Best new restaurants in London of 2025 so far

What is it? The latest from Martin Kuczmarski, the man behind The Dover, which has remained a searing hot ticket since it opened in 2023.

Why we love it: Martino’s is a little less New York and a little more Milan, with a simple pasta, pizza, meat and fish menu, and all-day dining (it’s open from 8am on weekdays). Home to the Sexiest Dining Room of The Year, like the Dover, it’s all very sensual; glossy walnut walls, film noir-worthy venetian blinds, extremely flattering light, and staff who glide across the parquet floor like Fred Astaire mid-foxtrot. Food is unobtrusive, yet occasionally surprising. Shoestring zucchini fritti is a stand-out, skinny strands of courgetti that retain the crispness of the batter thanks to vinegar-infused salt. The taste is Brighton chip shop by way of a Calabrian trattoria. There is also beef and pork tortellini in a delicate chicken brodo, tonno tonnato, meatballs zuppetta and aglio e olio spaghetti.

Time Out tip: Can’t decide what to drink? Opt for a Martino’s Shakerato; a fabulously fluffy combo of Campari, gin and orange juice. House wine is also very decent value at £27 for a 500ml carafe. 

Address: 37 Sloane Square, Chelsea, SW1W 8AN.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm & 5.30pm-12.30am, Sat 9am-4pm & 5.30pm-12.30am, Sun 9am-4pm & 5.30pm-midnight.

Expect to pay: Pastas £15-30, mains £24-49, pizza £16-22.

What is it? A roaming, contempo Cantonese-inspired concept from chef Jenny Phung and partner James ‘Shep’ Shepherd, now in residence at ‘wine pub’ Godet until the end of 2026.

Why we love it: Godet feels like a Provençal country cottage meets a grubby old scroat boozer. There are cutesy cafe curtains, the occasional church pew, jugs full of fresh flowers, and candles on every table. Despite this discreet backdrop, Ling Ling’s swiftly sets about trying to get into your pants with full-throttle flavour and seductive kitchen technique. Top of the Ling Ling’s charm offensive are exceedingly crunchy fried pork and water chestnut wontons, radish cakes slathered in soy pomegranate dressing, and a delightfully sloppy charred hispi cabbage with pickles and hoisin. Do we, as a city, need yet another hispi cabbage dish? If you’d asked me moments before setting foot inside Godet, I would have said no, but Ling Ling’s have changed my mind. Here, the omnipresent brassica has been released from its small-plates prison and been given a new lease of life, slathered in an ultra umami, near-nutty sauce.

Time Out tip: Order the addictive glass-skin chicken, where soft and bouncy meat rests in a thin but extra-flavourful broth, tender shimeji mushrooms and tong ho greens adding to the soupy melee.

Address: 382 Essex Road, Islington, N1 3PF.

Opening hours: Wed 5-11pm, Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri 5pm-12.30am, Sat 3pm-12.30am, Sun 3-9pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £3.50-12.50, bigger plates £17-24.

What is it? The new project from chef Spasia Dinkovski of acclaimed British-Balkan bakehouse Mystic Burek. 

Why we love it: Doma has taken over a kebab shop space in Sydenham, just across the road from the original Mystic Burek location, but will be doing things differently. Open only at weekends, during the day Doma will serve grab-and-go second-generation Macedonian cuisine, while Saturday and Sunday evenings will be reserved for special dinners, for which you’ll have to buy tickets in advance. Expect everything from Balkan barbecue to fried doughnut-esque mekici served with jam and cheese, sausage baps, stuffed cabbage sarma, loads of burek and baklava buns. 

Time Out tip: Come by for burek, their legendary filo pies, on the last Saturday of every month.

Address: 172 Dartmouth Road, Sydenham, SE26 4QY.

Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11am until sell-out. 

Expect to pay: £5-35 a head. 

What is it? A chophouse in Chingford.

