September always brings a feeling of a fresh start, and the capital’s restaurant scene is certainly behaving accordingly.
As the last warm evenings of summer hopefully linger, this month brings a bumper crop of new openings, from much-hyped Filipino food and modern French bistrots to glamorous steakhouses and new neighbourhood pubs to relax in.
Elsewhere, some of London’s biggest chefs are collaborating for one-night-only dinners; tomatoes are inspiring entire tasting menus and even the humble burger is getting the Michelin treatment. With plenty of new-season abundance both on the plate and across the city, these are our Top Tables for September.
Saison by Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO x Raf’s New York A two-night-only residency
With a two-night-only London residency, Raffles London at The OWO is teaming up with one of New York’s most in-demand restaurants. Raf’s – a bakery by day and a bistro by night – sees a steady stream of NYC society (designers, models, editors) stopping in for dinner on one of its 11 seats in NoHo – it’s fitting, then, that its London debut will take place during London Fashion Week.
Taking place in Saison by Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO, the two cheffing teams, led by chef Mauro Colagreco and chef Mary Attea, are designing a menu to celebrate the best of the best across ingredients and craftsmanship. Diners joining the special evening can expect a menu that merges the best of both restaurants and chefs. Alongside other dishes expect Raf’s arancini paired with Saison’s cheddar and black truffle tostadas (canapés); Raf’s tuna crudo with Saison’s cured wild trout with dill sauce (starters); Raf’s whole dorade with castelvetrano olives and pork chop with Saison lobster bolognese (mains); and Raf Cookies complemented by Saison’s apple tart with crème fraîche ice cream for dessert.
Of the collaboration, chef Colagreco says “Raf’s has created a unique identity by bringing together Parisian and Italian influences with a distinctly New York energy, and we look forward to interpreting that spirit alongside our own approach at Saison.” This is perhaps one of the more special dinners of the year in London – book well in advance. Katie Silcox
Beefbar at Dear Jackie Riviera glamour comes to Soho
Monaco-born Beefbar is arriving in Soho in style this month, taking over both the Dear Jackie restaurant and its ground-floor bar inside the Broadwick Soho. Founded by restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi in Monte Carlo in 2005, Beefbar has since landed in some of the world’s most glamorous destinations, from Paris and Milan to Mykonos and New York. Now, Broadwick Soho will become the London flagship of its stylish spin on a traditional steakhouse.
Exceptional beef is at the heart of the menu, with Japanese Kobe and Australian Wagyu among the signatures. But there will also be a new Broadwick Icons section created exclusively for Soho, including a Wagyu shepherd’s pie and a truffle-infused take on Cordon Bleu.
The setting is getting an overhaul too, with bespoke new interiors and a redesigned terrace, bringing Beefbar’s Riviera-inspired glamour together with Broadwick Soho’s own playful but design-led approach. It is a match that should work well, and a table to be seen this autumn.
ALBA Amalfi Coast Omakase
Knightsbridge’s Amalfi-inspired ALBA is launching a new Japanese concept and intimate 10-seat omakase counter. There’s just one sitting each evening, at 7.30 pm, with guests choosing between nine and 12-course tasting menus built around the best produce available that day. Diners can expect to enjoy Hokkaido uni, bluefin otoro, Kristal and Beluga caviar, alongside nigiri, sashimi and small raw plates prepared directly in front of you.
The concept comes from ALBA’s Creative Chef Dmytro Pak, previously of UNI in Paris, while each evening will be led by Japanese Head Chef Takuya Kaneko, who brings 20 years of experience to the counter, including eight years spent at Zuma. It might sound like a departure for a restaurant inspired by the Amalfi Coast. But, there’s a clever connection: both Italian crudo and Japanese omakase put exceptional raw seafood, seasonality and minimal intervention at their heart. For those who don’t fancy committing to the full experience, a new Japanese à la carte menu will also be available daily.
Cassette Team behind Levan open in the West End
The team behind Peckham favourite Levan is heading to Covent Garden, and opening modern French bistrot Cassette, housed in an impressive 19th-century former stained-glass and church furniture workshop.
