The perfect pint of Guinness. An ancient culinary tradition given its moment in the spotlight. A proper pie. A buzzy dining room where you might just as easily bump into an old colleague as a Haim sister. These are all answers to the question that kept coming up as we put together the UK’s Top New Restaurant Awards – what makes a restaurant one of the best?
Over 250 restaurants opened in London alone in 2023 – the highest number of launches since 2019. However, despite exciting restaurants opening all across the country, the hospitality landscape remains almost absurdly challenging. Opening the doors of a new restaurant is hard enough; keeping them open requires grit, talent, and a little magic. To be named on this list of the UK’s Top New Restaurants is about more than Michelin stars (although you’ll find a few here) and big-name chefs; it’s about experiencing exceptional service, an atmosphere you can truly unwind in, storytelling you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and food that opens up a little slice of the world for you – whether that’s the West Country or West Africa.
Winners of the UK’s Top New Restaurant Awards
64 Goodge Street
Fitzrovia, London
Dishes at 64 Goodge Street in Fitzrovia have a French twist.
What to order: saddle of rabbit
The latest restaurant from the Woodhead Restaurant Group centres on elegant, unfussy cooking in a handsome dining room in Fitzrovia that embodies the vibe of a classic French bistro. A heavily French-accented à la carte menu is paired with a fastidious wine menu focusing on Burgundy.
Puddings are a big deal here, relying on French dessert classics and include perfectly light crêpes suzette, profiteroles, and crème caramel. If you’re on a budget or short of time, there’s a reasonably priced (£39) prix-fixe lunch menu too. A reliable option when seeking an excellent meal.
Address: 64 Goodge St, London W1T 4NF
Price: ££
The Abbey Inn
Byland, Yorkshire
The Abbey Inn is all about proper grub – including rolled Berkshire pork belly or salt-aged sirloin of beef with all the trimmings.
What to order: Oldstead Dexter beef tartare
Tommy Banks is to Yorkshire what Rick Stein is to Cornwall. This young-gun chef has led a foodie renaissance in the northern county. In 2013, Banks became the youngest-ever chef to receive a Michelin star for his work in the kitchen of his parents’ pub, The Black Swan at Oldstead. Now, the Banks family has added The Abbey Inn just five minutes down the road.
The menu at this Grade II-listed venue draws heavily on locally sourced ingredients from their own farms, offering dishes like chicken liver parfait with crispy chicken skin and milk bread. This venue combines supper with an evening at The Black Swan, providing a full Banks experience.
Address: The Abbey Inn, Byland, York, YO61 4BD
Price: £££
Akara
Borough, London
Design studio A-nrd worked on the interiors at Akara.
What to order: edesi isip
A modern West African dining movement is making waves across London, with Aji Akokomi, the chef behind Akara, leading the charge. The name akara refers to a soft inside, crispy outside fritter made from black-eyed beans filled with mushrooms or prawns. The first-rate edesi isip, coconut rice with briny mackerel, is a must-try dish.
Address: Akara, Arch 208, 18 Stoney St, London SE1 9AD
Price: £££
ANNWN
Narbeth, Pembrokeshire
The menu at Annwn spotlights locally foraged ingredients.
What to order: the foraged tasting menu
A Michelin green star designates restaurants at the forefront of sustainable practices. Annwn, a Welsh wild-food restaurant, uses responsibly foraged ingredients and allows curious guests to join educational foraging days. The menu evolves with the seasons, showcasing the bounty of Wales.
Address: 1 Market Square, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA67 7AU
Price: ££££
Chishuru
Fitzrovia, London
Adejoké Bakare was awarded the title of best new chef in the UK.
What to order: If the whole deep-fried quail is on the set menu, order it.
Adejoké Bakare has transitioned from an unknown on the London restaurant scene to one of the most celebrated chefs. The new version of her restaurant features a menu that takes diners on a journey through modern West African cuisine.
Address: Chishuru, 3 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 8AX
Price: £££
