Ceviche, Soho

This Peruvian restaurant (owned and enthusiastically championed by former Apple exec, Martin Morales) is set to open in March after the storming success of their pop-up restaurant back in June last year. But for London restaurants, 2012 looks all set to be the ‘year of Peru’, as in addition to Ceviche, top chef Virgilio Martinez will be opening Lima London in Fitzrovia in the spring.

Ceviche is due to open in March 2012. To find out more, go to: Cevicheuk.com.

Mele e Pere, Soho

Annoyingly for such a foot-achingly long (and central) thoroughfare, for many years Brewer Street wasn’t exactly overflowing with great places to eat. There were two Italians, one of which had been there forever, and a couple of noodle bars... and that was about it. These days, though, there’s Randall and Aubin and Hix Soho, while at some point early in the year, Mele e Pere, a northern Italian restaurant from former Wild Honey colleagues Peter Hughes and Andrea Mantovani, sounds like it will be a great addition to this end of Soho.

Mele e Pere is due to open in January 2012. To find out more, go to: Meleepere.com.

Donostia, Marylebone

Authentic pintxos (Basque-style tapas) and cider will apparently be the order of the day at new Basque restaurant, Donostia. And the early signs are definitely good: chef Tomasz Baranski was the man responsible for those queues round the block to get into Barrafina...

Donostia is due to open in February 2012.

Mari Vanna, Knightsbridge

Since it opened back in 2009, New York epicures have been beating a trail to a rather mundane corner of the Flatiron District to eat at Mari Vanna. The new London restaurant promises more of the same – namely top nibbles like smoked fish to go with the pelmeni and stroganoff, plenty of ice-cold vodka and the chance to hole up like a spy in a fur hat in quirky-cum-kitsch Russian surroundings.

Mari Vanna is due to open in January 2012. To find out more, go to: Marivanna.co.uk.

The Gallery at Sketch, Soho

Like themed hotels, ‘concept food’ rarely gets the heart racing. But when it concerns the lavishly decorated (and wildly expensive) high fashion haunt Sketch, it starts to sound just a little more appetising. The idea is that, as part of its 10th anniversary, co-founder Pierre Gagnaire will work with Turner Prize winner Martin Creed to re-launch The Gallery. One thing’s for sure – it certainly won’t be dull.

The Gallery at Sketch is due to reopen in March 2012. To find out more, go to: Sketch.uk.com.

Like our pick of the best new London restaurants in 2012? Take a look a few of our favourite new London restaurants from 2011 or our pick of the best UK hotels with Michelin star restaurants. Alternatively, see all our restaurant reviews.