The best new restaurants in North London

The second London venture by Italian celebrity chef Giancarlo Caldesi, the Belsize Park branch of his eponymous restaurants is a charming and welcoming spot for indulging in authentic Italian cuisine. Boasting a commitment to artisanal Italian ingredients and fresh seasonal produce, the restaurant offers a menu that features a wide range of Tuscan favourites, with a particular emphasis on sharing plates.

Babbo is a cosy Italian eatery located in St John's Wood, providing an all-day dining experience centred around traditional Italian fare. The menu is thoughtfully crafted, showcasing unique versions of classic dishes like Babbo Parmigiana and Spaghettoni Gragnano. With seating available both indoors and on a heated terrace, Babbo seeks to create an inviting atmosphere for guests to savour delicious food, fine wine, and great company.

Located in the heart of Camden Town, El Cenote is a bar and restaurant inspired by the traditions and flavours of Mexico. Visit for street food like carne asada and tacos, plus a dedicated vegan menu of plant-based takes on the classics. Vibrant cocktails and mezcal are also available here.

Created by award-winning chef Adam Simmonds, Voyage at The Megaro hotel in King's Cross offers both a captivating dining experience and a narrative of the chef's personal growth. The restaurant's Scandi-inspired decor mirrors the influences shaping the menu, featuring refined dishes like venison with ember-roasted beetroot, blackberry vinegar, and thyme crumb, or celeriac paired with yeast, oakmoss, and walnut.

This cosy spot, accommodating just a handful of diners, also doubles as the home base for Luncheon magazine and a small bookshop. Open only for weekday lunches, the kitchen is helmed by a renowned chef. With its combination of tasty food, excellent wine, and interesting reads, The Yellow Bittern is a tucked-away treasure, perfect for enjoying a leisurely, boozy lunch solo or with a companion.

Don't Tell Dad transforms from a bakery in the morning to a restaurant from lunch through dinner. Th venture by Coco di Mama co-founder Daniel Land brings together a talented team, featuring Keren Sternberg, former head baker at Layla, who oversees the sweet and savoury pastry offerings, and Luke Frankie, a chef with experience at Noble Rot, Forza Wine, and Spring, who delivers a creative interpretation of European cuisine for the remainder of the day.

Home Kitchen is both a restaurant and an organisation with a mission to create positive change. As the world's first fine dining venue to employ homeless individuals, it operates as a not-for-profit, offering training and support to its staff. The menu, crafted by a renowned chef, features à la carte selections alongside a multi-course tasting experience.

Goodbye Horses is a cosy wine bar and restaurant in Islington, offering a selection of sustainable, seasonal small plates with global inspirations. The menu is crafted by a former chef from Hackney's hyped restaurant Papi. This intimate neighbourhood gem also features a curated list of organic and biodynamic wines to complement the exquisite dishes.

The second establishment by East London's Mare Street Market, the King's Cross location boasts eight distinctive ground-floor shops and a three-storey hospitality and leisure area, comprising a café, co-working space, deli, restaurant, bar, and seating capacity for up to 700 guests. Anticipate a vibrant, sociable atmosphere appealing to trendy, youthful patrons. Outdoor seating is also provided.

The Breakfast Club, as expected, doesn't hold back on its breakfast and brunch menu, offering everything from burgers to pancakes from early morning until late in the day. Choose something sweet like the blueberry pancakes with bacon or stick with a classic full Monty breakfast with all the trimmings. The King's Cross branch is conveniently located right at St Pancras Station, so you won't be travelling on an empty stomach.

Yum Bug is a pioneering brand focusing on insect-based ingredients, especially edible crickets, touted as the future of food. Adventurous diners can choose from a menu offering an array of bug-infused dishes, such as cricket mince & pomegranate flatbreads, cricket kofte, or even whole roasted crickets as a snack. Yum Bug Restaurant was driven by the overwhelming popularity of the brand's pop-up events and features a stripped-down, industrial setting.

Freddie's, a New York-inspired deli in Belsize Park, offers an all-day menu featuring smoked fish platters, bagels, homemade soups, and classic sandwiches like salt beef and Reubens. Alongside a build-your-own sandwich option and breakfast selections, the deli serves craft beers, low-intervention wines, and desserts such as challah French toast, making it an ideal spot for lunch or brunch.

Led by Tel Aviv chef Maoz Alonim, Chapel Market Kitchen is a bustling counter located in Islington's Chapel Market. Taking advantage of its market location to source fresh produce daily, it offers a changing menu focused on seafood and other grilled delicacies. Enjoy freshly shucked oysters paired with a diverse and intriguing wine list in a lively setting.

