August might be holiday month, but you don’t need a boarding pass to eat like you’re abroad. These are the London restaurants to book in August 2025.
From family-style Thai feasts to all-day Italian spots, Soho’s sleek new Japanese venue, to a Carnaby Street opening from a former El Bulli chef, the capital is bursting with international flavours. In the mix this month are also Champagne sundowners, secret-garden bars, and sunny terraces, plus celebratory menus from some of the UK’s top chefs. There’s no reason to leave the city this summer, especially when one restaurant promises all the cheese you can possibly eat. These are our top London tables to book this month.
MOI: Soho’s Freshest Fusion Of Japanese Cooking
The first of two exciting new Wardour Street openings this month, MOI is a stylish Japanese restaurant that champions British producers and seafood from the UK coast. Led by Gordon Ramsay alum Andy Cook (whose CV also includes Soho Farmhouse and Kensington Roof Gardens) as group executive chef, and head chef Nick Tannett (formerly of Evernight and Endo at the Rotunda), the menu offers something for every appetite across its main restaurant, omakase sushi bar, and listening room concept. The latter blends Tokyo-inspired vibes with vinyl soundtracks and lounge seating, while offering the full restaurant menu. Standout dishes include duck dumplings, Tamworth pork chop, Cornish lobster in clam broth, trout nigiri, and crab temaki with apple and kimizu sauce. The drinks list features low-intervention wines from small producers, curated sake and shochu pairings, and cocktails inspired by Japanese methods but made with British ingredients.
The Black Cow: Steakhouse Theatre In The Heart Of Shoreditch
The team behind Camden’s cult favourite Epicurus is opening The Black Cow in Shoreditch, bringing bold Middle Eastern flavours to the classic American steakhouse format. Set within The Stage, a new development built around Shakespeare’s original Curtain Playhouse, the restaurant is spread across three theatrical spaces: the open-air Performance Courtyard, a mezzanine-level Gallery overlooking the grill, and an intimate Backstage private dining room. Expect dry-aged British steak served tableside with flaming herbs, small plates like lamb merguez corn dogs and feta-strewn corn, and desserts with a twist (the gorgonzola cheesecake is worth saving room for). Drinks are mixed at a sleek, black-tiled bar and we already suspect the Ottoman Martinis spiked with Turkish coffee and cardamom will become a firm favourite.
Freak Scene x 100 Wardour Street: Pan-Asian Pizzazz Hits Soho
Last month also saw another hot Wardour Street opening as Freak Scene moved in for a limited-time pop-up at the iconic venue 100 Wardour Street. From former Nobu head chef and Kurobuta founder Scott Hallsworth, this punky pan-Asian residency will offer a curated menu of Freak Scene favourites, including chilli-crab wonton bombs, miso-grilled hispi cabbage, and red-curry duck donut buns alongside new dishes developed especially for the Soho crowd. A Saturday brunch is also launching, making this the spot to hit up with your gang for a lively and tasty, post-holiday debrief.
Platapian: Thai Heritage With A Family Heart In Soho
Platapian, a soulful Thai venue on Greek Street from Nam Parama Raiva is another hot addition to Soho this summer. Both food and decor offer up a personal tribute to Nam’s family; the Raiva family introduced refined Thai cooking to the UK over 35 years ago. Working alongside head chef Phayom Phimkrua, Nam has crafted a menu honouring regional Thai dishes, many of which are inspired by the recipes of her aunts, mother and grandmother. Expect small ‘gub glaem’ plates like okra fritters and crispy chicken skin with kaffir lime, followed by shareable mains (‘gub ghao’) such as tiger prawns with pla chilli sauce, beef short ribs, and an indulgent line-up of Thai desserts. The drinks list mirrors the kitchen’s flavourful approach, with cocktails built around Thai herbs, spices and fruit. Platapian’s interiors are also a homage to Thailand’s riverside homes, and family photographs line the walls, tracing the Raiva journey from Bangkok to London, while shelves are filled with homemade pickles, ferments and sauces, all designed to welcome guests into the family fold.
The Pelican: Introducing Supper Clubs At Notting Hill’s Standout Pub
The Pelican has become one of West London’s most talked-about pub-restaurants, and for good reason. Offering some serious kitchen credentials (from the same team behind The Bull in Charlbury, The Hero in Maida Vale and the more recent The Fat Badger), and a focus on British seasonal cooking, it’s as much a destination for discerning diners as it is a hugely popular neighbourhood pub. This month, it’s hosting the first in its new Supper Club series: Soil to Pub, a one-night-only celebration of peak-summer produce from their Market Garden at Bruern Farms. The three-course menu includes courgette fritters with goat’s curd, braised lamb with green sauce and summer beans, and a standout fresh cheese ice cream with preserved fig and fig leaf. This intimate event spotlights The Pelican’s ongoing commitment to regenerative farming, with a rustic, elevated menu that stays true to their less-is-more philosophy.
