London’s dining scene is always evolving, and the new year brings a host of exciting openings. From modern Georgian cooking to high‑end sushi and relaxed South‑Indian cafes, January 2026 delivers delicious variety. Here’s a guide to the most anticipated restaurants launching in the capital next month, arranged in an easy‑to‑read narrative format with no tables or citations.
Modern & Fine Dining
1. DakaDaka
Hidden just off Regent Street, this compact 30‑seat restaurant promises to introduce Londoners to modern Georgian cuisine. Opening on 15 January 2026 at 10 Heddon Street, DakaDaka comes from the team behind Seabird and Eggbreak. The menu centres on open‑fire cooking – thick cheesy khachapuri baked in the flames, grilled meats and vegetables rubbed with fragrant spices – accompanied by low‑intervention Georgian wines. Expect a convivial atmosphere, counter seating around the flames and an ever‑changing list of small plates.
2. MA/NA
The Los Mochis group ventures into Japanese fine dining with MA/NA, opening in January 2026 at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street in Mayfair. The restaurant is dedicated to “craft”: sushi prepared with exacting technique, robata‑grilled dishes and beautifully plated bites like spicy tuna on crispy rice. Signature items include tiger‑shrimp tempura with citrus ponzu, seared avocado drizzled with yuzu miso and A5 wagyu cooked over binchotan charcoal. A separate cocktail bar stocks rare Japanese whiskies and saké, while resident DJs keep the mood lively after dark.
3. 99 Sushi
Hailing from Abu Dhabi and Madrid, the luxurious 99 Sushi brand makes its UK debut at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Opening in January 2026, the restaurant features dramatic interiors – veined black marble, emerald limestone and lush moss walls – alongside a long sushi counter and an intimate bar. The menu showcases sustainably sourced Atlantic bluefin tuna in sashimi and nigiri form, alongside creative maki rolls and robata‑grilled skewers. There’s also a terrace for al‑fresco dining and a menu of Japanese‑inspired cocktails.
Global Flavours & Casual Dining
4. Hoppers Shoreditch
The fourth outpost of this much‑loved Sri Lankan restaurant group opens in January 2026 in the Tea Building on Shoreditch High Street. While keeping its signature hoppers, dosas and kothu roti, this location ventures further into South‑Indian territory with dishes inspired by Chettinad, Madurai, Bangalore, Kochi and Chennai. Expect spicy curries, tangy street‑food snacks and clay‑pot biryanis. The interiors channel tropical modernism and reimagined palaces, and the drinks menu riffs on South‑Indian café culture – think Rose Milk cocktails, spiced arrack toddies and filter‑coffee‑based concoctions.
5. Brother Marcus Victoria
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the East‑Mediterranean brand Brother Marcus expands to Victoria in early January 2026. The new restaurant blends restaurant and brunch café, serving mezze‑style sharing plates such as slow‑cooked lamb shoulder with pomegranate, feta‑stuffed courgette flowers and smoky baba ghanoush. Their signature brunch – featuring sweet‑potato fritters topped with poached eggs and harissa hollandaise – continues to draw weekend crowds. A curated list of Greek wines and house cocktails complements the food.
6. The Azuki Room
Dotori founder Alan Tse returns with this intimate two‑floor Japanese venue tucked away off High Holborn. Launching late 2025 but still new for January, The Azuki Room offers a traditional set lunch and a seasonally driven tasting menu in the evening. After dark, it transforms into an izakaya‑style lounge with a binchotan grill charring skewers of wagyu, chicken and vegetables. With a licence until 2 am, it’s a sophisticated yet fun spot for Japanese cocktails, sake and small plates.
Sweet Treats
7. Claridge’s Bakery
Adding a more casual strand to the famed hotel’s culinary portfolio, Claridge’s opens its own bakery on Brook Street in January 2026. Overseen by baker Richard Hart, who previously worked at Tartine, the bakery sells bread and pastries to go and offers a handful of seats for those who want to linger. Expect crusty bloomers, granary loaves and tangy sourdough alongside indulgent iced buns, jam tarts and seasonal cakes. It’s perfect for a mid‑morning coffee break or to pick up provisions for home.
Late‑Night & Lounge
8. Esmeralda’s Mayfair
Part of the new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair hotel, Esmeralda’s opens its doors to the public in January 2026 following a soft launch for hotel guests. Styled on New York’s golden‑age supper clubs, the venue pairs live music with indulgent bar snacks. A six‑piece house band plays soul, funk and disco while servers deliver plates of caviar‑topped chicken nuggets, Wagyu beef sliders, truffle fries and lobster rolls. Signature cocktails reinterpret classics with lavish twists, making this a glamorous spot for a nightcap or late‑night supper.
Whether you’re in the mood for open‑fire Georgian dishes, precision‑crafted Japanese sushi or brunch‑worthy Mediterranean mezze, January 2026 has something to excite every palate. London’s latest restaurants showcase a breadth of cuisines and experiences, from refined tasting menus and elegant lounges to casual cafés and bakery counters. Book early, bring your appetite and discover the capital’s freshest culinary hotspots as the new year begins.
