London saw a number of new restaurants, bars, and event venues in 2025 Italian-American dining made a splash, with the new Carbone outpost and plenty of NY-style slice shops like Carmelas, Bad Boy, and Paulie's. The city is changing its reputation for having terrible Mexican food, with the expansion of taco joints like CDMX and mezcal bars like Little Fires. And though the city was hit with some heartbreaking closures this year (R.I.P. Lyle's), some iconic restaurants have risen from the ashes, like Singburi and Maggie Jones.

We know your London to-dine list is long, but our research says that 2026 could be even better. So get that pen out, flip to a new page, and let us tell you about our favorite new bars, restaurants, and venues opening in London next year.

Bars

Forza Wine

SoHo

Much to the dismay of South London gatekeepers, Forza Wine is expanding to a central London location, taking over the old Daroco site on Manette Street. Just like their other locations in Peckham and at the National Theatre, this location will be big and airy, with an expansive outdoor terrace for those long summer nights. Originally starting as an illegal rooftop pop-up in 2012, these guys have been in the business for a long time. Whether their Soho location – which some call the "final boss" of London dining ventures – will be anything special, it's unclear. But we do know that they'll have the things people know and love about Forza: low-intervention wines, Italian small plate, killer negronis, and a too-cool vibe that'll make you want to go out and buy a pair of Solomons.

Opening February 2026

The Horsemen

City of London

The team behind Sunday in Brooklyn are opening a new Irish-American pub in Broadgate Circle, as part of the new revamping of the area by British Land to be a central shopping and dining destination for City workers. Of course, it'll be serving up Guinness on draft and a selection of Irish whiskeys. Plus, it's open until midnight – perfect for an after-work social that goes on a bit too long. There'll be a steakhouse attached, called Fitzgerald's, but the pub will also offer a club menu and Kentucky fried chicken. So yes, the constant construction around Finsbury Square might be a bit of an ear sore on your lunch breaks, but it'll reap a good harvest.

Opening 2026

Restaurants

Impala

Soho

Impala is the newest venture by the Super 8 team, the genius minds behind restaurants like Brat, Kiln, Smoking Goat, and Mountain. Kiln, which along with Smoking Goat is known as one of the top Thai restaurants in London, is saying goodbye to long-term chef Meedu Saad as he moves to open his debut restaurant. Impala, named after the 1964 Chevrolet Impala that Saad drove with his dad during childhood summers in Egypt, centers on North African cuisine with a North London twist. A true labor of love and memory, Impala will focus on mindful sourcing and highlight Saad's own collection of spices from all over the world. Opening on Dean Street in the spring, we wouldn't be surprised if lines are out the door on the first day. We'll certainly be queueing.

Opening Spring 2026

Kiji

Mayfair

From Chef Junghyun Park, who is behind the world-reknown (and twice Michelin-starred) New York fine dining restaurant Atomix, Kiji is set to open at 60 Curzon Street as an elevated Korean BBQ spot. There's not much out about it, but from what we know about Atomix, it'll be something special. The space is large, and will hold it's own bar, lounge, and private chef room. The site used to be home to Mirabelle, an institution that hosted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill, before it closed in 2008. Big shoes to fill? Maybe. Nonetheless, it's going to kick off a cultural resurrection in the area.

Opening 2026

Burro

Covent Garden

If you've ever had the pleasure of eating at Trullo, which is hands-down Islington's best pasta restaurant, you'll be pleased to hear that the chef and co-owner Conor Gadd is opening a solo venture at Burro. The space will take over what was once a Petersham Nurseries outpost on Floral Street, humbly tucked away amongst the chaos of central London. While the decor is described to Hot Dinners as "part Irish Country House Kitchen, part Italian fifties bistro", the menu leans Italian (why fix what isn't broken?) with plenty of pasta and appetisers like fried artichokes, and chicken liver bruschetta. The tiramisu, we expect, will also be a must-try.

