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Hot Restaurant Openings and News - October
Smash burgers, plant-based tiramisu, Nikkei dining and Filipino pizza all make the cut in this month's hot new restaurant openings column. Read on for a medley of dining ideas this October.
Bar Douro
Bar Douro opens their third site in Soho. The Greek Street restaurant joins existing sites in Bishopsgate and London Bridge. Drawing on the traditional tascas of Lisbon and Porto, you can expect a menu of Bar Douro favourite such as signatures - Bacalhau à Brás (Portuguese dish of salted cod, onions and thinly chopped fried potatoes), Gambas à Guilho (garlic prawns) and Secretos de Porco Preto (acorn-fed black pig). Portuguese wine remains at the heart of the experience. The list will showcase native grape varieties and heritage winemaking techniques from across Potugal
Bar Douro Soho opens in October 2026
Address: Bar Douro Soho, 10 Greek Street, London W1D 4DH, opening October 2026
Website: https://bardouro.co.uk
Bamboo Mat Canary Wharf
Japanese X Peruvian restaurant brand Bamboo Mat opens a second site at Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf this month, bringing their signature blend of contemporary Nikkei dining to E14.
The raw bar will be serving up Bamboo Mat classics like hamachi tiradito with yuzu truffle soy; seabass ceviche with mango and passionfruit; and tuna tartar with avocado, shiso ponzu and rice crackers. Signature sushi that fans of the Stratford restaurant know and love will be making a return including their iconic Volcano Maki with salmon, seabass and asparagus – flame torched to finish on arrival at the table as well as main dish staples - chicken anticucho with salsa verde and slow-cooked ox cheek with yuzu gravy.
Opens 2 October
Address: Bamboo Mat Canary Wharf, 1 North Lane, London, E22 3AD
Website: https://bamboo-mat.co.uk
Bubala Covent Garden
Veggie favourite Bubala opens a site on Garrick Street in Covent Garden this month. Get ready for much loved menu faves like halloumi with chamomile and fennel honey; crispy confit latkes with toum; and some of the creamiest hummus around. Alongside their a la carte, seasonal specials will be on offer from wild garlic and asparagus börek in spring to slow-roasted beetroot and feta pastilla in winter.
Owner Marc Summers has said of the opening, “We were especially drawn to the site in Covent Garden because parts of it reminded us of Spitalfields when we first opened Bubala. There’s a similar energy to the area too - busy, creative and full of character. What’s mattered most to us throughout all of this is that Bubala still feels like Bubala. Covent Garden is the biggest opening we’ve done so far, but we want it to feel just as warm and personal as the first site did."
Opens 19 October
Address: Bubala Covent Garden, 14 Garrick Street, WC2E 9BJ
Website: www.bubala.co.uk
Bunso
North London restaurateur Omar Shah is adding another brand to his eclectic portfolio. By day, Bunso will offer a neighbourhood Filipino-style bakery, serving freshly baked pastries, bakes and coffee and come evenings, the space will shift into a relaxed pizzeria, centred around freshly made filipino-inspired pizzasalongside a concise menu of crudo, kinilaw (marinated fish), salads and pasta in this Filipino-Italian mash-up.
Opens 13 October
Address: Bunso, 1a Hawley Road, Kentish Town, London, NW1 8RP
Website: https://www.bybunso.com
Spring St. Pizza Bar
Spring St Pizza (from Michelin-star chef Tom Kemble) adds its very own martini bar to the Borough arches this October. A menu of six iterations of martini will be served up featuring concoctions like The Olive Oil Martini made with Spring St. Pizza brine and The Buffalo Cheese Martini, all of which are to be enjoyed alongside Italian-American-inspired bar plates made for sharing and pairing with drinks.
Opens 16 October 2026
Address: Arch 32-33, Southwark Quarter, Southwark St, London SE1 1TE
Website: https://springstpizza.com/
Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 4 pm- 12am
Manna Burgers
Smash burger concept Manna Burgers has opened a permanent site in Marylebone. Menu items Double Manna and the Classic Smash made with prime cuts of beef served on artisan buns, alongside their waffle fries have grown a loyal following. The Marylebone restaurant will add coke floats and trifle to the menu. Manna first launched within Arcade food halls and has a
dedicated space and counter at Arcade Covent Garden.
