London — and its hospitality industry — appears to be getting closer and closer to its pre-pandemic order. One key sign of a semblance of normality having resumed is the steady flow of new opening announcements, many of which were on course to arrive in 2021 but whose timelines were interrupted by the coronavirus crisis. With the caveat that these dates are subject to change, here’s the definitive list of notable upcoming openings in 2022 (and beyond), in order of anticipated launch. This list will be updated constantly.
Berenjak
Address: 1 Bedale Street, Borough Market, London Bridge SE1 9AL
Key people: Chef Kian Samyani, backed by JKS Restaurants.
What to expect: A second site for the Tehrani grill, going strong on koobideh, joojeh, and a new range of Iranian desserts.
Projected opening: 25 May 2022
Hawker’s Kitchen
Address: TBD, Caledonian Road
Key people: The Hawker’s Kitchen team.
What to expect: Expansion for one of London’s best new Malay roti specialists.
Projected opening: May 2022
Vergine Maria
Address: 15 St. Mary’s Road, Ealing W5 5RA
Key people: Pasquale Chionchio and Angelo Ambrosio.
What to expect: Vegan pizza and other dishes from the founders of Santa Maria, taking over its original restaurant.
Projected opening: May 2022
JUNE 2022
Honey and Co.
Address: 54 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Bloomsbury WC1N 3LW
Key people: Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich.
What to expect: A new lease of life for one of London’s most-loved restaurants, keeping all the spirit of the original with some more space and a new wine list from near-neighbours Noble Rot.
Projected opening: 6 June 2022
Tatale
Address: 66 Great Suffolk Street, Southwark SE1 0BL
Key people: Akwasi Brenya-Mensa.
What to expect: A self-consciously pan-African restaurant, designed to provoke conversation and cross-pollination between different cultural disciplines.
Projected opening: 7 June 2022
Bar Daskal
Address: Borough Yards
Key people: Harts Brothers, they behind Barrafina, Parillan, and Tacos Pastor.
What to expect: As well as the first Barrafina restaurant south of the river, and a second less-DIY Parillan, an intriguing new sherry and cold tapas bar from seasoned pros at the same same but different restaurant development on the edge of Borough Market. Bar Daskal is named after the Harts brothers’s grandfather and is being described as the “prequel” venue in the group.
Opening: 15 June 2022
Sichuan Fry and Dumpling Shack
Address: 2 Westgate Street, London Fields E8 3RN
Key people: John and Yee Li.
What to expect: A first full restaurant for one of London’s most queued-for street food hits, with Sichuan fried chicken on the ground floor and crisp, soupy shengjianbao in the basement.
Projected opening: 21 June 2022
The Baring
Address: 55 Baring Street, Islington N1 3DS
Key people: Chef Rob Tecwyn and general manager Adam Symonds
What to expect: British / modern European gastropub fare. Tecwyn has worked as head chef at Dabbous and The Henrietta Hotel, and senior sous at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill; Symonds ran the dining room at the Bull and Last for five years, and has also worked at Orasay and Six Portland Road.
Projected opening: June 2022
Saltie Girl London
Address: 115 North Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 6WW
Key people: Kathy Sidell and chef Kyle McClelland of the Saltie Girl brand in Boston, USA
What to expect: A bright seafood restaurant with pedigree from Boston. Saltie Girl will offer everything from whole grilled fish, buttery lobster rolls, oysters, and a large range of tinned fish.
Projected opening: June 2022
SUMMER 2022
Bubala
Address: 15 Poland Street, Soho W1F 8QE
Key people: Helen Graham and Marc Summers.
What to expect: A follow-up from the vegetarian, loosely Sephardic restaurant in Spitalfields, bringing over its hero dishes and adding a Japanese grill.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
Forno
Address: Vyner Street, Hackney E2 9DG
Key people: Mitshel Ibrahim, chef-owner of the original Ombra.
