July's best foodie adventures

The 13th Annual Chap Olympiad

Absurdist games and copious gin: don’t forget your cravat for the 13th Annual Chap Olympiad

Magpie, Heddon Street

The lowdown: James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy were two amateurs in 2015 when they set up their first restaurant, Pidgin.

Two years on and their hospitality-first approach has customers flooding back, including those on the Michelin board, who awarded them a star in 2016. Their new restaurant Magpie will have the duo cooking with unusual fusion ingredients new to London. Those include kosho and fennel pollen, and all dishes will be served from table-side roaming trolleys.

Core by Clare Smyth, Notting Hill

The lowdown In 2007 Clare Smyth became the UK's first female chef to earn three Michelin stars. Now, she's refusing work at famous London restaurants to go it alone instead.

Smyth's restaurant is to be titled Core, in a gesture towards its interest in nature and new beginnings. Smyth grew up on a farm and sees that as the origin of her commitment to sourcing exclusively British produce. Disregarding a growing taste for informality, Core will serve 10 and 12 course tasting menus with silver service. Three or five course meals will be available for those who prefer.

Ikoyi, St James

The lowdown: Sunaina Sethi of Hoppers and Gymkhana is a driving force behind this new West African-inspired central London restaurant.

Ikoyi is a fine dining restaurant with something new to offer: where else have you sampled a speciality rub from Nigeria, lamb ribs with asun relish, traditional African Jollof rice with smoked bone marrow and groundnut miso? Head Chef Jeremy Chan, previously employed at Noma, has channelled his energies into sourcing African ingredients you’ll rarely find in London.

Nobu Shoreditch

The lowdown: famous Japanese restaurant group Nobu are finally extending their London offering.

The Nobu group was founded by world-renowned Japanese celebrity chef, Nobu Matsuhisa. Nobu Shoreditch is first and foremost to be a hotel, but one with a 200-capacity restaurant on its ground floor, and an outdoor terrace that allows another 80 to spill out. Nobu’s of the moment Japanese flavours promise to make opulence feel modern.

Jean Georges at The Connaught, Mayfair

The lowdown: As chefs go, Jean Georges Vongerichten has had a run of pretty exceptional success.

The eponymous Jean Georges in New York is one of only seven restaurants in the world to be thrice Michelin starred - so it's odd that his name is still relatively niche. His new London restaurant will serve farm to table produce in a stunning conservatory setting. It’s a more informal take on London’s other Connaught restaurant, Helene Darroze, a fine dining affair that holds two Michelin stars.

The Wigmore, modern British tavern

The lowdown: One of London's most luxurious hotels is opening a bar to celebrate the historic British tavern, with the help of twice-Michelin-starred chef, Michael Roux Jr.

The plan is to re-create a quintessential tavern from 1800s London. Cups of punch will be served alongside hearty British fare – but all with an upmarket edge. Championing decor is the award-winning Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. Their challenge is to make an ultra modern pub that simultaneously feels historic.

Mother Pizza, Battersea

The lowdown: One of Copenhagen's most popular pizzerias is opening a branch in London.

Mother Pizza will combine Nordic design influences with the best of Italian technique. They’ll be joining the ranks of a host of other international pizza players recently relocated to London, at the top of which is L’Antica, reputed to offer the best pizza in Italy. Complete with an al fresco eating space that's ideal for the summer, Mother Pizza is heading to the river at Battersea.