Inspired by the Parisian bistros, neighbourhood wine bars and countryside auberges the founders have spent years eating and drinking their way around, Cassette is designed for the kind of long lunches that have a habit of turning into evenings. Head Chef Essa Fakhry, formerly of Dublin’s Note and London’s Planque, is behind a menu rooted in classical French cooking but given a lighter, contemporary spin. Dishes are set to include raw beef croustade with Comté, pickled mussels with panisse and aioli, coq au vin jaune pie and frequently changing blackboard specials. On Sundays, diners are invited to keep things pleasingly simple with specials of moules or steak frites.
Drinks are taken just as seriously. The changing wine list is inspired by Levan’s award-winning approach, showcasing winemakers doing something different or bottles available in smaller allocations. There’s also a particular love for Calvados (a type of apple brandy from Normandy) served up in a variety of ways.
Georgie's Bar at Kerridge's A new reason to head back to the Corinthia
Tom Kerridge’s London restaurant is reopening at Corinthia London alongside Georgie’s Bar, a brand-new drinking and dining destination from the celebrated British chef.
Named after Kerridge’s beloved Boxer, whose paw print famously became part of the identity of his restaurants when she stepped in the concrete at his pub The Hand & Flowers, Georgie’s is designed as somewhere you can drop into without committing to dinner next door.
Food here is suitably indulgent, from buttermilk fried chicken and pork scratchings to a cheeseburger topped with BBQ brisket, shellfish brioche rolls and haddock fritters inspired by Kerridge’s legendary fish and chips. Whilst martini fans are also well catered for, with four freezer-cold versions, Dry, Wet, Dirty and Steak, the latter a twist on a Gibson finished with a house-smoked pickled onion.
Next door, Kerridge’s itself has also had a refresh, reopening as a more intimate restaurant with Head Chef Tom Childs continuing its produce-led British cooking. Stand-outs include the crab crumpets, Orkney scallop pie, whole Cornish lobster Thermidor, alongside its much-loved Sunday roast. The Chef’s Larder, a centrepiece of the Kerridge’s experience, also returns. Guests can explore the dedicated meat larder and select their preferred cut, before it is cooked to order.
Pearl Mayfair's secret garden gets a restaurant
One of Mayfair’s more unexpected hidden spaces is getting a new restaurant. Pearl opens on 14 September in Brown Hart Gardens, an elevated public garden sitting on top of a Grade II-listed working electricity substation just moments from Oxford Street.
Originally created as a communal space for residents, an electricity substation was built on the site in the early 20th century. To compensate for the loss of the gardens, the Duke of Westminster insisted that a new Italianate garden be created on its roof, where it has remained, elevated above Duke Street, ever since. Now, alongside Pearl’s arrival, the gardens are reopening to the public following a major redesign by the late landscape architect and horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett, one of his final projects.
Pearl itself comes from The Beaumont Mayfair, which overlooks the gardens, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu overseen by its Culinary Director, Lisa Goodwin-Allen. Dishes include burrata with grilled peppers, artichokes and hazelnuts; octopus with ’nduja aioli; and lamb chops with sumac, tzatziki and dill, accompanied by spritzes and Southern European wines. Open for breakfast from 8 am daily, it’s one to seek out if you thought you’d already discovered all of London’s hidden gems.
Bunso Belly's little sibling arrives in Kentish Town
Following the success of Filipino restaurant Belly, founder Omar Shah is back with another opening in Kentish Town. Bunso, meaning ‘youngest child’ in Filipino, will be an all-day bakery and pizzeria inspired by Shah’s Filipino heritage and the food he grew up eating.
As with Belly, Filipino flavours won’t be confined to traditional dishes. Instead, ingredients and techniques from Filipino kitchens will be woven through the modern menu.
By day, there will be freshly baked laminated pastries, savoury bakes and excellent coffee, before Bunso changes gear in the evening to become a relaxed neighbourhood pizzeria. Freshly made pizzas will take centre stage, joined by a menu of crudo, kinilaw, salads and pasta.
George & Dragon New Clerkenwell Pub with Michelin Credentials
A historic Clerkenwell pub is getting a new lease of life and bringing two Michelin-starred chefs along for the ride. From mid-September, George & Dragon takes over the Grade II-listed former home of The Peasant, with a relaxed neighbourhood pub downstairs and Island, the first permanent restaurant for the venture from chefs Tom Brown and Brad Carter, upstairs.