The cuisine at Sticks'n'Sushi is as visually stunning as it is delicious, with each dish resembling a detailed work of art. The menu focuses on traditional sushi and yakitori skewers from the grill, offering both meat and vegetable options. The concept blends Japanese and Danish minimalist styles in both its design and culinary offerings. The expansive Islington location includes an open-plan dining area, a counter, a bar, and outdoor seating.

The Four Legs team from popular local pub The Plimsoll has transformed this old Finsbury Park chip shop into a Spanish-influenced fish bar, maintaining original elements like the tiles and Formica flooring. This casual spot offers Spanish coastal cuisine, alongside beers, wines by the glass, and Spanish vermouth.

Yard Sale Pizza may have expanded across London, but it remains a local pizza shop at heart. This award-winning pizza has attracted famous fans like Macaulay Culkin. Pizzas come in two sizes and are generously topped with ingredients such as pepperoni, mushrooms, and truffle oil, or Sicilian sausage and chilli. Tufnell Park now has its own delivery and takeaway pizza shop.

Detroit Pizza London serves up Detroit-style pizza along with other popular Italian-American dishes. Diners flock here for a unique pizza experience, characterised by its rectangular shape and crispy, chewy crust. The menu is complemented by a selection of beers, including American brews, ensuring an authentic meal.

Shrimp Shack is a fast-casual restaurant specialising in shrimp, often regarded as the king of seafood. Infused with a South African twist, this vibrant and colourful eatery allows you to customise your shrimp dish by selecting your preferred size, dip, and seasoning. Additionally, a variety of other seafood and meat dishes are also available.

Created by the team behind the renowned nightclub The Cause, The Marquee Moon is a lively restaurant and cocktail bar with a strong focus on music, featuring a cutting-edge HiFi system managed by a diverse array of DJs and selectors. The kitchen offers a menu inspired by East Asian flavours, paying tribute to the Thai dishes commonly found in British pubs, while the cocktails are crafted using Asian ingredients for a unique twist.

Dhakaah is a laid-back Bangladeshi eatery located at Camden Market's Hawley Wharf. Showcasing the street food and delicacies of Bangladesh, its menu includes bar snacks, small plates, and substantial dishes like the Beef Kathi Roll and Chicken Roast, paired with distinctive drinks such as a gin and tonic infused with Bangladeshi lemon. Dhakaah seeks to spotlight Bangladeshi culture and cuisine in the UK.

The Brave marks a fresh chapter for celebrated chef James Cochran after the closure of his highly-regarded restaurant 12:51. Inspired by nostalgic pub lunches with his father, Cochran offers a menu of comforting, flavour-packed dishes like potato dumplings paired with slow-cooked beef shin or coal-roasted leeks. This welcoming spot blends the charm of classic pub vibes with modern culinary creativity, offering distinct spaces for dining and drinking, along with outdoor seating for those who prefer to dine al fresco.

Motcombs, a beloved fixture in Belgravia since 1982, expanded for the first time in over 40 years. This chic brasserie and bar offers all-day dining and includes an outdoor terrace for alfresco enjoyment. Adorned with striking artwork, it exudes a timeless charm. The breakfast menu offers pastries and egg dishes, while the main menu showcases classic favourites like prawn cocktail, sirloin steak, and shepherd's pie. Guests can also enjoy a refined wine list.

Lussmanns Sustainable Kitchen is a restaurant group established on the conviction that sustainable, ethical dining should be both accessible to everyone and financially viable. With several locations throughout the UK, the Highgate branch heralds its comeback to London, the city where the group was first inaugurated over two decades ago. The menu features a selection of beloved British dishes, which can be savoured either in the inviting interior or the picturesque walled garden.

Bonoo, an acclaimed Indian tapas restaurant, is led by a chef with significant experience from India's hospitality industry. This friendly local eatery caters to all group sizes, offering a variety of curries, chaats, and other genuine Indian dishes, all freshly made with top-quality ingredients. Bonoo also provides plant-based choices and is a favourite destination for takeaway in the area. This is the group's second branch.

For aromatic curries, vibrant South Indian dishes, and freshly prepared, flaky, buttery rotis perfect for dipping, dunking, and mopping, make your way to Tamila. Originally launched at Hackney Bridge but now with multiple locations around London, this street food gem is your go-to destination for all things curry, and it comes from the team behind the acclaimed Tamil Prince pub.

Chef Joo Won, formerly the head chef at the Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows, has transitioned his pop-up concept into a permanent restaurant. His first establishment, Cálong, located in Stoke Newington, showcases a fusion of classic European cooking techniques with bold Korean flavours. Standout dishes include his signature kimchi risotto and "JFC" fried chicken thigh, offering a unique blend of both culinary worlds.