Oudh 1722

Oudh 1722 is the London debut of Aktar Islam, the Birmingham chef whose Opheem holds two MICHELIN stars. In a Grade II-listed Victorian townhouse on Union Street, steps from Borough Market, he turns his focus to Awadhi cuisine: the refined cooking of Lucknow's royal kitchens, built on slow-cooked curries, saffron biryanis and kebabs finished over an open flame.

Designer Polina Sychova drew on Lucknow's own architecture for the interiors, working in limewashed plaster, arched openings and reclaimed timber rather than pastiche. The ground floor holds the main dining room and open kitchen, its green velvet banquettes set beneath a hand-drawn peacock mural; a run of smaller rooms on the first floor, some screened by curtain, suits a private party better than the main floor does. The top floor is given over entirely to a cocktail bar, its painted ceiling and exposed brick a quieter register than the dining rooms below.

The restaurant opened in May 2026 and was named One to Watch at the National Restaurant Awards within six weeks. Corporate events, celebrations and groups over 25 are handled through its own events team.