London's culinary landscape has been dramatically reshaped in 2025, with a wave of exciting new restaurant openings bringing global flavours and inventive dishes to every corner of the capital. From Balkan barbecue to Italian-Japanese fusion, the year has been a feast for the senses. Time Out London's Food and Drink Editor, Leonie Cooper, has sifted through the countless launches to name the definitive top five new restaurants that have defined the year.
A Year of Bold Flavours and Inventive Concepts
While 2025 saw the closure of some beloved establishments, a new generation of chefs and restaurateurs filled the gaps with ambition and creativity. The city welcomed everything from swish brasseries and sprawling brewery taprooms to neighbourhood chophouses and cafes serving innovative takes on classic cuisines. Dishes like Thai mutton fries exemplified the adventurous spirit driving London's food scene forward.
Time Out maintains a constantly updated list of the best new venues, but this selection represents the absolute champions of the year—the five openings that have left the most significant mark.
The Top Five New London Restaurants of 2025
1. Belly Bistro, Kentish Town
Crowned the best new restaurant of the year, Belly Bistro is a Filipino eatery that captured the essence of 2025. While every plate is strikingly photogenic, the food delivers on taste with even more impact. The menu avoids being a mere influencer backdrop, offering deeply flavourful dishes like tempura cod pandesal—a refined take on a fish sandwich with American cheese and salmon roe—and smoked trout kinilaw, a Filipino version of ceviche. Its bold, confident cooking has earned it widespread critical praise.
2. The Lavery, South Kensington
Bringing a dose of vintage glamour to South Kensington, The Lavery is the year's sleekest opening. Housed in a pristine Grade-II listed Georgian townhouse, it provides a sophisticated answer for where to dine after visiting the V&A. The interior, with its large mirrors and polished floors, evokes a grand cafe. Former Toklas head chef Yohei Furuhashi leads the kitchen, serving elegant dishes such as pappardelle with Venetian duck ragu and wild seabass with girolles.
3. Martino's, Chelsea
A late but formidable entry, Martino's opened in late November and immediately secured its place among the year's best. From Martin Kuczmarski of The Dover, it combines elegance with a relaxed vibe. The dining room is notably beautiful, and the concise menu features Milanese-inspired classics like tortellini in brodo and majestic meatballs. Located on Sloane Square, it attracts a polished crowd but remains welcoming to all who appreciate walnut wood walls, martinis, and refined Italian cooking.
4. Gina, Chingford
This neighbourhood chophouse in Chingford is challenging perceptions of suburban dining. Opened in the summer by husband-and-wife team Ravneet Gill and Mattie Taian, Gina earned early acclaim from local resident Danny Dyer. A blackboard lists daily meat cuts, complemented by hearty dishes such as pork and porcini lasagne and ox cheeks with mash. It's a friendly, kid-friendly spot that has quickly become a local treasure.
5. 2210 by Natty Can Cook, Herne Hill
The long-awaited debut restaurant from Nathaniel Mortley (NattyCanCook) showcases inventive Caribbean cooking. The chef, who honed his skills as a sous chef at The Clink in HMP Brixton, serves creative dishes like ackee and saltfish spring rolls and wiri wiri lamb rump. The vibrant atmosphere in the cosy bistro opposite Brockwell Park is so energetic it feels more like a club, making for a truly memorable dining experience.
Defining the Capital's Culinary Future
These five restaurants exemplify the diversity and quality that propelled London's dining scene in 2025. From high-profile openings in central postcodes to destination-worthy spots in the suburbs, they prove that great food and compelling concepts can thrive anywhere in the city. They have set a new standard for others to follow, ensuring that London remains one of the world's most dynamic places to eat.
