London’s best pop-ups

Dreaming of a kitsch Christmas? New York’s famous Miracle on Ninth Street bar is popping up in London for its seventh year, ‘50s Christmas decorations, nostalgic accessories and creative new spins on beloved cocktail favourites in tow. Past years have seen the bar slinging the likes of a Snowball Old Fashioned or a Christmapoliton, which includes cranberry sauce and absinthe mist – a take on Christmas trimmings that’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re failing to get into the Christmas spirit, this is one great place to find it.

Coq d’Argent’s New Year’s Eve bash is a refined affair full of Francophone luxury. Come for a five-course tasting menu that typically includes delights like champignon sauvage, fletan and petits fours, stay for the private fireworks display on their terrace with views over the City, accompanied by live music and dancing. If you want to join the party but can’t justify £200 for a big dinner, the restaurant offers a an early bird option for £150, or £50 bar tickets so you can still be part of the fun without breaking the bank.

Julie’s, west London’s posh boho bistro, is celebrating Burns Night with an evening of Scottish cuisine. Sit down in the restaurant’s famously plush dining room to tuck into dishes including lamb belly and haggis scotch egg, crispy langoustines with black pudding, and the classic Haggis with neeps and tatties. For pudding, there’ll be a traditional Clootie dumpling served with whisky ice cream. Woolf it all down with fine wines, Scottish whiskies and even an Irn Bru daiquiri, all while being serenaded by a traditional bagpipe performance. You’ll be reciting Tam o’ Shanter before the evening’s through. 

Nessa is taking it back to the ‘70s this New Year’s with a dinner party that will pay homage to the decadence of Biba-era Soho. Expect golden lighting, velvet textures, disco balls and a live DJ spinning disco, funk and soul classics through to the midnight countdown. There’ll be two sittings for the decadent three-course dinner – one at 5pm for the early birds and again at 9.30pm for the night owls. On the menu will be contemporary British dishes, with optional festive add-ons including caviar, Champagne and steak.   

We can all agree that Scotland has some of the best produce and food in the British Isles (and yes, we’re including deep-fried Mars bars). For Burns’ Night, Mayfair’s historic Connaught Grill is celebrating the brilliance of the Scottish larder with a five-course Burns Menu. Curated by executive head chef Ramiro Lafuente Martinez, it’ll be full of dishes made with premium Scottish produce alongside whiskey from the prestigious Aberfeldy Distillery on pour. Courses include Scottish glazed haggis dumpling, cured Scottish salmon gravlax, marinated Highland venison loin, Scottish goat’s cheese, and the Scottish classic dessert Cranachan. You can even pair it with expertly chosen cocktails, drams and wines. Burns, but make it luxe.  Burns Night menu is priced at £140pp or £280pp with an additional drinks pairing. Available alongside the à la carte from 19-25th January. On 22 January, only the Burn’s Night menu will be served.