Spring is on its way and from the USA to Lebanon, new venues are opening their doors for the first time. In London, Battersea Power Station adds a Portuguese fine dining spot to its 14th-floor, while in Porto, a London-based chef launches his homage to the food and drink of north Portugal. Beyond this crossover, you’ll find lively launches from Chicago to Sydney, as well as getaway dinner destinations – from a newly refurbished villa and dining room on the shores of Lake Constance in Switzerland to a restored boutique hotel between the mountains and the Mediterranean in Lebanon. Read on to discover more about the best new restaurants for March 2023.
New restaurants to visit around the world in March 2023
Cozinha das Flores
Porto, Portugal
If you’re a fan of legendary Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes, you’ll be pleased to hear that he’s opening a new restaurant in Porto. The former executive chef at Chiltern Firehouse opened his London restaurant Lisboeta last year, bringing a taste of Lisbon to the UK capital. His latest venture is Cozinha das Flores, a neighbourhood restaurant and bar in Largo de São Domingos, the historic centre of Porto, which will celebrate the food, wine and culture of northern Portugal. The menu includes turnip natas – a savoury take on a pastel de nata, filled with turnip custard and topped with fresh caviar – as well as dishes like giant squid noodles with white beans and cod tripe stew, which celebrate local ingredients. Naturally, the wine list will showcase bottles from the northern region of Portugal, too – as well as very local drops from the likes of Niepoort.
Open now, cozinhadasflores.com
JOIA
London, UK
In London, the Portuguese theme continues with the launch of Joia, the new spot from chef Henrique Sá Pessoa at art’otel in Battersea Power Station. Up on the 14th floor of this iconic London building, Joia will serve up dishes influenced by flavours from Catalonia and Portugal, using a mix of British and Iberian produce. Expect a mix of snacks and tapas (don’t miss the croquette made with potato and Portuguese Alheira sausage), as well as large plates like Bacalhau à brás, a traditional Portuguese dish made with salt cod and shoestring fries. A creative selection of desserts includes a dark chocolate mousse that’s served with a Sherry caramel and a savoury chorizo ice cream. On the drinks front, the list is focused on Portuguese and Spanish wines and vermouth from lesser-known producers.
Open now, joiabattersea.co.uk
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Mirazur Beyond Borders at The Gantry Restaurant
Sydney, Australia
World tours aren’t just for bands, you know. Renowned chef Mauro Colagreco and his team have taken the three-Michelin-starred Cote D’Azur-based restaurant Mirazur on the road for residencies around the world – and the next stop is in Sydney. If you’re not familiar, Mirazur is a big deal – it scooped the top spot on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and stayed there from 2019 to 2021. The team is known for its commitment to sustainability (in 2020, it became the first restaurant in the world to be certified as plastic-free) and during its three-week residency at Pier One Sydney Harbour, there will be a weekly changing menu inspired by local produce and what’s in season.
10 March – 8 April 2023, chefworldtour.com
Atelier
Chicago, USA
On the site of Chicago’s Michelin-starred Elizabeth, executive chef Christian Hunter’s tasting menus pair fresh seasonal ingredients from the Midwest with global flavours. A Kentucky native, Hunter earned a culinary degree, worked in luxury hotels, and then developed his own culinary identity in rural Connecticut before taking charge. At US$190 per person, Atelier diners can look forward to menus that feature local cheeses with sourdough, 72-hour short rib, and an outlandish-sounding foie gras crème brûlée for dessert.
Open now, atelier-chicago.com
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Bōm
New York, USA
For a seriously high-end dining experience, head to New York newcomer Bōm, a chef’s counter at the back of Korean restaurant Oiji Mi. With space for only 17 guests, and two sittings every night, it promises ‘an immersive dining experience for the senses’ where you’ll get to watch the chefs at work as they prepare a menu that offers a creative twist on classic Korean steakhouse dishes. Diners will sit at a counter where they’ll be assigned to a chef who, throughout the evening, will serve up at least 13 courses. The tasting menu is US$325 per person, making it a prime destination for special occasions.
Open now, bom-nyc.com
Mammertsberg
Freidorf, Switzerland
A 1911 villa in Thurgau has been renovated to host a 42-seat fine dining restaurant. The menu is just as stunning as the villa – dishes like sea bream with radish look too good to eat. Both the fare and the decor work hard to compete with the spectacular views of nearby Lake Constance. Dinner (from 184 Swiss francs for three courses) is served from Wednesdays, and lunch from Thursdays. Stay the night in one of six guest rooms to make the most of Mammertsberg’s Alpine retreat.
Open now, mammertsberg.ch
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Indira
Khfour, Lebanon
Between the mountains and the Mediterranean, a new boutique guesthouse offers fine dining in a 200-year-old setting. Dubai-based designer Carla Baz restored murals, woodwork and furniture, and brought in Thai chef Khun Tung to complement traditional Lebanese hospitality with a South East Asian menu. Groups can dine at the decadent chef’s table, or in the courtyard under hundred-year-old walnut trees; and after dinner, everyone’s invited to the basement bar.
Open now, indira-kfour.com
