What’s cooking in London: latest restaurant & dining highlights

London’s dining scene never sits still, and that’s exactly why we love it. Each week brings new openings, inventive menus, and collaborations that capture the city’s unmatched culinary energy. Discover what is happening now and what’s on the horizon. From sleek tasting menus to hidden neighbourhood gems,  his round-up explores the dishes, pop-ups, and chefs defining how London eats right now.

New

Cicoria by Angela Hartnett at the Royal Opera House

Her name speaks for itself. This new opening is located at none other than London’s spectacular Royal Opera House. CICORIA located on the fifth floor showcases Angela’s renowned Italian-inspired cooking. The space has been transformed into a sophisticated and inviting space created in collaboration with London-based Russell Sage Studio, the interiors balance sophistication with warmth and extends out to a heated terrace overlooking Covent Garden’s piazza.  The L shaped terrace is split between the restaurant and Bar Cicoria set to a backdrop of panoramic views over Covent Garden making this a perfect spot to dine. A stunning pre-theatre option.

Click here for our review of Cicoria by Angela Hartnett.

Location: Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London WC2E 9DD   Website:  rbo.org.uk Instagram: @cicoriabyangelahartnett

Cicoria © 2025 Photographed by Milo Brown

Oranj ending their rotating residencies for a permanent menu.

Oranj marks a new era for the Shoreditch restaurant and natural wine bar.  Following three years of world-class chef residency programming, Oranj is launching from mid-October as a fully-fledged restaurant with a permanent menu and Culinary Director. Oranj’s Founder Jasper Delamothe has appointed twice-former resident Yuto Fujimoto.Fujimoto from Hokkaido Japan comes via Tokyo's two-Michelin-starred, World's 50 Best - Maz; Copenhagen's two-Michelin-starred, World's 50 Best Kadeau; and Paris's Aux Deux Amis - is now at the helm and has developed Oranj’s first ever permanent menu which will launch 14 October.

Delamothe champions natural low intervention wines and will no doubt be curating a dynamic selection of wines selected in seamless dialogue with the menu of European influences featuring seasonally changing small plates, large plates and desserts. Additionally, for FLO London art lovers you can view the work of Argentinian artist Constanza Pulit which adorns the restaurant. Pulit works across photography, printmaking and installation.

 Location: 15 Dray Walk, E1 6QR. Website: oranj.co.uk. Instagram: @oranjwine

Image courtesy of Oranj

Virgin Hotel Shoreditch opens a new signature restaurant.

An exciting new Japanese inspired chophouse with Mediterranean influences, the restaurant combines bold flavours with Japanese techniques and both local and Japanese seasonal ingredients. 

Featuring a large selection of sharing plates and, at its heart, big-cuts take centre stage; flame-grilled T-bone, juicy ribeye and rich pork chops are balanced by a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and fish. Led by Executive Chef Alex Furusawa-Cadonithe restaurant will establish itself as a destination in its own right; a vibrant and contemporary addition to the growing dining scene in Shoreditch. 

Location: 45 Curtain Road, Shoreditch London EC2 3PT  Website:  virginhotels.com Instagram: @virginhotelsldnshoreditch

The Shaston Arms

Soho has a new Gastropub in the hood. Freshly opened this week. From the founder of Patty & Bun and The Waterman’s Arms in Barnes, Joe Grossman will features a menu created by Sam Andrews previously from Ducksoup and Executive Chef of The Waterman’s Inn. We hope to give it a try soon and report back.

Location: 4-6 Ganton Street, Carnaby, London W1F 7QN Website: theshastonarms.co.uk     Instagram:@theshaston.arms

Notto, a pasta focused restaurant group to open its third outpost in Broadgate.

