Despite the delayed sun, official “British Summertime'' is upon us. And with that, we've rounded up some exciting new London restaurants—including reinvented classics, celeb chef outposts and inviting al fresco options in anticipation of continued warm weather and an influx of summer travelers.
Arlington + The Park
Beloved London restaurateur Jeremy King is back with two exciting new openings. Known for his influential establishments dating back to the 1980s, King first made his mark with Le Caprice, alongside his partner Chris Corbin. The duo went on to reinvent London dining with The Ivy, J Sheekey and The Wolseley, always curating the perfect mix of design, comfort food and celebrity clientele. They even ventured into the hotel business with The Beaumont. After exiting these ventures for various reasons, King has returned to his roots—literally.
In March, he opened Arlington in the former Le Caprice location, reviving the space. With a terrific menu of comfort foods with a European flair—such as chicken Milanese, swordfish Niçoise and shepherd's pie—combined with reasonable prices (for Mayfair) and a chic Art Deco interior, it’s no surprise Arlington has quickly become one of the toughest dinner reservations in London. Booking is essential.
Riding high on the success of Arlington, King quickly moved on to The Park, which opened this month in Bayswater, an emerging area soon to be home to the new London Six Senses. The Park is a much larger space with a more American look, feel and menu. Featuring dishes like Cobb salad, New England clam chowder, barbecued corn ribs, and a decadent ice cream selection with sundaes and ice cream sandwiches, there is something for everyone.
Julie’s
A London institution from the 1980s to the 2000s, Julie’s is the Holland Park eatery where Kate Moss celebrated her 21st birthday, Prince Charles had his bachelor party and supposedly Tina Turner danced on the tables downstairs so hard that her heel left a mark. Later, it struggled and was closed on and off for years. Last year, however, it was sold to Cordon Bleu-trained venture capitalist Tara McBain, who has renovated it to its former glory with a vintage Steinway piano and some quirky touches—40 different wallpapers and lots of bold fabrics. There’s a grand awning for outdoor seating, which is exactly where you want to be, sipping a martini from the trolley and tucking into Chef Owen Kenworthy’s modern take on French brasserie cuisine.
Michel Roux at The Langham
The shuttering of the legendary Le Gavroche earlier this year was something of a shock for London foodies, especially after it followed the closure of the Roux at Landau at The Langham. The good news is now chef Michel Roux is back at The Langham, albeit in a new central space in the hotel’s Palm Court with menus inspired by his childhood memories and the original menus from Le Gavroche, where his father and uncle were the first chefs in London to earn three Michelin stars. Signature dishes at the new Chez Roux include: Welsh rarebit; grilled lobster with garlic butter, fries and béarnaise; and chocolate mousse.
The River Café Café
The River Café is one of London’s most celebrated restaurants, known for its simple yet impeccable Italian food and celeb clientele. Opened by chef-owner Ruth Rogers in 1987, next to her husband Sir Richard Rogers architecture office, it’s become an institution and one of the hardest dinner reservations in London to score (anytime we’ve been, we always see someone—an actor, athlete or politician). Which is why the opening of The River Café Café, just steps away from the original restaurant, is so exciting. Open all day, for walk-ins only, you can now enjoy fresh pastries, antipasti and seasonal veg, access to their excellent wines, and the unforgettable chocolate nemesis cake.
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