22 Of London’s Best Restaurants With Live Music
Love live music but can’t face another night in a crowded, dingy basement venue? We’ve hunted down the best restaurants with live music for a more sophisticated, less sweaty night of live entertainment. From piano ballads to next-level DJ sets, here are the best restaurants with live music nights in the capital.
100 Wardour Street
One place that knows how to put on quite the show is Soho’s 100 Wardour Street. Expect live music from rising stars in the industry to be performing on stage in their basement every Wednesday through to Saturday.
Soho’s spirit is kept alive in the Basement Restaurant & Club. You’ll find their team serving up food until late while you sip on cocktails and boogie the night away. On the site of London’s iconic Marquee Club, you’ll be following in the footsteps of David Bowie and the Rolling Stones.
Their Saturday brunch offering is one to catch too, home to a live band, DJs and moreish brunch classics. Tuck into dishes such as smashed avocado with poached egg on grilled sourdough; chicken taquitos with pico de gallo, avocado, salsa and queso fresco; and Moroccan shakshuka with harissa, flatbread, baked eggs and feta cheese.
100 Wardour Street, Soho, W1F 0TN
www.100wardourst.com
Quaglino’s
Iconic live music restaurant and bar, Quaglino’s in London’s St James’s, is renowned for hosting some of the best live acts in the capital. From their Swing brunch filled with bottomless bubbles to their dedicated music Mondays, there are so many options to get your groove on. Their live music calendar is always jam-packed with legendary artists. Pick your perfect night, grab a glass of bubbly and enjoy the music blast through the room.
16 Bury Street, St James’s, SW1Y 6AJ
www.quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk
Manzi’s of Soho
Manzi’s will transport guests back to Soho’s Golden Age with a new cabaret programme for the month of December. The seafood destination in the heart of Soho from The Wolseley Hospitality Group has designed a love letter to the playful nature of Soho’s Golden Age, after high demand. Upstairs at Manzi’s, the cabaret evenings will have exclusive performances from Black Cat Cabaret every Thursday. And of course, along with a dose of cabaret, you can enjoy some of Manzi’s most loved dishes like Jersey rock oysters with mignonette sauce, sardine bruschetta with tomato and red onion and dressed Dorset crab with brown crab mayonnaise, Manzi’s fish and chips as well as Bateman’s lobster roll and fries with thousand island dressing.
where: 1-8 Bateman’s Buildings, London W1D 3EN
Website: www.manzis.co.uk
Bocconcino
For those looking for authentic Italian fare with a side of live entertainment, look to Bocconcino. Head over to this Mayfair establishment and experience live DJ nights every Thursday through to Saturday evening. Live music will accompany the DJ on Fridays and Saturdays. The space will be filled with the sounds of saxophonists, violinists and bongo players while you dine in style.
Think cocktails, brilliant food and a relaxed party vibe you can’t fault.
19 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, W1J 8ED
www.bocconcinorestaurant.co.uk
Hotel Cafe Royal
Soho’s Hotel Cafe Royal doesn’t do anything by halves. Especially not their music nights. Head down every Thursday for one of their legendary DJ nights at the Green Bar. Kicking off at 9pm, the bar’s atmosphere will be transformed with upbeat house tracks from local DJ Tomi H.
68 Regent Street, Soho, W1B 4DY UK
www.hotelcaferoyal.com
The London Cabaret Club
A night at The London Cabaret Club always feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s managed to perfect the balance between entertainment and high-end dining, and we, quite frankly, never turn down a night to experience it in all of its glory.
The clue’s in the name really but they boast London’s best cabaret nights, featuring stars from London’s West End, stunning choreography and are distinctly British.
Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, Holborn, WC1B 4DA
www.thelondoncabaretclub.com
The Piano Works
Boasting locations in Farringdon and the West End, The Piano Works is the place to go for non-stop live music. Whether you’re after a boozy brunch with live pianists soundtracking your afternoon or somewhere fun, bubbly and lively for a light-hearted works do, this music venue ticks all of the boxes. Expect countless cocktails, lively dinner parties and endless entertainment.
