Monday Bulletin: Esmeralda’s | Logma | Osteria Vibrato

Catch up on the latest industry news stories of the week from the CODE Bulletin

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OSTERIA VIBRATO

Terrific news for fans of the old Laughing Heart in Hackney: Charlie Mellor is back with a new restaurant and bar, and it will be in Soho. Osteria Vibrato, billed “an antidote to concept dining”, is set to open in February 2026. Mellor is joined by his friend and fellow sommelier Cameron Dewar (Luca; Burnt Ends) alongside Gaia Enria (founder of Burro e Salvia). The food will be warm, soulful, classical Italian, with fresh pasta rolled daily, fior di latte mozzarella fatta in casa, pre-order specials such as Abruzzese brodetto alla vastese, and amaretti baked to order. The wine list will be a restrained 250 references, with plans for an off-site cellar that will be “one of the deeper collections in town”. Throw in set lunch and theatre menus, terrazzo floors, art from gallerist Cedric Bardawil, and staff in thrifted Italian tailoring, and you have a Soho institution waiting to happen.

LOGMA

Farsin Rabiee and Ziad Halub of East London’s Logma have found a permanent base for their popular supper club. Logma Café Bistro will open for Iranian and Iraqi comfort food, coffee and pastries five days a week from the new year.

HONEST GREENS

Or Hg, as it is henceforth to be known in the UK, has arrived in Soho from Spain. Its focus is on good nutritious food for every day, with dishes ranging from garden bowls and overnight oats to miso salmon. All mains come in at sub-£11.

ESMERALDA’S MAYFAIR

Esmeralda’s Mayfair, a New York-style late-night lounge, has opened at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair. Expect late nights, live music, caviar nuggets, and cocktails by Anna Sebastian (CODE’s Women of the Year 2025). Just one thing: no photos.

• The Hospitality Choir has recorded a Christmas charity single to raise money for Hospitality Action. Give it a listen on Spotify or donate using URocked. Every share, every stream helps.
  
  
• The UK’s first Champagne boutique, Portfolio MCR, has opened in Manchester.
  
  
• Close Ties, the multi-disciplinary hospitality collective, are hosting a NYE party at Soma Soho. The party is open to industry and non-industry alike. Tickets, £20, or £10 for CODE members, including a glass of fizz.
  
  
• The Cinnamon Club in SW1 celebrates 25 years in 2026. It’s marking the occasion with a menu at 2001 prices (tandoori chicken, £6!) available from 12-24 January.
  
  
• Claridge’s Bakery has an opening date: Wednesday 21 January. See you there for a Jammy Dodger tart.
  
  
• Berberè, the Neapolitan pizza specialists, have opened a fifth London site at Westfield Stratford City.
  
  
• Sad news from Saltine in Highbury and The White Horse in Mayfair, both of which are closing before the end of the year.
  
  
• Dory’s in Margate has also announced it will close – but not until in March. On the upside, sister restaurant Angela’s is expanding.
  
  
• The ESEACC Luncheon Club, a community kitchen providing meals to older members of the Vietnamese and Chinese communities in Hackney, has had its application for funding rejected. Keep up to date with fundraising activities here or donate here.
  
  
  

WHAT WE’RE READING

The ultimate Scottish road trip: where to eat, drink and stay on Scotland’s North Coast 500: The Good Food Guide

How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants – and I built a dashboard to see through it: Lauren’s Data Substack

What’s trending in restaurants in 2025?: CODE

David Ellis reviews Martino’s: with apologies to The Ritz, I’ve found my new favourite restaurant

THE DUMBWAITER

Thomas Straker, our own homegrown Carmy, dropped a Calvin Klein ad on his social channels this week. “Jeremy Allen White who?” asked one.

To the opening of Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden, where CMAT made a special guest appearance, Annie Mac did a DJ set in the vault, and everybody who was anybody had their own ‘Stoutie’ printed on top of their Guinness.

Mick Jagger was spied at Forbidden City Bar, the cocktail bar tucked away beneath A. Wong in Pimlico. You can’t always get what you want but the Dumbwaiter hears Jagger was happy with his wonton noodle soup and special fried rice.

Jonathan Nunn announced his top 99 London restaurants in Vittles last week in a series of five posts that hit inboxes progressively later each morning, as if to prolong the suspense. By 9.07am on Friday, chefs, restaurateurs and restaurant-watchers were beside themselves with anticipation. Congratulations to Planque in Haggerston on taking the top spot.