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Hot Restaurant Openings and News - May
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
May restaurant openings incoming. Hello dining fantatics, wondering where to choose for your next eating outing? For hot restaurant openings and happenings in the capital and beyond this month, read on.
Kawan
Malaysian super influencer Uncle Roger is launching Kawan by Uncle Roger this month. Kawan means “friend” or “companion”, reflecting its emphasis on sharing, sociable eating. The menu will draw from a range of Asian cuisines and family-style dishes, which have been reinterpreted through a modern British lens from Chinatown Fried Rice, Hainanese Chicken Chop to Crispy Puff Chicken Wellington. The restaurant is a collaboration with Keng Yew co-founder of YiQi, and celebrated Malaysian Executive Chef Daren Liew (Nanyang Blossom, San Hao, Duddels and Hakkasan Group).
Uncle Roger has said, “I’m so excited to be launching ‘Kawan By Uncle Roger’. “Of course there will be fried rice on the menu, but with a partnership with Chef Daren Liew, there's going to be so much more than that - can’t wait to show you what we've been working on!” “Oh, and my Uncle says he hopes Jamie Oliver pays a visit.”
Opens late May
Kawan, 12 Macclesfield Street, W1D 5BP
Lokal - Fitzrovia
There's something reassuring about a new restaurant from an established group. First came Fred's Bakery and Faros, and now Lokal in Fritzrovia. It's focus - to bring modern Turkish cooking to London. The decor is simple, almost natural with raw wood furniture, and clean lines. Lightly coloured walls are adorned with pictures from the old country. There's indoor and outdoor seating, counter dining and even a cocktail bar. Head chefs Salidh Serden and Akacan Agir are leading the kitchen, turning out a small plates menu, including mezze, salads and grilled meat.
Opens 1 May 2026
Lokal, 7-8 Market Place, London W1W 8AG
Bread Street Kitchen
Of all the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Bread Street Kitchen & Bar is perhaps the most approachable, not to mention more affordable. The setting isn't overly formal, and the menu is full of classics, done extremely well, naturally. The seventh of these London restaurants at 22 Bishopsgate is long awaited. All those who've watched the Netflix series, willing on the team to open the last eatery in this iconic City scape building.
Aside from enviable views, what can diners expect? Some might be surprised to see fried chicken on the menu but Gordon Ramsay is a man of the people. He knows what patrons want. No doubt Gordon Fried Chicken (G.F.C) will be an elevated version on the bog standard.
Whether it's after-work drinks, a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner, your guy Gordon has everyone's palates covered. Interestingly, the menu is larger than expected, given Ramsay's mantra of less being more on a menu. He has often praised a limited number of starters, mains and desserts, allowing the kitchen to produce high quality fayre. Followers of Ramsay will be pleased to spot a sharing Beef Wellington for two on the menu, served with truffle mashed potatoes, bone marrow jus. Few dishes can match this decadence but sometimes this is what a big celebration calls for.
Opens 6 May 2026
Bread Street Kitchen, Floor 59, 22 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AJ
The Shepherd Mayfair
The capital welcomes a new 82 room hotel this month. The Shepherd Mayfair will have three different dining offerings. Fayre, a modern all-day brasserie; The Lounge, a café-style lounge; and Teddy’s, a hidden late-night cocktail bar. Teddy's is inspired by Mayfair’s original drinking rooms of the 1960s. To find it, head to Market Mews and access it through a concealed staircase or through an arched passage in the hotel lobby. Once you get in you can take you pick from cocktails like xxx
Opening date TBC
The Shepherd Mayfair, 2 Stanhope Row, London W1J 7BT
Queen of Hoxton Rooftop Opening
Just when you thought Hoxton couldn't get any cooler, great dame bar, Queen of Hoxton, opens an iconic summer rooftop. Think huge Caribbean flavours for eats, washed down with frozen rum cocktails. In the kitchen is resident restaurant, Barbs, bringing all the best flavours from Barbados.
Diners can enjoy BBQ classics, including burgers or cutters as they're known in Barbados, as well as island dishes like roti filled with chicken or chickpea curry. There'll be sliders to share - fishcakes, sweetcorn fritters and chips served with salsa.
The rooftop is decked out with a striking sun mural, ocean-inspired artwork, lush tropical planting and a vibrant Rum Shack bar. Enjoy Spicy Rumaritas and Strawberry Daiquiris. Yes, it's rum all the way. Remember, it's Caribbean vibes at play here. On Saturday, Pudding and Souse, a traditional Bajan weekend dish (pickled pork and steamed sweet potato) is served.
Opens 1 May
Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Rd, London, EC2A 3JX
Freight Brixton
Freight Brixton claims to bring London's biggest rooftop bar, with a capacity for 1,000 people. Located in this lively and diverse South London entertainment hub, it'll welcome chef residencies, cocktail bars, live music, DJ collectives, food festivals, community programming and major sporting screenings across spring and summer.
The brainchild of Manchester’s award-winning Freight Island, the new venue has a clear mission statement: 'drink, dance and dine.' There is a rotating list of food vendors, including burgers, pizza and tacos.
Festivals, include Socca on de Roof on 24th May 2026. Reggae Brunch, Maggi Brunch, and family friendly daytime sessions add to the summer programme - check website in the coming weeks. Guests can also explore specialty bars including the Casamigos House of Friends and Hotel Milano, an Italian inspired aperitivo concept, forming part of the new Brixton Cocktail Club.
Open 7 May 2026
Freight Brixton, 33 Brixton Station Rd, London SW9 8PB.
KINZ
Modern Lebanese restaurant KINZ is opening in Notting Hill Gate this month. Set in the former Lloyds Bank building, the main dining room occupies a generous, triple-height ground floor, with a canopied bar as well as mezzanine seating. There’ll be a deli at the entrance filled with house-made and own-brand ingredients including KINZ preserves, spice blends and olive oil, as well as private dining within the original bank vault. Large sharing plates will include the likes of Warak Enab (stuffed vine leaves) with and Lamb Cutlet and Fattet Aubergine (baked aubergine with pine nuts, tomato, yoghurt and crisp pita).
Opens 11 May 2026 (was scheduled for April but date got pushed back)
50 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JD
Allpress Faringdon
Espresso bar Allpress welcomes a new site at one of London's historic markets. We've long been fans of this brand's coffee. Guests can expect signature blends alongside seasonal single-origin coffees, all expertly roasted and brewed with precision, including a new exclusive Farringdon Coffee - a Natural, Pink Bourbon from Jesus Arbey Iquira in the Huila region of Colombia.
Opens 4 May
Allpress Faringdon, 88-89 Cowcross Street, overlooking Smithfield Market
The Lucky Goat
It seems Bread Street is busy as joining Bread Street Kitchen is 'competitive socialising venue' The Lucky Goat which has opened just seconds from St Paul's Cathedral. Tech darts, karaoke, tech shuffleboard, pool and air hockey will all be on offer in bookable gaming zones alongside cocktails and draft beer.
Now open
1 Bread Street, EC4M 9BE, in the City of London
