By Emyr Thomas

Read on for Bon Vivant’s pick of the best new restaurants and bars that are opening this Autumn, including a Michelin starred chef at a Knightsbridge hotel, a seafood restaurant at Harrods, a steakhouse aimed at women and a gin palace.

Bentley’s Sea Grill at Harrods – 12 September

Bentley’s Sea Grill will launch in the Harrods Food Hall on 12 September. The Sea Grill is the third London opening in Richard Corrigan’s London restaurant portfolio, which also includes Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill and Corrigan’s Mayfair.

Bentley’s Sea Grill will offer a selection of seafood, fish and oysters, including a dedicated seafood cocktail section and simply prepared fish from the grill. Harrods have been bolstering their restaurant offerings with the Galvin brothers also opening up earlier in the year. Lunching between shopping for handbags has never been so good.

Nathan Outlaw at The Capital – 4 October

Knightsbridge will continue with the seafood theme with two Michelin starred chef Nathan Outlaw due to open at The Capital Hotel, dividing his time between here and his eponymous restaurant based in Cornwall.

The Capital Hotel, which previously held two Michelin stars under head chef Eric Chavot, looks set to make a return to the top of London’s dining scene, with a menu offering fish and seafood from across the UK.

Chrysan Restaurant by Hakkasan – 12 September

While Sushisamba and Duck & Waffle have barely settled in as new City favourites, the Hakkasan Group will add Chrysan to the mix, a Japanese restaurant in partnership with Japan’s Michelin-starred chef, Yoshihiro Murata.

Chrysan will be the first of two restaurants that will be opened by the Hakkasan Group close to Liverpool Street station this year. Chef Murata is the third generation chef patron of Kikunoi, a traditional Ryotei restaurant in Kyoto, which holds three Michelin stars. There will also be a bar named ‘NeNe’ which will seat up to 30, offering a cocktail list and a menu of lighter dishes.

Wabi London – Early October

Former Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth has announced the autumn launch of Japanese restaurant Wabi London in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, near Holborn and Aldwych. Australian-born Scott spent six years at Nobu in London before launching Nobu Melbourne in 2007. The restaurant will serve a seasonal menu of Japanese cuisine with a contemporary European twist.

STK London at The ME Hotel

New York based The ONE Group will launch the first international outpost of STK Restaurant in the new ME Hotel on The Strand in Covent Garden. STK London aims to offer ‘a modern twist on the traditional steakhouse’ with nightly DJs and a more feminine, sleek design.

STK continues the theme of more feminine steak restaurants opening in London – Gillray’s near County Hall has a separate ‘Ladies Cut Fillet’ on the menu. Clearly not one for the feminists.

Gin Palace at the Langham London

The Langham hotel launches the Sipsmith Gin Palace on 13 September in collaboration with Sipsmith gin. The Gin Palace will be open from 7pm until midnight in the hotel’s Palm Court on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Johnnie Walker Living Room at Shaker & Co – Until 9 October

From now until the Tuesday 9th October 2012, Shaker & Co will transform itself into the secret living room of distiller Johnnie Walker®, where you can sample some of the five unique blends in the range.

The cocktail on offer include Johnnie Roy, a unique cocktail served in a hip flask and the Smokey Bishop, a refreshing sour cocktail.

Babycham Bar at Maggie’s

Babycham is back with a vengeance at Maggie’s, the 1980’s themed nightclub on Fulham Road. Downstairs flouro coloured bar men and women with plastic visor hats and leg warmers will greet you to a background of memorabilia that includes CBBC’s Ed the Duck, original retro record covers and a huge fish tank that occupies one of the walls.

My favourite cocktail is the Wham Bam Thank you Ma’am – made with Goldschalger, tequila, lemon juice, sugar, lychee and, of course Babycham.

If you want to know what these new openings are like before you visit, follow me on Twitter here as I make my way around London’s hottest new openings.

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