From Middle Eastern takes on American diners to dumpling houses and kitsch Italian places, here are the best new restaurants, bars and pubs in London to try this May.

1 Peckham Arches, Peckham

A new south London cocktail and alfresco dining place, Peckham Arches also has an art gallery, a screening room and a dance room and has a plan for live music, djs, quiz nights and events to be regular things. The terrace can fit 600 people - big! – and it’s where to go for Middle Eastern-inspired open fire cooking, cocktails and craft beers. It’s by the same team as the friendly neighbourhood boozer The Hawk’s Nest over in Shepard’s Bush, so expect a similar vibe.

Address: Unit 4-5 Dovedale Trading Estate, Peckham SE15 4QN

Website: peckhamarches.com

2 Andreas of Chelsea Green, Chelsea

A grocer/deli kind of place fitting for Chelsea, Andreas of Chelsea Green will open up next to his first shop which has been running strong for 12 years. Like the current store, it will stock a selection of hard to find fruit and veg, as well as specialty produce that keeps the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson happy. There’s also European cheeses and charcuterie, edible flowers and a wine room. In summer, expect the space to transform into a little diner of sorts, with cocktails and  freshly made juices as well as brunch plates and bagels to eat in or takeaway.

Address: 6 Cale Street, Chelsea, SW3 3QU

Website: andreasveg.co.uk

3 Kibako, Fitzrovia

A restaurant by Islington’s Hot Stone team and which takes its name from its starring dish, Kibako’s speciality is kibako – omakase-style boxed containing six and 12 handcrafted sushi and sashimi dishes. If that doesn’t take your fancy, there’s a three-course omakase menu on offer, or just go a la carte for a range of sushi, sashimi, maki and carpaccio dishes, as well as a selection of hot seafood and wagyu dishes. With 50 seats and traditional wooden-panelling, it’s a cosy little restaurant too. If you want a bit of theatre with your meal, sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs at work.

Address: 3 Windmill Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 2HY

Website: kibakolondon.com

4 Lilienblum, Shoredtich – Opens May 19

Eyal Shani (who also opened Mizon in Soho and Notting Hill) launches a new Israeli-inspired restaurant in Shoreditch. In contrast to the fast casual style of his other joints, this one will focus on family-style sharing plates with Oren King (ex- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Roka, and Hide) heading up the kitchen. Dishes are organised by ingredients, and there’s plenty of veg-based options too. Look out for elaborate menu items too, such as ribeye steak, the way GOD intended or the seafood pan roasted in tomato ovaries and Pearls from the ground swirled with farro and clams.

Address: 80 City Road, Shoreditch EC1Y 2BJ

Website: lilienblum.co.uk

 

5 Noci, Battersea Power Station - Opens May 16

The neighbourhood Islington pasta bar by ex-Bancone crew, welcomes a sister site over in Battersea Power Station this month. Many of the restaurant’s favourite dishes will be on offer, like charred octopus salad with lemon dressed potatoes and burrata with rainbow chard, garlic, lemon and chilli. Classic pasta dishes will also be on the menu such as brown butter cacio e pepe ziti or silk handkerchief served with sauteed leeks, mint, peas, walnuts and Burford Brown egg yolk.

Address: Hall B, Battersea Power Station, SW8 5BN

Website: nocirestaurant.co.uk

6 Harrod’s Dim Sum Terrace, Knightsbridge

The iconic department store has recently opened a Dim Sum Terrace; a conservatory style space that is bathed in natural light in the day, surrounded by the original and iconic Baroque brown-brick and alcove wall of Harrods ideal for alfresco or sunset dumplings by the bamboo steamer full. Traditional and not so traditional dumplings come fried, baked and steamed, and include classics like scallop and prawn siu mai topped with foie gras; fragrant lobster and coriander dumplings; and deep-fried taro and wagyu dumplings with plum sauce and caviar. A menu of Cantonese favourites on offer too, so you can feast on the likes of pork sui long bao or BBQ pork char siu bao. 

