It’s been a stellar year for eating out. Gourmand Gunno chalked up his century of restaurants visited in 2025 on 5 December, with several more bookings still in the diary. He had the privilege to visit 10 countries across 3 continents in the past 12 months. These trips provided many wonderful dining opportunities. Just over 40 new reviews were posted to the website (opens in a new tab). Below follow the highlights –
Best overall experience: Gorse (opens in a new tab) in Cardiff. Few places anywhere win a Michelin star within 8 months of opening. Gorse could also have featured in the “best new openings” and “best high-end” categories.
Best new openings visited: Notting Hill’s The Fat Badger (opens in a new tab) gastropub, that perfectly captures the current zeitgeist; and, Ambassador’s Clubhouse (opens in a new tab), for decadent Indian dining. A shout-out too to The Tamil Prince (opens in a new tab), a perfect pub-curry crossover. Although 3 years old, your reviewer only got to it in 2025 – but loved it so much, he’s now been twice.
Best high-end experiences: Core (opens in a new tab) (excellent, as ever), Elystan Street (opens in a new tab) (ex-Square chef, Philip Howard, has created a neighbourhood classic) and Kai (opens in a new tab) (best Chinese in Mayfair).
Best non-UK experiences: undoubtedly Michelangelo Mammoliti’s La Rei Natura (opens in a new tab) in Italy’s Piemonte region. It was mind-blowingly original and recently received its third Michelin star – just after we visited. Elsewhere, plaudits to San Francisco’s The Progress, featured on the Global Gunno (opens in a new tab) page. Your reviewer also enjoyed three days of top dining in Spain’s Priorat region (opens in a new tab).
Old favourites that continue to deliver: No new reviews, but delightful dining once again in The Crab House Café (opens in a new tab) (seafood, Dorset), Da Daniela (opens in a new tab) (pizza, Maida Vale), Delamina (opens in a new tab) (Middle Eastern, Marylebone), Guinea Grill (opens in a new tab) (old school British, Mayfair) and Randall & Aubin (opens in a new tab) (seafood, Soho).
New local discoveries: If the environs of W9, then check-out Kotta Sushi (opens in a new tab) or The Seymour Kitchen (opens in a new tab) (which is Middle Eastern in style). Both had not been visited by your reviewer prior to this year but will merit return trips.
Fun miscellany: (1) on being freed from reviewing restaurants (opens in a new tab) - almost (2) on being the only diners in a down-at-heel venue which served excellent Hunan food (opens in a new tab) (3) on three days checking out the food scene in Kinsale (opens in a new tab), Ireland.