Visitors to Goodge Street (number 62) in the West End are invited to try a true tapas bar experience following the opening of Barrica. With the look and feel of an authentic Spanish tapas bar, Barrica is a venue where people can feel just as comfortable having a coffee, a beer, a glass of sherry or a sit down meal with wine.

Just a short hop from Camden High Street, in Delancey Street, this new Osteria and Restaurant launched on the 2nd December to the sounds of lively band music while invited guests quaffed wines or beers and nibbled on interesting canapés. It was a fun evening that did justice to this new eatery, which occupies the site of the old Cafe Delancey.

New Covent Garden Market Place brings the spirit of the market back to Covent Garden. The recently opened 4000 sq foot food hall and café serves the finest restaurant quality food including sushi, authentic Thai curries and fresh salads made from only the best ingredients such as fresh Bocconcini mozzarella and luscious pomegranate seeds.

No we haven’t lost our spell check, the parlour wants to be lower case. Out in canada wharf, sorry Canada Wharf, this new spot offers food and drink all day to busy bankers with money in their pockets and time on their hands between major deals and the end of capitalism.

Mark Hix will open his third London restaurant within Selfridges London as a new destination within the Oxford Street department store around March 1st 2010. Mark Hix’s other establishments include HIX on Soho’s Brewer Street, Hix Oyster & Chop House in London’s Smithfield’s Market and Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis.

With Xmas coming up this new venue will want to be shaken down and seaworthy as soon as possible, so as not to miss out on the potential revenue. After Xmas there could be a big reckoning in the restaurant business, but we reckon if anyone can sail through it will be the Bros Galvin

A feature of Kanaloa is the Treetops, a rainforest styled retreat with giant palm trees, tropical leaf patterned walls, and rustic wooden planking. Guests can hide away in the branches at the top or sit in the shade of the palms underneath. We are not making this up by the way.

Since ZUMA’s launch in 2002, the London born ZUMA and ROKA restaurants have been expanding to international locations – Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, Arizona and now, the latest ROKA is opening back home in London’s Canary Wharf late October 2009.

Doukan, located in the villagey area of Wandsworth is a neighbourhood restaurant by day with its interesting, well priced offering from breakfast to weekend brunch, a deli selection and an express lunch menu, perfect for the local business comunity and the Wandsworth ‘yummy mummy” set. with its contemporary design, dining room, bar and evening a la carte menu, the restaurant is transformed by night.

Tony Kitous, founder of Comptoir Libanais, opens the doors of his latest branch in Paddington and finds commuters departing from their usual fast food choices in favour of healthier options, at affordable prices.