Soleil By Claude: Rooftop Riviera Vibes At The Peninsula London
If you’re chasing high summer with a side of Mediterranean flair, Soleil by Claude might just be the sun-drenched escape you’re after. This rooftop pop-up from Claude Bosi has temporarily transformed the two-Michelin-starred Brooklands at The Peninsula London into a more laid-back affair, serving up coastal European charm with unbeatable views over Belgravia. Running until the end of August, Soleil is all about the relaxed elegance that you might expect to find on the riviera: think sea bass in a salt crust, polpo carpaccio, seasonal fruit tarts and a slow-cooked lamb shoulder to be shared. The terrace itself is airy, sunlit and styled for the season, with a pétanque pit courtesy of Minuty and DJ sessions each weekend. Whether it’s breakfast with a view or spritzes at sunset, this pop-up captures the golden-hour spirit, no flight to Nice required.
Sussex British Bistro: The Relaunch Of A Frith Street Favourite
Another Soho institution, Sussex British Bistro, has had a refresh for summer. The Frith Street outpost from the Gladwin Brothers has a fresh new design. The focus now is firmly on fire, with golden rotisserie chickens and seared steaks from the Gladwins’ own Sussex farm taking pride of place, cooked over a daily-fired BBQ grill. The downstairs chef’s table seats 16 and offers guests a front-row seat to the action (and the occasional Beef Wellington masterclass), while the refreshed bar upstairs is made for Soho pit-stops, serving both iconic and creative British cocktails and snacks that include their signature mushroom marmite éclair. The new dining menu champions British ingredients with a rustic-meets-refined flair, chalking up blackboard specials, slow-roasted meats, and line-caught fish sourced fresh from the coast. It’s a confident return for one of Soho’s best-loved bistros.
Pick & Cheese Camden: British Cheese On A Belt
Mathew Carver, the man behind Paddington’s Cheese Barge and Covent Garden’s cult favourite Pick & Cheese, has brought his quirky conveyor belt concept to Camden, and we gouda not be more excited. It’s a playful love letter to British cheese, served with bold pairings, a laid-back vibe, and plenty of natural wine. Eighteen metres of belt winds through the space, sending plates of UK-sourced cheese and fun accompaniments gliding past your seat, think Cornish Yarg with pea and mint pesto or goat’s cheese with rose Turkish Delight. If that doesn’t hit the spot, grilled cheese sandwiches, a baked Baron Bigod and rotating cheese-based gelatos can be ordered off-belt. With bottomless plates every Wednesday (and at only £20pp for August only), a buzzy vibe and a focus on small-batch British producers, this one’s perfect for catch-ups, midweek dates or simply indulging your dairy obsession, no judgement.
Campanelle: All Day Dolce Vita In The City
Campanelle is a new all-day Italian from seasoned restaurateur Ninai Zarach, and the team behind popular Italian restaurants Manicomio and Canto Corvino. Set in a spectacular Grade II-listed former shipping exchange in the heart of the City, it’s big and beautiful: the two floors feature a marble bar, wine room, chef’s table and an all-weather terrace perfect for year-round al fresco dining. Named after the little bells that once echoed through Italian village streets, Campanelle captures that spirit of togetherness across breakfast, lunch and dinner. The morning menu includes an Italian spin on classic brunch dishes, such as prosciutto-stuffed eggs Benedict, while lunch and dinner menus span antipasti, handmade pasta, generous secondi and dolci, and Ninai’s standout tiramisu. Executive chef Fausto Rojas brings thoughtful, flavour-packed technique to each plate, while the wine list showcases Italy’s best vineyards. Whether you’re in for espresso or a long summer supper on the terrace, this is the ideal any-time destination to enjoy a taste of Italy’s most delicious offerings.
Dante London: Intimate And Exceptional Residence, Reserved For The Weekend
London’s most intimate new tasting menu experience has landed. Meet Dante London, a 27-cover, candlelit spot from industry friends-turned-collaborators, Louis Korovilas and Taylor Sessegnon-Shakespeare. Tucked inside Islington Arts Club, it’s their first independent project together, though seasoned diners may remember their work at Pied à Terre and Bancone. Each weekend, the duo will serve an evolving, Franco-Italian tasting menu that blends old-school technique with confident, modern flair. Standouts on the menu include broad bean orzotto with glazed chicken wing, beef carpaccio with oyster mayo, and clam bagna càuda over aubergine scarpece. Their whole-animal ethos adds depth to the menu. With just one evening sitting each Friday and Saturday and a looser lunch setup for Sundays, this is the kind of reservation you’ll want to make now, before the rest of London catches on.
