There’s nothing worse than seeing someone wearing a fit that looks great — a nice shoe catches your eye, you scan the rest in appreciation and then… a Trader Joe’s bag.
Quel dommage.
Leo
The latest restaurants to join the Michelin guide
Illustration: Heather Buchanan
Not surprised to see Singburi make November’s latest additions to the Michelin Guide — the Leytonstone-to-Shoreditch move was a good one. This month’s intake includes Stokey’s charcuterie-forward Cadet to Ukrainian newcomer Sino in Notting Hill. No stars yet, but often the first breadcrumb. February will tell.
London’s first luxury Korean Matcha House
Tokkia | Covent Garden | Now open
Images courtesy of Tokkia
Tokkia (which translates to ‘Hey Bunny’) has quietly opened just off Covent Garden. It’s the brainchild of Sooji Im, ex-finance-professional turned tea-house founder (formerly behind Exmouth Market’s Be-oom — iykyk). Ingredients are sourced from Hadong, Jeju Island and expect their salt breads to sell out quickly, they’re a Korean bakery staple. The interior is nothing short of stunning and serene — a collaboration with British architect Jack Holloway and Stephenson-Edwards. Lime-washed walls, terrazzo counters, gentle folk-y touches.
Immediate thoughts picture influencers over-inflating queue times. Hopefully it won’t, wishful thinking. But it begs the question — if you were a business with this much gravitas, surely word of mouth and thoughtfully curated coverage to garner a cult following is a better suit for long-term success than the boom-and-bust TikTok crowd?
The French boom continues
Mazarine | Mayfair | Now open
Images courtesy of Mazarine — photography by James McDonald & Blanca Ruedas
Well, I guess post-Brexit supply chains have stabilised — French seafood is no longer a logistical nightmare to London. Mazarine marks another addition to the growing French scene taking shape. This spot, helmed by ex-Le Gavroche chef Thierry Laborde, serves smoked-eel croquettes, langoustines, grilled octopus béarnaise and more raw-bar staples — a menu shaped by ‘the emotions of the sea’.
A three-storey Turkish in Mayfair glamour
Chargal | Mayfair | Now open
Images courtesy of Chargal
This opening is sure to be a big one, quite literally — it’s three storeys big. Chargal has landed at 11 Berkley Street, a Turkish house from Serdar Demir — behind Mantl in Knightsbridge which is often listed in London’s best Turkish lists. But you wouldn’t be able to tell if you’d judge a book by its cover. This next venture feels like the upgrade it deserves — pairing bold flavours (grilled halloumi doughnuts, signature Wagyu İskender, lamb tartare) with a theatrical interior set to match the Mayfair scene.