Notto’s Newest Opening

Notto, a pasta focused restaurant group with a branch in Piccadilly and another in Covent Garden is now geared up to open its third outpost in Broadgate marking the group’s first step into fast-casual dining: a premium, quick-service concept designed for City workers (and Londoners on the move. Opening mid-November, guests can expect six fresh pasta dishes cooked to order in minutes, wholesome salads, and a dedicated burrata bar, all made with the same ingredient-led care as NOTTO’s Pasta Bars in Piccadilly and Covent Garden. The burrata bar is set to be a standout feature: creamy, artisan burrata sourced from Buchanans Cheesemonger, paired with seasonal accompaniments such as smashed green olives, sun-dried tomato dressing, anchovy & orange, and classic pesto.

Locations: Various locations  Website: nottopastabars.com Instagram: @nottopastabars

Image courtesy of Lita Bistro

What’s happening

Intimate wine dinner at Lita Marylebone

This month, Lita, the Michelin-starred modern Mediterranean bistro in Marylebone, will welcome  Familia Nin-Ortiz, a family-run winery rooted in Priorat (Catalonia), for an intimate wine dinner. Hosted in partnership with Vine Trail, the dinner will pair Lita’s signature dishes with a curated selection of wines, personally presented by the winemakers. Reservations can be made here. The dinner is priced at £140 per person, with a £50 deposit required upon booking. 

Date: 22 October 2025. Location: 7-9 Paddington Street, London W1U 5QH Website: litamarylebone.com Instagram: @litamarylebone

Jikoni brings their no-borders kitchen and ethos to the Barbican.

Barbican x Jikoni

This week, Jikoni of Marylebone brought their no-borders kitchen to the Barbican as they collaborated with the  Darbar Festival, London’s annual celebration of Indian classical music, nourishing festival goers with a menu deeply rooted in South Asia. The residency celebrates 20 years of the Darbar Festival and runs until 26 October, on Level G of the Barbican Centre.

We stopped by the Barbican Kitchen to try their special vegetarian and vegan menu.
Standout plates included refreshing, citrusy green beans with grated coconut and peanuts, and a charred watermelon dish with nori, cucumber, avocado, and shredded carrots and cabbage, perfect as a poke bowl or as mini watermelon sushi hand rolls. There were Indian-style pizzas, but we opted for the aromatic Rajma Pulao Bowl, a warming mix of red beans, spiced rice, and mini papadums, before finishing with a slice of their not-too-sweet, moist pumpkin cake. A perfect end to a wonderful evening at the Barbican!

Date: 23-26 October 2025. Location: Barbican Centre, Silk St, Barbican London C2Y 8DS. Instagram: @barbican.kitchen

The Italian Greyhound in Marylebone’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

10th Anniversary Celebrations

This month saw two well established popular London restaurants with cause to celebrate. Both The Italian Greyhound and Palomar celebrated their 10 year anniversary. No small feat in London’s highly competitive dining scene and a real testament to their hospitality prowess.

The Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound in Marylebone, a delightful neighbourhood Italian restaurant celebrated their 10th Anniversary with a 10-course dinner. The celebration firmly cemented the restaurants culinary skills in our minds, treating us all to an exceptionally delicious dinner. Dinner included a tasty canapés selection to kick off the evening: Truffled Beef Tartare, Crab Crostini & Prosciutto & Stracciatella bites followed by several courses of outstanding food which were a masterclass in skilled, simple cooking from the heart. From the little spicy kick in the Taleggio, Spinach & Chilli Arancini to the delicate Octopus & Chorizo Carpaccio and tender Lamb Fillet Tagliatawith Parmesan Polenta we left feeling utterly spoilt and without reservation recommend dining here.

 Click here for our review of The Italian Greyhound.

Location: 62 Seymour Street, London W1H 5BN  Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8.00am-11pm, Sat & Sun Midday – 11pm. Website:  theitaliangreyhound.co.uk  Instagram: @greyhoundmarylebone

Palomar

Studio Paskin who operates some outstanding restaurants in the city such as the Barbary and Evelyn’s Table celebrated Palomar’s 10th Anniversary with a lively evening of cocktails, magnums of champagne and oysters at The Blue Posts. The evening was a wonderfully diverse mix of people with stories to share of Palomar’s journey and memories. FLoLondon wishes them continued success and hoping the will continue to feed Londoners for a long time to come.

