What’s cooking in London: latest restaurant & dining highlights in December
London’s dining scene shows no sign of slowing down, with a wave of exciting new openings and much-loved neighbourhood favourites roaring back to life. From Naples-inspired trattorias and revamped historic pubs to cult noodle shops long-awaited reopenings and Thai newcomers. Thai food always lifts a gloomy winter’s day! The city is brimming with fresh energy and exceptional food.
New Openings
Café Felicia, Queen’s Park
Queen’s Park has become a neighbourhood with plenty of excellent dining establishments to choose from such as Carmel, Don’t tell Dad, The Salusbury Pub & Dining Roomand now their newest addition is Casa Felicia, a Naples-inspired restaurant from Chef Francesco Sarvonio, the former head chef at Giacco’s in Highbury and who has also cooked at Manteca, Oranj, and Early June in Paris.
The area buzzes on a Sunday with the Queen’s Park Farmers Market open from 10am -2pm brimming with beautiful produce which easily fulfils a weekly food shop. While you can grab several tasty bites in the market we decided last minute on a family lunch at Café Felica managing to book on the day which I am certain is no longer so easy to do as this neighbourhood gem is no longer under the radar.
Casa Felicia is all linen covered tablecloths, flickering candles, excellent service and authentic Neapolitan food, with a sexy alcove for private dining to boot. Absolutely make sure to listen for the specials. They all sounded spectacular, from whole grilled fish to a massive T-Bone florentina to share.
We had Napoli salami, puntarelle salad (the garlic anchovy dressing is lush!), parmigiana (deep fried aubergine with a melted cheese sauce and basil oil, fettucine mushroom, rigatone Genovese, linguine nerano (with lovely thick sauce from the courgettes & courgette flowers), spaghettone red prawn (everyone’s favourite of the day!), cottoletta alla Bolognese (crumbed pork chop), friarielli, we loved this slightly bitter leafy green vegetable a staple in Neapolitan and Southern Italian cuisine.
The ambiance was so divine it was hard to tear yourselves away. We nearly stayed for dinner! Residents of Queen’s Park are so lucky to have this new addition in the hood.
Location: 79 Salusbury Road, London NW6 6NH Website:casa-felicia.uk Instagram: @casafeliciarestaurant
Image courtesy of Café Felicia, Queen’s Park
The Bush Tavern
West London has gained a new, casual spot from the team behind The Hawks Nest known for their Marg and Marg pizza nights (that’s a margarita pizza and a margarita for £14.50 before 7pm Sun-Fri) The phenomenal NO DRAMA burgers provides the food and Birdhouse Brewery the beer.
This move takes No Drama from their hole in the wall in Acton to The Bush Tavern a proper stand-alone site. Where they go West Londoners will follow! Their classic No Drama Cheeseburger is the way forward and for vegetarians (and for that matter non vegetarians) the Crispy Mushroom sando is lush. In addition to the foodie vibes is music! Live music on Wednesday and Sunday evenings and DJs on Friday and Saturday.
They are still finding their feet but take note and give them a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Location: 15-19 Goldhawk Road. London W12 8QQ Website: under construction Instagram: @no drama.
The Hart Pub, Marylebone
The spot for a clandestine meeting if you can get through the crowds unnoticed to their curtained off booths on the ground floor. The interiors have The Public House Group’s trademark tasteful interiors of rustic elegance and open fires. They’ve kept the stained-glass windows of this historic Marylebone public house dating back to the 1840s and named after the family who once ran it.
The ground floor is casual, serving drinks and simple snacks with upstairs dining for the full menu of British classics with produce sourced from UK farmers and the group’s own market garden at Bruern Farm in Oxfordshire. They sure know how to execute a Sunday Roast to perfection!
The locals appear to be enamoured with this new addition. It’s the pub they have all been waiting for.
Location: 56 Blandford Street, London W1U 7JA. Website: thehartw1.cpm Instagram: @thehart_W1
Image courtesy of The Hart Pub, Marylebone
News
Sadly, kitchen fires are one of the risks of running a restaurant(albeit a very small risk), Most recently Endo at the Rotunda closed post fire and Maggie Jones of Kensington and Som Saa, Shoreditch having just reopened.
