News & reviews

Here's what Islington and Finsbury Park restaurants are doing for the Arsenal parade

Information: 29 May 2026

If you live in North London (or indeed anywhere in London) it can't have escaped your notice that a parade has been planned for Arsenal this weekend. Based on the celebrations of the last week or so...

Mandy Yin's Malaysian restaurant Sambal Shiok has closed

Information: 29 May 2026

After eight years, one of our favourite restaurants in the Highbury and Islington area, Sambal Shiok, has closed its doors for good (on 27 May). The Malaysian restaurant, which opened on Holloway...

A Magnum x Roll Boys bakery has opened in Shoreditch, for 48 hours only

Information: 29 May 2026

With perfect timing for the current hot weather, a pop-up bakery is opening its doors in East London for the weekend, serving up a range of limited-edition cinnamon rolls in a collaboration with...

Brook Green pub The Bird in Hand is given new life by the Holland's Max de Nahlik

Information: 29 May 2026

Back in 2022, chef Max de Nahlikl regenerated West Kensington pub The Holland. Now, just half an hour's walk away, he's done the same with Brook Green pub The Bird in Hand. While The Holland is...

Keeping track of the restaurants and bars that have closed in London

Information: 29 May 2026

Here at Hot Dinners we mainly focus on the hottest restaurants in town, as well as new openings. But the London restaurant scene is ever-changing and that means some restaurants fall to the wayside. With...

Top Islington bakery Quince is gearing up to open its own cafe, Clementine

Information: 28 May 2026

Anna Higham's Islington bakery Quince is, quite rightly, lauded as one of this city's best bakeries. So the news today that she's getting ready to open her own cafe should make North London...

Test Driving The Latimer, where the Spiteri family have united for an excellent neighbourhood pub

Information: 28 May 2026

The Spiteri family have joined forces as a hospitality super group to open this new West London pub, fronted by the sibling duo behind Caravel. We went west to check it out.

Lady of the Grapes head to Borough for their next wine bar

Information: 28 May 2026

28/5/26 - updated with soft launch offer For seven years, Lady of the Grapes has been one of the best wine bars in Covent Garden. Now they're heading to Borough as part of one of the area's...

Vegetarian Middle Eastern restaurant Bubala's next restaurant in Covent Garden is their biggest yet

Information: 27 May 2026

It's been just over a year since they opened in King's Cross and now Bubala is getting ready to open their fourth restaurant, this time in Covent Garden. They're taking over the space that used to...

Mardy's sees the man behind Lita opening a sandwich shop in Mayfair

Information: 27 May 2026

The man behind the very successful Lita in Marylebone, Daniel Koukarskikh, is quietly getting ready for his next London opening, but this one is going to be a little different. Mardy's will be a...

Uncle Hon's BBQ looks to add East Asian influences to Texas BBQ in Hackney Wick

Information: 27 May 2026

At the end of last year, Douglas McMaster's Silo shut the doors in Hackney Wick (over Crate Brewery), but now Uncle Hon's BBQ is hoping to take the space over - and he's nearly got his Kickstarter...

The Cinder team's next St John's Wood opening is No. Forty Nine, a combo bakery, bistro and wine bar

Information: 26 May 2026

The team behind fire-cooking restaurant Cinder in St John's Wood (and Belsize Park) are about to double up in the area, opening a new bakery, all-day bistro and wine bar just down the road. No. Forty...

Test Driving Oudh 1722 - Aktar Islam brings his Michelin magic to a Victorian townhouse in London Bridge

Information: 26 May 2026

His Birmingham restaurant Opheem has two Michelin stars and now Aktar Islam has opened Oudh 1722, his first London restaurant. We went down to see what he's cooking in his London Bridge home.

New restaurants and bars opening in London this week

Information: 26 May 2026

Here are all the new restaurants to look forward to in the coming week. This week, Jackson Boxer unveils his new Exmouth Market restaurant, there's an arrival from Mykonos, and a seafood bar crosses...

Vagabond's new Soho wine bar will be their biggest yet

Information: 26 May 2026

26/5/26 - updated with the opening date Vagabond have been on a bit of a growth spurt recently, having recently unveiled their own urban winery in Canada Water. Now they're opening what's being...

Trullo have painted their entire restaurant Arsenal red to celebrate the Premier League win

Information: 23 May 2026

We've seen quite a few restaurants doing their bit to celebrate Arsenal's recent Premier League win (like Half Cut Market putting on £5 glasses of chilled reds), but Trullo have really gone the...

New London restaurants added to the Michelin Guide - now with May's additions

Information: 22 May 2026

Updated for April, it's a quiet month with just three new additions, including Carousel's new Mexican restaurant and a great Thai restaurant in Soho.

Proper French baguettes and croissants hit Islington with a new Authentique bakery

Information: 22 May 2026

Islington has its fair share of bakeries, from Pophams to Sourdough Sophia, but there seems to be no end of demand for them. And, speaking as an Islington resident, classic French bakeries aren't...

A huge Wetherspoons is opening on Shaftesbury Avenue, called Piccadilly Hall

Information: 22 May 2026

22/5/26 - updated with confirmed details Love them or loathe them, Wetherspoons pubs are among the most successful in the country. That said, there are surprisingly few in the centre of town, but...

Ready for even more handrolls? Saltwater sees the Milk Beach team handing out sushi in Soho

Information: 21 May 2026

They only just announced that the original Milk Beach is transforming into a wine bar, and now the same team is opening a new place in Soho. This time, they're joining the handroll craze that seems...

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