Sucre: A Sizzling Summer Tasting Menu
Another popular Soho spot, Sucre is offering a new four-course tasting menu that puts its open flame cooking centre stage. Executive Chef Jack Godik has drawn inspiration from Argentina, Spain and beyond to create a fire-fuelled feast of full Latin flavours and smoky indulgence. Expect snack plates of mini empanadas, red prawns with pickled pineapple, and malbec-glazed chicken hearts, before choosing a main course such as Iberico pork ‘Matambre’ or Argentine beef fillet. Dessert might be a dulce de leche fondant or Sucre’s famed Basque cheesecake, both equally irresistible. Available every evening with optional wine pairings from their cellar, it’s a flavour-packed way to experience Sucre’s signature style
Ham Yard Hotel x Château La Coste: A Provençal Rooftop Dinner Party
Transport yourself to the lavender-strewn hills of Provençe, as Ham Yard Hotel teams up with Château La Coste for a one-night only atmospheric rooftop dinner, complete with wine, woodsmoke and sunset views over Soho. Hosted on the terrace of the hotel’s leafy roof garden, this one-off evening brings the spirit of the South of France to the heart of London. Guests will enjoy chilled rosé and Provençal-style appetisers including oysters shucked to order, fig flatbreads and sweet melon with Bayonne ham, before sitting down to a live-fire feast of stuffed tomatoes, poached cod with grand aïoli, and olive wood-roasted lamb shoulder. Dessert delivers a lavender-scented finale of poached peaches served under the stars, whilst Château La Coste ambassador Daniel Story will be on hand to guide guests through the organic wines served throughout the night.
The Bars
The Hari x Perrier-Jouët: Secret Champagne Garden In Belgravia
One of Belgravia’s best-kept secrets this summer can be found at The Hari which has transformed its indoor-outdoor terrace into a hidden Champagne garden in partnership with Perrier-Jouët. Framed by climbing clematis and trailing greenery, it’s the perfect sun-dappled spot for an elegant apéritif. Order a glass of Perrier-Jouët straight, or opt for one of the seasonal Champagne cocktails – we recommend their Spring Punch, laced with Crème de Cassis and fresh raspberries, order some small bites from Il Pampero, the hotel’s in-house Italian restaurant and enjoy a dreamy late afternoon hideaway, just moments from Hyde Park.
Horizon Lates: Sparkling Sunset Views At 22 Bishopsgate
Golden hour just got a glow-up. Hosted 58 floors above the City, Horizon Lates is a new rooftop series from Searcys at Horizon 22, London’s highest free public viewing gallery. On Thursday 7 and Thursday 28 August, the takeovers celebrate the best of English sparkling wine. Each evening pairs an hour of free-flowing fizz from Searcys’ award-winning range with panoramic views, seasonal canapés, bowl food and DJ sets to see you through sunset. Whether it’s date night, a group celebration, or just a chance to toast summer from the top of the City, this is one to bookmark for date night.
Town Bar: Satan’s Whiskers Alum Brings Cocktail Cool To Drury Lane
Fans of cult East London cocktail bar Satan’s Whiskers will be pleased to hear that its founder, Kevin Armstrong, has designed the cocktails for Town Bar, a new standalone venue tucked inside Stevie Parle’s new Drury Lane restaurant, Town. Expert-mixed cocktail classics and playful originals – such as the dill-spiked Dill Boy martini and the Chargers – a new signature made exclusively for Town – make up the cocktail menu, served alongside an excellent wine list. Bar snacks here punch well above their weight with offerings from Parle’s kitchen including fried sage leaves and potato sourdough with house gravy – perfect if you’re planning to settle in for the night.
Book Now For September
Alain Ducasse x Moor Hall: One-Night, Two Chefs, Three Michelin Stars
Book now for this one-off event happening in early September now. On Tuesday 9 September, two of the UK’s most decorated restaurants join forces for an unmissable four-hands dinner at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. Chef patron Jean-Philippe Blondet will be joined by Mark Birchall of Moor Hall (fresh from receiving his third Michelin star) for an evening that brings Lancashire’s finest to Park Lane. The menu is a homage to their signature dishes, from Blondet’s hand-dived scallop with citrus beurre blanc and Kristal caviar to Birchall’s East Coast lobster with Tarleton tomatoes and smoked marrow. Overseen by Alain Ducasse, who has held three stars at The Dorchester since 2010, each course promises to showcase the best-of-the-best in precision, seasonality and provenance. This is set to be one of the most refined (and exclusive) dinners of the year.
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Lead image: Mount Street
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