Gastronomy

Practically as if out of nowhere, London has become one of the greatest culinary capitals in the world, as these sizzling new restaurants prove.

Mathura

Why open one new restaurant in a year when you can open two? Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar has announced he will be opening Mathura, a new restaurant inside the former Westminster Fire Station, this autumn. This 200-cover Indian restaurant will be housed in a 5,000 square-foot Grade II-listed Edwardian building. Named after an ancient capital city in the empire of the Kushan dynasty, expect the unexpected, as the menu pairs locally sourced British produce with Kochhar’s signature Indian cooking style. The announcement from the celebrated chef follows the opening of Kanishka, Atul Kochhar’s new Mayfair restaurant, earlier this year.

Trivet

Jonny Lake and Isa Bal, the chef and sommelier, respectively, who helped Heston Blumenthal redefine gastronomy with The Fat Duck, are opening Trivet in London Bridge this autumn. A low-key restaurant and wine bar, the atmosphere will be informal and the execution unparalleled. Lake is certainly familiar with culinary success, during his first year behind-the-scenes at The Fat Duck, it was named the Best Restaurant in the World.

London Restaurant Festival

October 1-31 sees the 11th-annual London Restaurant Festival, which will bring together more than 70 events hosted by the city’s leading chefs and restauranteurs. Make sure to take a look through the Side Ordersschedule of events, as it includes a series of well-thought-out experiences, including a Japanese film and food pairing; a special tour and dinner at the Saatchi Gallery; and a series of ever-popular restaurant-hopping tours, allowing participants to eat their way around a neighbourhood on a four-hour restaurant crawl.