Address: Fourth floor Harrod’s, 87-135 Brompton Road SW1X 7XL

Website: harrods.com

7 Nakanojo, Marylebone

Find this Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant around the corner from Selfridges. Serving up sushi, sashimi and tacos, the menu comes with South American flair in a dining room that has been designed using classic Japanese beauty and bold Peruvian colours. Tuck into sea bass ceviche, Nikkei chicken kara-age and yellowtail Nikkei while quaffing cocktails that come smoking and elaborate.

Address: 13-14 Thayer Street, Marylebone W1U 3JR

Website: nakanojo.com

8 Epicurus, Camden

The team behind Middle Eastern Steakhouse The Black Cow, have launched a new restaurant in the Camden’s North Yard that puts a Middle Eastern spin on the American diner. Shiri Kraus and Amir Batito (ex-The Barbary, Palomar) put a fragrant, zesty twist on classic dishes such as sharing grill platters, confit pork belly and Canada’s Poutine.

Address: Unti 90, The North Yard, Camden Stables Market, NW1 8AH

Website: epicuruscamden.co.uk

 

9 Wild, King’s Cross

Found on the first floor of the north London mega club The Cross, Wild plates up Mediterranean-inspired small plates and sharing dishes under the guidance of Head Chef Luis Diego Loria Ortega (Ex- Brasserie Blanc Threadneedle Street, The Ivy St John’s Wood) and a little bit of glamour. The ground floor bar focuses on biodynamic and low intervention wines, and zingy takes on classic cocktails.

Address: 2-4 Wharfdale Road, King's Cross N1 9RY

Website: thecrosslondon.com

10 Carlotta, Marylebone

The bold brash Italian restaurant group Big Mamma have opened yet another venue, having only launched Jacuzzi in South Kensington earlier this year. The Marylebone Village venue is supposed be the group’s most intimate and elegant restaurant in London yet, but will still come with all the kitsch maximalism you have come to expect. This one takes its style ques from 80s glamour and comes with burgundy leather booths and a Venetian marble bar and mirrored walls.

Address: 77-78 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5JX

Website: bigmammagroup.com

11 Vinum, Mayfair

A below ground-level wine bar that fits just 16 guests that sits below Carlo Scotto’s exceptional restaurant Amethyst. Carrying on with the restaurant’s gastronomic trip around the world, Vinum will offer European and world flights as part of its premium offering. The bar also has a cellar filled with rare and vintage finds which will be available by the glass. Scotto created a small plates menu to go with the wine in the spirit of the menu found upstairs.

Address: 6 Sackville Street, Mayfair W1S 3DD

Website: amethystdining.com

12 The Midland Grand Dining Room & Gothic Bar

Found in the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel (where the Spice Girls filmed some of their Wannabe music clip), this bar and restaurant is headed up by the Booking Office 1869  Overseen by chef Patrick Powell (also Allegra, Booking Office 1869), restauranteur and hotelier Harry Handelsman (also Chiltern Firehouse, Allegra) and with Jack Porter overseeing the bar (also Mezzanine at The Stratford, Library Bar at The Ned), this new restaurant and bar takes its design ques from the building’s impressive gothic architecture. The cocktail bar comes with a selection of absinthe, while the kitchen’s menu will have a strong French influence.

Address: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, King's Cross NW1 2AR

Website: midlandgranddiningroom.com

13 BAO Mary, Marylebone

A Taiwanese dumpling house, from the very stylish BAO group that focuses on dumplings, and cold dishes for when you’re in a hurry - soy braised lu wei assorted vegetables inspired by the Taiwanese carts stock soy-heavy broths; street food-style Majiang noodles flavoured with sesame paste, ox tongue and chilli oil. Dumplings are stuffed with the likes of boiled cull yak, mutton, prawn, scrambled egg, and pan fried mushrooms. Of course, alongside this, there will be a selection of small plates and bao.

Address: 56 James Stree, Marylebone, W1U 1HF

Website: baolondon.com

This guide will be updated