What to expect: A pasta and charcuterie production site that will be open to the public for pastries, soups, and Roman pizza, in the vein of London Fields favourite E5 Bakehouse.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
Black Swan & Little Bread Pedlar
Address: Unit A1, Swan Court, 9 Tanner Street, Bermondsey SE1 3LE
Key people: Currently closed cafe Black Swan, and bakery Little Bread Pedlar.
What to expect: A meeting of great minds in the coffee, pastry, and restaurant arena, for an all-day space that brings one of the city’s most essential cafes back to life.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
Casa do Frango
Address: 31 — 33 Heddon Street, Mayfair W1B 4BN
Key people: Backers MJMK.
What to expect: Piri-piri chicken and chips for Mayfair.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
AngloThai
Address: TBD
Key people: John and Desiree Chantarasak.
What to expect: A central London home for one of the most exciting exponents of uncynical “fusion” cooking out there, whose push-pull between the language of Thai cooking and its traditions and British ingredients resolves its tensions in thrilling dishes.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
Roti King Battersea
Address: Battersea Power Station, Circus West Village, Battersea SW11 8AH
Key people: Roti King and Gopal’s Corner founder Sugen Gopal.
What to expect: A new, crucially bookable location for the cult-favourite Malay restaurant and its flaky roti canai.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
Bacchanalia
Address: Connaught House, 1-3 Mount Street, Mayfair W1K 3NB
Key people: Mayfair magnate and tan salon revenue stream Richard Caring.
What to expect: Ridiculous Italian-Greek food and art for people entirely unconcerned about eating it.
Projected opening: Spring 2022
LATER
Holloway Model Bakery
Address: 66 George’s Road, Holloway N7 8HX
Key people: Michelle Eshkeri, founder of Margot Bakery in East Finchley.
What to expect: A bakery focussed on sweet, leavened breads particularly in the Jewish tradition — best expressed by its formidable sourdough babka.
Projected opening: Autumn 2022
Long Chim
Address: 9 Horse and Dolphin Yard, Chinatown W1D 5BP
Key people: Revered Thai food maestro David Thompson, formerly of Michelin-starred Nahm.
What to expect: Expansion for his more “casual” chain of restaurants.
Projected opening: 2022
Big Mamma Kensington
Address: 92 Kensington High Street, Kensington W8 4SH
Key people: Big Mamma, the group behind wildly extra Italian trio Gloria, Circolo Popolare, and Ave Mario.
What to expect: More wildly extra Italian stuff.
Projected opening: 2022
Master / All Under Heaven / TBD
Address: East London
Key people: Chef John Javier.
What to expect: A high-end modern Chinese restaurant.
Projected opening: 2022
Aragawa
Address: 38 Clarges Street, Mayfair W1J 7EN
Key people: Mitsuya Yamada.
What to expect: A laser-like focus on high quality Kobe beef, with an austere supporting cast of luxury ingredient sides.
Projected opening: 2022
Lina Stores
Address: 68 Wigmore Street, Marylebone W1U 2SD
Key people: Backer White Rabbit Projects, alongside the storied brand.
What to expect: More green-hued designs and fresh pasta.
Projected opening: 2022
Socca
Address: 41A South Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 2PS
Key people: Claude Bosi and Samyukta Nair
What to expect: Breezy French Riviera cuisine from the esteemed French chef.
Projected opening: Summer 2022
Manzi’s
Address: 1 Bateman’s Buildings, Soho W1D 3EN
Key people: Jeremy King and Chris Corbin of The Wolseley, The Delaunay, et alia.
What to expect: A huge seafood restaurant in the heart of Soho, in the affordable luxury guise that the duo do so well.
Projected opening: 2022
Frantzen
Address: Harrods, 87 — 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW1X 7XL
Key people: Björn Frantzén, of the three-Michelin-starred Stockholm restaurant that bears his surname.
What to expect: A shrine to international gastrotourism.
Projected opening: Autumn 2022
Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London
Address: The Old War Office, Whitehall SW1A 2EU
Key people: Mauro Colagreco, of three-Michelin-starred Mirazur.
What to expect: A trio of restaurants overseen by the garlanded chef, including a brasserie, a fine dining restaurant, and a chef’s table.
Projected opening: 2022