The Restaurant Openings of the Year

What was your favourite opening of 2025? And which restaurant are you most looking forward to in 2026? These are the two questions we posed to our panel of experts, chosen from among the esteemed winners of our flagship campaigns – CODE’s Women of the Year, CODE’s Happiest Places to Work and CODE’s 30 Under 30. Take a look at their answers below:

Natalia Ribbe, founder of Sète and LOR

CODE Hospitality’s Woman of the Year

“My opening of the year – I’m going to rattle off a few! I was so impressed with Legado. I went for friends and family so obviously I didn’t have to pay but I would happily have paid. The service was great; the food was phenomenal. I cannot wait to go back. I should go back tomorrow, it was so f***ing good. I just popped into Hawksmoor Martini Bar and it is definitely up there as one of the most exciting openings of the year for me. Will Beckett said it great in his post that there is something about arriving at St. Pancras and there is something about Hawksmoor that is just so ‘London’ and I really felt that. I love the Renaissance; it’s such a match made in heaven. I can’t wait to go and eat there. And down here in Margate, my friends have just opened The Wellington. It’s important that we champion the next generation of restaurateurs and owners and young entrepreneurs.

The one I’m most excited for in 2026 would have to be Osteria Vibrato. I love Charlie Mellor so much. I have so many fond memories of The Laughing Heart, one of the best times of my life, it was down to his service. I think it’s going to be heaven and perfection.”

Markus Thesleff, Founder, Thesleff Group

CODE’s Happiest Places to Work 2025

“My favourite opening this year was Lilibet’s, a restaurant that arrived with a strong sense of identity and an immediate connection to its neighbourhood. It’s a great example of why London’s dining scene continues to evolve in exciting ways.

Next year, I’m particularly looking forward to Mazi opening in Mayfair. Their first restaurant in Notting Hill has long been a neighbour to Los Mochis Notting Hill, and I’ve always admired their modern, expressive take on Greek cuisine. It will be exciting to see what that style brings to a new part of the city.”

Emma Piggott, Owner and Director, The Prince Arthur, You Call The Shots, Bing Bong Pizza

CODE’s Women of the Year 2025

“A totally biased but deserved answer: Winsome in Manchester. Shaun Moffat is one of my closest friends and I followed him around London for years. To be able to eat such a pure expression of his food, in his restaurant, is such a treat. I had a scallop dish there in September which was one of the best I have ever eaten. The menu is faultless, the room is beautiful at any time of day, and the front of house team give you some of the best service you’ll ever have.”

“The one I’m excited about next year is Cloth Cornhill. No idea what it’ll be like as it’s all hush hush at the moment but I am a superfan of their first restaurant so I am already fully signed up to the next. I am also waiting with bated breath for news of Simpson’s-in-the-Strand.”

Jules Pearson, Co-Founder, London On The Inside

CODE’s Women of the Year 2025

“One Club Row – my blood is 25% Olive Oil Martini at this point. Next year, I am super excited about the new Cloth site, Cloth Cornhill at Simpson’s Tavern – an iconic site and the Cloth boys’ magic! I can’t wait for it to open.”

Lucy Bosi, Co-owner, Joséphine

CODE’s Women of the Year 2025

“Favourite opening, that’s really easy: I love Legado. I love what Nieves does. Everything is so restorative and delicious and there’s a bit of theatre too. She’s also doing these tiny little shot drinks which is a different way of doing a cocktail that I thought was really thoughtful and well thought out. And I loved Kudu too. Everything they do is delicious, the spiced biltong, the prime rib, the delicious braai…even if you don’t know the ingredients or that way of cooking, it’s delicious. Claude and I love a good strong sauce and they do a prawn dish with a delicious spiced peri peri sauce.

I love everything that Martin [Kuczmarski] does so I’m really excited about Martino’s. I was at The Dover last week and everybody was dressed up – there were lads in suits and ties; it’s nice to go out somewhere that feels special.”

David Taylor, Chef Director, Grace & Savour

CODE’s Happiest Places to Work 2025

“My best meals this year were at 670 Grams and at Woven. I’ve known Kray [Treadwell, chef owner of 670 Grams] for some years; I felt the cooking was really accomplished, really tasty, really well executed. At Woven, [Adam Smith] did this stunning sweetbread and truffle dish which was very classic French, unbelievably indulgent and rich and intense but still felt balanced. That’s really hard to achieve.”

“Next year, Glynn [Purnell] is opening Trillium; and Alex Nietosvuori [of Hjem] is opening Freyja in Northumberland which he started planning at least two years ago. James Close is also opening a standalone restaurant at Rockliffe Hall in County Durham and will be pushing to get a three-star restaurant. It’s interesting, in the midst of everything that’s going on, there is still a hunger for investors to go big and go long on these projects.”

Xiao Yi Qiu, General Manager, Sabor

CODE’s 30 Under 30

“A great and yet low-key opening has been Alta in Kingly Court: lovely ambience, great stuff on their drinks list and some very tasty food: empanada is quirky in its presentation but it doesn’t fall into the gimmicky viral dish when it comes to flavour and the squid is delightful in its texture and preparation.”

“For 2026, I’m excited to see chef Clare Smyth at the Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch. After working in her kitchen years ago and seeing the new bistro [Corenucopia] with that strong team, excellence is only to be expected. I also wonder if I’ll be able to afford it.”

Kimberley Coke, Head of Communications and Partnerships, StreetSmart

CODE’s Women of the Year 2025

“My restaurant openings of the year were Lilibet’s and Kudu. I absolutely loved them. The ones I’m most excited about are Simpson’s-in-the-Strand and Hoppers Shoreditch.”

Rachel Kerr-Lapsley, Managing Director, Kelly’s Cause

CODE’s Women of the Year 2025

“My favourite opening of 2025 has got to be Breadstall. Pizza by the slice that slaps! I feel like I’ve been waiting a decade for London to get its act together and it has finally arrived on Berwick Street. I can’t pass by it without eating a slice of pizza.

The new opening I’m looking forward to personally, because it’s close to my house and I just love their food, is Tiella on Columbia Road. Dara Klein is so creative and warm and there’s something about the perspective they have in terms of their food and the way they think about their team and how they want hospitality to be for people who are building up their career that I just find super exciting. I cannot wait to eat there.”

Wenjun Xiang, Owner, Xi Home Dumplings Bay

CODE’s 30 Under 30

“Copains was my favourite brand when I was studying pastry in Paris earlier this year, so seeing their gluten-free bakery concept thrive in London feels especially inspiring.”