Maggie Jones’s
Maggie Jones’s has finally reopened in Kensington, and it’s every bit as warm, nostalgic and charming as regulars hoped it would be. The lovingly restored space still serves the British comfort food people adore, from stilton, bacon and walnut salad to classics like fish pie, lamb with rosemary and the much-loved desserts. If you fancy a cosy, quintessentially London night out (with the Churchill Arms just steps away). Click here for the full review.
Location: Old Court Place, London W8 4EP Website: maggie-jones.co.uk Instagram: @maggiejonesrestaurant
Maggie Jones’s, Kensington. Image credit MTotoe
Som Saa
Earlier this year not long after having tried Som Saa for the first time on a night out in Spitalfields they fell victim to a fire damaging the restaurant’s extraction system which was serious enough to shut them down until now. On our visit we loved everything about it from the authentic Thai food to the casual relaxing setting and were set to become regulars.
Som Saa has reopened its doors after six months of reconstruction and reflection, the team has returned with athoughtful relaunch. Co-founders Andy Oliver and Mark Dobbie used the months away to travel, research and reimagine the menu, and to refurbish the space with subtle upgrades that sharpen the feel without losing Som Saa’s soul.
The relaunched menu brings back fan-favourites like the Isaan-style deep-fried seabass, while adding new highlights such as lemongrass salad with squid, pork and cashew nuts, and salted beef with fresh bamboo braised in creamy coconut. There’s also a first-ever bar-snacks menu - expect punchy small plates like pickled mango with fried shrimp-paste, rice crackers topped with grilled cockles and chilli jam, alongside crispy chicken skin with sriracha and cashews for good measure.
Drinks have evolved too, cocktails like the Green Negroni (pandan-infused gin and clarified Campari) and Snowglobe Sour (bourbon, Thai tea, coconut cream and cassia foam) join a refreshed wine and non-alcoholic offering. Meanwhile, the refreshed dining room, new floors, re-upholstered seating, gently updated interiors, balances polish with the laid-back charm that made Som Saa a favourite in the first place.
Location: 43a Commercial St, London E1 6BD. Menu: A la carte, Set lunch menu £38pp, 3 course festive menu £50pp. Website: Somsaa.com Instagram: @somsaa_london
Image courtesy of Som Saa
Khao Bird Soho
Thai food continues to reinforce its presence on the London dining scene with Khao Bird moving from it’s year long pop up in Borough Market’s Globe Tavern (and a short stint as Lucky Khao in Brighton) to open in what was once Soho’s last adult cinema – their forever home! Here you will find more of their robust Northern Thai cooking.
Location: 24 Brewer Street,London W1F 0SN. Website: Khaobird.com Instagram: @khaobird
Khao-Sō-i Fitzrovia
KhaoSō-i was initially brought to London via a pop-up at Patara’s Oxford Circus site (2023), before the brand committed to a full-scale permanent restaurant. The lines were out the door - reportedly serving over 500 noodle soup bowls a day - with exceptionally positive reviews.
This has led to the opening of Khao-Sō-I in London’s Fitzrovia in October 2025 bringing with it the spirit, flavours and heritage of its acclaimed original restaurant abroad. Known for championing the rich, aromatic cuisine of Northern Thailand, Khao So-I was founded on a desire to celebrate regional dishes that are deeply rooted in family traditions and the culinary culture of Chiang Mai. Its London opening marks the brand’s first step onto the global stage, offering Londoners a taste of its signature soulful curries, hand-crafted noodles and vibrant, spice-forward cooking. Set in the heart of Market Place, the new outpost combines contemporary flair with a proud sense of origin, a milestone moment that extends the restaurant’s story from its beginnings in Thailand to its new home in the capital.
Location: 9-10 Market Place, London W1W 8AQ. Website: khaosoilondon.com Instagram: @khaosoi.ldn
Khao Bird Soho. Image credit Rebecca Dickson
The new Noodle Inn Shoreditch
The original Noodle Inn opened on Old Compton Street in Soho, offering hand-pulled, wide “biang biang” noodles and knife-cut noodles in rich, chilli-oil drenched sauces, often topped with generous portions of beef ribs, shredded chicken, or minced pork. Its simple but powerful focus has made it a standout among London’s many Chinese-noodle spots.
From the moment it opened, it quickly became a “viral sensation”: coverage across food media and social platforms turned the noodle shop into something of a phenomenon. People flocked to line up outside before opening time, drawn as much by the hype and sense of being part of a shared foodie moment as by the promise of good noodles.