West End & Farringdon
www.pianoworks.bar
Amazonico
If you’re looking for somewhere to take your date that’s not stuffy, but still knocks it out of the park with fantastic food, quirky interiors and live entertainment, look no further than Amazonico. Mayfair’s rainforest restaurant is home to a lively night. Start your night with one of their signature cocktails and tap your foot to the beat of the ‘elec-tropical’ sounds and Latin American tunes from the resident DJ, before making your way to the restaurant. Your dining experience will be accompanied by live Latin-influenced jazz performances and stellar dishes. Amazonico Sounds runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
10 Berkeley Square, W1J 6BR
www.amazonicorestaurant.com
The Hideaway, Sloane Place
Hide away from it all at Sloane Place’s intimate live music nights hosted inside the venue’s modern speakeasy. Live music is hosted every week, with regular performances from up-and-coming talent, as well as DJ nights on Friday and Saturday.
60 Lower Sloane Street, Chelsea, SW1W 8BP
Park Chinois
For a Mayfair moment, look to Park Chinois. Renowned for its exceptional Chinese cuisine, Park Chinois is also home to dazzling atmospheric music to keep you entertained all night long. In Park Chinois’ opulent dining room, Salon de Chine, enjoy the sultry sounds of glamorous jazz divas and the sophisticated house band as exquisite dishes are brought to your table. This dining setting celebrates the heyday of Shanghai supper clubs with a nod to the golden era of dinner & dance, transporting you to another world. The live band and singers perform every evening seven days a week and during weekend lunches too.
17 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, W1J 8EA
www.parkchinois.com
Kindred
With a music hall as beautiful as this, who could say no to a night of live entertainment? The Hammersmith community venue hosts live music night, album launches and more inside its very own music hall, from jazz to piano ballads and poetry nights. Check out their events section for their latest roster of entertainment.
Bradmore House, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, W6 9BW
www.wearekindred.com
Charlie’s at Brown’s Hotel
End your weekend with a splash of style and sophistication at Charlie’s at Browns Hotel. Every Sunday the restaurant welcomes their resident musicians led by saxophonist Greg Davis for a night of ambient jazz.
Settle in for a night of cocktails and dishes such as seared tuna bowl with peanut, avocado and white miso dressing; calves’ liver and bacon; grilled halibut steak with bearnaise sauce; and classic battered haddock with chips, peas and tartare sauce.
Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4BP
www.roccofortehotels.com
Proud
Renowned for their big nights, Proud is home to three locations across the south, including two in London. They’ve helped make cabaret popular again, putting on some of the most immersive shows in the capital right now, from West Side Cabaret Story to weekly bonanzas and boozy brunches.
Embankment, City & Brighton
www.proudcabaret.com
Hithe + Seek
Bringing wine and music lovers together is Hithe + Seek, the riverside restaurant with stunning views over the Thames. Their menu has been crafted around wine, with each dish available to be paired with a carefully selected wine, from cured salmon and cod marble with caviar beurre blanc to lobster rolls with pickles and trout roe.
You’ll find DJ Limão spinning the decks on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Expect to be listening to global beats from samba to house while you dine the night away.
60 Upper Thames Street, EC4V 3AD
www.hitheandseek.com
Dishoom Kensington
As the incense fills your nose and the warm chai leaves a spicy aftertaste in your mouth, the unexpected sound of the resident pianist begins to echo through the colorful restaurant. Dishoom Kensington features live music when dining at 7:15 pm, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, there is a live pianist to accompany the traditional spice of their dishes. While on Thursdays and Fridays, the Marine Liners, a jazz band, play three sets throughout the night while bringing even more life to the already bustling restaurant. Reservations may be hard to get and the line may be long, but this isn’t an experience to miss out on.