Location: Palomar, 34 Rupert Street, Lodon W1D 6DN  Website:  thepalomar.co.uk. Instagram: @palomarsoho

The founder of Caribbean food venture Caribe, Keshia Sakarah will take over the kitchen at The Pilgrm Hotel in Paddington, as part of the hotel’s chef residency series. 

The Pilgrm Hotel Paddington Caribbean Kitchen

Located in Paddington’s Norfolk Square, The Pilgrm is a boutique hotel which blends vintage British craftsmanship with laid-back contemporary style. The vibe here is relaxed yet design-savvy and it’s a niche little spot on the West London food scene. They launched  Keshia Sakarah’s Caribbean kitchen this week for a two month residency that celebrates dishes from across the West Indies. The menu features some of the chef’s incredible recipes from her debut cookbook Caribe which launched to rave reviews earlier this year. Think Pineapple Chow, Corn Fried Chicken Wings, Curry Goat

Alongside independent Grenadian brand, serving cocktails like Scotch Bonnet Daiquiri with plantain-infused rum, scotch bonnet syrup and lime, and the Hibiscus Rum Fashioned, a tamarind-infused spiced rum twist on the classic.

Date: 30 October – 20 December 2025. Location: 25 London St London W2 1HH Website: thepilgrim.com Instagram: @thepilgrm

Engel Bar at The Royal Exchange

This month the Engel Bar at The Royal Exchange has launched their Marlene Brunch. That’s your Saturdays sorted! There’s a new brunch in town at the Engel Bar, Royal Exchange.  The Marlene Bottomless Brunch, named after entertainer Marlene Dietrich is a new Saturday series uniting live music, dazzling performances, and delicious food every Saturday, from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Choose between 2-3 courses with 90 minutes of free flowing Prosecco or Spritzes with a rotating  schedule of live entertainment of jazz, soul and burlesque. That’s your Saturday sorted.  This weekend featured Miss Jolie Papilon, Burlesque Idol UK winner and star of the world-renowned La Clique performing her burlesque act, accompanied by a live Jazz band. Brunch highlights include: Brioche French Toast, Lobster Roll, Engel Breakfast Hot Dog and Black Forest Pancakes.

Date: every Saturday 11.30-3.30pm Location:  The Mezzanine, Royal Exchange, London UK  Website: engelbar.co.uk Instagram:  @engel.london

Image courtesy of Engel at The Royal Exchange

In the pipeline

Poon’s opening next month at Somerset House

From the Michelin starred legacy of Amy Poon, Somerset House visitors will soon have a new dining option. Poon’s will open on the 5 November serving Chinese Family Dishes. From pop ups in Clerkenwell to this iconic location, and not far from the original Poon’s in Covent Garden.

“A place to come if you don’t have a nice Chinese Friend who will cook for you at home.”

Attend an event or exhibition at Somerset with some Chinese home cooking and you are in for a perfect London Day.

Location: Somerset House,  Strand, London WC2R 1LA  Website:  poonslondon.com   Instagram: @poons_ldn

Midland Grand Dining Room is set to reopen with the Hawksmoor group taking over.

The renowned group of British steakhouses, Hawksmoor, is taking over the former Midland Grand Dining Room at the St Pancras Renaissance hotel for what will be its 14th restaurant across the UK, Ireland and the US. The steakhouse group is taking on the space in the stunning  Grade I listed building designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott following the sudden closure of Victor Garvey at The Midland Grand in July.

Poon’s to open at Somerset House 5 November 2025.

New opening for co-owner of Kiln Soho

Meedu Saad, the former head chef and co-owner of restaurant Kiln in Soho, will open his debut restaurant next spring. Opening in partnership with restaurant group Super 8, which operates London restaurants Mountain, Smoking Goat, Brat and Kiln, Impala will be a charcoal grill restaurant with influences from North Africa to North London.

 Go forth and dine out on all London has to offer!

Words by Natascha Milsom