When the new MICHELIN-Starred restaurants for Great Britain & Ireland were announced on Monday 9th February, they painted a picture of the London food scene of today. The headline news is that two London restaurants have been newly awarded Two MICHELIN Stars for their outstanding cooking, while there are a further nine new One-Star establishments. The Bib Gourmand award – our distinction for high-quality, great value cooking – was given to 12 more restaurants.
Here are the seven food trends to know about right now, as highlighted by the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors’ latest awards.
1. Luxury is Still on the Menu
Two London restaurants have been newly awarded Two MICHELIN Stars this year, and both are showing that, despite recent trends pointing to a more pared-back style of dining, there’s still plenty of room for all-out opulence. Bonheur by Matt Abé and Row on 5 share a love for high-end produce, with delicacies like Oscietra caviar, Cornish bluefin tuna and native lobster on their menus – all served within ultra-plush surroundings, exemplified by Row on 5’s spectacular kitchen counter.
It’s no surprise that both restaurants are in Mayfair, the glamorous neighbourhood that’s had 10 restaurants added to the selection this year. Together, they show there’s still an appetite for a little old-school formality and luxury alongside all the buzzy, rustic dining rooms.
Dive into our first-hand Inspectors’ reports on both Bonheur by Matt Abé and Row on 5.
2. Fresh Challenges for Familiar Faces
Among this year’s new MICHELIN-Starred London restaurants, it’s notable just how many have a big-name chef attached to them. Not stopping at their existing accolades, chefs who already have Starred restaurants elsewhere have been branching out in search of exciting new projects. For one, Gordon Ramsay’s vast global portfolio has expanded to include Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, where the breathtaking 60th-floor views are joined by luxury ingredients and assured cooking.
Also worth noting is Chef Clare Smyth’s latest project, Corenucopia, a ‘luxury bistro’ focusing on reinvented British classics; Michael Caines at The Stafford marks the Lympstone Manor chef’s first London opening; Labombe by Trivet provides a breath of fresh air for the Mayfair dining scene, from the team behind Two-Star Trivet; and Legado is the joyous follow-up to Sabor from London’s leading Spanish chef, Nieves Barragán Mohacho. All of these restaurants earning a Star in the same year indicates the continued drive and ambition of the UK’s leading chefs.
3. Shoreditch is a Gastronomic Hot Spot
Shoreditch, once London’s creative centre, has steadily become one of its most exciting dining hubs, progressing from East London outsider to polished gastro-destination. And the latest announcement has only strengthened the area’s depth of quality.
Legado and Singburi were two of Shoreditch’s most anticipated openings in 2025 and have struck gold, winning a MICHELIN Star and a Bib Gourmand respectively. While Legado is the latest Spanish Star from Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Singburi is an excellently priced Thai spot that recently relocated from Leytonstone, where it garnered a cult following and huge social media popularity. Both openings show that Shoreditch has its finger on the pulse, as do Bar Valette, One Club Row and Duchy, all added to the Guide in the last 12 months.
4. Pub Dining is Still Alive and Well
As times change and the London food scene evolves, it’s good to see that the warm welcome and comforting cooking of a proper pub is as present as ever. This year’s MICHELIN Star for The Kerfield Arms makes it the second pub in the capital, along with The Harwood Arms, to hold the distinction. Simple yet skilful, it’s an excellent reminder of what great pub cuisine can achieve – via dishes like a quince and bay leaf custard doughnut.
Other pubs added to the selection this year include The Chalk Freehouse, The Waterman’s Arms and The Prince Arthur. Together with the continued success of The Marksman, The Hero and many more – not to mention the astronomical popularity of social media favourite The Devonshire – they’re showing the strength of the modern London gastropub.
5. East and Southeast Asian Cuisines Continue to Grow
London’s food scene is famously one of the most diverse in the world, hosting cuisines from all over the globe, and in recent years there have been a growing number of top-quality restaurants offering cooking inspired by East and Southeast Asia. The trend is particularly noticeable among this year’s new Bib Gourmands, with two Thai restaurants (Kruk, Singburi), two Korean spots (ssam ssam, Calong) and one Vietnamese eatery (Lai Rai) awarded for their high-quality, affordable dining.
In total, 11 restaurants cooking East and Southeast Asian dishes have joined our London selection this year. Japanese cuisine continues to be popular, with the additions of Eel Sushi, HIMI and Tobi Masa. Meanwhile, BELLY reflects a growing appetite for Filipino flavours, joining the popular Donia in the selection.
6. The À la Carte is Back
In recent years, diners may have noticed a trend towards set menus, with the freedom of choosing your dishes becoming increasingly uncommon. And yet, our new Stars this year are showing a change of direction for London’s best restaurants, with both the old-school à la carte and the modern trend for sharing plates menus on full display. Among this year’s new One- and Two-Star restaurants, only three of them offer solely a tasting menu.
At Labombe by Trivet, the ability to share a range of dishes with friends is ideal for sampling the varied cooking styles; The Kerfield Arms offers a familiar pub à la carte with exceptional quality; Ambassadors Clubhouse provides a huge choice of classical Indian dishes; Tom Brown at The Capital offers both a tasting menu and an à la carte of seafood-led dishes; and even the more formal Bonheur by Matt Abé offers a three-course choice menu alongside its tasting options. The à la carte and the tasting menu both have their benefits, so it’s wonderful to see them flourishing side by side today.
7. Italian Restaurants are as Popular as Ever
As the capital’s rich tapestry of global flavours continues to grow and evolve, one constant is Londoners’ appetite for a good bowl of pasta – or any Italian dish, for that matter. Despite Italian cuisine already being heavily present across the city, from formal MICHELIN Stars to relaxed Bib Gourmands, Italian has still been the most common international cuisine type added to the Guide in the last year.
These seven additions reflect Brits’ ongoing love affair with the simplicity and comfort of Italian food, no matter what style of restaurant it’s served in: Dear Jackie, Il Gattopardo, Mezzogiorno by Francesco Mazzei, Locatelli at The National Gallery, Pinna, Canteen and Cicoria. There are now 31 Italian restaurants in our London selection, varying greatly in style and showcasing the terrific versatility of the cuisine.
New MICHELIN-Star Restaurants in London
Hero Image: A vibrant dish from Legado, one of London’s new MICHELIN-Star restaurants. © Sam Cornish/Legado
