1. BIN JO LAW

Bin Jo Law is a rooftop bar now open on the 14th floor of Dorsett City Hotel in Aldgate.

t’s all about the cocktails and is sure to be packed come summer thanks to spectacular views of the London skyline. Will it become one of London’s best rooftop bars?

Dorsett City Hotel is located in the heart of The City next to the 18th Century St. Botolph Church, on the boundary of The City and the East End.

Bin Jo Law boasts stunning views across the skyline of London’s financial district. Sip a cocktail and view The Gherkin, Tower Bridge, the Walkie Talkie, and The Shard as you’ve never seen them before.

2. TORTILLERIA EL PASTOR

Tortilleria El Pastor is a second site from the team behind Tacos El Pastor, now open on soft launch in Bermondsey.

This new venue from the producers of some of London’s best tacos is a one-stop shop for taco ingredients, plus a restaurant and bar.

This is under an arch on Druid Street in Bermondsey, adjacent to Maltby Street Market. As the name implies it’s a taco factory and is producing fresh corn tacos which are available to take away. There’s also a bar and restaurant, with room for 26.

As well as producing maize tacos every day the team are selling fresh salsas, tortilla presses, tomatillos, jalapenos and cheeses from Mexican cheesemaker Gringa Diary, based in Peckham. In short, everything you need to produce your own Mexican feast at home is on sale here.

There’s also a taco restaurant serving their signature El Pastor tacos (marinated pork with caramelised pineapple) and mushroom tacos with caramelised onions and melted Oaxaca cheese – a mozzarella-like cheese which is stretched and rolled into balls when ready, a bit like a giant rubber band ball but made of delicious dairy.

3. LAHPET

Lahpet is a Burmese restaurant from the team behind the popular street food stall, now open in Shoreditch.

We’re thrilled we can finally book a table here, as it’s one of London’s best Burmese restaurants.

This is bang in the heart of Shoreditch, just around the corner from The Cereal Killer Cafe. It’s a no-brainer that you visit Lahpet for some exciting Burmese food instead of munching your way through a bowl of cold cereal…

Burmese food is still relatively unknown in London but things are about to change.

Kick off with some small plates like the fritters made from bottle gourd or tofu, and don’t miss the signature lahpet, which is actually a pickled tea leaf salad – a classic Burmese dish and a must-order. Then there are larger plates to choose from, including pork and mustard green curry; hake masala with a lemongrass rosti; fried bream with morning glory (a glorious spinach-like vegetable) and aubergine stuffed with shrimp paste and oyster mushroom.

4. CANOPY MARKET AT KING’S CROSS

Canopy Market, King’s Cross

Canopy Market is a new food, drink and craft market at King’s Cross, open every weekend, with live music on Friday evenings.

King’s Cross is becoming quite the destination for street food and drink – don’t forget one of London’s best street food markets KERB also have a site here.

The market revives a historic site and there’s a stunning Victorian glass and steel roof. In the 1800’s, this was home to a potato and Sunday fish market. Now as much as we love both potatoes and fish, the offerings are a little more exciting in 2018…

On Friday evenings there is live music as part of ‘Canopy Sessions’ hosting musicians and DJs, and the market stays open late too.

Canopy market, West Handyside Canopy, King’s Cross

Producers include Bread Ahead, one of London’s best British bakers, particularly famous for their doughnuts which burst with vanilla cream or chocolate fillings (they also now have a Bread Ahead branch in Soho if you find yourself around that way with a desperate craving for dough). World of Zing is here too, with their line-up of punchy chilli sauces, globally influenced marinades, spice mixes and just about anything else that will give your food a flavour boost.

There’s street food from Growlers, who make hefty Portuguese sandwiches called prego, which are messy, sloppy and as they put it very much ‘not first date food.’ Although, if your date doesn’t enjoy getting involved with saucy steak sandwiches then they can find another love interest as far as we’re concerned…

Arancini Brothers, BAP Korean and Big Melt (grilled cheese sandwiches) are also there along with a spot for guest traders, including Slingin’ Po’ Boys and Le Bao.

5. CHOKHI DHANI

Chokhi Dhani is a new Indian restaurant now open on soft launch in Battersea.

The restaurant is the first UK outpost of a popular chain in Rajasthan, this time with a contemporary twist. Will it be one of the best places to eat and drink in Battersea?

The main piece of information you’ll want to know about this restaurant is that it contains a life-size bronze sculpture of an elephant. Yep. In short, it’s no-holds-barred extravagance.

The head chef, Vishnu Natarajan (recently of Carom in Soho), will be managing a restaurant of two halves: a street food menu at ground level, and a more high end offering upstairs. Londoners will be introduced to some signature dishes from the Rajasthan restaurants, including the ‘kadak momo basket’, otherwise known as crispy dumplings served in matchstick potato basket, Chettinad chicken lollipops and game pie kebab. We assume that won’t be anactual pie kebab (not that we’re totally averse to the idea…).

Via JustOpenedLondon (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)