As the evenings get darker and temperatures start to slide, the imminent need for cosy, hearty dinners – in the northern hemisphere, at least – becomes increasingly apparent. Fortunately, options abound: in London, there’s a new 45-cover restaurant in Shoreditch from the team behind Crispin, as well as the opening of a bar and grill focused on southern Thai dishes in Borough. The OWO hotel on Whitehall boasts a range of new bars and restaurants, with Mauro Colagreco’s arrival grabbing the headlines. Down under, where summer is on its way, there’s a new hotel restaurant overlooking Darling Harbour with a dessert menu by a leading Singaporean chef. Read on for the best new restaurants this month.
New restaurants to visit around the world in October 2023
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Mauro Colagreco at The OWO
London, UK
The Old War Office in London has been converted into a 120-room hotel by Raffles. The huge Edwardian building on Whitehall opened to the public for the first time in summer and boasts an impressive range of bars and restaurants. The most notable arrivals amongst the places to eat are the three backed by Mauro Colagreco, the chef behind three-Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur in Menton on the French Riviera. His flagship here is Mauro Colagreco at The OWO, which serves a five-course tasting menu with a focus on fruit and vegetables for each dish. Expect fermented radish with langoustine tartare, radicchio with almond purée and grilled venison loin and grilled red oak lettuce with a vermouth and cockle sauce. There are two levels of wine flight, plus an a la carte option if you’d rather stick to the traditional three courses. Complementing the fine-dining option is Saison, which is intended to be a little more relaxed – here the menu has more of an orthodox, bistro look to it, though the ingredients listed still suggest refined cooking. Finally, there is a private dining space with an open kitchen for up to 20 guests called Mauro’s Table that is billed as an ‘immersive and intimate tasting experience’.
Open now, raffles.com/london/dining
Bistro Freddie
London, UK
A new Shoreditch venue brings a light touch to classical British and French gastronomy with an all-French wine list to match. Whether guests opt to share a rabbit pie or go for veggie-friendly mushroom parfait, there’s plenty on the menu whatever your tastes. From the people behind Crispin, this new addition’s likely to get a warm welcome to the London scene this autumn.
Open now, bistrofreddie.com
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BTWN at W Sydney
Sydney, Australia
A fresh approach to dining at the W: Chris Dodd will focus on sustainable produce to direct the new menu for the restaurant, which overlooks Darling Harbour. Menu highlights will include Aquna Murray cod and pickled mussels, Gundagai lamb, and vegetarian dishes with produce from regional farms such as Moonacres and Musset Holdings. Pairing with local ingredients, the wine list showcases national gems, particularly the wines of New South Wales. And an eye-catching detail for those with a sweet tooth: 2am Dessert Bar, directed by Singaporean chef Janice Wong.
Opens 30 Oct, marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sydwh-w-sydney/dining
Anelya
Chicago, US
Chefs formerly of Parachute, Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark (the latter a James Beard Award winner) team up for a modern Ukrainian restaurant in Avondale. Alongside traditional dishes, cured meat, fish and classic pickles, the pair will bring in an East-European-only wine list, a vodka-heavy cocktail list and non-alcoholic treats like kvass. Clark has designed the launch as a 100th birthday present for his grandmother, the restaurant’s namesake.
Open 30 Oct, anelyarestaurant.com
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Lievland Café
Stellenbosch, South Africa
A manor house has stood here since 1865 but it wasn’t until 2017 that the vineyards were revived. Now Lievland has added a café for languid lunches, pairing French, Italian and Mediterranean dishes with their own wines. Visitors can even drop in for breakfast, pre-tasting. Look out for South African touches: local seafood, heerenbone beans and stewed guava bring a homegrown touch to an elegant menu.
Open now, lievland.co.za
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Fowl
London, UK
Dip down behind Piccadilly Circus for a hot new pop-up with a surprising wine list by the bottle and glass. Chefs from Fallow are confounding expectations with fresh takes on easy favourites: cornbread with chicken butter, parfait with cherries and sourdough, and a caesar salad with pickled lemons. Fallow specialises in ‘conscious gastronomy’ so expect both ethical sourcing and a ‘beak-to-tail’ approach to meat.
Open now, instagram.com/fowlrestaurant
Kolae
London, UK
From the founders of Som Saa comes a new treat for the senses in Borough. A bar and grill, named after traditional fishing boats from Thailand and Malaysia, Kolae is all about authentic food from the region cooked over coals or in hot woks. Scallops and whole fish are on the menu but there are also dishes like slow-cooked ox tail, accompanied by unusual salads and fresh pickles The wine list at Som Saa was extensive and you can expect clever choices from Kolae’s list; spicy cocktails will be in the mix too.
Opens 27 October, instagram.com/kolae_london
Nōksu
New York, US
Squeezed into a subway station, this 13-cover Korean fine-dining bar offers a single 12-course tasting menu. Dishes are often delicate and focus predominantly on fish but not always: clam and oyster share the counter with venison and truffled bao. There’s a recommended drinks pairing available and if you’re not a drinker, there are top-flight de-alcoholised sparklers and a menu of Korean teas to choose from.
Open now, noksunyc.com
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Baudry Greene
London, UK
While away a rainy afternoon at a new all-day café-bar in Covent Garden. A sister venue to 10 Cases and Parsons fish restaurant, chefs here are carving a new niche with pastries and snacks for every hour of the day, whether it’s a Chocolate Custard Brioche for breakfast, a croque monsieur for lunch or a truffled egg post-theatre. The wine list’s just as appealing: Old World wines and Champagne by the glass, plus a short, old-school cocktail list that will have you questioning whether you really have ‘just popped in’.
Open now, baudrygreene.co.uk
