Now that we've left dreary January behind there are some very interesting new openings to look forward to this month, including the return of chef Dom Taylor, a new wave Mexican, a Brixton import to Mayfair and a new Hoppers with a massively overhauled menu.
Hoppers
Shoreditch - Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ
It's been a few years since the last Hoppers opening and this one, taking over the space that used to be Lyle's, is shaking things up a bit. Alongside the Sri Lankan signatures, they're adding lots more South Indian dishes to the menu. There's a new style of biryani (made here with short rib), benne dosas, and we certainly have an eye on the crab kari omelette, which sounds fantastic.
Opening: 4 February 2026
The Good Front Room
Dalston - 1 Thomas Tower, Dalston Square, Greater London, E8 3GU
Dom Taylor's modern Caribbean restaurant was a huge hit when it took over The Langham hotel for nearly a year (after winning a Channel 4 competition). Now he's back with a permanent restaurant in Dalston, after testing things out with a December residency. Dishes on the new menu here include a short rib brown stew, whole jerk chicken for two and a sweet potato sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Opening: 5 February 2026
More about The Good Front Room
Cometa
Fitzrovia - 19-23 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RW
Big changes are afoot at Carousel, which is changing its wine bar into a new wave Mexican restaurant, Cometa. The kitchen sees Carousel co-founder Ollie Templeton alongside chefs José Lizarralde Serralde (Relae, Nicos, Meroma) and Alejandra Juarez (Estela, Máximo, Makan). Dishes are mainly being kept under wraps, but a hero dessert is the Citrus bonanza - layers of grapefruit, satsuma, trifoliate orange and lemon sorbet with buttermilk ice cream and bergamot curd.
Opening: 20 February 2026
Temaki
Mayfair - 11 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2QF
Temaki has been doing great business in Brixton over the past few years, but now it's taking things up a gear. The team are moving the restaurant to fancy new digs in Mayfair (which is also a lot bigger than the original). As before, Japanese handrolls will be the main attraction, with previous examples including lobster with egg yolk, miso and citrus. That's alongside non-handroll offerings like A4 wagyu sliders. The counter will be the place to be, but unlike the Brixton restaurant, there's downstairs seating here too.
Opening: February 2026
Forza Wine
Soho - Manette St, London W1D 4AL
This is the third Forza Wine, following the Peckham rooftop and the National Theatre openings. It's going to be located just opposite Three Sheets in that new(ish) development near Tottenham Court Road station. While the full menu hasn't been unveiled yet, expect something similar to the others. So that's a big focus on natural wines and a menu of Italian-inspired small plates.
Opening: February 2026
Dim Sum Duck
King's Cross - 180-186 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9JP
Dim Sum Duck is one of London's best restaurants (it's on our own 50 Best list), but there's no getting away from the fact that it's a small affair, mainly walk-in and, as a result, fiendishly hard to get a table. That's about to change as they're opening a bigger restaurant only two minutes' walk from the original. The new place will work alongside the original, with both restaurants offering the same menu of great dim sum dishes and Cantonese roasted duck.
Opening: February 2026 (by Chinese New Year)
Osteria Vibrato
Soho - 6 Greek St, London W1D 4DE
We've been waiting to see what the founder of London chefs' late-night hangout, The Laughing Heart, Charlie Mellor, was going to do next and now we know. He's opening a wine-forward Italian restaurant in the heart of Soho. The menu sees Gaia Enria, founder of recently closed Burro e Salvia, in charge and features an order-in-advance seafood brodo and amaretti biscuits made to order. Expect the wine list to be worth spending time over.
Opening: 7 February 2026
Also opening this month...
Bambi 2.0 (London Fields) - twice as big, with DJs every night and an ex-Lagom chef in the kitchen
San Hao (Chinatown) - A new noodle restaurant with a focus on British produce
Bara (Peckham) - A Welsh-inspired sandwich shop and cafe
The Newman (Fitzrovia) - London's first big new hotel opening of 2026, with an impressive-looking basement bar.
All of London's newly opened and upcoming restaurants...
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