10 Heddon Street, Flor, Arcade Food Theatre, Now On The Resy Hit List

Because this residency from Smokestak’s David Carter and pasta supremo Chris Leach does the three major food groups — pasta, pork, and amaro — very, very well. Hidden just off Regent Street, this coolly laid-back bar and restaurant knocks out killer plates of house-made focaccia and mortadella, and pastas like brown crab cacio e pepe and a stellar sweetcorn ravioli that demands an instant re-order. Perfect for casual dinners, dates, and everything in between. 

Because it’s the first new spot from James Lowe since he opened Lyle’s, his groundbreaking Shoreditch restaurant, back in 2014. Flor’s bakery-meets-wine bar offering has made it an instant hit, with freshly-baked pastries proffered in the morning (the lardy bun is a must), courtesy of white-hot pastry chef Anna Higham, with top-tier coffee to match. Evenings see it fill with a post-work crowd, who make the journey to Borough to unwind with small plates, drinks, and a relaxed vibe. 

Because as of right now, chef Zijun Meng of TĀ TĀ Eatery is cooking some of the most exciting food in London. Instagrammers may head to the cocktail bar at Tayēr for the katsu sando that’s doubtlessly appeared on your feed, but the real prize is a seat at the coveted four-person counter, where Meng and his team prepare five courses of pristine, mind-blowing food that push the envelope creatively, but are never anything less than absolutely delicious. A cocktail pairing from god-tier bartenders and Tayēr cofounders Monica Suh and Alex Kratena is essential. 

Because you’re here for a good time, not a long time. Circolo — the little sister to the all-conquering Gloria — is a party in restaurant form, and a completely over-the-top one at that. Gigantic wheels of parmesan, knowingly kitsch cocktails, and one of the most jaw-droppingly extra dining rooms in the city are just a few reasons to go — but the real reason there’s a queue every night to get in is that every single person knows that a fun night is guaranteed. Gather a crew, make a date, and limber up for a delicious night of excess. 

Because if you haven’t already visited this West African-inspired standout, there hasn’t been a better time to do it. The result of a collaboration between Lagos-born restaurateur Iré Hassan-Odukale and mercurial chef Jeremy Chan, Ikoyi is a wildly creative restaurant that’s slowly evolved beyond its early remit. The bar is an excellent place to try creative cocktails and Chan’s unimpeachable smoked jollof rice or plantain with scotch bonnet, but the tasting menu is where the chef unleashes some of the most interesting food being cooked anywhere in the city — nay, the entire continent. Go. 

Because it’s serving London’s best burger. Said burger comes courtesy of two hotshot chefs at a lovingly restored boozer, tucked away on a pretty Islington back street. There are no airs and graces ⁠— just brilliantly elevated British cooking from a couple of guys who have cooked at London and Paris’s best (Bao, Le Chateaubriand). Expect a down-to-earth crowd of regulars and tables outside for fine weather. Sunday roasts? Sure. But also pig’s head tacos, and the perfect burger — all perfectly charred patties, melty cheese and squishy white bun. 

Because London loves plush food halls, and Arcade might just be the best example yet. Housed in a vast space at the base of Centre Point, this coolly industrial ‘theatre’ houses a gleaming bar for negronis, fizz and cocktails, and a line-up of some of the city’s best restaurants in miniature. Highlights include superb pastries from Popham’s bakery, pasta from Lina Stores, excellent grilled peri-peri chicken from Casita do Frango and, in a separate space upstairs, Ana Goncalves of TĀ TĀ Eatery plating up katsu sandos and delicious Iberico pork rice bowls. 

Because if there’s one place you should be doing brunch this month, it’s here. With star chef John Javier (ex-Quay and Momofuku Sieobo) on board, they’ve wasted no time recruiting several of the city’s rising talents to collaborate on a series of one-off brunches, including Ichibuns’ Brendan Fong and Budgie Montoya of modern Filipino standout Sarap. Expect a unique collision between Pachamama’s Peruvian-inspired flavours, the guest chefs’ Asian signature dishes, and a shedload of mezcal and pisco, all taken in one of Shoreditch’s most photogenic rooms. 

Because a few months after opening, Leo Carreira’s seafood and champagne bar is firing on all cylinders. By day, you wouldn’t think that a humble fishmonger would transform into one of the most sought-after reservations in London, but Carreira’s talent and team have earned it critical raves. The focus is, of course, fish and seafood, creatively prepared and paired to champagne from small producers; think yellowfin tuna accented with sour cherries and horseradish cream, or an elegant salad of Devon crab with one of Carreira’s signature seaweed waffles. 

Because it’s about as close to a gourmet pleasure dome as it’s possible to get. Created by restaurateurs Robin and Sarah Gill (of Clapham’s legendary Dairy and Counter Culture) and headed up by star duo Dean Parker and Emma Underwood running the kitchen and front of house respectively, this swish brasserie-meets-bakery-meets-bar pulls off the feat of excelling in every area. That means multiple reasons to return: from laid-back oyster happy hours and jazz evenings, to superlative pastries, elevated Irish fare and best-in-class service, it aces every occasion.