Following Island’s successful residency at Mare Street Market King’s Cross, the same concept will see the menu take inspiration from the British Isles, bringing together wild day-boat seafood and rare-breed meats in a playful take on surf and turf. Dishes served up will include lamb belly and clam skewers, steak tartare with prawn crackers and curried mussels with curry leaf fries, alongside an epic-sounding steak and lobster pie and sharing chop boards piled with meat and fish.
Downstairs, the elevated pub menu is equally fun: think shawarma-glazed lamb döner sausages, Irish oysters with butter and bacon crumb, salt and vinegar skate and a BBQ pork belly and crab sub. Sundays, meanwhile, will see Brown and Carter revive the feast-style roasts that became a favourite during their Mare Street Market residency.
Bamboo Mat East London Nikkei favourite comes to Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf’s restaurant scene continues to grow this autumn, as popular East London restaurant Bamboo Mat opens a second, much larger site at Wood Wharf.
The Japanese-Peruvian restaurant first opened in Stratford in 2022, and now its new Nikkei restaurant will span two floors, with a raw and cocktail bar downstairs and a robata, sushi and hot kitchen above. The vibrant culinary style of Nikkei originated in Peru following the arrival of Japanese immigrants in the late 19th century, blending traditional Japanese cooking techniques with the ingredients and bold flavours of Peru. The menu includes premium sushi, ceviche and tiradito, alongside dishes from the robata and twists on Japanese classics like teriyaki.
The cocktail menu will similarly draw inspiration from both Asia and Peru. The new restaurant is designed to be a more immersive take on the Bamboo Mat concept too, with stand-out interiors pairing natural woods and rich textures with more industrial cement and finishes. One to add to the ever-growing list of reasons to head east for dinner.
The Tallyman Canary Wharf gets a new neighbourhood local
Canary Wharf is also getting a new local, as The Tallyman brings a characterful, East London-inspired pub to the waterfront at Chancellor Passage. Taking its name from the tallymen who once worked as trusted intermediaries on London’s docks, the new opening is designed to feel like a proper neighbourhood boozer.
The team behind it has good form, with Hammersmith seafood restaurant Faber, The Somers Town Coffee House in King’s Cross and The Victoria in Mile End already under its belt. Here, Chef Craig Johnson is putting the focus on British, sustainable and seasonal produce, with pub classics including game pie, Cornish brill, steak and burgers, alongside Faber’s much-loved lobster roll also making an appearance. Sundays will, naturally, be dedicated to roasts.
Inside, stained glass, rich woods and a piano for impromptu gigs will bring some traditional pub warmth to Canary Wharf’s contemporary surroundings, while outside there’s waterfront drinking for sunnier days. With live music, quizzes and locals’ nights also planned, this is a pub that wants to become part of the neighbourhood rather than simply somewhere to stop for an after-work pint.
Franco's London A fresh new look for an Italian institution
One of London’s oldest Italian restaurants has had a refresh. Franco’s has been a fixture of Jermyn Street since 1945, and now the St James’s institution is unveiling a completely redesigned bar, creating a more relaxed spot for everything from morning espresso to evening aperitivo.
Head Chef Stefano Turconi has created a new menu of Italian small plates especially for the bar, with our standouts including sea urchin on toast with avocado and lime and Cornish tuna tartare with burrata cream. There are new additions to the main menu too, including porcini gnocchi with truffled pecorino and roasted venison with girolles and blackberry.
Drinks embrace Italian aperitivo culture, with cocktails including the limoncello-based Zest and an Apple Sour Spritz, alongside Franco’s extensive Italian wine list.
The redesigned space keeps the restaurant’s old-school elegance but gives it a lighter, more contemporary feel, with oak floors, antique mirrors and illustrated wallpaper inspired by classical Italian art. A good excuse to rediscover a London classic, even if you’re only stopping by for a post-shopping spritz.
God Save the Pizza Breaking the Pizza Rules in Exmouth Market
Exmouth Market has a rebellious new arrival with the opening of punk-inspired God Save The Pizza. Created by Roberto Costa, the Italian restaurateur behind the Italian steakhouse Macellaio RC, the new concept is turning its attention away from the dough that has become something of a battleground in London’s pizza scene and putting the toppings firmly back in the spotlight.
