Open late
Luna Omakase, Highgate listings, best East London cocktail bars, Barbarby, The Venice Venice Hotel, Spice Mountain, Godet, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Tucked away
The Skinny: A 12-seat sushi counter serving an outstanding 12-course set menu (£230 per), Luna Omakase opened mid-March in a hidden side room inside the maze-like, multi-space Los Mochis restaurant, on the ninth floor of the swanky 100 Liverpool St building. Luna is the east London follow-up to Juno Omakase, which opened at the first Los Mochis in Notting Hill in 2024. It’s got room for 12 instead of Juno’s six, maintaining the original’s intimacy while making admission slightly more accessible.
The Vibe: On a weeknight, Los Mochis is already packed with a glamorous set sipping mezcal-based cocktails at the glitzy bar or outdoor terrace, and enjoying tuna tostaditos or robata-grilled seabass from the ‘Tokyo-meets-Tulum’ menu. While Los Mochis is an excellent pick for a weeknight date or corporate catch-up, Luna Omakase is a little bit cooler and several shades more exclusive. As soon as the host slides open those elegant wooden doors to the secret side room, immerse in a luxurious, two-hour-long experience of pure pleasure.
The Food: Executive chef Leonard Tanyag’s 12-course lineup might include buttery Australian amberjack crudo with orange ponzu and fermented wasabi, or nigiri with black bream from northern France, gently seared on Japanese binchotan charcoal in front of you. Throughout the meal, there are nods to Mexico like a soft, rice-paper taco filled with refreshing avocado, tomatillo, and Mexican herbs.
Early on, there’s a caviar tin filled with layers of delicate fresh wasabi, bluefin belly tuna tartare, and creamy caviar and served with crunchy sushi-rice crackers. There’s also a tender wagyu beef sando, and a sweet finale of miso caramel souffle with fresh wasabi ice cream.
The Drink: Choose between a sake pairing (£120 per), classic wine pairing (£160), premium wines (£210) or alcohol-free (£85), or choose à la carte from a selection of rare and fine tequilas, mezcals, whiskies, and sakes.
The Verdict: A welcome addition to the City dining scene, for the quality of the fish and the skill of the cooking. Book now, before it becomes impossible to get a seat. –Laura Price
→ Luna Omakase (City) • 100 Liverpool St • Tue-Sat 630p & 830p seatings • Book.
LONDON RESTAURANT LINKS: Department store Liberty plans new restaurant with former Da Terra chef • Cafe Mama Pho expanding to Bloomsbury this summer • Southbank Centre opens new riverside terrace bar • The unexpected, giddy rise of sparkling Riesling.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Highgate that recently came to market between £2mn and £3mn:
→ Hampstead Lane (Highgate, above) • 3BR/1BA/2R flat, 150 m2 flat • Ask: £2.15mn • garden maisonette with period character • Ownership type: share of freehold • Service charge: £600 PA • Agent: Goldschmidt & Howland.
→ Cholmeley Park (Highgate) • 6BR/3BA/2R, 190 m2 house • Ask: $£2.475mn • detached home surrounded by brick walls • Ownership type: freehold • Service charge: £17,267 per year • Agent: Dylan Brooks, Knight Frank.
→ North Hill (Highgate) • 6BR/3BA/3R, 279 m2 house • Ask: £2.85mn • double-fronted semi-detached over three floors • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Prickett & Ellis.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: Plans revealed to turn former BBC Studios in Maida Vale into music centre run by Hans Zimmer • Blockbuster Video popping up in Soho • Why is London’s spring blossom so good this year? • My fancy cutting board journey.
BARS • The Nines
Cocktail bars, East London
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of London’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or email found@foundldn.com.
A Bar with Shapes for a Name (Haggerston, above), Bauhaus-inspired aesthetics, innovative bottled cocktails, open late
Satan’s Whiskers (Bethnal Green), hip-hop, taxidermy, A+ mixology
Tayēr + Elementary (Shoreditch), two refined cocktail bars, one modern space
Hacha (Dalston), celebration of tequila and mezcal, tacos and tostadas
Coupette (Bethnal Green), French-inspired drinks and snacks in elegant bar
Three Sheets (Dalston), creative drinks served in 3 distinct levels of strength
Seed Library (Shoreditch), slick cocktail bar w/ stripped-down creations from Mr Lyan team
Happiness Forgets (Shoreditch), intimate basement hangout offering high-end cocktails
Rasputin’s (Hackney), neighborhood dive bar vibes where both martinis and beer play
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Mama says
MORGANE BESINS • CEO & co-founder • Four Mamas
Neighborhood you live in: Paddington/Bayswater
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Working from home most of the time, my mornings are set to the rhythm of my daughters. Calls are never scheduled until they’re off for the day — those early hours are all theirs. Then it’s time for my latte(s) with emails, a quick shower, and finally, my day can properly begin. I often grab my coffee at Foreign Exchange — their carrot cake is so good. On sunny mornings, you’ll find me at Hagen on Ledbury Road, enjoying a coffee while indulging in a little people-watching.
