The team behind whimsical Islington wine spots, ice-cream shop The Dreamery and restaurant Goodbye Horses, is soon to open natural-wineshop Stable Wines. It continues the fun vibe of the other establishments, but with a clandestine edge.

Come for the funky, progressive and “zero-zero” bottles (where nothing is added nor removed), then stay to try them out.

Head to its subterranean bar and dining space, where you can sip the night away over artisanal cured meats and cheeses, and a rotating selection of small plates.

Open from 1 December; 344a EssexRoad, N1 3PD; @stablewines

What do you get when you cross the buzz of the City of London with the sartorial pedigree of Savile Row and Milan? Sartoria Liverpool Street, of course.

Sartoria is the creation of the late, great designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran, who opened the original site on Savile Row in 1998 (a second location opened in South Kensington in 2025). Now, following fast in its footsteps is Sartoria Liverpool Street, launched on 28 January in Devonshire Square. Sir Terence took inspiration from the “sophisticated simplicity” of Italy’s fashion capital when conceiving Sartoria, and a certain retro charm underpins the latest opening alongside modern, refined Milanese dishes created by a trio of talented chefs, plus a wine menu of more than 100 labels.

Sartoria Liverpool Street, 16 New Street, Devonshire Square, EC2M 4TR; sartoria-liverpoolstreet.co.uk 

When popular Yorkshire pub with rooms The General Tarleton closed in 2020, it was one of the pandemic’s many hospitality victims. Fortunately, Michelin-starred chef – and local lad – Tommy Banks stepped into save it as part of his new venture, Jeopardy Hospitality. The company is on a mission to restore pubs in the north, with The General Tarleton its flagship venue.

Locals and foodies alike were delighted to see it re-open in late 2025, with modern, tasteful interiors and eight beautiful bedrooms.

The food, naturally, is the star of the show, with Banks flexing his culinary muscles. The new year is the perfect time to discover his talent and commitment to local produce in an eminently cosy environment, with three-course feasts for just £30pp.

generaltarletonferrensby.co.uk

Whatever area of London you find yourself visiting, working or living in, there’s always room for a shiny new neighbourhood cocktail bar. Old Street has just welcomed The Prince, a new opening from industry veterans Will Hawes, formerly part of the team behind the Booking Office 1869 bar at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, and Homeboy co-founder Aaron Wall.

The interiors may tread a familiar – albeit winning – formula of decadent 1920s-esque jewel tones and copper finishes, but the ska inspiration and playlist add a new twist. The bar’s name actually comes from ska icon Prince Buster, and the three signature cocktails – house martini, “Black Velvet” and “Buster’s Stout Punch” – all pay homage to its unique Roaring Twenties-by-way-of-Jamaica concept.

The Prince, 44 Old Street, EC1V 9AQ; theprincebar.com 

On 15 January, Georgian restaurant DakaDaka opened its doors in Mayfair.

Set over two floors, the restaurant, bar and private dining space joins a growing list of Georgian fare in the capital. Announcing itself as “a restaurant inspired by modern food tales of ancient Georgia”, visitors can look forward to rustic open-fire cooking, bold and intriguing flavours, and plenty of mouthwatering new dishes for your culinary repertoire.

The wine list will draw from Georgia’s 8,000-year winemaking history, and is overseen by wine director Honey Spencer, the renowned sommelier, author and co-founder of Broadway Market’s Sune. The traditional chacha – or grape spirit – is also a must.

While January’s darker days call for deepbowls of plump, golden khinkali – savoury soup dumplings that are Georgia’s most famous and possibly cosiest comfort food – head chef Adrian Hernandez Farina (ex Canal, Humo and Chiltern Firehouse) will have diners spoilt for choice with the menu.

It’s a London first from Berkeley Square Hospitality, led by Giorgi Mindiashvili and chef patron Mitz Vora; expect Georgian ingredients combined with seasonal British produce, alongside natural wines, bespoke cocktails and a selection of Georgian beers to wash it all down with.