The menu is divided into three levels of pizza anarchy: Original, Revolution and Rebel, all served on Roman-style thin and crispy sourdough bases. At the safer end of the spectrum, Originals are classics like The Queen, which pairs tomato sauce with mozzarella cream, Parmesan and basil oil. Rebel pizzas push boundaries with the Meat Feast piling on beef ragù, spicy salami and chilli. The Extremist is perhaps the most eyebrow-raising, with toppings of ham, cheddar, pineapple sauce and four-cheese cream, a combination seemingly designed to horrify Italian purists! Spicy lasagne, chicken wings and croquettes round out the menu.
The punk attitude is also embraced with the decor, with graffiti, neon and interiors inspired by the punks who congregated around Piccadilly Circus in the early 1980s. Proof that London’s pizza scene still has room for a little anarchy.
Toasteé Set to be London's latest ube obsession
The team behind modern Filipino restaurant Donia and cult favourite Panadera Bakery is turning its attention to dessert with the launch of Toasteé, a new French toast and ube-focused concept at Westfield White City.
Created by 1996 Group founder Florence Mae Maglanoc and longtime collaborator Adrian Kyle Felipe, Toasteé takes classic French toast and gives it a playful Southeast Asian spin. Panadera’s freshly baked bread forms the base, piled with combinations including silky ube jam, matcha ganache and Milo cookies and cream, alongside a classic butter and maple syrup version and rotating seasonal specials.
Ube, the naturally sweet, nutty purple yam beloved in Filipino desserts, is the other star. Find it in everything from Ube Milk and Ube Foam Matcha to Ube Horchata and Ube Banana, while house-made ice creams come in flavours including Ube, Pandan Coconut, Strawberry Cheesecake and Miso Caramel.
With just 15 seats, it’s a small opening, but given the queues Panadera’s Filipino-inspired bakes have been known to attract, we suspect Toasteé’s purple-hued creations will be all over your Instagram feed very soon.
Nobu London Old Park Lane A set lunch of greatest hits
Nobu’s dishes were iconic long before photographing your dinner for Instagram was even a thing. So, if its Black Cod Miso has been sitting on your London dining bucket list, there’s now a great way to try it. Nobu London Old Park Lane has launched a new £40 weekday Signature Lunch, bringing together some of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s most famous dishes in one set menu.
Start with either Sashimi Three Ways or Nobu’s Signature Sushi Selection, before moving on to a trio of the restaurant’s greatest hits: Rock Shrimp Tempura with creamy spicy sauce, the iconic Black Cod Miso and Beef Tenderloin with a choice of Teriyaki or Anticucho sauce. Rice or spicy garlic vegetables are included too. For two diners, this means you get to try the menu, provided your date is willing to share!
The Old Park Lane restaurant opened in 1997 as the first Nobu outside the US and will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Whether you’ve somehow never been or simply haven’t visited for years, this feels like a very good excuse to rediscover a London classic.
Los Mochis London City Cielo, a rooftop brunch with a side of shopping
If your ideal Sunday involves indulgent dishes, rooftop cocktails and a little shopping on the side, Los Mochis London City might have created the brunch for you. CIELO is a new Sunday experience combining the restaurant’s Mexican-Japanese food offering with live music, DJs and a rotating luxury trunk show, all with panoramic views across the London skyline.
Rather than a traditional sit-down brunch, food is served from stations dotted around the rooftop, encouraging guests to move between sushi and raw bars, freshly prepared ceviche and tiradito, caviar, robata and kushiyaki. Los Mochis favourites, including miso black cod and tacos, also make an appearance before dessert – including churros dipped into a dulce de leche fountain. A selection of different drink packages to suit preferences (and Monday morning responsibilities) are also on offer.
A resident DJ and roaming band will soundtrack the afternoon with Afro-house, Latin and Riviera-inspired sounds, while in a fun, and perhaps slightly dangerous post-brunch twist, the mezzanine also becomes a pop-up luxury showroom. The first editions will feature handbag and accessories brand Stone & Mason on 20 September, followed by designer resale platform The Cirkel on 27 September.
