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Things to do

Best London restaurants 2016: the top 10 openings of the year

By CW Contributor on 7/12/2016

Culture Whisper have whittled down the 270 restaurant openings in 2016 to discover the 10 we can't get off our minds.

It was the year that Middle Eastern food flourished, and The Barbary became the name on everybody's lips. Clove Club also returned with new London Italian restaurant Luca, which was the year's best looking new opening.

Except, perhaps, for Parabola - the Design Museum's new restaurant - which is as much a destination as the museum itself.

Here are our top 10 restaurant openings, 2016.

Parabola, Kensington High Street

Parabola, Kensington High Street

How it turned heads in 2016: The stunning new Design Museum, with its parabolic roof, has its own restaurant of equal merit, with best-in-class seasonal British produce.

Getting in: Booking online is required a day days ahead.

Read more ...
WHEN
30 Nov 2016 – 30 Nov 2020, Visit website for opening times and details
WHERE
224-238 Kensington High Street
W8 6AG
Kiln: best Thai food in Soho. Could it be the best Thai food in London?

Kiln, Soho

How it turned heads in 2016: Clay pot-fired and grilled Thai street food from 5 star-rated Smoking Goat founder, Ben Chapman.

Getting in: Queue, or reserve tables of four or more online (popular times require booking one week early)

Read more ...
WHEN
30 Sep 2016 – 31 Mar 2020, 12:00 AM
WHERE
Kiln
58 Brewer Street, W1F 9TL
Padella restaurant, Borough Market

Padella, Borough Market

How it turned heads in 2016: This is the place to queue in 2016! But seriously. Best-in-class Italian small plates are order of the day at Borough Market's top new destination.

Getting in: No reservations! Save this for a rainy day, or embrace the queue, which can take hours.

Read more ...
WHEN
24 Mar 2016 – 24 Mar 2017, 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM
WHERE
Padella
6 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TQ
Covent Garden: Frenchie restaurant

Frenchie, Covent Garden

How it turned heads in 2016: Frenchie in Paris' 2nd arrondissement now has a second outpost in London, with superb internationally-focused sharing plates, and it's all London's chefs can talk about.

Getting in: Book two weeks ahead of time to guarantee the right table

Read more ...
WHEN
02 Feb 2016 – 02 Feb 2017, Closed from 14:30-18:00
WHERE
Frenchie
16 Henrietta St, Covent Garden, WC2E 8QH
Luca, Clerkenwell

Luca, Clerkenwell ★★★★★

How it turned heads in 2016: British food "through an Italian lens", this is the new restaurant from the trio behind Clove Club, the world's 26th best restaurant.

Read our interview with Luca's front-of-house maestro, Johnny Smith

Getting in: Book two weeks ahead of time for a guaranteed best spot - book a table in the dining room for the sumptuous décor.

Read more ...
WHEN
28 Nov 2016 – 28 Nov 2020, Visit website for opening times and details
WHERE
88 St John Street
EC1M 4EH
Memories of the Bay of Biscay starter at Eneko

Eneko at One Aldwych, Covent Garden ★★★★★

How it turned heads in 2016: Thrice-Michelin-starred chef Eneko Atxa brings his exquisite Basque cuisine to London

Getting in: Leave a day or two's notice, but you'll get a table by booking online

Read more ...
WHEN
01 Aug 2016 – 30 Apr 2019, 12:00 AM
WHERE
Eneko at One Aldwych
WC2B 4BZ
Chelsea Restaurant Elystan Street: Smoked mackerel veloute with Porthilly oysters, leek harts and smoked eel toast

Elystan Street, Chelsea ★★★★★

How it turned heads in 2016: Phil Howard, head chef of The Square in Mayfair, has returned with a new seasonal British restaurant with Nordic influences that is simply game changing.

Getting in: Book two weeks ahead if you're after a table at a prime time.

Read more ...
WHEN
27 Sep 2016 – 27 Sep 2020, 12:00 AM
WHERE
Elystan Street
43 Elystan Street, Chelsea, SW3 3NT
Aquavit London finally happens after 30 years of excellence as Aquavit New York

Aquavit, St James

How it turned heads in 2016: NYC's only world-class Nordic restaurant since 1987, Aquavit's second outpost is now open in London.

Getting in: Book a few weeks ahead of time to secure the perfect table

Read more ...
WHEN
28 Nov 2016 – 28 Nov 2020, Visit website for opening times and details
WHERE
St James's Market
1 Carlton Street, SW1Y 4QQ
The Barbary restaurant review

The Barbary, Covent Garden★★★★★

How it turned heads in 2016: Following game changer, The Palomar, The Barbary is a bustling no reservations spot with food from the Barbary coast. Best spot: up on the high bar stools, by the open kitchen.

Getting in: No reservations are taken - go on a rainy Tuesday, or be prepared to queue.

Read more ...
WHEN
06 Jun 2016 – 10 Jun 2017, 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
WHERE
The Barbary
16 Neal's Yard, Seven Dials, London , WC2H 9DP
London Shell Company have acquired a new boat

London Shell Co, Regent’s Canal ★★★★★

How it turned heads in 2016: This is a revolution in river boat dining: this cruise on the Regent's Canal does everything right, from service to plate.

Getting in: Bookings are taken online, and the boat (excitingly) is now running all seasons

Read more ...
WHEN
01 Dec 2016 – 01 Dec 2026, Cruise times vary, please see website
WHERE
Regent's Canal
Motu Indian Kitchen, Battersea

And finally, Motu Indian Kitchen, a new kind of takeaway service, is turning heads too

How it turned heads in 2016: The power siblings behind London's best Indian restaurants (Gymkhana, Hoppers, Trishna) have launched a takeaway service.

Getting in: Live in South West London? Order online

Read more ...
WHEN
17 Oct 2016 – 17 Oct 2020, 12:00 AM
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New openings

restaurants

2016 Highlights

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  • Celeste at The Lanesborough has been awarded a Michelin star

    Michelin Guide 2017: Triumph for old and new as London restaurants score stars



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