What’s on the agenda for today?
A mix of meetings with women’s health experts and brand partners. I love walking to my meetings — Marylebone and Fitzrovia are frequent destinations. My co-founder Olivia and I often grab lunch at Ottolenghi and chat about life and business. Once home, I transition into family mode: the bath-dinner-bed routine with my daughters, then binge-watching TV shows with my husband.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I tend to stay local in Notting Hill. For dinner, Barbarby or WILD are staples, while Canteen or BEAM are perfect for lunch. For a celebratory night, Dorian is a must. When I’m craving comfort, I’ll order a burger from Bleecker for a cozy night in (dare I say once a week?). On my to-do list? A leisurely stroll through Borough Market, sampling dishes from various food stands — something I haven’t done in ages.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Walking in Hyde Park is my year-round escape — simple, yet an easy family week-end activity that pleases the whole family. I try to visit exhibitions when I can. Tate Modern always has fantastic exhibitions and allows a wonderful walk by the Thames. Once a year, I indulge in a ballet at the Royal Opera House. The last performance I saw was Swan Lake — timeless and unforgettable…
Any weekend getaways?
My latest getaway was Venice, staying at The Venice Venice Hotel, which serves the best Aperol Spritz. I still remember my pasta from da Ivo! Paris is a regular destination to visit family and friends every couple of months. If I’m staying in the UK, a weekend at Lucknam Park or Soho Farmhouse always feels like the perfect escape.
What was your last great vacation?
Our family house in Spain — an annual trip with our closest friends. It’s a tradition that never disappoints. We also loved staying the week in Marrakech. Best destination for early spring to enjoy some sun and amazing food. Japan is next on my list for a big adventure!
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Oasis for summer 2025!
What store or service do you always recommend?
When I lived in Shoreditch, I spent my entire time at The Goodhood and The Brokedown Palace.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Flying the new Cathay Pacific business class suite between LHR and HKG • Inside the just-opened hotel The Alfriston in South Downs • Chef Sally Abé taking reins at Cotsworlds gastropub The Bull Charlbury.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Chef’s seasoning
London’s discerning home chefs know to seek out the spices and blends at Spice Mountain, a mainstay in Borough Market since 2009. The selection, arranged by region of the world, feels almost endless, with multiple versions of things like chilis, salt, peppercorns, and paprika. The employees will helpfully point you in the right direction, sometimes to an exciting new discovery.
It’s not all about the savory spices, either. There’s a large selection of fruit powders, used for smoothies or baking, and aromatic flowers, from lavender to marigold petals. The shop is also a good spot to shop for gifts — Spice Mountain sells numerous gift boxes, including the popular “Chilli Box” with six varieties of chilis. Also recommended: the za’tar blend, the chili salt, and the mulled wine spice, an essential ingredient when holiday season rolls back around again. –Emily Zemler
→ Shop: Spice Mountain (Borough) • Borough Market, Borough High St • Tue-Sat 9a-5p, Sun 10a-4p.
CULTURE & LEISURE • The Hour of Bewilderbeast
Balanchine: 3 Signature Works • Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) • Sat @ 730p • orchestral stalls, £589 per
Badly Drawn Boy • EartH (Hackney) • Sat @ 7p • GA, £46 per
You Me at Six • Ovo Arena (Wembley) • Fri @ 6p • Lower south 12, £119 per
BARS • First Round
The wait is over
The Skinny: The team behind Binch — a minute French-owned wine bar in Dalston — set up shop in a classic pub on Essex Road. The result, Godet, brings together Binch’s French-first wine list with a selection of British craft beers on tap, a weekday menu from Perk’d Up Burger, and Sunday roasts from the Ingredientist Kitchen.
The Vibe: Victorian features intersect with pink terra-cotta walls (“It’s almost Mediterranean!” my companion gleefully whispered), sage accents, and brass features. On a wet, windy Sunday afternoon, Godet was candlelit, spacious, and a little loud, with half the bar taken over by decks and a vinyl selector.
The Food: Classics done well. The Yorkshire beef sirloin, generous and succulent, paired perfectly with a side of cauliflower cheese (with Black Bomber cheddar and truffle, yes please) and a glass of Sylvain Pataille’s juicy Burgundy, Pinotte. We skipped the sharing plates but couldn’t resist an order of focaccia with miso butter while we waited.
The verdict: Godet expands on Binch’s offering and successfully embraces its London environs — with all the trimmings. –Sophie Duval
→ Godet (Islington) • 382 Essex Rd • Wed-Thu 5-11p, Fri-Sat 5p-1230a, Sun 12-8p • Book.
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First, a quick primer on how this works: You send us the pressing questions of the day (on dining, services, living in London and surrounds). We all put our heads together (us, FOUND, + you, FOUND subscribers, who are also FOUND) in search of truth and beauty.
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If you haven’t already, tell us your favourite London restaurant.
What London hotel do you always recommend for out-of-town guests?
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