Motorino, Fitzrovia
Dine at Motorino and you’re in for quite the ride. Launched this year by chef and restaurateur Stevie Parle of Covent Garden’s Town and Michelin-starred chef Luke Ahearne, from legendary Lita, Motorino will take you on a playful ride through Italian-inspired dishes, served with a tongue-in-cheek yet ultra-chic design. The interiors by North End Design are sleek and colourful, inspired by British motoring companies from the 1970s and all those vintage mopeds popular in Italy in the ’90s. They feature iconic furniture from Knoll and Cassina, paired with the artwork of Alan Aldridge and the fluid designs of Willy Rizzo. And the menu is a London take on Italy’s specialities: bluefin tuna carpaccio, gigli al gin, and beef cheek, peppercorns and polenta.
Maset, Marylebone
Travel to France’s Occitane region without leaving home at the new eatery Maset, opened by Melody Adams on buzzing Chiltern Street. Parisian studio Haddou-Dufourcq curated the interiors with a cosy, relaxed feel, pairing wood elements inspired by classic seaside models with a sculptural stainless-steel bar that adds a modern touch to the traditional French bistro vibe. Tactile textures, an off-white palette and mirrors create a breezy atmosphere that reflects southern specialities like bouillabaisse; croquettes and crisp panisse with anchoïade; and monkfish with lardo, Moroccan lemon, seabeets and verjus.
The Lavery, South Kensington
Lunch inside a painter’s atelier at The Lavery, brainchild of chef Yohei Furuhashi, creative director Martin Cohen and front-of-house veteran Alcides Gauto. Named for the Anglo-Irish painter John Lavery, the restaurant and café take over his former home and studio within a restored Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse. The interiors highlight period features such as staircases, fireplaces, ornate plasterwork and baroque-style mirrors, complemented by soft-white walls and wood flooring. Pops of colour give the space a modern, warm, airy feel, providing quite the backdrop for a Mediterranean-inspired menu with influences from the British Isles.
Nora, Canary Wharf
This Turkish diner by award-winning interior studio Ola Jachymiak highlights the country’s cuisine with a luscious design concept. Founded by brothers Ozgur and Sidar Akyuz, who are behind the independent Café Beam chain, the space is a dream for enthusiasts of mid-century modern design. It features minimalist elements and modern furnishings alongside bespoke carpentry and Anatolian textiles. Natural light fills the space from floor-to-ceiling windows and earthy tones add a serene touch.
The Hart, Marylebone
Chiltern Street has yet another new destination that elevates the typical pub experience to boutique-style dining. The Hart is the latest addition to the successful Public House portfolio (see The Pelican and The Hero). Taking its name from the Hart family of Georgian-era landlords, the pub used history to inform its interiors. An in-house design studio led by Leticia Blakiston Houston curated classic wood furnishings against a warm palette, wood flooring and stained-glass windows. Guests have access to two distinct areas: a traditional pub on the ground floor and more intimate dining rooms on the second and third floors. Throughout, you’ll find bespoke joinery by Philip Clay, lighting by Fosbery Studio and window treatments by Daniel Gabriel.
Cornershop, Temple
Design, artisanal craftsmanship and fine dining are on the menu at this gourmet grocery, café and wine bar on the north bank of the Thames — part of 180 Quarter, the development transforming the Strand into a cultural destination. Alex Eagle and Sophie Hodges of Eagle & Hodges imbued the laid-back two-storey space with urban attitude from colourfully woven India Mahdavi chairs, mosaic flooring and Calshott tables. The space has enjoyed an influx of creatives morning through night, when the kitchen serves shin of beef and duck with chickpeas. And the gourmet takeaway counter offers the alternative of an instant dinner party.
Albers, De Beauvoir Town
Playful and welcoming: De Beauvoir’s new cafe, named after founder Scott Pattinson’s dog, embraces the beloved puppy’s lively spirit through its quirky design, curated by Pattinson himself alongside local designer Luke MacMahon. Supporting a menu of reimagined classics charged with a touch of nostalgia, the design is a study in simplicity: bright walls, rich brown floors, warm timber panels and closely arranged tables that create a calm, communal atmosphere. Colourful portraits of Albers, created by artists like Hannah Tilson, Billy Crosby and Fraser Sharp, hang on the walls.
Tobi Masa, Mayfair
Is this the most exceptional opening of 2025? Michelin-star chef Masayoshi ‘Masa’ Takayama has transported his distinctive omakase vision from Manhattan to the new Chancery Rosewood hotel in Eero Saarinen’s former American Embassy. The food’s quiet sharpness and precision are reflected in the interiors, crafted by award-winning studio AvroKO. They’ve infused spaces with understated elegance, incorporating Asian influences, natural materials and an amber palette that liken the dining experience to an intimate ritual, and a tranquil escape from the chaos of London.
