New opening

Updated 4/11/26 with South Kensington opening news

It's one of those restaurants in London that you may not have been into yourself, but you've definitely taken note of the almost perma-queue outside. Beirut-originating steakhouse Swiss Butter has always operated on a walk-in basis, hence the queues. But now, three years after they opened their first London restaurant, they're gathering pace to open two more places in London.

Over on Bethnal Green Road, across the road from the Knave of Clubs, an eagle-eyed Hot Dinners reader spotted that the group are already

Londoners love a good focaccia sandwich. All you have to do is look at the queues going round the block every time a new branch of Dal Fiorentino opens. So we're relatively confident that the arrival this monnth of Fulvio's in the heart of Soho is going to do great numbers.

The folk behind it are the team at Fatto a Mano, a Neapolitan pizzeria that originated in Brighton but now has six pizzerias across town. Apparently, Brighton team member Fulvio made such outstandingly good focaccia, which was used for the team's lunches, that the bread inspired the idea of a sandwich shop to

Loris restaurant is a big deal in Beirut, having opened there back in 2015 and, since then, in Cairo, Riyadh and Doha. Now it's coming to London as the latest restaurant to open inside Selfridges. 

The restaurant itself is inspired by 1960s and 1970s Beirut, with an emphasis on Lebanese sharing dishes. For the menu, they say they're taking traditional recipes and applying a contemporary touch. In practice, that starts with mezze like hummus topped with mini fried kibbeh, moutabal made with grilled and fried aubergine and toshka - dough baked with cheese and minced

It was this time last year that restaurateur Martin Kuczmarski revealed he was about to open a new, naughtier sibling to the Dover, the Dover Street Counter (as well as his first Chelsea restaurant, Martino's). And for this year's early Christmas present, he's rather stealthily opened a second version of Dover Street Counter in Chelsea.

The Chelsea Counter is, like its Mayfair counterpart, channelling the counter dining scene of 1950s Los Angeles. The menu, as Martin has said, is inspired by luxury hotel in-room service, so a happy mix of everything from French dip burgers to

Back in the summer Crystal Palace residents were dismayed by the closure of indie pizza place Bar Palazzo. And at the time, locals worried that a big chain would be its replacement.

Well, we're happy to tell you that another independent pizza business is taking over. Nuvola have been wowing Brixton folk since opening in Brixton Village last year. They also have a stall at Boxpark Croydon. Owned by an actual Neapolitan pizzaiolo, Fatjon Nuvola, they specialise in artisan Italian pizzas made with a signature 100% biga dough.

It looks as though there are several new dishes on

Updated 30/9/26 with opening date

Another US chain is on its way over to the UK as Jersey Mike's, a sub shop which has over 3000 stores in America, is coming to London. 

Jersey Mike's has been running since 1956 and it's all about sandwiches, made in sub rolls and served to-order, with bread baked throughout the day. Their particular USP is that all the meats are sliced as you order. You'll find subs like Mike's Hot Italian (ham, salami, pepperoni, melted provolone cheese) or the Club Supreme (roast beef, turkey, Swiss, Applewood smoked bacon). There are

Updated 2/11/26 with opening date

In the five years since they opened their first restaurant in Islington, the plant-based Chinese restaurant group Tofu Vegan has gone from strength to strength. Not only did they manage to turn the blighted site on Upper Street, which had seen off a string of other restaurants over the years, into a huge success, but they've also opened four more branches across town since then. And whenever we go past the one in Fitzrovia it's always rammed, so clearly they're doing something right.

Now they're about to head further into town

This week sees the latest opening from Big Mama, this time in the City, an Eastern European chophouse in a crypt, Portuguese food in Soho and the launch of a much talked-about rooftop restaurant. 

All the latest news on every upcoming London restaurant that's going to be opening in the capital. The only Coming Soon list you need.

Here's a complete guide to all the new London restaurants that have opened...

Out of all the smashburger joints in London (and there are quite a few these days), Junk (which hails from Paris) is the one that is clearly going big on the expansion trail. After opening in Spitalfields a few months ago, they're already getting ready to unveil another Junk, together with the companion cookie shop Puffy (they're taking the old Avocado Show space).

It's not the only smashburger place to open in Covent Garden either, as ...

30/10/26 - Updated with the opening date and menu details.

A couple of decades ago, there were advanced plans, if you can credit it, to demolish the lovely Victorian buildings that surround Smithfield Market. Happily, the whole area has now been protected as part of the new London Museum development, and to add to the general joy, we also have a new pub on the way.

The Poet comes from the same stellar team that are behind Sune in

It's the last big month of the year for new openings and it is busy. From the launch of the new London Museum and a host of restaurants and bars there to new openings from Tom Booton, the Kudu team and more, it's a packed month. 

Since opening back in 2021, Toklas Bakery (which is a few doors down from the restaurant) has established itself as one of London's best bakeries. However, over in Temple, it may not be in one of the handiest places to get to (even though St Clement has turned the area into something of a hot spot). 

Now, according to hospitality website Propel, that's about to change. A second Toklas bakery is getting ready to open, this time all the way across town in Chelsea. 

Apparently, they'll be taking over the old Bread Ahead site on Pavilion Road. Bread Ahead themselves

Updated 27/10/26 with opening date

Their Borough Market restaurant Camille has quietly forged a stellar reputation for its French food. But when the same team opens B. Penhale in Smithfield, they're moving instead to Britain and Ireland for inspiration. The restaurant, whose name they're already shortening to Penhale's, is just across the road from London's historic meat market. So it stands to reason that it'll focus on a whole-carcass approach in the kitchen.

But we're intrigued by the idea that they'll also be focusing on super traditional dishes from the