Milton Keynes’ independent food scene continues to THRIVE and I am so here for it. What was once known as the place with the concrete cows and roundabouts and five Nando’s is now gaining its own reputation for having a great food scene too. There have been so many brilliant new businesses born out of the pandemic as well as those that continue to succeed and serve us incredible food. I know it can be difficult to keep track of all these new openings and launches, so here are all new restaurant openings in Milton Keynes throughout 2022. I’ll be keeping this blog post updated throughout the year, so if you are opening a new restaurant this year, please email me blog@sophieetc.com with the details.
Every effort has been taken to ensure the information in this blog post is correct, however, I advise referring directly to the vendor websites and social media pages for the most up to date information. If you see an error or something is incorrect, please email blog@sophieetc.com.
New restaurants opening in Milton Keynes in 2022
- Eat Your Heart Out at Lakeshore
- Lilly Café
- Coco’s Coffee House
- Yuma’s Kitchen
- Kiki’s Café
- Love Ness x at The Shoulder of Mutton
- Mi Chai
- Great Gelato
- Kobe Steakhouse & Cocktail Lounge
- Forky’s Dessert & Milk Bar
- Apollonia
- Pratty’s Roadhouse
- Casalla at Nonna’s
- Kings Comfort Food at Coachmaker’s Arms
- WYLD
Eat Your Heart Out at Lakeshore
You might already be familiar with Eat Your Heart Out in Willen, a family-run independent coffee shop serving insaaane baguettes! The shop will be at Caldecotte Lake Business Park and will be called “Eat Your Heart Out at Lakeshore.” Although it’s primarily to service the businesspark tenants, anyone is welcome! They will have their popular deli-style sandwich counter which we know and love at Willen. The coffee is locally sourced and locally roasted coffee from House of Coffee. The official opening date is 15th March.
Lilly Café
Lilly Café is a new independent café opening in March 2022 in Whitehouse Park. It is in the old Kuku Coffeehouse unit in Whitehouse Surgery. The interior is absolutely beautiful and there is a flower wall on one side. They will be making cakes on-site and serving coffee, brunch and hopefully afternoon tea. Follow @lillycafemk on Instagram for updates.
Coco’s Coffee House
2022 is the year of the independent coffee shop! Coco’s Coffee House is a new addition to New Bradwell. it’s opened up just next to the Co-op. Independently owned and serving coffee and cake, the feedback so far for Coco’s has been great and the interior looks so nice! I am looking forward to visiting. Follow Coco’s Coffee House on Facebook.
Yuma’s Kitchen
Yuma’s Kitchen is an independent restaurant in Northampton that is soon opening in Milton Keynes. Serving burgers, wings and shakes, I’m looking forward to giving this a go. Yuma’s will be takeaway only from Crownhill. Follow @yumaskitchen for updates.
Kiki’s Café
Kiki’s Café is opening in March/April 2022 and will be based in Grafton Gate. Expect breakfasts, lunches, delicious cakes, and coffees made using organic beans. Corporate catering will also be available. Vegan and gluten-free options will be available, and they will be trialling late night openings.
More details on their website: kikiscafe.co.uk
Love Ness Vegan Pop-up at The Shoulder of Mutton
Love Ness x is a Vegan food vendor from Northamptonshire who is hosting apop up night every Tuesday at The Shoulder of Mutton, Calverton. There is a different menu every week such as vibrant Buddha boxes or one-pot wonders. The March menu has a variety of options for different tastes, including an Asian inspired box, a special curry taster night and some Mexican style food.
You can choose to eat in or takeaway, just message the Love Ness page on Facebook or Instagram to book. I also offer frozen meals which you can collect from the pub. Perfect for anyone trying to include more veggies in their diet or transitioning to a plant-based or vegan lifestyle.
Mi Chai
Mi Chai is a new dessert bar based on Queensway in Bletchley. It serves fresh doughnuts, churros, milkshakes, chai and desserts. It’s open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 6pm – 11pm and Saturdays and Sundays 1pm – 12am. You can follow them on Instagram @michai.uk
Great Gelato
This Easter Great Gelato and Jo’s Cake Co. are opening the first gelateria and bakery in Milton Keynes. They will be on the Stony Stratford high street, serving freshly-made, handcrafted Italian gelato and freshly-baked cookies. With indoor seating and a beautiful outdoor terrace, they look forward to serving you the best treats all year round. Look out for our secret menu and special flavours!
