This month, London welcomes an array of new hotels and restaurants, together with new award-winners, promising unique accommodations and diverse culinary experiences.
Two London Restaurants Named Among The World's Best
The list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024 was revealed this week at a ceremony in Las Vegas - and two city eateries made the grade - coming in at 17 and 42. Top spot was taken by Disfrutar in Barcelona.
Number 17: KOL, Seymour Street, Marylebone
Mexican chef Santiago Lastra launched Kol in late 2020 with a vision to produce authentic Mexican food using predominantly UK ingredients. This challenging task led to creative replacements – like using sea buckthorn instead of lime – giving a distinctly British nuance to his cuisine.
Number 42: Ikoyi, The Strand
Friends Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale launched Ikoyi in 2017. Crafted by chef Chan, the menu features bold and innovative dishes defying categorisation and utilising diverse produce from across Africa, Asia and the United Kingdom. The unobtrusive but friendly service overseen by Hassan-Odukale pairs perfectly with this unique dining experience.
Ladurée Opens A Brand New Space
Iconic French pâtisserie brand Ladurée, renowned for its macarons and timeless elegance, has announced the new opening of a brand-new space in London’s Covent Garden, above the flagship store which overlooks the famous piazza.
Set to be the market’s best-kept secret, the room is the jewel in Ladurée’s crown, a beautiful space where guests will be able to enjoy haute French cuisine in a stunning, Versailles-inspired setting. As well as Ladurée’s signature patisserie, macaron and afternoon tea offering, the space will also serve as a dining room, showcasing a gastronomy style inspired by Paris, with accents of London. The room, which can seat 36 guests, will also be available for takeovers.
Where: The Market, Covent Garden, WC2E 8RA.
When: Now open.
Web: www.laduree.co.uk.
House of Lords Public Dining Experience Returns
Visitors are being offered a chance to dine like a Prime Minister as the doors open to Peers’ Dining Room in one of the most prestigious and iconic venues in the world, the Palace of Westminster. The Public Dining Experience gives guests the opportunity to eat where some of the past Prime Ministers, from Sir Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher, once dined.
The palace's culinary team has crafted a new summer seasonal menu, together with an exquisite array of wines, tea or coffee and petit fours.
Guests will also have the option to purchase drinks in the Peers’ Guest Room Bar, which offers views overlooking the River Thames, before sitting down for lunch.
Where: House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, SW1A 0PW.
When: 10 June - 3 July, lunchtime weekdays only.
Offices to be Converted to a New Hotel
Atlas House, an elegant Grade II listed building situated in central London, looks set to be transformed into a hotel. Integrity International Group, owned by hotelier Tony Matharu, has acquired the iconic building, together with the Crescent buildings in Tower Hill, for his Blue Orchid Hospitality brand.
Atlas House is situated between the Guildhall, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Bank of England – on the junction of King Street, Queen Street, and Cheapside. The Crescent, a stunning collection of Georgian buildings, adjoins Blue Orchid’s multi award-winning Tower Suites hotel and benefits from views of the Tower of London and the historic Roman Wall, in a prime City location.
Fish Restaurant to Close
Chef Tom Brown has announced the upcoming closure of Cornerstone, Hackney, after 6 years of trading.
The famed fish restaurant gained stardom and a celebrity following for Tom’s innovative style of seasonal, produce-driven cooking putting fish centre stage, all served in a relaxed setting. Cult dishes such as the crab crumpets and hake Kiev, won universal acclaim and a coveted Michelin star.
Citing high running costs of a tasting menu concept, and changing tastes in diners’ preferences, Tom feels now his energy is best directed to his newest opening, Pearly Queen, the relaxed oyster and fish restaurant in Shoreditch, which opened in November 2024 to critical acclaim.
A New Restaurant for Henrietta Hotel
Having been closed for almost a month, the restaurant at Henrietta Hotel reopens this week. Henri has seen a redesign, along with a new iteration on the food they serve, with chef Jackson Boxer at the helm. Staying true to his style, each dish will be a celebration of seasonal British food with a nod to the brand's French roots.