Duda x The Pilgrim A new home for a popular Malaysian pop-up
After building a loyal following during an eight-month residency in Nunhead, Malaysian pop-up Duda Diner, is heading west for the first time later this month and taking over the kitchen at Paddington boutique hotel The Pilgrim.
Created by husband-and-wife duo Hakeem and Zura Ahmad, Duda Diner takes its inspiration from the generous, family-style Malaysian food they grew up eating, combining familiar flavours and dishes with a playful, contemporary approach. Its Nunhead residency became known for creations including the Tempoyak Oyster, made using Malaysia’s famously funky fermented durian condiment, and the award-winning DUDA Burger, both of which will make the journey to Paddington alongside a collection of new dishes. This residency is the fourth and final instalment of The Pilgrim’s 2026 Incubator Kitchen Series, created to give emerging food concepts a central London platform.
Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at the OWO The humble tomato takes centre stage
If you too spent the summer indulging in tomatoes at every opportunity, Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO has the perfect way to see out the season. After proving popular last year, the restaurant’s Tomato Menu makes a return for September, with seven courses dedicated entirely to showcasing just how versatile the ingredient can be.
Colagreco describes himself as a ‘gardener with a chef’s jacket’ and grows around 43 varieties of tomato in his gardens in Menton, France. In London, he has teamed up with Isle of Wight Tomatoes, using the different sweetness, acidity, texture and colour of each variety as inspiration for the individual dishes.
And this is definitely not seven courses of tomato salad. Green Zebra is paired with Cornish bluefin tuna, melon and Vietnamese coriander; Yellow Datterino with handmade cavatelli, elderflower and mussels. Even the main course keeps the theme going, pairing Pineapple Tomato with ex-dairy cow, tomato kimchi and smoked condiments. Tomatoes naturally make it to dessert, with Yellow Cherry Tomatoes and basil sorbet. This is a creative ode to one of summer’s favourite ingredients, and a very delicious way to see out the season.
Canton Blue Mahjong, martinis and mooncakes
Canton Blue at The Peninsula London is celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival throughout September with a month of special menus, mooncake making and Mahjong Mondays.
Launching on 14 September, the restaurant’s new Mahjong Club taps into the game’s recent revival, as a new generation discovers the centuries-old Chinese pastime. Taking over the Tea Lounge every Monday, Canton Blue will have beautifully crafted Mahjong sets created by Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong woodwork atelier Start From Zero. For £30 per person, guests get exclusive use of a table alongside a bowl of hand-pulled noodles and an apricot gin and Yellow Baijiu martini. Complete beginners can even book a private tutor to teach them the ropes.
Elsewhere, Master Dim Sum Specialist Chef Ling Ling will lead intimate mooncake-making masterclasses, followed by a three-course Cantonese dinner, including, of course, the chance to eat your own creations. If you’d rather leave the cooking to the professionals, a special three-course Mid-Autumn Festival lunch (£48pp) and five-course dinner (£145pp) will run throughout September, featuring everything from dim sum and Typhoon Shelter-style oysters to wok-fried Wagyu ribeye, before finishing with traditional mooncakes or The Peninsula’s celebrated mango pudding.
Country Creatures x Fire Chefs One last candlelit summer feast
Just a short trip from London, the Cotswolds are calling for one last summer feast. On 12 September, Georgie and Sam Pearman, the duo behind Country Creatures, will host their inaugural Fire Chefs Dinner close to their two venues, The Double Red Duke and The Mason’s Arms, in the pretty village of Clanfield.
For one night only, guests will be invited to gather around long tables laid out across the grass, surrounded by wildflowers and candlelit lanterns, with live music from local artists setting the soundtrack.
On the food front, three brilliant chefs known for cooking over open flames will each take to the embers. Updown Farmhouse’s Oli Brown brings his Italian-leaning approach and love of hyper-seasonal produce; Ecuadorian-born Ana Ortiz will draw on South American flavours and asado techniques; while award-winning and Michelin-Starred Miller Prada is known for combining Japanese precision with Latin American influences.
