There are a LOT of restaurants coming out this autumn. At our latest count there are 40+ new openings for the autumn period alone (with more yet to be announced). But so many new restaurants opening can be a little daunting, so for this year's autumn preview, we're distilling it down to the top six restaurants to really keep an eye on.
Simpson's in the Strand
100 Strand, London WC2R 0EW
Jeremy King kicked off one of the restaurant industry's greatest ever comebacks when, after being pushed out of what was Corbin & King, he returned with his own restaurant group, led by Arlington in 2024. He followed that up with The Park, which pulled off the major feat of creating a buzzy dining scene in Bayswater. But bubbling away in the background since his group was announced, it was clear that Simpson's would be both his most highly-anticipated restaurant and his biggest challenge.
Simpson's in the Strand is both one of the capital's most well-known (and, dare we say it, iconic) restaurants but also one that had been on something of a downward incline. While many, including ourselves, have great memories of it in its heyday, it hadn't been anywhere near its prime for at least a decade (and probably longer). Previous revamps hadn't really had much of an impact, but a pretty widely held view in the restaurant industry was that if there was anyone who could make it work, it would be Jeremy King. After all, he pulled off the launch of the equally huge Brasserie Zedel, which remains a success to this day.
Exactly what to expect from the new Simpson's is still under wraps, but we do know that the restaurant has been designed by Shayne Brady, who worked on The Park with King - although don't expect a massive overhaul, with the space making the most of its historical elements. He's brought in a raft of ex-Corbin & King talent to launch the restaurant too. And, most importantly, the carvery trolleys will be making a reappearance. We can't wait to see what Jeremy has done with the place.
Opening: November 2025
Bonheur by Matt Abé
Mayfair - 43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR
Le Gavroche, led by Michel Roux, was one of the capital's best-known fine-dining restaurants, not least for its excellent-value set lunch. However, in recent years cost-savings became necessary so that lunch service was removed and the restaurant eventually shut its doors in early 2024. Just over a year later, Gordon Ramsay stepped in and bought the place. The restaurant was to be reborn as a showcase for Matt Abé, the head chef at his flagship location, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
Now revealed as Bonheur by Matt Abé, the restaurant is getting a complete (and, in fairness, necessary) redesign at the hands of Russell Sage Studios, who have been behind the design of many of Ramsay's endeavours (including his recent high-rise restaurant in Bishopsgate). Abé's food there shouldn't be too far in concept from the fine-dining ethos of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and he's describing the place as "a celebration of seasonality, community, and craft". And if you really want to get up close and personal with the chef, the six-seater chef's table, Petit Bonheur, is going to be the place to book.
Given how he retained three Michelin stars for Ramsay for many years (taking over at Royal Hospital Road after Clare Smyth left), this is definitely one to watch.
Opening: Autumn 2025 (Date TBC)
The Marlborough
Mayfair - 24 N Audley St, London W1K 6WD
When we first heard that Carl McCluskey of Crisp Pizza was going to be taking over The Marlborough Head pub in Mayfair, this was big news. But when it was revealed that it was being launched with the help of the team behind The Devonshire, that catapulted it to a whole new level. The team behind what is surely central London's most successful pub helping to launch another one in Mayfair? It has surefire hit all over it.
That said, for us, Crisp Pizza still remains the biggest draw. For various reasons (mainly poor organisational skills), we haven't had the pleasure of trying Crisp Pizza in its current location in Hammersmith. However, it continually appears at the top of many "best pizza" lists and in a city which seems to have gone just a little bit mad about both American and Italian pizzas, it'll be nice to try a relief to have something that's a little different from that trend, with McCluskey's pizzas bridging the gap between the two.
The plan here is to have the pub upstairs and the pizzeria downstairs in a speakeasy-style space. Both will be a big deal and, assuming they allow bookings, you'll want to secure a table for pizzas as soon as humanly possible once booking opens. As for the neighbouring area, get ready to welcome lots of people drinking Guinness on the pavement outside.
Opening: October 2025
Carbone
Mayfair - 30 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6AN
For a restaurant which is opening fairly imminently, Cabone is keeping pretty schtum on its plans for its London opening right now. We happen to know a lot more about what's planned, but we have to wait just a little bit more before we can share just what we know with you. So instead, we'll concentrate on what's public knowledge right now and what to expect based on the US operation.
While the restaurant is opening as part of the big revamp to what was the old US Embassy, it's actually a completely separate entity from the Chancery Rosewood, with its own entry on the northeastern corner of the building. And while there is an extensive terrace space outside, the real action is all on the huge lower-level space. But that's all we can reveal about the London restaruant right now.
Despite keeping everything under wraps, Carbone remains one of the most highly anticipated openings of the autumn. The original in New York is still hugely popular, including with A-listers, and still one of the hardest dinner bookings to get in NYC. An Italian-American affair, with a menu led by the titular chef Mario Carbone, it's all about the experience as much as it is the food, with the evening not managed by waiters, but by "captains", and you can expect a lot of flair from them. Signature dishes include the spicy vodka rigatoni and the off-menu meatballs dish, so assuming they make the menu here, order them for sure. And, as with The Marlbrorough, get your booking in the very second that they open - this place is bound to be booked out in the run up to Christmas.
Opening: September 2025
Corenucopia
Chelsea - 18-22 Holbein Place, London SW1W 8NL
A late addition as one of the autumn's most highly anticipated restaurants, this is actually the one we know the least about. It comes from Clare Smyth, the chef behind three-Michelin-starred Core, but it sounds like quite a departure from her Notting Hill home. Here, things are being described as a "luxury bistro", so it will be a big departure from the fine dining food she's known for at Core (or even her Australian restaurant, Oncore). Either way, the second London restaurant of one of the UK's top chefs is always going to be a big deal (although her restaurant opening next year will be one to watch too).
Whatever Corenucopia turns out like, when The Times critic Giles Coren reviews it, you can bet he'll have fun with that name.
Opening: November 2025
ASA, Arthur's Market and Salvador
Mayfair - Brook's Mews, London W1K 4HR
Our last entry is actually a three-in-one affair. It comes from a group that appeared somewhat out of nowhere to launch a huge hit in Belgravia earlier this year, The Prince Arthur. But their follow-up in Chelsea is a very different beast.
It's opening where The Deli Robuchon (briefly) opened on the King's Road. That's a pretty sizeable space and rather than trying to make a big restaurant (or pub) out of it, instead it's being split into three unique entities. First, there's a Japanese handroll izakaya called ASA (with a big focus on fresh seafood). Then there's Salvador, which will be focused on wood-fired pintxos (with a wine bar alongside).
And finally, there's a fancy supermarket and deli, Arthur's Market, to round things off. Following on from their caviar obsession at The Prince Arthur, you'll find plenty of that in there (including their own-brand) and given the success of Corner Shop over in Temple, we can see this operation being pretty successful too.
Opening: November 2025
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