This winter, London's dining scene heats up with new wine bars and restaurants offering cozy atmospheres, rare vintages, and inventive seasonal menus.
Fables & Company to Open Third Site
This November, Fables & Company – the founders of Plume in Covent Garden and Finch in Brixton – are set to launch its third venue, Quill, in Borough Yards.
On a mission to make wine bars more approachable and connected to the storytelling of wine, Fables & Company’s newest site is set to do just that with Quill being the brand’s largest space and kitchen to date.
Situated at the historic riverside gateway to Borough Market, Quill can host 75 covers in the 2000 square foot space across the internal arch and outside garden. The interior emulates an eccentric wine cellar, filled with artworks, exquisite wines and objects from inspiring globetrotting adventures, whilst the exterior is an ode to an English garden.
To complement the wines a food menu has been expertly crafted by Rob Wade, Fables & Company’s Culinary Innovator (ex Chez Bruce, Soho House Group and La Truffiere in Paris), serving up the best of British cuisine.
Andrew Gray, founder of Fables & Company, said: “Quill embodies the same spirit as our sister bars, advancing our experience from Plume and Finch. This is a really exciting site, with oddities in wine and intensely flavoured food, but most importantly it will be fun!'
When: Opens Tuesday, 5th November.
Where: Borough Yards, Arch 232 Bank End, SE1 9FJ.
Web: www.quillwinebar.com.
Legendary Pizzeria On the Move
After 31 eventful years on Clapham High Street, legendary family-run, multi award- winning pizzeria, Eco, is on the move.
From mid-November, fans will be descending on a brand-new restaurant located on pedestrianised Venn Street in the heart of Clapham Old Town.
Just a two-minute walk from the former site, the new Eco can be found opposite the iconic Clapham Picture House.
This is the venue that gave the restaurant its name, as Umberto Eco’s novel-turned-film, The Name of the Rose, was playing there back in the autumn of 1993!
The 2024 incarnation of Eco will be bigger, with additional indoor and al fresco seating and owner Sami Wasif has worked with architects and designers to repurpose many original features, from raw materials through to the pendant lighting and tables.
When: Mid-November.
Where: Venn Street Clapham, SW4 0BD.
City Restaurants Added to The MICHELIN Guide
Four London restaurants have been added to The MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland - AGORA, Cloth, Kioku by Endo and The Hero.
AGORA, Greek
Located on the edge of Borough Market, underneath its sister restaurant OMA, is this simple yet spectacular ‘souvla bar’. Skewers are at the core of the menu – like the excellent slow-roast pork souvlaki, together with a range of dips and beautifully-puffed flatbreads served straight from the oven.
Where: Borough Market, Bedale Street, SE1 9AL.
Web: www.agora.london.
Cloth, Traditional Cuisine
This hidden gem is just a stone’s throw from Smithfield Market, tucked down a narrow lane inside a period house which was once home to the poet Sir John Betjeman. It’s now under the watchful eye of wine merchants Joe and Ben, who operate the tightly-packed space as part bar, part restaurant, offering pared-back and ingredient-led dishes and a wine list which is "extensive and full of interesting choices".
Where: Cloth Fair, City of London, London, EC1A 7JQ.
Web: www.clothrestaurants.com.
Kioku by Endo, Japanese Contemporary, Mediterranean Cuisine
Enjoy a cocktail or two in the elegant ground-floor bar before heading up to this restaurant at the top of the Raffles hotel inside the spectacular Old War Office. Superb city skyline views await you, while a seat on the terrace is a must in warmer weather. With a name meaning ‘memories’, the menu fuses Endo Kazutoshi’s Japanese heritage with his Mediterranean training, resulting in dishes ranging from lobster fregola to stand-out nigiri. For a special occasion, book the chef’s table or even the private room in a turret.
Where: Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall Place, Whitehall, SW1A 2BD
Web: www.kiokubyendo.com.
The Hero, Traditional Cuisine
Maida Vale residents hit the jackpot when the owners of Notting Hill’s The Pelican and The Bull in Charlbury chose this neighbourhood for the location for their third venture,The Hero. The ground floor offers a great value list of classic pub dishes, from fish pie to sausage and mash. Upstairs is ‘The Grill’, where things are taken up a level with dishes like sweetbreads and lobster gravy.