Why we love it: Opened by husband and wife team Ravneet Gill and Mattie Taian after months of renovations, setbacks and test recipes (all shared candidly on @ravneeteats’ Instagram), Gina has done the impossible; put Epping Forest on the gastronomic map. Collectively, the couple have spent over 15 years working in London’s most acclaimed kitchens, but Ravneet is probably best known for her time judging on Junior Bake Off. Gina finds itself somewhere between an authentic Italian and modern British bistro, serving the likes of sweet monkfish cooked with bacon and oak leaf, as well as beetroot served in a pool of its horror movie-worthy juices, swirled with crunchy pistachio butter. Try also ‘Gina’s Pasta’, which is simply a damn good plate of spaghetti in a rich and comforting marinara sauce. 

Time Out tip: You must order the chocolate cake, a light but indulgent sponge, swimming in sauce, with a perfect sphere of vanilla ice cream perched on top and a little jug of cream on the side. It’s a naughty little pud and it absolutely slaps of pleasure.

Address: 92 Station Road, Chingford, E4 7BA.

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue 5-11pm, Wed-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-6pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £10-15, mains £16-36, steaks up to £98 for two sharing.

What is it? A fun and fabulous first restaurant from head chef Nathaniel Mortley, aka NattyCanCook.

Why we love it: 2210 is a vibe from the moment you walk in. There’s a slightly rowdy playlist that will have you questioning whether you’re in a club or restaurant. You’re coming here for Natty’s inventive plays on Caribbean signatures. The ackee and saltfish spring rolls; the confit pork belly; the wiri wiri lamb rump which comes with a light and smoky baba ganoush, sharp pickled onions, mint oil and tamarind jus. Of course, there is jerk chicken on the menu, but it’ll be the lamb that creates the most extreme food envy. 2210 is also a perfect place for the age-old jollof vs rice ‘n’ peas debate to be properly hashed out. The jollof won for us, thanks for asking. 

Time Out tip: Natty’s Sunday lunch is already a firm favourite, offering a Caribbean twist on the classic roast dinner, and prices start from £25.

Address: 75 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, SE24 9AA.

Opening hours: Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Thu 5-10pm, Fri 5-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-9pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £5.50-12.50, mains £24-42.

What is it? A glam, gallery-style space for posh seasonal food.

Why we love it: South Ken has been waiting for something like The Lavery for years. Bored of Profumo roleplay at Daquise? Then head to this grand Georgian townhouse in the shadow of the Natural History Museum for super seasonal, furiously fresh Med-inspired plates from former Toklas head chef Yohei Furuhashi. Miss, at your peril, the asparagus slathered with decadent fonduta.

Time Out tip: Cocktails are a strong point, we enjoyed a highly potent grapefruit daiquiri.

Address: 4 Cromwell Pl, South Kensington, SW7 2JE.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12-3.30pm & 5.30-11pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £6-21, mains £24-34. 

What is it? An intimate Filipino restaurant in Kentish Town.

Why we love it: It’s compact and candle-lit, and (at the time of writing) one of the hottest restaurants in town. One of Belly’s ‘viral dishes’ is cured scallops in big, shallow shells, swimming in coconut cream with basil oil and little pickled chillies. They are things of beauty, fat and meaty and incredibly rich. We also try the soft and tender smoked trout kinilaw – a Filipino take on a ceviche – which I like even more. Almost everything we try is subtly spicy with a tickling, warm heat.

Time Out tip: The dish to order for a bit of a palette switch-up is the smoked aubergine and tomatoes with bagong (shrimp paste) - a nice fruity, fresh accompaniment to all the fish and cream going on.

Address: 157 Kentish Town Road, NW1 8PD.

Opening hours: Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Thu 5-10pm, Fri 5-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £8-17, large plates £22-32.

What is it? A new school Vietnamese with an adamantly no pho menu. 

Why we love it: Lai Rai has local roots (it’s run by the same family as nearby Peckham mainstay Bánh Bánh) but is a snackier, share-ier proposition than its big bowl-proffering sibling. Food here is is fun and flavour-packed: try the slow-braised pork belly pieces, sweet and sticky nugs of crispy, crunchy, and fatty flesh, or papaya jellyfish salad with pellets of juicy pineapple and smooshed tomatoes, all slugged together with peanuts, and a windowbox of fresh Vietnamese herbs.

Time Out tip: Ordering the mussels in coconut and lemongrass broth? Then also get the bahn mi baguette bits, so you can soak your bread in the fragrant liquid until it almost disintegrates. 

