Everything You Should Eat, Drink, See & Do This Weekend
Looking for weekend plans? From spending hours getting lost in the Courtauld Gallery to trying some of London’s most exciting new menus, there is plenty to get involved in once you’ve logged off on Friday. Here is our ultimate guide to everything to eat, drink, see and do this weekend.
What should I see?
Catch this exhibition on opening weekend
Opening this week, the Courtauld Gallery’s latest show is one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the autumn season.
Salman Toor: Someone Like You marks the first solo museum exhibition in Europe of the celebrated New York-based painter, bringing together 19 of his most iconic works never before seen in Britain. The new display of his works looks truly mesmerising, and is this weekend’s ultimate cultural billing.
Where: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
Book here
Watch Sense and Sensibility in cinemas
If you haven’t already, this weekend marks the perfect opportunity to catch the latest adaptation of Sense and Sensibility starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esme Creed-Miles and George MacKay.
As hype around the release continues to grow, with fans likening it to Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice, devoting a few hours to a cinema trip to see it for yourself this weekend will be well worth your while.
What should I do?
Stay out late at Seven Dials
Seven Dials Market is launching a brand new late-night programme this Saturday, and it’s a very good reason to head to Covent Garden after dark.
Dials After Dark is kicking off with Voices Radio Live from 7pm until late, setting the tone for a month-long series of DJ takeovers, live bands and piano house nights running every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Come hungry for the market’s 21 independent food traders, order a Cucumber Alley Marg or an Espresso Martini from the Warehouse Bar, and stay for the music long after your plates have been cleared.
Where: Earlham St, London WC2H 9LX
Website: www.sevendialsmarket.com
Bring your dog to Chelsea for a wholesome afternoon
If you have a dog and a love of Chelsea, mark your diary for this Saturday. Chelsea Dog Day is returning for another year in support of Pets As Therapy, with more than 75 shops, hotels and restaurants across the neighbourhood rolling out the welcome mat for four-legged visitors.
Highlights include live artist dog portraits at The Cadogan Arms, a Pilates class you can do with your dog at eyeam followed by a lick-and-paint session, and a dog photoshoot at Chelsea Townhouse with pups styled in jewellery by Anabela Chan. The popular Dog Market is also returning to Duke of York Square, with stalls from leading dog and lifestyle brands.
Where: Chelsea
Website: www.inchelsea.com
Spend your Friday or Saturday night here
If you’re looking for a late-night spot that doesn’t compromise on the food, Decimo at The Standard is the perfect weekend billing.
The tenth-floor Mexican restaurant is now running a music programme every Friday and Saturday until 2am, with dinner and drinks available from 7.30pm and music kicking in from 10.45pm. Friday nights bring Sobremesa, drawing on the Mexican tradition of lingering long after the meal is finished, while Saturday’s Decimo Lates offers a rotating lineup spanning Latin jazz, salsa, cumbia and diasporic sounds.
Where: 10 Argyle St, London WC1H 8NP
Website: www.thestandard.com
Celebrate this London institution’s first birthday
To commemorate one year of exceptional views, high-energy dining, and nightlife, CÉ LA VI is hosting an exclusive party complete with signature cocktails and a bespoke tattooing experience.
Renowned tattoo artist Tal will be in residence from 8pm until midnight, offering complimentary flash tattoos on a strictly first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early to secure your spot, sip on crafted drinks, and raise a glass to CÉ LA VI’s major milestone.
Where: 17 & 18, 1 Paddington Sq, London W2 1DL
Website: www.celavie.com
Get involved in a chocolate-making masterclass
If you’re looking for alternative weekend plans, the Adam Handling Chocolate Shop in Covent Garden has just launched a series of chocolate masterclasses and they are exactly as good as they sound.
Options range from the Truffle Shuffle and hand-painting chocolate bonbons through to a Bean-to-Bar experience and a Lunch and a Lesson package that includes lunch at Michelin-starred Frog upstairs, making it one of the most indulgent afternoon activities in the city right now.
Where: 34-35 Southampton St, London WC2E 7HG
Website: www.adamhandling.com
Catch a performance at The Actors’ Church
Tucked away behind the bustle of the Piazza, St Paul’s Covent Garden, affectionately known as The Actors’ Church, is a peaceful sanctuary with a rich history deeply rooted in London’s theatreland.
Pop in during the day to soak up the historic atmosphere and tributes to British acting royalty, or time your visit for something truly special. Launching this Friday, October 2nd, the church is hosting the Lamplight Concerts series, a part concert, part immersive art installation that transforms the 400-year-old venue into a glowing landscape of dynamic light, featuring live music from classical duo Duo Atlantis.
Where: Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9ED
Book here
What should I eat?
Spend Your Sunday in Paris at Luna’s Eurotripping Dinner
Following the success of its Andalusia takeover last month, Luna is continuing its Eurotripping series this Sunday with a Paris edition.
The menu is exactly what a French Sunday should look like, with steak frites and profiteroles on the table alongside a Burgundy-focused wine list, all for just £35 per person. Running from 12pm to 11pm on Sunday 4th October, it’s the kind of unhurried, convivial lunch that makes you feel considerably further from London than Shad Thames. Book fast, as this one tends to fill up quickly.
Where: Luna, Shad Thames, London SE1
Website: www.lunawinebar.com
Enjoy an authentic slice of Tuscany
If you’re in Kensington and in need of a good Italian dinner, Bottega 35 on Kensington High Street is well worth knowing about.
