The 10 best new London restaurant openings in October 2025

October sees a an excellent bunch of modern classics returning to the London restaurant scene in various guises, including a revamped east London pie and mash shop and a Soho pub, as well as a new name for a big-shot Mayfair hotel restaurant, an official cafe takeover of the most extra building in Stoke Newington, and a new south London home for one of Time Out’s former fave restaurants in the capital. 

If you’re looking for more delish things to do this month, then why not visit Acme Fire Cult in Dalston and sample their special month-long globally-inspired Chop House menu (make ours a double-cut Tamworth pork chop with quince and apple mustard), or check out the third branch of acclaimed bakery Forno, which opens at the start of the month inside the Ragged School Museum in Tower Hamlets, and will be serving up brunch, lunch, coffee and their trademark pastries. 

Here are 10 other restaurants – alongside a couple of kitchen takeovers and charity pop-ups – that we’re most excited about this October. 

 

1. The returning icon 

Doma, Sydenham 

When Spasia Dinkovski closed down her Mystic Burek British-Balkan bakehouse, we were gutted - not least because we had to remove it from our Top 50 restaurants in London list. Thank goodness then for the brand’s return as Doma. Taking over a kebab shop space in south London, Doma will do things differently, opening almost every weekend for comforting second-generation Macedonian cuisine, including those legendary filo pies on the last Saturday of every month, as well as special ticketed weekend dinners.

Opens: End of October.

Address: 172 Dartmouth Road, Sydenham, SE26 2QS.

2. A pie shop-turned-ale house 

The Black Eel, Dalston

Even during its days as much-loved Chinese restaurant Shanghai, this former F Cooke & Sons pie and mash shop boasted one of Dalston’s finest interiors. The Grade II listed building has spent the past few years as board games bar Draughts, but will be returning to its former glory thanks to the good people of Exale Brewery, who are transforming it into a buzzy bar with karaoke, darts and food from Riley’s aka chef Billy Fisher, previously of Lagom and The Hawke. It’s Exale’s latest pub venture, following Three Colts Tavern in Bethnal Green and William The Fourth Leyton. 

Opens: October 24. 

Address: 41 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, E8 2JS.

3. Mighty Malaysian meals 

Duda Diner, Nunhead

Last seen popping up at the Man of Kent’s summer BBQs, Duda Diner is finally getting its very own restaurant. Come for family-style Malaysian food served with buckets of love, from solok lada (stuffed green chilli) with mackerel to fermented tempoyak durian oysters. 

Opens: End of October.

Address: 44 Nunhead Green, Nunhead, SE15 3QF.

4. Chef legends assemble 

Motorino, Fitzrovia

Two London dining titans have joined forces for Motorino. Step forward Luke Ahearne (previously of Lita and Luca) and Stevie Parle (chef-owner of Town and Pastaio), who are reviving Parle’s long-gone Dalston Rotorino as Motorino. Using the best seasonal British and Irish produce to create Italian-ish dishes, there’ll also be a stand-alone bar with a meaty cocktail menu.

Opens: Mid-October.

Address: 1 Pearson Square, Fitzrovia, W1T 3BF.

5. Pan-Caribbean classics 

2210, Herne Hill

Social media sensation NattyCanCook (aka Nathaniel Mortley) is opening his first restaurant, which will combine the flavours of Bajan, Jamaican and Guyanese cuisine with an old-school French approach to fine dining. Trained through the The Clink Project while serving time at HMP Brixton, Natty’s menu includes ackee and saltfish spring roll, jerk chicken supreme, confit turkey wing and deep-fried apple crumble.  

Opens: October 22.

Address: 75 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, SE24 9AA. 

6. Sweet charity 

Solidarity Supper, Islington  

An all-star cast are taking over Islington gastropub The Drapers Arms for a one-night special feasting dinner in aid of the people of Gaza. Chefs include Abby Lee of Mambow, Nick Bramham of Quality Wines, Patrick Powell of One Club Row and Sertac Dirik (formerly of Mangal II), and money from the tickets – which cost £100 – and drinks sales will be donated equally to Amos Trust and Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Date: October 13. 

Address: 44 Barnsbury Street, Islington, N1 1ER.

7. A posh hotel resto 

Rosi, Mayfair

Chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen has had a funny old year – leaving and then rejoining her Michelin Lancashire outpost Northcote in a matter of months. Her next big move sees her launching a brand new restaurant at The Beaumont, taking over from the hotel’s longstanding Colony Grill. As culinary director, Lisa Goodwin-Allen will oversee Rosi and its fun, flamboyant menu of British classics served with a side-order of quirkiness. 

Opens: October 1.

Address: The Beaumont Mayfair, Brown Hart Gardens, W1K 6TF.  

8. A reborn gastropub

The Shaston Arms, Soho 

After 25 years of Carnaby-adjacent pints, this Ganton Street boozer shut rather abruptly earlier this year. Thankfully it wasn’t a deathknell – it returns in gastro form, with Joe Grossmann of Patty&Bun and The Waterman’s Arms in Barnes taking over. In charge of the kitchen will be Sam Andrews, also of the Waterman’s Arms.  

Opens: October 25.

Address: 4-6 Ganton Street, Soho, W1F 7QN.

9. Dinner with pals 

Rovi & Friends with Ben Lippett, Fitzrovia 

Food writer and Dr Sting’s Hot Honey creator Ben Lippett is the first superstar chef to pop-up at Yotam Ottolenghi's Fitzrovia outpost for the Rovi & Friends series. He’ll be taking over the kitchen at the recently revamped restaurant for a full week, with dishes inspired by his book, How I Cook, like smoky mussels with Rockefeller butter and Sicilian onions wrapped in pork belly. The next chef in the series will be Jesse Jenkins in November.

Dates: From September 29 until October 5.

Address: 59 Wells Street, Fitzrovia, W1A 3AE.

10. A high-end cafe takeover

Fink’s, Stoke Newington

Clissold Park’s grand Clissold House will become the latest opening for north London coffee shop and bakery Fink’s, joining outlets in Arsenal, Highbury and Clapton. It’ll be the biggest Fink’s so far, taking over three rooms in the Grade II listed building, and serving cakes and viennoiserie, as well as breakfast and lunch. We’re looking forward to the Clissold rarebit (made with 40ft Neighbourhood IPA) as well as the giant rosti with braised cavolo nero, poached eggs, crispy Serrano ham and sage. It’ll be open daily from 8am until sundown.

Opens: October 1. 

Address: Clissold House, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 9HJ.

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