The hottest restaurants in London aren’t just the ones with open kitchens… equipped with fiery grills… and hermetically sealed windows.
They’re the spots that – thanks to an ineffable combination of factors that might include atmosphere, value for money and straight-up deliciousness – punters flock to in their droves. They might be long-anticipated openings from big name chefs; follow-ups from teams who have already proved their mettle; or under-the-radar independent spots that nevertheless hold their own against the big dogs. But they’re all good, and all worth spending your hard-earned pennies on.
We've teamed up with The Nudge, London's ultimate insider guide, to help you Do.More. with what they consider to be London’s hottest restaurants right now.
We can only assume that David Carter had an inkling of just how popular OMA was going to be… because he’s very considerately opened a second, more casual restaurant downstairs. AGORA’s specialist subject is skewers charred over a wood grill – but honestly, if you’re not in the market for a full meal, this is the ultimate place to drop in for a couple of unreal flatbreads, dips, and frozen margaritas. Best enjoyed at the dining counter behind the bifold windows, which open onto the bustle of Borough Market.
Details: 2-4 Bedale St, SE1 9AL
The team behind top-quality meat suppliers Txuleta (it’s pronounced ‘choo-leh-tah’) have joined forces with chef-of-the-moment Richard Foster (it’s pronounced ‘Richard Foster’) on a brand new restaurant. And they’ve really raised the steaks. The menu centres on the eponymous txuleton, the uniquely flavourful meat of Galician ex-dairy cows. Add in a cool, ex-factory setting, and a little open-fire alchemy from the former Chiltern Firehouse chef, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for one of London’s hottest new restaurants…
Details: 90 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1 7BN
Possibly making its first ever appearance on the London restaurant heat map, Maida Vale has just landed a doozy. The Hero is the second London pub from the all-conquering team behind The Pelican, and bears familiar hallmarks of stripped-back plaster walls, lovingly restored period features, and a modern, grown-up take on trad pub dining. You can hang out downstairs for a pint and probably the best pork pie you’ve ever consumed, but nab a crisply-clothed table upstairs in The Grill Room for an elegant supper of beef tartare served on a hash brown, a stiff-crusted Jerusalem artichoke pie, or hefty bone-in sirloin to share.
Details: 55 Shirland Road, Maida Vale, W9 2JD
Probably the hottest restaurant in London right now. The reason for its wild success? The show-runners hail from The Plimsoll up the road, a humble boozer that’s been showered in acclaim for its wild and unexpected takes on pub grub (if you’ve not been there, name dropping the pigeon bhuna will receive knowing nods from other foodies). Here, however, they’ve taken over an old chippie and sort of re-skinned it as a Spanish seafood bar: most of the decor is the same, you can still get banging chips, but it’s all a lot less ‘cod scraps and saveloy’ and much more ‘devilled crab fritters and pilpil hake’.
Details: 172 Tollington Park, Finsbury Park, London N4 3AJ
We've teamed up with The Nudge, London's ultimate insider guide, to help you Do.More.
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Unlock the best of London with The Nudge's curated recommendations, exclusive perks, and insider access. Recent perks included an exclusive 50% off secret soft launch at Roe - the new restaurant by the iconic, Fallow & Fowl team.