Where: 14-15 Henrietta St, WC2E 8QH.
When: 10th June 2024.
Famous New York Restaurant Heading for London
Carbone, the Italian-American favourite is on the cards for London, as the second restaurant to open in the Chancery Rosewood, next year.
First opened in New York's Greenwich Village in 2013, Carbone has become one of the city’s biggest celeb magnets.
Major Food Group, which operates the restaurant, has opened sister sites in Las Vegas, Miami, Dallas and Hong Kong, and now it’s London’s turn.
As previously revealed, The Chancery Rosewood, in partnership with real estate developer, Qatari Diar, is opening on the former American Embassy site in Mayfair in 2025, promising a number of bedrooms and suites, a ballroom, five shops, a wellness facility and a variety of restaurants, including Richard Caring's Le Caprice.
Where: The Chancery, Rosewood, Grosvenor Square, Mayfair.
When: 2025.
Web: www.rosewoodhotels.com.
Jones & Sons Expands
After 11 years in the making, Jones & Sons is opening in a stunning Georgian mansion, dating from 1771, offering a range of menus that reflect the season.
The venue can cater for intimate eats in their private dining snug, large group bookings, and exclusive use of the entire space for special events.
Founded in 2013 by experienced operator Andy Jones, Jones & Sons' flagship restaurant is in Dalston, which played host as the restaurant shoot location in the iconic 2019 Stephen Graham film 'Boiling Point'.
Where: South Woodford, E18 2QH.
When: 14th June 2024.
Enjoy a Taste of Asia at Bugis Kitchen
Embark on a culinary adventure across Asia at the newly opened Bugis Kitchen located within Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington.
Named after an iconic area in Singapore filled with bustling streets and diverse culinary offerings, Bugis Kitchen promises to take guests on a gastronomic journey through the vibrant streets of Singapore and beyond. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant flavours of Pan Asian cuisine, the restaurant reinvents and celebrates Singaporean heritage dishes and transforms them into modern Singapore cuisine known as “mod-Sin.”
Where: Copthorne Tara Hotel, Scarsdale Place, Kensington, W8 5SR.
When: Now open.
Web: www.copthornetarahotel.
New Rooftop Restaurant to Open in Belgravia
Joe Mercer Nairne and David O’Connor, of Medlar restaurant, are set to bring Cornus, a new dining concept, to the rooftop unit at The Ice Factory.
Originally built in 1830 for Shingleton’s Ice Company, The Ice Factory is a re-purposed warehouse which includes one of the only rooftop terraces in the area. In its nearly 200-year history, it has been adapted as a coachwork, power station and motor repair centre.
Where: Eccleston Place, Belgravia, SW1W 9NF.
When: Summer 2024.
Web: www.icefactory
Metropolis London Open for Business
A hub of global cuisines and entertainment has arrived in Vauxhall, as Metropolis London opens its doors at Albert Embankment’s Railway Arches.
Cuisine on offer at Metropolis London. Credits: Lorenzo Kusina & Aleksandra Boruch
With eleven of the best street food vendors all under one roof, this bustling venue is a foodie paradise and so much more, with an expansive space showcasing up and coming talent, music, and sports.
Open seven days a week from 11am 'til late, Metropolis offers signature cocktails, craft beers, and diverse dishes available to enjoy under the arches, or sip and snack out on the alfresco terrace.
When: Now open.
Where: Metropolis London, Railway Arches, Albert Embankment, SE1 7TP.
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair Hotel Opens
Situated on the recently re-born Hanover Square, this luxury hotel is now open.
Offering cutting-edge cuisine and cocktails in vibrant surroundings, the Mayfair's bar, rooftop experience and dynamic restaurants, are under the expert direction of Michelin-starred Chef Akira Back.
Where: Hanover Square, Mayfair, W1S 1JP.
When: Now open.