Inspired by the artisanal craftsmanship and warm hospitality of a Tuscan country home, the restaurant brings a relaxed, neighbourhood tavern feel to one of London’s most polished postcodes.
Where: 35 Kensington High St, London W8 5EB
Website: www.bottega35.com
Stepping into this restaurant felt like I was truly transported out of London and straight to rural Italy. Go for the delicious pasta offerings, but stay for the tiramisu that’s hand-assembled right at your table.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Editor
Try this alternative Sunday roast
If your Sunday roast routine needs shaking up, Rondo at The Hoxton Holborn has just given you a very good reason to book a table.
Across every Sunday in October, ACME Fire Cult is taking over the kitchen for a series of live-fire Sunday roasts in partnership with Ilegal Mezcal, bringing their signature open-fire cooking to a menu built around seasonal British produce and letting great ingredients do the talking. And if you’re passing through The Hoxton lobby beforehand, ACME Tacos is also serving a smoked lamb shoulder taco with mezcal asador pineapple as part of the ongoing Hox Sarnie Series, which is a very good way to start the afternoon.
Where: Rondo, The Hoxton Holborn, 199-206 High Holborn, WC1V 7BD
Website: www.thehoxton.com
Discover this neighbourhood gem
Providing everything you would expect from a Notting Hill neighbourhood gem, Dove is one of acclaimed chef-restaurateur Jackson Boxer’s outposts.
Occupying his former Orasay venue, the menu ranges from inventive snacks like fried potato pizzette topped with bonito, burrata, and mortadella to mains like whole grilled fish and half a roasted chicken. Pair your meal with a choice from their versatile wine list, where almost every option is available by the glass, making it an effortless choice for a laid-back weekend meal, though if you don’t fancy eating in, you can also get it delivered straight to your door via Deliveroo.
Where: 31 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2EU
Website: www.dove.com
Dove is one of those spots that you can always count on to really deliver. The Bluefin Tuna Tostada, Fermented Pepper & Yuzu is a masterpiece!
Maddie, Campaign Success Executive
Tuck into this kitchen takeover
After pop-ups at Albers, Bruno and Naughty Piglets, Firangi is settling in for its longest residency yet, taking over the kitchen at Top Cuvée for three months.
Ruhi Parmar Amin and Simar Deol’s bistro-style Indian cooking explores regional dishes and techniques from across the country, with a nine-dish sharing menu featuring everything from pav with hot honey and spice crumb to grilled chicken with corn kees, Coorg-inspired pork belly and almond financier with chai custard. Top Cuvée’s natural and biodynamic wines will be on hand for pairing, naturally.
Where: Top Cuvée, 177B Blackstock Road, Highbury
Website: www.topcuvee.com
Discover the most exciting coffee collab
Calling all coffee lovers. Café Ciel at The OWO is launching its month-long Coffee Club this weekend, and the opening days alone are worth showing up for.
Kicking off this Friday, the series brings together eight of London’s best coffee and bakery talents for a rotating programme of exclusive collaborations throughout the month. Think tiramisu from Studio Marrone, limited-edition treats from Cardabelle, and an espresso tasting flight courtesy of Allpress.
Where: The OWO, 7 Horse Guards Ave, London SW1A 2EU
Website: www.cafeciel.com
Enjoy a 90s-inspired lunch
If the current wave of 90s nostalgia has you feeling sentimental, The Ivy Collection has just given you the perfect excuse to lean into it.
Running until 3rd November, the Cool Britannia Menu celebrates 30 years since the era that defined a generation, with two courses for just £19.96, a nod to the year that epitomised the movement. The menu pays tribute to The Ivy’s own place at the heart of Cool Britannia, with highlights including Grilled Robata Chicken Skewers with Bang Bang peanut sauce inspired by the legendary 90s original, a 90s Coconut Curry with sweet potato and lemongrass, and Sticky Toffee Pudding to finish.
Where: Venues across London
Website: www.theivycollection.com
What should I do outside of London?
Escape to The New Forest
If you’ve been meaning to leave London behind for a proper countryside escape, the New Forest is a destination that’s hard to beat.
Ancient woodland, wide open heathland and wild ponies roaming freely alongside the road make it feel immediately worlds away from the capital, and there is more than enough to fill a weekend without once feeling like you’re ticking off a to-do list. Base yourself in Brockenhurst or Lyndhurst for easy access to the forest’s best walking and cycling routes, stop for lunch at The Pig in Brockenhurst for their celebrated kitchen garden menu, and end the afternoon with a visit to Lymington’s Saturday market and a walk along the quay.
Where: The New Forest
Get lost in this gallery
For a cultural billing just outside of London that combines great art, beautiful countryside and a very good lunch, Watts Gallery in Compton, Surrey is one of the most quietly wonderful places you can spend a Saturday.
The Arts and Crafts gem is set in the heart of the Surrey Hills, with galleries dedicated to the Victorian painter G F Watts and his extraordinary wife Mary, a stunning Cemetery Chapel, acres of grounds to wander and a café renowned for its Welsh rarebit and homemade soups. The current exhibition, The Art of Wallpaper: Morris and Co, makes the trip even more worthwhile, and the grounds look particularly beautiful as autumn sets in.
Where: Down Ln, Guildford GU3 1DQ
Website: www.wattsgallery.com
