Let Them Eat Out: The London Restaurants Reopening In July

It’s official! Restaurants, cafes and pubs will open their doors from 4 July. And while social distancing will have to be in place and booking is encouraged, you can finally make it back to your favourite spot for a freshly poured pint and that plate of food you’ve been dreaming about since lockdown started.

It’s the news many restaurants and diners have been waiting for, especially since social distancing rules were relaxed from two metres to one metre plus. In London, pubs and restaurants are brushing off three-months worth of dust, removing window panels and preparing for the return of diners. If social media is anything to go by, the huge numbers of enthusiastic tweets paint a very positive picture.

What’s becoming clear is most places will require bookings. To help you nab a table at your favourite spots Culture Trip has rounded up some of the most exciting London reopenings below; go forth, prosper and dine to your heart’s desire.

1. Ozone Coffee – Shoreditch

Cafe, British

From 4 July you’ll be able to pop by for an all-day brunch and tons of freshly brewed coffee. You can even grab some of your favourite bean to take home to keep you caffeinated for the rest of the week.

3. Kolamba – Soho

Restaurant, Sri Lankan

From 4 July you can grab an outdoor table and feast on the city’s best Sri Lankan food at Kolamba. Setting up more al-fresco tables on Kingly Street, Kolamba is the perfect spot to head to if you feel like rediscovering your own city again. Having lain dormant throughout lockdown, Soho will likely be coming back to life with vigour. Kolamba has been taking reservations since 24 June.

4. Quality Chop House – Farringdon

Bar, Restaurant, Wine Bar, British

Without a doubt some of the best meat in the city, and almost definitely the sweetest interiors, Quality Chop House is a London institution. Whether it’s for a Sunday Roast, its life-changing confit potatoes or the mince on drippings toast that could convert even the most steadfast of vegetarians, this is somewhere you’ll want to get to. Taking bookings from now and opening 14 July.

5. Prawn on the Lawn – Highbury (and Padstow if you fancy a road trip)

Fishmonger, Restaurant, Seafood

A little slice of the beach in the city, Prawn on the Lawn is a delightful neighbourhood seafood spot that serves up delectable morsels from a small-plate-type menu. Bookings are open now for the London outpost reopening on 8 July, and the Padstow spot reopening on 22 July should you want to take a trip to Cornwall.

6. OMBRA – Hackney

Bar, Wine Bar, British

The restaurant will be utilising its enormous terrace on the canal to open as a restaurant in the evenings, and will continue to operate as a deli during the day. Reservations are now live.

7. Gold – Notting Hill

Restaurant, European

Gold restaurant & bar with mural of Eye Contact on facade of building, Notting Hill

One of those places that feels like a holiday in its own right, Gold will be utilising its enormous LA-esque terrace to welcome guests back from 10 July, with bookings open now. Oh those lucky Notting Hill locals.

8. Llewelyn's – Herne Hill

Restaurant, European

The neighbourhood spot that everyone wishes they had, Llewelyn’s is a contemporary British restaurant in the heart of Herne Hill. With bookings open now, it’ll be reopening from lunchtime on the 4 July, with seating changes for safety, including more outdoor seating on the terrace.

9. The Laughing Heart – Hackney

Restaurant, Wine Bar, Contemporary, British

Reopening on 4 July and remaining open from Thursday through to Sunday for the time being, The Laughing Heart will be serving up a fixed price three-/four-course menu of its moreish menu while continuing to offer takeaway – bookings are live on its website now.

10. Padella – Borough Market and Shoreditch

Bistro, Restaurant, Italian, Vegetarian

Padella Italian restaurant, Southwark Street

Everyone’s favourite pasta spot will be open from 4 July, taking reservations via the WalkIn App (be in the area at opening time to put your name down for a table). With increased outdoor seating and a menu of authentic Italian dishes, you could almost pretend you’re sunning it up on the Amalfi coast.

11. Sager + Wilde – Hackney (both locations)

Bar, Wine Bar, British

Opening both their Paradise Row restaurant and the more casual wine bar spot in Hoxton, you’ll be back to drinking good wine from 4 July. Bookings are open and it’s continuing its £10 pasta-and-a-negroni deal every day from 5pm to 7pm.

12. Kricket – Brixton and White City

Restaurant, Indian

The modern Indian restaurant will be reopening its Brixton and White City locations from 4 July, with bookings heavily encouraged. You’ll be feasting on these Indian-inspired small plates in no time.

13. Barrafina – Kings Cross and Soho

Restaurant, Spanish, Tapas

Barrafina at Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross

The famed Spanish spot will be opening its Coal Drops Yard and Soho locations and offering bookings for the first time, which means no more waiting in its (at times) colossal lines. The Coal Drops Yard location will reopen on Saturday, 4 July, while the Soho spot will open its doors on Thursday, 9 July. Bookings are now live.

14. Levan – Peckham

Restaurant, European

A must-visit for natural wine lovers, Levan serves up delicious drops accompanied by a modern European menu that will help ease away the three months you’ve spent inside. It’ll be opening on Saturday, 4 July and reservations are open now.

15. Trullo – Highbury

Restaurant, Italian

While Highbury and Islington residents are undoubtedly spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out, Trullo is a city-wide favourite. Its Italian-influenced menu never fails to hit the spot and would make a perfect first post-lockdown evening out. They’ll be open from the 4 July and are taking reservations now.

16. Homeslice – Marylebone, City, Shoreditch, White City

Pizzeria, Restaurant, Italian, Street Food

World-class pizzas, wine and beer on tap – Homeslice is the ideal pizza spot. Head to its Marylebone, City, Shoreditch or White City locations from Saturday, 4 July to get your cheesy slice fix – but be sure to book beforehand.

17. Daphne's – South Kensington

Restaurant, Italian

The famed Italian spot on the border of South Kensington and Chelsea will be reopening its doors from the 4 July, with bookings open now. This is a spot that warrants you digging out your best dress and booking a blow dry.

18. Truman's Social Club – Walthamstow

Bar, Beer

Set to become the world’s biggest socially distanced beer garden, the new Truman Brewery is opening its doors for the first time on 4 July, and is the perfect place to grab a pint while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Features including hand sanitiser everywhere, paying and ordering from your table, spaced-apart seating areas and a booking system are all on hand to make this the most corona-friendly pub garden around.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.