Anyone looking for a place to eat out around Hampstead and Highgate is spoiled for choice.

And with so many restaurants and cafes opening and closing, they might find it hard to keep track - so here is our round-up of the restaurants and cafes that opened in 2023.

London Shell Co, Swain's Lane, Highgate

This Is Local London:

New seafood sensation London Shell Co opened in Swain's Lane, Highgate, at the end of March.

Serving up fresh fish and seafood, the restaurant attracted a loyal customer base, creating a "buzz" in the community.

Restaurant manager Eliza Rogers said: "It's been really nice, everybody's been super welcoming."

Mileto Caffé, Royal Free Hospital Pears Building, Hampstead

This Is Local London: Federica Federico has opened her first Mileto Caffé in South End Green

April saw the Royal Free Hospital Pears Building in Hampstead treated to a taste of Italy with the opening of Mileto Caffé.

Owner Federica Federico provides quality coffee, sandwiches, cakes and pastries to the public.

The 32-year-old said: "It's my first proper café, I am very happy.

"The opening was very emotional as both my parents came."

Pizza Pilgrims, Queen’s Park

This Is Local London:

Pizza Pilgrims' latest restaurant graced Queen's Park on July 3, featuring a new deli concept selling Italian specialities.

Their Lansdale Road restaurant serves coffee, fresh bread, family-meals and a deli boasting ingredients from their well-known menu.

The chain has restaurants in cities such as Nottingham, Brighton, Oxford, and Cambridge, along with numerous locations in London.

Zia Lucia, West Hampstead

This Is Local London: Pizza Lucia opens its ninth outlet in West Hampstead in mid-June serving a new dough made from

In West Hampstead, Pizza chain Zia Lucia replaced much-loved eatery Ham in June.

It brought to the table a novel twist, offering environmentally-friendly dough made from finely milled roasted crickets.

The pizzeria said that the insects are not only rich in protein, fibre and minerals, but they also require minimal water, energy, or land to cultivate.

The founders claimed that their cricket flour dough added a delicate nutty taste to the pizza.

It’s Bagels, Primrose Hill 

This Is Local London: Dan Martenson (right) and Jack Ponting (left)

September welcomed New-York style bagel shop, 'It's Bagels', to Primrose Hill.

Offering a variety of fresh bagels and additional options like smoked lox, haddock, caviar, and traditional NY style ‘salads’, it truly channels NY bagel culture.

It's Bagels is a collaboration between Mr Martensen and head baker for Caravan restaurants Jack Pointing.

GrassFed – Camden

This Is Local London: Paul Foster, who won a Michel star for his Stratford-Upon-Avon restaurant Salt opens his first

Under a Camden railway arch, Michelin-star chef Paul Foster set up GrassFed, a modern British restaurant specialising in high-quality beef cuts.

The Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen chef is famed for his unfussy modern British dishes at Salt in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Serving from July, patrons could savour a beef hotdog among other dishes such as BBQ fish with smoked seaweed butter.

Kima, Marylebone

This Is Local London: Kima is a new 'fin-to-gill' restaurant in Marylebone courtesy of the team behind Pitabun and OPSO

Marylebone enjoyed the opening of 'fin-to-gill' fish restaurant Kima in July.

Chef and Restauranteur Nikos Roussos said: "We are thrilled to present a new perspective on fin-to-gill eating with Kima, and to be bringing a new seafood-focused restaurant to London."

Diners can select their daily catch for a bespoke dining experience, with chefs taking them through the different ways each can be prepared.

Gail’s, Golders Green

This Is Local London: The HSBC in Golders Green will transform into a Gail’s bakery

Autumn marked the grand unveiling of a new Gail's bakery in the the place of a historic Golders Green bank.

Known for its baked treats, Gail's opened its first bakery in Hampstead High Street in 2005, and had expanded to its 100th store last year.

Swiss Butter, Holborn

This Is Local London:

With its origins in Lebanon and branches across the Middle East, Swiss Butter opened its authentic steakhouse in Holborn last year with the unique Swiss Butter steak sauce making its London debut.

The setting is basic - industrial elements like exposed brick walls, pipework, corrugated iron, alongside furniture crafted from wood and steel - and the menu is short.

The mains - all priced at £19 - are either beef fillet, salmon or chicken breast in the signature 33-ingredient sauce and served on a wooden platter with crispy fries, dressed salad leaves, slices of baguette, and a sprinkle of chili flakes.

Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana

This Is Local London: Rudy's Pizza Napoletana are opening in Shoreditch High Street and Tottenham Court Road in December.

And just as the year was nearing its end, December welcomed North England's Rudy's Pizza Napoletana to Shoreditch High Street in Hackney.

With its double fermented, 24-hour dough and Neapolitan staples like marinara, margherita and calabrese topped with San Marzano tomatoes grown at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, the Shoreditch High Street restaurant, also has a rotating menu of specials from around the globe.