Address: 181 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4TP.

Opening hours: Tue 6-10pm, Wed-Thu 12-3pm & 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 12-3pm & 6-10.30pm, Sun 12-3pm & 6-9pm.  

Expect to pay: Small plates £5-15, bigger plates £15-20.

What is it? An elegant ode to southern Italian family dining in Queen’s Park.

Why we love it: Casa Felicia is helmed by chef Francesco Sarvonio, formerly of Manteca and currently of Elephant. The menu switches up daily, but always promises southern Italian ‘soul food’. We loved the pleasing heap of puntarelle salad embellished with pear and hazelnuts, faultless seabass crudo and the most intriguing take on parmigiana we’ve ever seen (the whole vegetable roasted, skinned and fried in a tempura batter, then cocooned in cheese fondue). Pasta is great too; fettuccine porcini and the paccheri with mussels and squid are both simple but impeccable. 

Time Out tip: Stick around for post-dessert roasted chestnuts delivered by chef Francesco, who tells us that dinner at his grandma’s house wouldn’t be complete without them. 

Address: 79 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, NW6 6NH.

Opening hours: Mon closed. Tue-Wed 6-10pm, Thu-Sat 12-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12-5pm. 

Expect to pay: Antipasti £4-15, pasta £16-21, secondi £23-95.

What is it? The brainchild of a self-taught Chiang Mai chef who ditched his career as a travel agent to reinvent the khao soi shop.

Why we love it: With four Bangkok locations, this London outpost is Win Srinavakool's most ambitious move yet. The house specialty is Northern Thai coconut curry noodles, and a bistro menu with flavours that are constantly novel. There is Norfolk pork moo ping, butterflied sea bream pla som and laab dib of raw beef tenderloin, herbs, and spices. It’s pure, intense, and seductive. The main affair is the Khao-So-I noodle soup; the nong-lye (braised beef shank) is supremely tender and sings against a thick broth with sumptuous, primal depth and sophisticated funk.

Time Out tip: The must-order dessert is cha Thai cheesecake, a dish invented for the London menu. It’s luxuriously oozy and roaring with umami, underlain by a transportative tannic hint.

Address: 9-10 Market Place, Fitzrovia, W1W 8AQ.

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 12-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm, Thu-Sat 12-10.30pm, Sun 12-4pm.

Expect to pay: Khao So soup noodles £17-22, sides £4-22. 

What is it? The second outpost of the Dalston-based Italian-Japanese restaurant.

Why we love it: Because it’s absolutely, hands-down brilliant. A thoughtful rethinking of the OG comes with an entirely different menu, though the care, quality and spirit of the original outpost remain. Don’t skimp on the crudo, which is delectable and pasta-wise, you’re going to want to go for the tortellini, which was all fresh truffle and kelp. The big boys deserve a taste too; ox tongue with wasabi was gorgeously gamey, and went down a treat with a superb side of greens, suffocating in parmesan. 

Time Out tip: Avoid ordering the charcoal-coloured sesame cheesecake, which was so dense it could have stopped a door, but the chilli sorbet, served with fresh grapes and blueberries, danced on the tongue with a serious kick.

Address: 1 Nicholls & Clarke Yard, (Off Blossom St), Spitalfields,
E1 6SH.

Opening hours: Lunch Tue-Fri 12.15.2.30pm, Sat-Sun 12-3pm. Dinner Tue-Wed 5.15-9.30pm, Thu-Sat 5.15-10.30pm, Sun 5.15-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Starters, salads and crudo £4-18, pasta £10-22, grill dishes £14-20, sharing dishes £30-90.

What is it? A fast, fun Sri Lankan spot from the Kolamba team,

Why we love it: Adoh! is a maximalist whirlwind. The goal is to emulate the rapid, chaotic energy of Colombo and its street food culture. The menu features a blend of authentic bits (isoo vadai, mutton rolls or roti and curry) and some milder hybrid dishes (fried chicken and curry leaf waffles are best suited to less adventurous members of your party). Shiny squares of prawn toast dolloped with tamarind sauce start us off, swiftly followed by a supple dosa spread with smoky masala, alongside a rather dry coconut roti with eye-wateringly hot lunu miris chilli paste. 