Where: Shirland Road, Maida Vale, W9 2JD.
Web: theherow9.com.
New Hotel & Entertainment Venue for Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf Group has agreed a deal with Imbiba, the specialist leisure, lifestyle and entertainment investor, to open a 65,000 sq ft hotel, restaurant and music venue at 12 Bank Street.
The impressive building in the heart of Canary Wharf will open in 2025 housing several of Imbiba’s most exciting brands including a 78-bedroom House of Gods Hotel, an Amazing Grace music venue, a stunning rooftop bar overlooking Eden Dock and a new events facility to be operated by Camm & Hooper.
The iconic venue is located adjacent to the new Eden Dock – an urban oasis providing access to the water and green spaces designed to enhance biodiversity at Canary Wharf.
Stuart Fyfe, MD of Retail, Leisure and Hospitality at CWG, said: “Imbiba will deliver a spectacular new 65,000 sq ft hospitality and leisure venue at Canary Wharf. Their line-up of world class brands will further enrich the provision of evening entertainment, provide event venues, and bring another hotel to the Wharf.
Kieran Sherlock, Partner and Property Director at Imbiba, added: “We cannot wait to bring our exciting and cutting-edge concepts to this truly remarkable building in the very heart of Canary Wharf.”
When: 2025.
Where: Canary Wharf.
TA-KO - Now Open!
The team behind the well-loved Stoke Newington restaurant TA-KO have joined forces with Forest Road Brewing Co. to bring its famous tacos to the East London Taproom and Bar. Guests can enjoy TA-KO’s signature Asian-inspired dishes in soft corn tortillas, offering a unique casual dining experience.
Located just a stone's throw from London Fields and Broadway Market, the Forest Road Brewing Co. taproom offers more than just great food.
Visitors can enjoy the full range of Forest Road’s craft ales and lagers, house wines, a full liquor bar, and a thoughtfully curated cocktail menu.
With its cosy furnishings and laid-back vibe, it’s the ideal spot for everything from casual beers with friends to late-night parties fueled by great music and good vibes.
This exciting collaboration promises to deliver an unforgettable food and drink experience in the heart of East London.
When: Now open.
Where: Arches, Westgate Street, E8 3RL.
Web: www.forestroadbrewery
Claro Opens in St James's
Eastern Mediterranean restaurant, Claro, has opened its second location, in the heart of London.
Claro is synonymous with fresh, seasonal produce and high-quality ingredients, all thoughtfully prepared to create contemporary Mediterranean food with Middle Eastern influences.
Claro, located in the St James's district, will offer a similar food philosophy and dining experience to its existing restaurant in Tel Aviv, which opened over a decade ago.
Chef Shadi Issawy is leading the kitchen, offering lunch and dinner throughout the week, with a special weekend brunch to follow.
Claro features bar seating, dining tables, an open kitchen, and outdoor seating set to follow. Ideal for private events, on the second level there will also be two private rooms for 12 and 60 guests, with their own lounge bar.
The open kitchen is located on the ground floor within a large, dramatic, double-height main area.
Once a historic banking hall, the space has been reimagined to honour the heritage of St James's Clubland, where the restaurant now sits.
Founder and Owner of Claro Group, Ran Shmueli, said:“London has always been a city that embraces diverse culinary traditions and innovative dining experiences, so we are incredibly excited to bring Claro to such a dynamic food scene, and to share our passion for Eastern Mediterranean cuisine with Londoners. After six years of searching for the ideal venue in the capital, we are delighted to have found the perfect location, which also encapsulates the rich heritage and character that aligns with Claro.”
When: Now open.
Where: Waterloo Place, SW1Y 4AU.
Website: www.claro-london.com.
Pavilion Club - Now in Fulham
Pavilion Club, the eclectic blend of luxury workspace, private offices and exclusive private members facilities designed for creatives and professionals, has launched it's fourth location.
Building on the success of its venues in Knightsbridge, Kensington, and the City, Pavilion Club is located a stone's throw from the River Thames and next to Putney Bridge tube station.
With member’s lounges, co-working spaces, zoom booths, meeting rooms, serviced offices, garden, private event spaces and a terrace with impressive river views, it is set to be the ideal spot for both work and socialising alike.
Members can look forward to the opening of the stunning private terrace situated on the 3rd floor later in the year.