Opening Early 2026

Tiella Trattoria

Hackney

London-based chef Dara Klein spent her childhood in a restaurant, and now she finally gets her own. Growing up on her family's trattoria in New Zealand, she didn't start cooking herself until about a decade ago – and what a decade it's been. With a CV full of hot names like Trullo and Brawn, it's no wonder her residency at The Compton Arms got people flocking from all over the city. Together with the co-founder of The Plimsoll and Homeslice Ry Jessup, she's opening Tiella Trattoria as a permanent restaurant inside a restored Victorian pub on Columbia Road. The menu will champion both Italian and British produce, and will center around a central bar as a nod to the space's past. Diners can expect regional, heartfelt cooking. Keep an eye on this one – we've got a feeling it's going to be a reservation to brag about.

Opening Early 2026

Hotels

The Imperial

Bloomsbury

The original Imperial Hotel has a special place in the heart of this writer. After moving to London to attend UCL in Bloomsbury, I spent the first night with my dad in this hotel, too nervous to sleep alone in my new uni room. At the time, we laughed at the outdated-ness of the room: mismatched floral patterns everywhere, a static TV from the 90s, and a ton of art with various sailor motifs. I can't lie, the beige minimalism of some hotels and restaurants today makes me grieve the loss of that slightly, but I was pleased to see that the new Imperial is retaining a bold, mid-century aesthetic. With 357 thoughtfully curated rooms, lounge, terrace, multiple dining spaces and a 374-seat rooftop bar, this will be Bloomsbury's go-to spot for hotel stays and private events alike.

Opening Summer 2026

The Shepherd

Mayfair

Situated discreetly just off of Park Lane, The Shepherd is a far cry from the massive chain hotels surrounding it. With only 82 suites, each room is thoughtfully curated to reflect Mayfair's rich heritage and the exclusivity of one of London's most sought-after postcodes. The culinary offerings include a speakeasy cocktail bar, Teddy’s, an all-day London brasserie, Fayre, and a café in the lobby for artisan coffee and pastries.

Opening Late 2026

Other

Freight

Brixton

Set to be London's largest open-air venue, Freight in Brixton is due to open in the spring, just before the summer months. With a capacity of 1,000, the venue is designed to be "the ultimate destination for locals and visitors to celebrate community, culture and music" in South London. Events will include DJs, markets, and dance nights, but the real focus is food – Freight has an open-fire BBQ plus several dedicated kitchens, each serving up signature dishes.

London Museum

Farringdon

Having relocated from the London Wall to just around the corner from Smithfield Market, the four-year wait for the new London Museum seems like it'll be worth it. The new site will house its vast collection in the iconic Victorian General Market, focusing on London's history and vibrant culture. The 1960s Poultry Market site, which will be home to the museum’s temporary exhibitions, collection stores and learning centre, is scheduled to open in 2028. It'll also have extended opening hours, opening early and closing late, to place itself as a true around-the-clock cultural hub for Londoners. Over 100,000 Londoners have been involved in the project, offering their insights and skills to make this a true reflection of the city. Like The Docklands site, we expect the Smithfield site to offer certain spaces for private events.

Opening Late 2026

ICC London Olympia

Hammersmith

One of the biggest London venue openings in years, The ICC (International Convention Centre) is not just big – though it can hold more than 1,000 guests – it's also incredibly dynamic. Purpose-built for world-class events, the space is a welcome change from the grey, windowless conference venues of the past, with Art Deco interiors and warm lighting to enhance the large-scale event experience. With two auditoriums (each holding 400-800+ guests), multiple breakout rooms, a business lounge, and guest reception, each feature has been thoughtfully enhanced to ensure every event is effortless and impactful.

The ICC is the heart of a revitalised cultural hub at Olympia, which allows guests to attend corporate events, dine at restaurants by award-winning chefs, stay at contemporary hotels, and attend social events. The best news? Heathrow is just 30 minutes away by Tube. No more airport hotels and conference rooms for international guests – show them what this city can do.

Opening Early 2026

Want more? Keep an eye out on our site for new openings throughout 2026, and take a look at our previous Autumn and Summer 2025 openings to see what's hot right now.