Working with some of the Pearman’s favourite local suppliers, the trio will create a sharing-style feast using the flames and embers to bring out the best in seasonal produce, with plenty of slow-cooked meats and fire-charred vegetables to sample. Accompanying the feast will be draught ales and classic cocktails served from The Double Red Duke’s Land Rover Defender bar.
Mareida x Gislí Matt from NÆS Two distinct culinary flavours collide in Fitzrovia
Two very different culinary landscapes come together in Fitzrovia, as Chilean and coastal South American restaurant Mareida welcomes Icelandic chef Gísli Matt and the team from Reykjavík restaurant NÆS for a one-off dinner on Sunday 20 September.
For one sitting only, Gísli will join Mareida’s Head Chef Nicolas Einersen in the kitchen for a collaborative set menu bringing together Icelandic and Chilean flavours and techniques. The evening will begin with a selection of raw and cured snacks, followed by sharing-style mains that combine Gísli’s love of cooking with fire and fermentation with Nicolas’s ingredient-led approach to contemporary Chilean food.
The two chefs will also collaborate on dessert, while a special collection of cocktails has been created to pair with the menu. It’s a meeting of two countries rarely seen together on a London menu, and a good opportunity to experience one of Iceland’s most acclaimed chefs without the need for a flight.
Heard Burger x Aktar Islam Two Michelin Chefs in Borough collab on a burger
What happens when two chefs with serious Michelin pedigree turn their attention to a burger? Well, you can find out, as Heard founder Jordan Bailey, whose former restaurant Aimsir earned two Michelin stars, teams up Aktar Islam, the chef behind Birmingham’s two Michelin-starred Opheem and recent London opening Oudh 1722, for a limited-edition menu.
The star is The Pataka, named after the Hindi word for ‘firecracker’, and is the first burger Aktar has ever created (and, according to the chef himself, probably his last). A marinated double beef smash patty is layered with Ogleshield cheese, curried onions, spiced tamarind chutney, onion bhaji, tomato salsa and smoked aubergine yoghurt. A vegetarian version, made with spiced black bean and wild mushroom patties, is also available.
The collaboration continues with the fries and sides. Chatpata Fries come dusted with chilli and green mango, while a Shrikhand Lolly combines cardamom-spiced yoghurt with Kesar and Alphonso mango. There’s even a Lime Pickle G&T made with Goan-distilled Stranger & Sons Gin.
Evelyn's Table A taste of Tuscany hidden beneath Soho
Hidden beneath The Blue Posts in Soho, Michelin-starred Evelyn’s Table has just 12 seats at its intimate chef’s counter, making dinner here feel special at the best of times. On 15 September, there’s another reason to book, as the restaurant welcomes acclaimed Tuscan wine estate Avignonesi for a one-night-only dinner.
Head Chef Seamus Sam has created a five-course tasting menu celebrating the arrival of early autumn, with each dish paired with wines from the Montepulciano-based estate. Founded in 1974, Avignonesi is one of Tuscany’s best-known producers, with vineyards across Montepulciano and Cortona and a particular focus on biodynamic farming and organic winemaking. An intimate Michelin-starred dinner with a little taste of Tuscany in the middle of Soho sounds like a rather lovely way to welcome autumn.
Sushi Kanesaka Tom Aikens steps behind the omakase counter
Mayfair’s Michelin-starred Sushi Kanesaka continues its chef collaboration series, welcoming Tom Aikens of Michelin-starred Muse behind its intimate omakase counter for one night only.
The Michelin Series brings acclaimed chefs into the 45 Park Lane restaurant to cook side by side with Head Chef Hirotaka Wada and his team. Rather than simply adding a guest dish to the menu, each dinner is shaped through an exchange of ideas between the chefs, resulting in an entirely unique omakase experience.
On 16 September, Aikens and Wada will bring together two very different culinary worlds: Aikens’ contemporary British cooking, known for its seasonality, and the meticulous traditions of Edomae sushi. The resulting menu will take both chefs outside their usual territory, making this a rare chance to experience their cooking in a completely new way.
Sarah Jackson is a dining contributor at Citizen Femme. A Londonophile, she has previously lived in Dubai and Copenhagen, building her career in international communications. When not discovering the capital’s hottest new restaurants and bars, she loves to jet off for a European city break, always with the next meal in mind.
Lead image: Canton Blue
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