Now open
Address: Manna Burgers, 54 James Street, W1U 1EU
Website: www.mannaburgers.co.uk
Giuseppe’s Pop-Up Boxpark
If you love tiramisu get yourself down to Boxpark Shoreditch pronto as a dedicated (plant-based) tiramisu bar has opened for three months only! Fronted by Giuseppe ‘Sepps’ Federici a culinary content creator, the indulgent dessert menu has been inspired by the cooking of his Sicilian Nonna, Marianna. Try pistachio Matcha, Nutella and Biscoff versions of the classic, plus a tiramisu cold brew and a rotating menu of secret items.
Until 6 December 2026
Address: Unit 36, Ground Floor, Boxpark Shoreditch, 2-10 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6GY
Cloth Cornhill
Probably the biggest London restaurant news of 2026, Cloth Cornhill opens on the site of the old Simpson's Tavern. There's a new name for legal reasons. Open from midday until midnight. The spot has long been known for its leisurely City lunches. The a la carte menu won't disappoint. Starters include Smoked Haddock, Mussel and Leek Gratin, with classics such as Roast Cornish Turbot with Creamed Potato and Crab Bisque. Is this cheap eats? No. Starters sit at around £20, and mains at £30+. However, is this good eats? Almost certainly, yes.
Opens 1 October
Address: Cloth Cornhill, 381⁄2 Cornhill London, EC3V 9DR 0204 568 1530
Website: www.clothrestaurants.com
Rioja Celebrations
This October sees London celebrating - Rioja - Spain's finest wine region across some of the capital's most exciting Spanish restaurants. Each will offer an impressive selection of Rioja wines by the glass, food and wine pairings designed to showcase the versatility of the region.
From Michelin-starred dining experiences and expert-led tastings to wine flights, paired menus and exclusive dinners, The Rioja Route offers guests the chance to discover the remarkable diversity of Rioja, exploring everything from vibrant whites and rosés to elegant reds and complex age-worthy expressions.
Participating venues include:
Arros QD, Fitzrovia: Three Michelin-starred chef Quique Dacosta's acclaimed Fitzrovia restaurant will celebrate the Rioja Route with a rotating "Dish of the Week" series, pairing seasonal creations with Rioja wines.
Camino: With four restaurants across London, Camino invites guests on a journey through Rioja with a six-wine flight spanning sparkling, white, rosé and red styles, paired with seasonal dishes from Executive Chef Nacho del Campo.
El Pirata, Mayfair: Offers a Rioja-paired menu throughout October alongside a special tasting event on 14th October.
Maresco, Soho: Known for its creative seafood-led menu, Maresco will offer a weekly series of regional dishes paired with a guest wine from Rioja.
Sabor, Mayfair: Founded by Michelin-starred chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Sabor will showcase Rioja through a series of wine pairings at its acclaimed wood-fired dining room, El Asador.
For more information, venue details and the campaign map, please visit: www.buyrioja.co.uk/the-rioja-route
Three Uncles - Kings Cross
Seven restaurants in as many years is a pretty impressive growth trajectory. Three Uncles Kings Cross opens its doors this month. Inspired by the lively siu mei shops where its founders grew up, the restaurant brings its cult Cantonese roast meats, and Hong Kong desserts to a new space just moments from King’s Cross and St Pancras stations. Alcohol will also be served once the licence is sorted.
Meat is marinated for 48hrs before being roasted. Char siu follows a labour-intensive six-stage process: marinate, rub, fan-dry, roast, rest and serve, using secret marinades and techniques learned from Hong Kong chefs and refined over decades of Chinese cooking experience.
To celebrate the opening, Three Uncles will offer 50% off to the first 500 registered customers, who will also receive a launch goodie bag.
Opening 7 October 2026
Address: 66 York Way, Kings Cross, London, N1 9AG
Website: www.threeuncles.co.uk
Dishoom - Borough Market
South East London has its first Dishoom. The new Borough Market eatery opens for a soft launch in mid-October, with diners offered a 50% discount on food. The Dishoom menu always draws the crowds, with people flocking for dishes such as Chicken Curry and Black Daal.
Soft launch 12th-20th October 2026
Address: Dishoom Borough Market, 11-13 Park Street, London SE1 9HS
Website: www.dishoom.com
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Features Editor, Chatting Food: Jo Aspin
Jo Aspin is a freelance writer specialising in restaurants, travel, food and drink. She is also a Director at hospitality PR agency Amy Williams Consultancy, based in London.
Follow Jo at:
Instagram: @welovechilli