Time Out tip: The must-order main (which at £17 is the priciest item on the menu) is crab kothu, a late-night classic in Sri Lanka. The bronze mountain of chopped roti, egg and stir fried crab meat gets more heavenly with each chewy bite.

Address: 36 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7LJ.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11.30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-10.30pm, Sun 11.30am-9pm.

Expect to pay: Snacks £4-7, mains £12-17.

What is it? A shouty Thai BBQ restaurant in Soho that sprang out of a year long pop-up at Borough Market’s Globe Tavern.

Why we love it: With a chrome open kitchen, exposed extractor fans, buzzing pink neon, and hunks of smashed plaster clinging onto the walls for dear life, the vibe is that of a brutal house reno in Hertfordshire. Yet Khao Bird’s intense cuisine is more than a match for such chaos. It properly lays its cards on the table with the mutton fries, a non-negotiable order of chips so vast and melt-in-the-mouth, that it’s impossible not to let loose a sigh of pleasure when consuming them. On top of said chunky chips sits a braised mutton curry so intense and moody you half expect it to storm up to its bedroom and slam the door. Raw beef larb is spicier than Casanova’s search history, and onglet steak comes with a strange and lovely white curried sauce that’s more floral than fiery. Khao Bird makes a virtue of its intensity, the only sensible thing to do is go along with it. 

Time Out tip The mutton loaded fries simply must be ordered. A hero dish if ever there was one. 

Address: 24 Brewer Street, Soho, W1F 0SN.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-9pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £7-11, mains £11-26.

What is it? London’s most-loved Thai restaurant has relocated to Shoreditch.

Why we love it: For anyone who managed to score a booking at the Leytonstone original, the move is surreal. The new location sits under a railway arch and is a fresh, pared-back space with a stainless steel bar. Singburi 2.0 will be navigating a balancing act of nostalgia and renewal for a while. Some cult dishes haven’t made the jump. There’s no moo krob, salted fish rice, or stir-fried clams yet. But those that have been revamped feel even more accomplished; the fiery yet refreshing watermelon salad now stars peak-season strawberries. Lamb short rib is a revelation, as it their take on nam tok, where wobbly smoked pork belly is offset by nutty roasted rice powder.

Time Out tip: There’s still no dessert, but there is a wine list full of funky naturals, and cocktail menu. Try the lemongrass-infused paloma.

Address: Unit 7, Montacute Yards, 185‑186 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6HU.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12-3pm & 6-10.30pm, Sun 12-3pm & 6-10pm.

Expect to pay: Dishes £8-22.

What is it? The latest from Nieves Barragán Mohacho, the visionary chef behind Mayfair’s Sabor (which was awarded a Michelin star in 2018).

Why we love it: Nieves goes deep into her own personal history in this superlative Spanish spot, starting with her Basque roots. An unmissable starter is the quisquillas de cadiz: raw bodied shrimps with crunchy, cooked heads. The Legado sandwich is another must-order, inspired by Nieves’ grandmother: consisting of Swiss chard, cecina (Spanish cured beef) and smoked cheese, woven together with fried breadcrumbs. The headliner is unmistakably the quarter Segovian suckling pig, which is the ultimate indulgent self-treat: the depth of flavour, tenderness of the meat and salty umami of the crackling skin is an unforgettable combination. 

Time Out tip: It would be a crime to miss out on their lengthy dessert menu: deep-fried churros come with saffron ice cream and white chocolate mousse drizzled in olive oil and decorated with roasted pistachios. 

Address: Unit 1C Montacute Yards, Shoreditch, E1 6HU.

Opening hours: Mon-Sun closed, Tue-Sat 12-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £7-25, large plates £14-85.

What is it? A sleek Ukranian joint.

Why we love it: Tatar Bunar is a very nice place for a meal and amid a Ukrainian food boom in London, things here feel exciting. Better still, prices here are genuinely reasonable, the food rich and decadent, and the portions generous. Get the pickled cherry tomatoes on a bed of lemon yoghurt with lamb chops that are deeply smoky and tender. The cheburek, a deep-fried pastry filled with tender minced lamb, is similar to Turkish börek, and the perfect crispy, puffy vessel for sour cream and ajika, a spicy, red peppery chill sauce.

