From Miami to Tokyo and Brisbane to New Delhi, some of the world’s hottest new restaurants in the coolest locations will have global gastronomes salivating as they add them to their culinary bucket lists for 2019.
While a number of the chefs behind them are genuine Michelin-starred legends, others are exciting upstarts doing things their way.
As for the food, it encompasses everything from a gourmet Philly cheesesteak to the impeccable art of Edomae sushi, with everything in between.
So if you love to travel for food and drink, here are 15 of the best new restaurants to really get your teeth into in 2019.
Art Yard Bar & Kitchen, Bankside Hotel, London
Chef Lee Streeton has worked for some of the best in the business in London — including 45 Jermyn Street — and he brings his informal but focused approach to Art Yard Bar & Kitchen in the sleek new London Bankside Hotel right on the Thames.
Pizzette with Cornish clams and garlic or Dorset crab with avocado and pistachios tempt from the smaller plates, while the main event brings generous globally inspired options like Chicken Milanese with winter vegetable slaw.
A decadent lobster Thermidor sandwich is an option for those who don’t like to share. As the name suggests, Art Yard’s design celebrates art and comes courtesy of Dayna Lee from Los Angeles’ renowned Powerstrip Studio.
Art Yard, Bankside Hotel, 2 Blackfriars Road, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9JU; +44 20 3943 2020
ÔMER, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco
ÔMER is a play on words for the French “au mer” — or “by the sea.” That’s partly because the restaurant in Monaco’s legendary Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo has one of the most breathtaking views imaginable, over the azure Mediterranean below.
It’s also because seafood is a big draw in the restaurant which marks culinary maestro Alain Ducasse’s second opening in the principality. There are nautical themes in the elegant décor which give the impression of being aboard a luxury liner or superyacht, while the plates celebrate perfect renditions of dishes like a tartare of fish, beautifully plated with caper berries, flowers and more.
ÔMER, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo– Aile Rotonde, Place du Casino, 98000 Monaco; +377 98 06 39 39
The gourmet food hall Union Market DC is home to some of the US capital’s biggest and brightest flavors, with new spot Philly Wing Fry from chef Kwame Onwuachi adding to its reputation.
The fast-casual concept from the award-winning rising star, a “Top Chef” alum, serves up simple but addictive gourmet Philly cheesesteaks made with 50-day dry-aged ribeye from Roseda Farm under melted provolone, roasted garlic mayo and pickled onions. A vegetarian option with mushrooms is also available.
On the side, options include chicken wings that have been cooked confit in chicken fat, before being glazed with a spicy and sweet tamarind glaze. Waffle fries also show global flavors, thanks to an Ethiopian spice blend known as berbere.
Philly Wing Fry, Union Market, 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Musashi, Aman Tokyo
The cool Aman Tokyo is enough of a draw as it is, but their new restaurant Musashi by Aman represents another reason to make the journey to the Japanese capital. That’s because master chef Musashi has moved his namesake restaurant to the ultra-luxury property.
The highest quality sushi, paired with unbeatably good produce, is served at an elegant counter made from Hinoki wood that seats just eight guests. Musashi’s omakase-style menu, where he chooses what to serve guests based on his morning visit to the market, runs a cool 25,000 yen — that’s around $220.
But for devotees of the finest Japanese cuisine, it’s a bargain.
Musashi, Aman Tokyo, The Otemachi Tower, 1-5-6 Otemachi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan; +81 03 5224 3333