4 Derry Street, W8 5SE
www.dishoom.com
Troubadour
As the birthing place of artists’ careers like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, an evening at the Troubador is bound to be an unforgettable experience. The restaurant itself has a homey and vintage feel to it, yet up-and-coming musicians get the chance to showcase their artistry to the crowd almost every night. The music-centric restaurant features a different act nightly with a special jazz night every Sunday.
Depending on the night, the event may or not be ticketed. But the ticket price is well worth the historic atmosphere, live music, memorable mac and cheese, and of course the well-curated wine list.
265-267 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9JA
www.troubadorlondon.com
Scarlett Green
Scarlett Green, member of the Daisy Green restaurant collection, has built a name for itself based on its renowned brunch menu, but it can do more than just a good brunch. Every week, Thursday through Saturday, the usually early-closing cafe remains open all day and well into the night to accommodate their lunch and dinner menus. During dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, live bands take centre stage while people enjoy their dinner and drinks.
This place is great for big groups of people either celebrating something special or celebrating nothing at all. If you are looking for a lively restaurant with live music, this is the one for you.
4 Noel Street, Soho W1F 8GB
www.daisygreenfood.com
Blues Kitchen
With locations in Brixton, Camden, and Shoreditch, the Blues Kitchen is bound to have something in store for every music lover and foodie. Hearing live rhythm and blues and eating smoked ribs and cornbread is a recipe for a memorable night. Each location has different shows every night that could be free entry or require an entry fee. Some featured weekly nights include Blues, Bourbon, and Blues and Shoreditch got Soul. Stop by for a night not only full of soul food but soul music.
40 Acre Ln, Brixton, SW2 5SP
111-113 Camden High St, NW1 7JN
134-146 Curtain Rd, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AR
www.blueskitchen.com
Brasserie Zedel
Located in the heart of Piccadilly, Parisian-inspired Brasserie Zédel combines traditional French food and a live music and cabaret venue at its dedicated venue Crazy Coqs. Expect classics like French Onion Soup and Coq au Vin, alongside a rotation of award-winning jazz maestros, 60s French music and Parisian Cabaret trailblazers. The building also plays host to ZL Café, a casual pavement-level café, and an authentic American Cocktail Bar, Bar Américain.
20 Sherwood St, London W1F 7ED
brasseriezedel.com
The Parlour
Just re-opened this September, jazz and cabaret restaurant The Parlour is back with an exciting new schedule. Located in The Ned, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s will be dedicated jazz nights, while Saturday’s see the turn of cabaret. Friday night sees the newly formed Soul Supreme, a high-energy ensemble delivering live performances of Motown and Soul hits, along with contemporary pop and beloved 80s classics. On the food-side, Head Chef Steven Connolly has developed a menu including caviar, lobster thermidor, USDA prime beef and chicken kiev, plus a selection of classic Yakitori dishes
27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
thened.com
Voodoo Rays
For a less formal and more rowdy live music-food combo, head to Voodoo Rays. Based in Peckham and Brixton, they exclusively do pizza – go for the 22” for perfect group sharing – combined with great cocktails and high-energy live music.
The musical options include a free entry live jazz set every Sunday, drag shows, or you can even engage in your own attempt at live music in their Karaoke hole.
285 Rye Ln, London SE15 4UA
95 Kingsland High St, London E8 2PB
voodoorays.com
Toulouse-Lautrec
An attic jazz bar named after the unofficial artistic chronicler of the city – this is about as Parisian as London gets. This independent, family run establishment has been a hit since opening in 2008, with art-deco interiors modeled on 1920s Paris.
Sit back and enjoy steak tartares and crème brûlées in a classically French environment, with a specifically dedicated Jazz Club menu accompanying à la carte offerings.
140 NEWINGTON BUTTS, LONDON SE11 4RG
TOULOUSELAUTREC.CO.UK