I finally tried the Soho branch in November by eating at the odd time of 4pm and dining on my own. Seriously, who isn’t happy on their own with a good bowl of noodles! The hype is no joke. It’s really good! Once you’re in go for their signature biang biang or knife-cut noodles (especially the versions with beef rib or braised chicken). The dumplings or shredded-duck buns are also dishes people repeatedly say are worth the effort.
If you are dining solo you are most likely to sit at the counter which surrounds the glass encased kitchen where all the action is, a bit like a live cooking show which just adds to the appeal and feeling of authenticity.
Tip: Because Noodle Inn is half hype, half noodle-obsession, if you go right at opening time (or slightly before), you stand the best chance of beating a long wait. The Soho branch is known to have a queue forming before the door even opens - so arriving by 11.25 am (for a noon opening) gives you a better shot at getting in quickly.
Location: 100 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EZ Instagram: @noodleinnuk
The new Noodle Inn Shoreditch. Image courtesy of Noodle Inn
Robin’s Ramen at Supermarket of Dreams, Holland Park
While we are on the subject of noodles we are bringing your attention to Robin’s Ramen which is located in Supermarket of Dreams, a gourmet grocery store anddelicatessen on Holland Park Avenue. The small menu is full of small delightsof interesting combinations like Oysters with pomello, green Chilli, Pork & Saurkraut Gyoza with Chilli and five ramen dishes. The Pistachio Dandan 22” has a pistachio and matcha broth served with mala mushrooms broth is an unusual must try dish.
Location: Supermarket of Dreams 1256 Holland Park Avenue, London W11 4UE Opening hours: Lunch: Mon-Sun 12pm-3pm, Dinner: Wed – Sun 6pm – 11pm. Reservations: 020 3924 9246
Pippin’s Restaurant. Earl’s Court Image credit James McDonald.
London Michelin Guide additions
A number of London restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in the Autumn, three of which we have reviewed or tried. Kensington’s Pippins Restaurant (@pippinsrestaurant)in the Templeton Hotel near Earl’s Court. In the summer it really hits the mark with its stunning gardens and space for outdoor dining as well as cocktails from the stunning @sprout.bar next door. Click here for our review.
Eel Sushi bar (@eelsushibar) from the owners of Dorian and the Notting Hill Fish Shop. In a small compact place this Izakaya style restaurant is a casual speedy sushi bar which serves melt in the mouth sushi. Unsuprisingly they hit the ground running, and it has buzzing ever since opening.
Don’t Tell Dad (@donttelldad_qp) a neighbourhood bakery, restaurant and bar where we recently had a faultless meal. Their oxtail crumpent is sinfully good. Queues are out the door for the adjacent bakery on the weekends, so if you get a chance to pop in on a weekday, don’t delay!
Rosewood London Afternoon Tea. Image courtesy of Rosewood London
Others are:
The Chalk Freehouse, a Chelsea Pub backed by Tom Kerridge(@thechalkfreehouse). If it’s anywhere near as good as his pub - The Coach in Marlow, you are guaranteed an excellent meal in his new establishment.
Il Gattopardo, Mayfair (@gattopardorestaurant) is an elegant Italian restaurant in Mayfair inspired by the novel and Fellini movie of the same name. They serve many classic Italian dishes exquisitely prepared.
Lai Rai, Peckham (@lai.railondon) a Vietnamese diner-restaurant serving authentic flavours with a test giving diners and inventive menu to explore. The Papaya Jellyfish Salad and Coconut Mussels are said to be stand outs.
Myrtos by Asimakis, South Kensington (@myrtoslondon) is known for its unfussy Greek food. We have heard mixed reviews and will leave it to you to trust the Michelin guide (or not).
Rogues Hackney (rogues_ldn) serves beautiful modern European food. With a £45 “Light” set menu from Tuesday to Saturday. A new Saturday lunch menu of 2 courses for £28, 3 courses £33 priced perfectly to give everyone the opportunity to try their menu. And if you missed your Sunday roast Rogues offers a Monday Roast menu at £35.
TOWN, Covent Garden (@town.restaurant) on Drury Lane from chef Stevie Parle serves an excellent value “Quick Lunch” menu which will return in January of the new year
Words by Natascha Milsom