Following in the footsteps of the flagship club in Knightsbridge, the new Fulham site will play host to numerous members' events every Thursday, offering something to suit everyone. Members of Pavilion Fulham also have access to the other three city venues.
When: Now open.
Where: Fulham High Street, SW6 3JW.
Web: www.pavilion.club.
For One Night Only!
The UK’s two finest Catalonian restaurants, The Campaner, of London, and Tast Catala, of Manchester, are joining forces to celebrate authentic Catalonian gastronomy.
For one night only, Juanba Agreda and Antonio Hernández, from The Campaner and Fabiola Bonacci, from Tast Catala, are coming together to create a special menu which champions seasonal ingredients, innovative techniques and traditional Catalan flavours.
Each dish will be paired with an organic wine from Herència Altés, a family-owned winery from Terra Alta, Catalonia.
When: Thursday, 14th November.
Where: The Campaner, Chelsea Barracks, 1 Garrison Square, SW1W 8BG.
Web: thecampaner.com.
AngloThai Opens This Month
After years operating as supper clubs and residencies, AngloThai finally has it's own home - in Marylebone. John Chantarasak will be in charge of the kitchen while Desiree Chantarasak will be managing the wine side of things, which has always been a big part of the offering. AngloThai takes inspiration from the bold flavours of Thailand whilst utilising seasonal produce from around the British Isles – slow grown and sustainably farmed plants, native breed meats and line-caught seafood.
When: Opens Monday, 11th November.
Where: 22-24 Seymour Place, W1H 7NL.
Web: https://anglothai.co.uk/.
Parisian Café Culture Arrives in Mayfair
Ladurée, the iconic Parisian Maison this week opened a beautiful new café in Mayfair’s South Audley Street. Clad in the brand’s signature green gingham, the stylish spot is a short walk from Piccadilly and Hyde Park, and serves a range of Parisian gourmet food and drinks, including iconic pâtisseries, viennoiseries, a new exclusive savoury range and of course, Ladurée’s signature collection of macarons and Eugénie.
When: Now open.
Where: South Audley Street, W1K2QF
Luxury Chocolate Shop at Como Metropolitan Park Lane
Award-winning William Curley chocolates are now available in the Como Metropolitan London.
This exclusive popup boutique is a perfect partnership with both brands sharing an ethos dedicated to uncompromising quality and a luxurious experience for guests and customers.
Husband and wife team, William and Melissa Curley work together to maintain an independent and truly artisan chocolaterie.
Together with a small team of dedicated chefs they produce all of their creations in London, sourcing the world’s finest ingredients, partnering with Noalya chocolate and refusing to compromise on the quality or nature of their craft.
When: Now open.
Where: Como Metropolitan London.
New Management for City Hotel
TROO Hospitality has announced a milestone achievement with its first property in Central London, following a partnership appointment with Immersive Hospitality Management, to manage the iconic Corus Hotel Hyde Park, located at 1 Lancaster Gate.
The hotel, which currently has 388 rooms and is the largest hotel in the TROO Hospitality portfolio, is set to undergo an extensive refurbishment, which will include reconfiguring all public spaces and rooms, the creation of direct access to a new central courtyard as well as an exciting food and beverage offering. The works will also allow for the addition of several flexible co-working spaces.
When: Watch this space!
Where: Corus Hotel Hyde Park, 1 Lancaster Gate.
A Taste of Mexican Arrives in Marylebone
Guests seeking some culinary fun in the city this weekend can head to the Great Central Pub by Matt Fletcher for a Mexican takeover and Day of the Dead Party.
Tomorrow, the pub at The Landmark London, will transform into a lively space, offering Mexican-inspired cocktails, nibbles, and entertainment.
A live DJ will kick off from 7-11pm to create the perfect atmosphere, whilst guests can get their faces painted to truly dive into the celebration and capture unforgettable moments in the ‘Skelfie’ mirror, which adds a fun skull overlay to their selfies!
This pop-up event is open to all, with the usual A La Carte menu available alongside the themed offerings including Spicy Margaritas, Baked Nachos topped with succulent pulled pork, BBQ-Spiced Pulled Pork Tacos, and Zesty Cajun-Spiced Fish Tacos!
When: Saturday, 2nd November.
Where: The Landmark London, Marylebone Road, NW1 6JQ.