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Truly, pizza season is upon us. Practically every other restaurant opening in London this July is dedicated to the perfect culinary offering that is a round-ish slab of dough covered in cheese and assorted veg/meats. And you won’t hear any complaints from us about it. As well as ‘za, you’ll soon be able dine in Mayfair’s highest restaurant, eat at a swish supper club at 180 Stand, and drink in a scuzzy Bethnal Green bar that pays tribute to the long-lost Crobar. Find out how, below.
1. The Italian pub
Elephant, Clapton
A long time ago, this place was known as the Elephant's Head. On July 9 this Victorian-era pub takes on a new lease of life as Elephant, a southern Italian-inspired gastropub with ex-Manteca chef Francesco Sarvonio doing imperious things with pasta. Come for ziti genovese ragù, buffalo mozzarella with tomato carpaccio and fried courgette flowers with spicy honey aioli, as well as a daily pizza menu. Hackney dads will be more than happy to hear of the ‘kids eat free’ policy, so you can stuff little Milo’s face with marinara while necking a negroni.
43 Lower Clapton Road, Lower Clapton, E5 0NS
2. The dive bar
All My Gods, Bethnal Green
Fans of Denmark Street’s foremost whiskey den Dram will be excited to hear that the same team are behind new dive bar All My Gods. Opening at some point in July, the knowingly sleazy spot is a passion project of tattoo artist Roxy Velvet, who founded the now-shuttered Velvet Underground, London’s first female-staffed tattoo parlour. The bar will pay tribute to London’s 1990s’ skater scene, British motorbike culture, and long-lost rock boozers the Crobar and 12 Bar Club. Americana influences, be damned!
253 Paradise Row, Bethnal Green, E2 9LE
3. The all-star chef supper club
La Carte by Le Creuset at 180 Studios, Temple
A trio of the UK’s best nomadic chefs – Julius Roberts, Rahel Stephanie [pictured], and James Cochran – will be cooking for a series of special dinners celebrating the 100th birthday of cast iron casserole titans, Le Creuset. Taking place over three nights from July 8-10 at 180 Studios on the Strand, each chef will be serving up a luxe three-course dinner complete with a drinks pairing. At £175 a head, it’s not cheap, but promises to offer iron-clad deliciousness. Get tickets here.
180 House, Strand, Temple, WC2R 1EA
4. The second coming
Speedboat Bar, Notting Hill
Your chances of eating at one of London’s best restaurants have just doubled, as a second location for the excellent Thai-inspired Speedboat Bar is opening in July. Set inside the Electric House in Notting Hill, Speedboat Bar 2.0 will feature the same menu as the Rupert Street original with everything from the legendary chicken matches with green mango kerabu, to those brimming bowls of tom yam mama noodles on offer.
Electric House, 191 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 2ED
5. The very good pizza place
Ace Pizza, Victoria Park
We’ve been big fans of Ace Pizza for ages. We remain obsessed with their residency at Hackney Downs’ Pembury Tavern and are pleased as passata to hear that Rachel Jones will be opening her first ever permanent pizza palace on July 28. Come through for their now legendary vegan Clapton Cowboy, made with Texas ‘beef’, jalapeños, pickled pink onions and chipotle ranch drizzle, as well as the Honey Pie with fior di latte, spicy salami, fennel seeds, guindilla chillies and chilli honey. There will also be a bunch of brand new menu items, including a vodka penne and a meatball pizza.
126-128 Lauriston Road, Victoria Park, E9 7LH
6. The really high one
Shanghai Me, Hyde Park
Taking over the 28th-floor spot occupied by Galvin at Windows until April last year, Shanghai Me is based on the Dubai original, so expect super-glossy, and super-expensive things from this sleek import. As befits the highest restaurant in Mayfair, this place is all about glamour (the next branch is set for Monaco), with interiors inspired by 1930s Shanghai, and a pan-Asian menu featuring yellowtail carpaccio with black truffle, and Cantonese-style roast duck with foie gras and caviar. It opens July 21.
Hilton on Park Lane, 22 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1BE
7. The mighty mezcal bar
Little Fires, Shoreditch
With a cocktail list created alongside Sabina Sabe, an award-winning mezcal bar in Oaxaca – this Mexican-inspired, late-night drinking den is off to a very good start indeed. Opening July 25, and taking over a Grade II-listed, two-floor building, it'll also have Rodolfo Castellanos, the winner of Top Chef Mexico and owner of Origen Oaxaca, leading a food menu of tostadas and ceviche.
125 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E2 7DG
8. More pizza? Sure!
Crust Bros, Covent Garden
On July 7, Waterloo’s Crust Bros will be opening their biggest pizza parlour yet. Known for their natty Neapolitan-style pizzas, the space will fit 135 covers, and have a special menu of savoury bombas, including a lasagna-inspired take on the fried Italian dough ball, made with six hour ragu, parmesan, bechamel, and a deep fried lasagna sheet. You’ll be able to mix and match toppings on personalised, custom pizzas.
29 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JF