If you’ve got an extended stay or business trip planned to London in the next few months make a note of these new venues. They’re hot off the presses and the best new restaurants opening in the capital in 2014.
Barrafina, near to Clarendon’s serviced apartments in Covent Garden
The Hart brothers have form when it comes to opening hugely popular restaurants. Already you might have visited other places they own like Fino their restaurant and sherry bar or their restaurant and private member’s club Quo Vadis. There’s already one Barafina tapas bar in Soho and this summer the brand extends to Covent Garden. It’s going to cover a much bigger space; two floors in fact. Mouth-watering dishes on the menu will include chargrilled milk-fed lamb kidneys and Iberico ham spread on toasted bread with salmorejo on top. Delicious! Downstairs there will also be a big space designed for private parties.
Lima Floral, near to Clarendon’s serviced apartments in Covent Garden
The Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez and his partners, Gabriel and Jose Luis Gonzalez already have serious food credentials. The Michelin starred Lima restaurants has won plaudits around the globe. This new restaurant is along the same lines but the owners say it’ll be a bit more fun. With a main restaurant and tapas bar expect the chef to explore more deeply his Peruvian roots with rare ingredients used from the Amazon basin and the Andes; scallops with chia ceviche, Amazonian fish with warm causa and kohlrabi and quinoa tiradito. A disco for the taste buds.
Duck and Rice, near to Clarendon’s serviced apartments in Soho
When you think of gastropub you think British food, right? Not here. Alan Yau, the man who brought us Wagamamas, Hakkasan and Princi is offering a Chinese gastropub. Very little is known about what Yau is delivering but there’s a great deal of excitement. This isn’t the only restaurant Yau is opening in the capital this year; he has a Turkish restaurant opening on Shaftesbury Avenue, in September another, Park Chinois opens in Mayfair.
St John Bakery room, near to Clarendon’s serviced apartments in Tower Hill
Never been to Maltby Street market? Now you have another reason to come and explore. St John’s is already pretty famous but now it’s expanding from its shack into an archway and will be extending to offer breakfast, lunch and with a wine room. St John’s is most famous for its doughnuts; choose from raspberry, rhubarb, peach, strawberry, apricot or custard filling. Our mouths are watering already.
Other restaurants in London you can’t miss;
Fire & Feathers
After cutting its teeth as a pop-up the Portuguese restaurant is investing in bricks and mortar. Across two floors come and try the Portuguese Piri Piri chicken, steak Bavette and plenty of salad and vegetable options.
Fire and Feathers: 43 Fulham Road, SW10 9TW
Comensal
Mexican food is having a little moment right now and you’ll struggle to get better than this. John Sim and Cati Bego met in Mexico City and have opened restaurants over there. Now they bring them to Clapham so expect enchiladas, ceviche, taquitos and of course Margaritas.
Comensal: 32 Abbeville Road, Clapham
Arabica Bar & Kitchen
The owner of this new restaurant started out selling mezze from a tressle table in Borough Market. At this new Levantine venue expect delicious dishes including Dexter beef and bone marrow kofta, sautéed chicken liver with pomegranate molasses and walnut baklava with chios mastica ice cream.
Arabica Bar & Kitchen: Borough Market
So if you’re staying at one of Clarendon’s serviced apartments across London this summer make sure you make a booking at one of these hot new venues.