Follow @greatgelato and @joscakeco on Instagram for more updates.
Kobe Steakhouse & Cocktail Lounge
Kobe Steakhouse & Cocktail Lounge will be the latest independent to open in Xscape. Kobe will be the UK’s first Kobe & Wagyu restaurant to launch outside of London and one of only ten in the whole of the UK. Razvan Marcu, creator of successful award-winning restaurants French Affaire and Greek Affaire in Stony Stratford is behind Kobe, so expect decadent food and delicious cocktails.
The decor will be gorgeous too – a sophisticated colour palette of deep greens and touches of gold, lush foliage adorning the walls, plush velvet banquettes and spectacular chandeliers. There will be also a beautiful private dining space as well as a comfortable cocktail lounge area and bar. The restaurant will transition to a cocktail lounge in the evening.
Kobe is also partnering with legendary club brand UltraVegas who will be curating and providing the musical experience on Friday and Saturday nights.
The restaurant is due to launch in mid-March. Follow Kobe on Instagram @koberestaurantuk, Facebook and Twitter.
Forky’s Dessert & Milk Bar
A new dessert bar is opening on Church Street in Wolverton. It’s called Forky’s and describes itself as a dessert and milk bar. It sounds like it plans to open late, and the menu features lots of sweet treats including bubble waffles, ice cream, milkshakes, waffles and more.
Apollonia Greek Cuisine
A new Greek restaurant called Apollonia is opening on Newport Pagnell high street on Market Hill. It’s in the old unit where Quality Fish & Chips used to be and it’s looking good! It opens on Wednesday 12th January.
You can see their website here: apolloniagreekcuisine.co.uk
Pratty’s Roadhouse
Pratty’s is an independent seasoning brand and they are opening a steakhouse in Central Milton Keynes. Apparently, they’re aiming for a February/March opening and it’s going to be in the old Zen Gardens unit near The Hub.
Follow Prattys Roadhouse on Instagram for updates.
Casalla
Casalla is a Moroccan vendor that launched during the lockdown in 2020. They did takeaways but went quiet for a while. The good news is that they are back with a Monday night residency at Nonna’s in Woburn Sands! This family-run business offers delicious Moroccan food, filling a gap in the market in Milton Keynes. At £25 for two courses or £30 for three, it’s well worth a go. I see a lot of potential in Casalla and can’t wait to see what this year holds for them.
Back open from Monday 10th January. Message Casalla or contact Nonna’s to book.
Kings Comfort Food
Kings Comfort Food is the ultimate vendor if you want comfort food. Kings do some of the best fried chicken in MK and you can now find them at The Coachmakers’ Arms in Newport Pagnell, every day 2pm – 9pm. The food is unreal and I’m so happy they’ve now got a more sustainable, permanent kitchen.
No need to book, just show up. Order takeaway via MK Eats.
WYLD
I was lucky enough to get a preview of WYLD last year at a soft launch event and I am very excited for their official launch this year. WYLD is a conscious and experiential food business with a philosophy to re-establish our lost connection with nature and the source of our food. WYLD’s dining experiences bring people back together, both with one another, and with the natural world which surrounds us. Founded by Jonathan Muston this is something that Milton Keynes’ food scene needs!
To stay up to date, subscribe to their mailing list.
Read more: Launching in 2022: Woodland dining with WYLD
This guide to new restaurants opening in Milton Keynes will be kept up to date throughout 2022. Don’t forget to email me blog@sophieetc.com if you are opening somewhere new so I can share it with my readers!
I hope you find this post useful and don’t forget to let me know if you try anywhere from my recommendations. Share your photos using my hashtag #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes on Instagram or leave a review in my Facebook community group, Eat & Explore MK.
Which new restaurant are you most looking forward to visiting in 2022?
You might also like:
- My year in food: Best eats of 2021
- The lowdown on the latest lockdown launches in Milton Keynes
- Best restaurants for date night in Milton Keynes
