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There’s all manner of edible excellences launching right now in London. Whether you’re after Welsh laverbread sandwiches, Caribbean glazed plantain, Cantonese fish balls, a Lunar New Year feast from two of London’s best chefs, or simply a nice bit of smoked sausage, we’ve got you.
These are the 10 best new openings of the month.
The best new London restaurants opening in February 2026
The cute Welsh cafe
Bara, Peckham
Stockpile for St David’s Day at lovely little Welsh cafe, Bara - which means ‘bread’. The project of Masterchef Professionals quarter-finalist Cecily Dalladay (from south Wales) and Zoë Heimann (from south London), the cafe is inspired by a 1950s Welsh Gas Board cookbook that used to belong to Cecily’s grandma. Expect a Caerphilly Cheesesteak sandwich, Pembrokeshire lobster roll, and brunch offering of a ‘Swansea Breakfast’ (smoked bacon, leeks, cockles and laverbread on toasted focaccia), as well as honey butter pancakes, brown crab rarebit, and leek bubble-and-squeak sarnies.
Address: 44-46 Choumert Road, SE15 4SE
Opens: Feb 12
2. A tried and tested great comes to Soho
Forza Wine, Soho
In 2023 Forza Wine came for the South Bank, with its acclaimed National Theatre opening, and now the Peckham-born cocktails, natty wine and ace Italian-ish plates restaurant is taking on Soho. Taking over what was Daroco in Ilona Rose House – a nominee for the 2020 Carbuncle Cup for the UK's ugliest new building – we’re hoping that Forza will bring a spot of flair to this starkest of spaces.
Address: Unit 1, Ilona Rose House, Manette Street, W1D 4AL
Opens: Feb
3. The return of a modern Caribbean classic
The Good Front Room, Dalston
Chef Dominic Taylor is relaunching his Good Front Room concept at a permanent site in Hackney. It started life as a pop-up at The Langham after Taylor won Channel 4's Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef, which was judged by none other than Michel Roux Jr. Expect food that harks back to his Jamaican and Saint-Lucian heritage, with many dishes inspired by his great aunt Myrtle. Think; maple, lime and chilli glazed plantain, rum and raisin pork belly strips, ackee and saltfish cake, short rib brown stew, and a sharing seafood boil.
Address: 1 Thomas Tower, Dalston Square, Dalston Lane, E8 3GU
Opens: Feb 5
4. The decadent Italian
Osteria Vibrato, Soho
Fans of drinking huge vats of red wine will remember Charlie Mellor’s Hackney Road Bukowski-esque boozehouse the Laughing Heart fondly. Mellor has now teamed up with ex-Luca sommelier Cameron Dewar to open Osteria Vibrato. They’re calling it ‘an antidote to concept dining’, and frankly we have no idea what that means but we’re excited nonetheless. Expect Italian classics including fresh pasta and whole grilled fish. There’ll also be a cocktail bar that celebrates the ‘golden age of bartending’, and we certainly know what that means.
Address: 6 Greek Street, W1D 4DE
Opens: Feb 7
5. The Hong Kong street food spot
Cafe Kowloon, London Fields
Love a lazy Susan? Then get to Cafe Kowloon, the latest opening from the Mr Bao and Daddy Bao team. Walk through railway arch noodle bar Wonton Charlie's to find this Cantonese newcomer, which offers street-food inspired dishes such as grilled curry fish ball skewers, chargrilled ibérico secreto char siu, prawn toast (complete with prawn heads), and a Hong Kong French toast for pudding.
Address: 392-393 Mentmore Terrace, London Fields, E8 3PH
Opens: Feb 4
6. The hot chef collab of dreams
Carousel, Fitzrovia
Kitchen heavyweights John Javier of Caia (and formerly Tent at the End of the Universe) and Jackson Boxer of Brunswick House and Dove, come together for a special five-night residency in honour of Lunar New Year. Taking over Carousel, the pair – who both featured in Time Out’s 2025 search for London’s hottest chef – will serve a deliriously fun tasting menu of monkfish and prawn siu mai, bang bang chicken, poached squid with radish and egg custard, burnt cabbage with fish sauce butter, and deep fried milk ice cream.
Address: 19-23 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RW
Dates: Feb 17-21
7. The smoked sausage pop-up
Ruben’s Reubens at Firestarter, Liverpool Street
Ruben Dawnay is bringing his very delicious roving restaurant Ruben's Reuben's to new live-fire concept Firestarter at the Star by Liverpool Street pub. Expect a whole platter of barbecue-style dishes, from ribs to brisket as well as Ruben’s homemade sausages. It runs for three months.
Address: 94 Middlesex Street, E1 7EZ
Dates: From Feb 4
8. The handroll heroes
Temaki, Mayfair
Born in Brixton Market, Temaki was London’s first outlet dedicated to handroll sushi and received Time Out praise for its ‘triple whammy of expertise, exceptional produce and classy execution’. The California-style sushi joint shut last summer, but will reopen as a two-floor central London resto, with a 16-seat upper room surrounding a sushi counter and a 28-seat downstairs inspired by Japanese listening bars.
Address: 11 Maddox Street, W1S 2QF
Opens: Feb
9. The fresh Mexican seafood spot
Cometa, Fitzrovia
Carousel are launching a Mexican-inspired seafood restaurant in the space formerly occupied by their wine bar, with chefs Ollie Templeton, José Lizarralde Serralde and Alejandra Juarez whipping up an array of ceviches and aguachiles inspired by the iconic Contramar in Mexico City. Also expect the likes of crab chilpachole stew with brown butter and chive, and lobster with chintextle chilli paste and smoked butter sauce. There will, of course, be a spicy marg on the menu, as well as a mezcal old fashioned.
Address: 19-23 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RW
Opens: Feb 20
10. The new Sunday session
Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell
Love a roast but want to try something a little bit different? Well the very gorgeous Sessions Arts Club is making Sundays about more than meat, roasties and Yorkshire pudding. Their new Sunday residency programme starts on Feb 8 with a takeover from chef and writer Jago Rackham, ahead of the publication of his first book, To Entertain: Instructions for a Dinner Party. Expect theatrics, as well as blood orange, almond and ricotta salata, beef and prune pie, and the classic Sicilian dessert that looks like a boob; St Agata cake.
Address: 24 Clerkenwell Green, EC1R 0NA
Dates: Feb 8
The best restaurants in London, according to Time Out.
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