Time Out tip: The lamb and beef tartare is the best thing on the menu, served in a whopping great wooden bowl with soft onion bread and sprats mayo

Address: 152 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AT.

Opening hours: Mon 5-10pm, Tue-Fri 5-10.30pm, Sat 12-3.30pm & 5-10.30pm, Sun 12-3.30pm & 5-10pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £9-18, mains £17-31, dessert £9-11.

What is it? A Victorian boozer that has found its final form; a southern Italian gastropub of sorts.

Why we love it: At once shabby and welcoming, there are cosy booths, naughty nooks and one long table for family-style dining at Elephant. Ex-Manteca chef Francesco Sarvonio cooks up seabass crudo, beef tonnato, hearty platters of ziti genovese ragu, and sublimely salty and crisp-edged rib eye steak? There are Neapolitan pizzas too, and short and potent cocktails and great Italian wine courtesy of Old Street pros Passione Vino. 

Time Out tip: Proof of their generous hospitality, kids eat free at Elephant.  

Address: 43 Lower Clapton Road, Lower Clapton, E5 0NS.

Opening hours: Wed 5-11pm, Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri 12pm-1am, Sat 12-3pm & 5pm-1am, Sun 12-10pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £7-15, primi and secondi £14-29, pizza £12-16. 

What is it? A casual curry house. 

Why we love it: From the gang behind Tamil Prince and Tamil Crown comes this Tamila. Without the loveable musk of an ex-pub, the space is much airier and restaurant-y, while the service is sharper and more attentive. Onion bhajis are as good as they get, as are the loaded chilli cheese dosa and  masala dosa. Centrepiece dishes are of the tandoori and curry persuasion. And the roti? Supremely fluffy, a mighty and worthy signature dish.

Time Out tip: Try and get an upstairs table. Not only do you get to sneak a peek into the kitchen, but Cally Road buzzing by only makes Tamila feel more intimate.

Address: 8 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, N1 9DU.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-10pm. 

Expect to pay: Snacks £7-14, dosas £9-12, curries £10-14.

What is it? Dishes full of aromatic spice from Hunan, a region in south central China often compared to Sichuan.

Why we love it: Follow the neon glow from the street and enter a restaurant drenched in bold red interiors, where the acoustics mean your meal inevitably comes with a raucous soundtrack provided by the table next door. There’s a chaotic but infectious energy, the kind of place where a meal naturally turns into a minor celebration. Head chef Jianren Zhou, a veteran of 30 years in his hometown cuisine, oversees a menu that builds on Hunan tradition. The signature steamed fish head with chopped chillies (yes, just the head) is a must-order for curious diners and collagen enthusiasts.

Time Out tip: If you’re intrigued, the Changsha stinky tofu has an umami kick I can’t get enough of. That said, one English friend spat it out immediately, so you can make up your own mind there.

Address: 176-178 Lower Road, Surrey Quays, SE16 2UN.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 12-10pm, Fri-Sat 12-10.30pm, Sun 12-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Small dishes £7-14, dim sum dishes £6.80, signature dishes £16-30.

What is it? A waterside west London bistro from the same team as the really very good Bistro Freddie.

Why we love it: The location is immaculate, with an outdoor terrace and glossy chrome tables and putty-coloured plaster walls inside. The staff too, may also be the best dressed in London, in baggy denim slacks and matching gilets designed by eternal cool guy Nicholas Daley. The chef too, has everything going for him. Some dishes by New York-born Adrian Hernandez reach the giddy heights of Bistro Freddie perfection. Mangalitza sausage, bream crudo with cherries, and honeydew melon with speck. Others need a little work, but Canal is basically a great restaurant, it just needs to remember to act like one. 

Time Out tip: Cocktails are made in collaboration with A Bar with Shapes for a Name. Ignore the overly sweet raspberry gimlet and go for the savoury olive oil negroni. 

Address: 11b Woodfield Road, Westbourne Park, W9 2BA.

Opening hours: Daily 12-10pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £5-18, large plates £19-90 (for a sharing rib eye steak).