10 Heddon Street, W1B 4BX; @dakadaka.london

It’s easy to see why Brother Marcus’s combination of Eastern Mediterranean mezze, Greek-focused wine list, classic cocktails and relaxed weekend brunches is a recipe for success. So much so that the restaurant chain celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and kicks off 2026 in style with a brand-new site in Victoria.

Expect more of what you already love in the spacious new branch, which is located on Buckingham Palace Road, just a hop, skip and a jump away from the train station. Handy when you’ve partaken of the aforementioned wine and two-for-£20 brunch cocktails.

Brother Marcus, 81 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0AJ; brothermarcus.co.uk 

Irish chef Robin Gill has famously worked at Marco Pierre White’s three-Michelin-starred The Oak Room and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, but it was his time in Naples, at Don Alfonso 1890, that truly shaped his culinary philosophy. A decadent Italian spirit infuses his latest venture, Bar Brasso, in Nine Elms (pretty much opposite the cubic curiosity that is the American Embassy building).

The chic, open-plan venue is a bakery in the morning, café come lunchtime and a let-your-hair-down bar at night, serving fabulous cocktails, wines and Venetian-style small plates. Though simple in execution, the exceptional produce makes every dish a triumph. Don’t miss the croquettes, beef shin bolognese and the Bourdain toastie; an homage to the late food writer’s favourite sandwich. All washed down with a negroni. Perfection.

Bar Brasso, Unit 2, 3 Viaduct Gardens, Nine Elms, SW11 7AY; barbrasso.com 

West London institution Julie’s, frequented by the likes of Mick Jagger, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell in the five decades it’s been open, is welcoming a little sister this year in the form of Little Julie’s.

Having opened as a pop-up at the end of last year, the new venture is a chic café and wine bar serving homemade pastries, sandwiches and small plates, handily located opposite the main restaurant in Holland Park. Watch this space.

Little Julie’s, 102 Portland Road, W11 4LX; juliesrestaurant.com 

Ok, sushi may be nothing new for true food connoisseurs but opening next month is Brixton-born Japanese restaurant Temaki. Having closed its south London outpost in August last year, despite having a loyal fanbase made up of the city’s sushi aficionados, Temaki is being reborn in Mayfair where the Japanese handrolls will include menu signatures of lobster and miso, bbq eel, prawn tempura and otoro tuna, as well as new dishes conceived by founder Alexander Dupee.

On the new central London opening, Dupee commented: ‘We loved our time in Brixton, and with our new creative team we are so excited to build on that success in central London, on Mayfair’s Maddox Street.

‘We’ve been working on some fun new dishes and will of course serve our signature handrolls – I can’t wait to open the doors!’

Temaki, 11 Maddox Street, W1S 2QF; temaki.co.uk 

The 1970s isn’t always the most revered decade for food; a time when prawn cocktails and experimental microwave cooking were all the rage. But there is something rather charming about it too. It was in the mid-1970s that Sale e Pepe opened on Pavilion Road in Knightsbridge, and quickly attracted a slew of starry clientele (among them Ringo Starr, Priscilla Presley and Rod Stewart) and a reputation for traditional, “famiglia” style Italian cooking.

Having enjoyed its status as a celebrated and iconic venue for more than half a century, Sale e Pepe has announced exciting expansion plans with a new concept restaurant at the equally prestigious Langham Hotel.

Opening on 2 March, Sale e Pepe Mare at The Langham marks a new milestone for the Knightsbridge institution. The 5,000 sq-ft restaurant is a plush and elegant affair befitting its new address. The menu blends favourite dishes (lobster linguine, salt-baked whole sea bass) with modern creations such as bluefish tuna on baked brioche and king scallops with espelette chilli and radish. Not to mention the made for the ‘Gram shellfish tower. There are 1970s throwbacks galore with tableside Caesar Salad and funghi porcini preparation, plus the introduction of dessert, negroni and champagne trolleys. Dust off your platform shoes and flares and we’ll see you there.

1C Portland Place, Marylebone, London, W1B 1JA; saleepepe.co.uk