New on Resy: Top Cuvée, Akoko, Buvette, and More

One of the hottest restaurants in London, Top Cuvée’s success is predicated on great wine and food, but also an unparalleled gift for showing its guests a good time. The food? No-nonsense bistro cooking. The wine? Natural, of course. Owner Brodie Meah and his team are consummate hosts, the dialled-in crowd of regulars are always up for it, and every night feels like a celebration. Go.

The younger sibling to the irrepressible Top Cuvée in Highbury, this cool Bethnal Green basement wine bar is perfect for laid-back trysts, or for casually raising a glass with a few of your nearest. Wines lean natural (obviously), dishes lean snacky (cheese, charcuterie), and the atmosphere is never anything less than spellbinding. Finally, Bethnal Green Road gets the wine bar it’s always wanted – and it’s excellent.

A fine diner with dazzling cooking and serious pedigree, Akoko marries stellar West African spices to peak seasonal British ingredients, drawing inspiration from founder Aji Akokomi’s heritage and execution in a kitchen led by ex-Portland head chef Theo Clench. Tasting menus of six and nine courses can be paired to a well-travelled wine list, while a serene room of warm terracotta tones and wood accents offers momentary escapism. The aged hogget suya must be tasted to be believed.

Headed up by the Savoy’s former Head Mixologist, this intimate Kensington bar offers playful spins on classics cocktails, crafted by an elite team of some of London’s finest bartenders. Alongside elegant riffs like a pomegranate negroni or a cosmo Amaro – the early aughts are back, after all – there’s an Italian-leaning list of wines, Champagnes, spirits and liqueurs, served across a polished black granite bar. Feeling hungry? There’s an Italian-rooted bar menu on offer, ranging from tuna tartare to a daily-changing pasta.

Opened by the same team behind the excellent Berber & Q and Shawarma Bar, this cosy eatery in Queens Park exudes a welcoming, hip neighbourhood vibe. Inviting interiors and a bright, open plan layout set the scene for breakfasts of shakshuka and stuffed French toasts, mezze at lunch, and wood-fired sharing plates in the evening, all accompanied by chic low-intervention wines. Most of the menu happens to be vegetarian, with highlights including a turmeric roasted cauliflower and oven-warm mushroom flatbread, alongside meaty standouts like 34-day aged ex-dairy sirloin, harissa prawns with ‘nduja, or pan-seared cod with clams and saffron.

One of London’s most popular Vietnamese restaurants, Cay Tre in Soho has built a loyal following with its hefty bowls of phở, dependable classics, and a modern dining room packed with diners exchanging anecdotes over cocktails and small plates. It’s perfect for a casual lunch – one-bowl dishes like spring roll salad or bún bò Huế hit the spot – but you could also easily go deep on the menu, or just dive into several rounds of highballs and all the starters. If you’re grazing, don’t skip the chả lá lốt (pork wrapped in betel leaf) and bánh cuốn (pork mince rice rolls), of which there are several regional variations.

For those aching to feast on dim sum or Cantonese fare, this Chinatown gem offers an excellent menu for the occasion. Gather some friends for a big dim sum brunch at the weekend, or make a reservation for a relaxed catch up over roast duck, fresh seafood, or skilfully tossed noodles. A buzzing, light-filled dining room is an excellent setting to relax, and there’s an extensive wine list to sip between toasts.

An emphasis on traceable seafood reigns at this Wapping restaurant, led by chef Neil Wagner in collaboration with Shaun Henderson (of Henderson Seafood, supplier to London’s best restaurants). The provenance of a daily-changing menu of fish and shellfish dishes can be traced down to the boat, time of day, and even the named fisherman, offering true transparency. Wagner’s cooking is excellent – dishes let produce shine, while heartier fare like halibut with wild chanterelles and crab mac and cheese offer finesse and comfort. There’s also a fishmonger offering the finest fresh and aged fish, and a takeaway section with fish and chips to go.

After New York, Paris and Tokyo, chef Jody Williams’ hip homage to the Parisian bistro has arrived in London. The all-day menu opens with croque madames and waffles and Nutella at breakfast, bringing out the ski season ribstickers as the day progresses. There’s tartiflette with bacon, potatoes and cheese, raclette with morteau sausage, duck parmentier and coq au vin. To drink, make it vin brulé (mulled wine), or drop in for aperitifs and snacks.

An airy brunch restaurant and workspace by day, this relaxed Streatham local transforms into an intimate wine bar and restaurant at night, with classic cocktails and natural wines by the bottle or glass. Small plates designed for sharing pair perfectly with drinks; expect unfussy but deftly executed plates like yoghurt with sheep’s ricotta, roasted carrots and honey, crisp chicken kara-age, or an apple and raspberry tarte tatin to round a satisfying meal off.

A slick restaurant and bar in deepest Hornsey, the broadly African menu at I Nairobi showcases dishes from across the continent, ranging from whole grilled king prawns and samosas from the Eastern coast, to Ugandan and Kenyan specialities like luwombo (chicken grilled in banana leaves) or sukuma (spiced braised collard greens). There’s a formidable list of cocktails to get the party started, while those ordering for a group can go in on one of several sharing platters, loaded with grilled fish, meat, and seafood.

The second restaurant from acclaimed caterer Fat Macy’s, this Shoreditch establishment’s social enterprise model trains Londoners in temporary accommodation to learn culinary and hospitality skills – all while providing outstanding food and service. Here, find Lebanese-inspired small plates accompanied by an extensive list of natural and biodynamic wines and sweet service; if the praise for Ebury, its sister restaurant across town, is anything to go by, Sohaila and its trainees are poised for great things ahead.

After a stroll on Hampstead Heath or Waterlow Park, few places can offer a place to relax quite like this modern, Irish-leaning Victorian pub on Highgate Hill. The requisite cosiness and atmosphere, you’ll find in spades; meanwhile, a traditional menu of pub dishes is kicked up a notch, with a majority of dishes and roasts cooked over live fire. Expect a deep selection of craft beers, ciders, and porters, while traditional Irish music sessions are usually on twice a week, with a pretty garden terrace out back for fine weather. Don’t miss the black pudding Scotch egg.