonshire (Soho) - Both the pub downstairs and the grill restaurant remain, one year on, the hottest places in town. It's also still a great place for celeb spotting.
Mountain (Soho) - Tomos Parry's Soho restaurant is still hard to get into, but worth it for that spider crab omelette.
Bouchon Racine (Farringdon) - The return of Henry Harris remains one of London's best restaurants for many. Even if you can't get into the restaurant, the food in the pub downstairs is well worth a look. A recent visit confirmed it's still operating at the highest level.
Where's Hot, mapped.
Here's how the Hot Dinners "Where's Hot" restaurants are spread across town.
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