London’s new restaurant buzz
Palate Magazine and local reviewers are highlighting new London spots like Labombe by Trivet in Mayfair, Juliet and Holy Water in Stroud, plus Kenji Sushi in Edinburgh — the UK dining scene is getting refreshed reviews right now. ( )
Labombe was opened in Mayfair by Trivet founders chef Jonny Lake and master sommelier Isa Bal as a permanent restaurant inside the COMO Metropolitan at 19 Old Park Lane after starting life as a Monday-night residency at Trivet. (elitetraveler.com) (labombe.co.uk) The venue is listed in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide as a One Star entry and bills itself as a refined restaurant and wine bar with a Euro‑centric, wine‑forward list curated alongside the Trivet team. (guide.michelin.com) (guide.michelin.com / palatemag.co.uk) Juliet occupies the restored Old Music Centre at 49 London Road in Stroud and was launched by artist‑publican Dan (Daniel) Chadwick in autumn 2024 as a neighbourhood bistro and piano bar. (julietrestaurant.co.uk) The Cotswolds spot has been showered with national praise — Giles Coren awarded tens across the board in The Times and William Sitwell gave five stars in The Telegraph — and the team includes chefs Adam Glover and Oliver Gyde with front‑of‑house led by Ophélie Théberge. (stroudtimes.com) (stroudtimes.com / telegraph.co.uk) Holy Water is a hybrid cocktail bar and bottle‑shop at 11 Lansdown in Stroud, founded by mixologist Adam McVay in 2024 as an events studio that evolved into a public venue and community hub. (holywater.world 1) (holywater.world 2) The bar marked its first anniversary in October 2025, holds an on‑and‑off sales premises licence and has sought permission to extend weekend closing times to 01:30, while hosting local fundraisers and craft‑drinks programming. (riseandshine.hale-events.com) (riseandshine.hale-events.com / stroud.gov.uk) Kenji Sushi in Edinburgh is run by owner/chef Kenny (Kenny Zhong) and relocated into expanded premises on Deanhaugh Street after earlier trading on St Stephen Street, offering sushi, ramen and a growing vegan selection. (foodanddrink.scotsman.com) (scotsman.com / wanderlog.com) The restaurant holds steady online scores (around 4.2/5 on TripAdvisor), is noted for reasonable pricing for Edinburgh sushi and remains a popular local choice with walk‑in and booking options listed on reservation services. (tripadvisor.co.uk) (tripadvisor.co.uk / tableagent.com)
