The nine new restaurants you must visit this summer

Martín Berasategui, the San Sebastián chef with the most Michelin stars in Spain, has just taken over Madrid institution El Club Allard with one of his students José Mari Goñi manning the kitchen, and is breathing fresh life into the well-known restaurant in the iconic ornate Casa Gallardo building. There are currently two Basque-inspired menus on offer with ten or 13 ‘moments’ showcasing Berasategui’s style in dishes such as teardrop peas in caramelised chop fat with sea urchin and tenderloin with chard and foie gras.

For dinner with an edge, Dangereux is just the ticket. Having worked in some of New York’s most Michelin-lauded restaurants, creative chef James Kim is turning his attention to Abu Dhabi for his latest projects. Set to open in summer 2023 in Soul Beach in the Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Dangereux is an experimental French fine-dining restaurant using locally sourced ingredients and some fruit and vegetables grown at White Farms Al Ain, a 52-greenhouse organic farm where Kim is the executive chef. One to watch.

The second of Gilad Peled’s unmissable Lucerne dining experiences is Minamo, an intimate kaiseki chef’s table that also opened in April. Just six guests are treated to an exclusive omakase meal here, a surprise journey of Japanese dishes that unfolds right before them. Created by a team of experienced chefs, each dish combines an appreciation for seasonal ingredients with traditional Japanese techniques. The meal is augmented by a stellar list of sakes, Japanese whiskies and high-end international wines. A true treat for all the senses.

Leading Nation is behind some of Hong Kong’s favourite restaurants, such as Wagyumafia, Elephant Grounds and La Rambla, and its latest multi-concept project is the most ambitious yet. Set in a 20,000sqft space on the 43rd to 45th floors of the Landmark’s Gloucester Tower, Forty-Five has five different experiential concepts: The Cristal Room, a French fine-dining restaurant by French chef Anne-Sophie Pic, Shanghainese restaurant The Merchants; Japanese steakhouse Kaen Teppanyaki; Cardinal Point, an international restaurant and cocktail bar, and Gloucester Arts Club, a private members-only social club. Opening in stages from April, this will be the place to be this summer.

Björn Frantzén is one of Sweden’s most celebrated chefs, with three-star Michelin restaurants in Stockholm and Singapore and a new restaurant on the roof of Harrods in London. This is a big year for the chef, who has plans for new restaurants in Dubai, Singapore, and, most excitedly, his much-discussed namesake restaurant Björn Frantzén at the Bund, opening in May 2023. It is set to bring his signature gourmet contemporary Scandinavian-inspired cooking to central Shanghai with more bold, rich and fresh flavours in a chic fine-dining setting.

Internationally acclaimed Michelin-starred chef Akira Back will be launching his two exciting inaugural UK restaurants this summer when the hotly anticipated Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair opens in Hanover Square in London. The concept behind the main eponymous restaurant is modern Japanese with a touch of a Korean, with sharing plates to suit every palate. Then there’s Dosa, with its part immersive culinary theatre, part intimate Korean-inspired tasting menu. With 14 seats in a counter-style setting, this is a joyful celebration of seasonal ingredients and culinary techniques, where you can have a front row seat as the chef creates memorable unexpected dishes.

Inspired by the restaurants at Majang Meat Market in Seoul, this Korean steakhouse, cocktail bar and chef’s table in a beautiful old townhouse on the Upper East Side is one of the most talked about recent openings in Manhattan. The space has been transformed with hanji, traditional Korean handmade paper and stunning silk bojagi patchwork textiles. Tables are equipped with grills and you can pick from prime or Wagyu steaks with different aging methods, a decadent raw seafood selection or a seven-course tasting menu that celebrates a range of Korean dishes including tteok-galbi short-rib patties with optional black truffle and guksu traditional noodle soup with fermented chilli. There’s also an exclusive ten-seat counter where you can marvel as chef Imsub Lee works his magic.

Costa Navarino’s most scenic dining destination is set to open this August at Mandarin Oriental’s Greek debut. With floor to ceiling windows and views across the bay, Oliviera will be showing off a real taste of Messenia. Using sustainable ingredients and working with local farmers and fishermen, executive chef Bertrand Valegeas will create an eclectic menu celebrating regional produce and giving traditional Greek flavours a contemporary twist. And for special occasions and more intimate suppers, there’s the relaxed setting of the Private Kitchen Counter & Lounge, offering a premium bespoke menu for 12-16 guests or exclusive masterclasses, wine or cigar tastings or tailor-made events.