At a ceremony in Dublin last night, February 9, the 2026 Michelin Guide was announced, with 11 London restaurants newly awarded stars. Though a handful of London restaurants lost their stars, they were all spots that have closed, are soon closing, or have switched how they operate, including Claude Bosi’s Bibendum, Humo in Mayfair (which has recently changed formats) and Farringdon’s Club Gascon.
One of the night’s big winners was Bonheur by Matt Abé, which only opened in November and has skipped a first star to be directly awarded two stars in its first year. Abé was chef-patron of three-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay before taking over the former Le Gavroche space in Mayfair, where his cooking foregrounds contemporary cooking with familiar flavours, executed with classical technique.
“Bonheur holds so much meaning for me, because of where it is, the history it holds, and the responsibility and honour that comes with that,” Abé said in a statement. “After years spent working in extraordinary kitchens and learning from incredible mentors, this was the right time to create something of my own, alongside a world-class team.”
Jason Atherton’s Savile Row fine diner Row on 5 was London’s other new two-star victor. It opened in late 2024 and was awarded its first star not long after. The restaurant’s executive head sommelier Roxane Dupuy also took out the Sommelier Award, and was acknowledged not only for her 2400-strong wine list, but also her “natural and engaging presence”.
London’s status as an Indian-dining destination continues to be celebrated, with Ambassadors Clubhouse by JKS, which is also behind other starred London diners, including Indian restaurants Gymkhana and Trishna, as well as Kitchen Table, taking out a star. It’s a timely win, as Ambassadors Clubhouse is slated to open a New York outpost tomorrow. The group had another big win with Nieves Barragán’s outstanding Spanish restaurant Legado, in Shoreditch, which was awarded its first star less than six months after opening. Barragán’s other restaurant, Sabor, also has a star. “Since arriving in London, my focus has always been to share the Spanish food and hospitality that raised me, and I’m excited by the way Legado has been doing that,” Barrigan said in a statement.
Camberwell’s The Kerfield Arms, which is led by chef Jay Styler and opened in April 2025, has become the second London pub with a star, joining The Harwood Arms.
Clare Smyth continues her run of stars, with her Chelsea bistro Corenucopia, which opened in November, scoring its first star. Another star-scoring spin-off was Labombe by Trivet, the Mayfair diner in the former Met Bar by the team behind Bermondsey’s Trivet, which has retained two stars.
Three hotel restaurants put away stars last night: Tom Brown at The Capital, Somssi by Jihun Kim (in the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair) and Michael Caines at The Stafford. Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsay was in celebration mode, as his flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsay retained its third Michelin star for the 25th year running, and Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay and Petrus by Gordon Ramsay also held onto their stars. Plus, sky-high 12-seat counter diner Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, on the 60th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, snatched its first star.
The slate of sparklers comes a week after Michelin’s Bib Gourmands – which recognise top food at accessible prices – were announced. A clutch of London restaurants was newly bibbed: Stoke Newington Korean Calong; Dalston’s Oren; wine-forward spots Cadet and Goodbye Horses, both in Islington; Singburi’s Shoreditch redux; Public House Group’s Italian restaurant Canteen; Royal Albert Dock Indian diner Cafe Spice Namaste; Akara in Borough Market; Lai Rai and Kruk, both in Peckham; Tamila – the Clapham diner from the Tamil Prince team; and Ssam Ssam in Wimbledon.
