Lisa Wright

Every week, a frankly silly amount of brilliant new restaurants, cafés and street food joints arrive in London. Which makes whittling down a shortlist of the best newbies a serious challenge. But here it is. The 20 very best new restaurants in the capital, ranked in order of greatness and deliciousness. All of them have opened in the past year and been visited by our hungry critics. So go forth and take inspo from this list, which is updated regularly. Check in often to find out what we really rate on the London restaurant scene.  July 2025: New additions include great Caribbean cookery at Marvee's Food Shop in Notting Hill, new school Vietnamese at Lai Rai in Peckham, plush Roman pasta at Lupa in Highbury, and a brand new home for Thai legend Singburi in Shoreditch. They join fun bistro action at Hello JoJo in Camberwell, Japanese-Italian fusion at Osteria Angelina in Spitalfields, bawdy British fare at Rake in Highbury, and Iberian inventiveness at Tasca in Bethnal Green.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in London. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now to tuck in.

London is home to a vibrant Caribbean community that spans the islands. From Brixton to Stoke Newington you’ll find everything from incredible Guyanese pepper pot stew and Trinidadian street food such as doubles and aloo pie, to classic Jamaican-style ‘yard shops’ serving oxtail, rice and peas and fried plantain. The Caribbean diaspora have contributed their culture to this city for decades, with each island's cuisine distinct and unique in its own way. We’re all about supporting the community and have focused on independent, Black-owned establishments and as well as restaurants and more casual cafes, we’ve also included a couple of traditional Caribbean bakeries where you can score coco bread, currant slices and spiced bun.  RECOMMENDED: The best Nigerian and west African restaurants in London.  Keshia Sakarah is a British-born, Montserratian/Barbudan food writer. Her debut book - Caribe: A Caribbean Cookbook is out now. Her work is influenced by her Caribbean and British identity, focusing on her passion for culture and heritage.

The roots of halal food in the UK can be traced back to the 1950s, with south Asian locals setting up grocery stores, wholesalers and restaurants selling halal produce. Today, halal cuisine is a rich mixture of all food styles, from steaming bowls of daal and succulent smash burgers to traditional Turkish street-food style grills — there’s a never-ending array of dishes to choose from in the city. There’s no one way to experience halal food. The meat however, must be slaughtered following Islamic law and, ideally, prepped separately from other types of non-halal meat, especially pork, as this is a crucial dietary restriction for Muslims. As such, it can be difficult to find halal-certified joints, so we’ve rigorously gone through our list to ensure these restaurants have been confirmed as halal by certification, verbal confirmation or the restaurant’s own FAQs online. If you’re looking for your next halal lunch spot or where to have a celebratory dinner, we’ve got you covered. Zoya Raza-Sheikh is London-based journalist with a love for live music, great food, and vibrant queer culture.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best vegetarian restaurants.

Covent Garden is so rammed with restaurants that decision fatigue can easily threaten the quality of your dinner. Weave through the tourists and theatregoing crowds and you'll discover that this area hosts many of the best restaurants in London, including French-styled Story Cellar, and The Portrait by Richard Corrigan, as well as old faves The Savoy Grill and J Sheekey. We’ve compiled a list of the best in the area, from cutting-edge eateries and classy counter joints to party-ready and casual hangouts, with pre-theatre favourites and cheap eats among them. Think of it as your Covent Garden bucket list. RECOMMENDED: The absolute best restaurants in Soho. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

A gem of The North, harbouring sprawling countryside and entertainment-filled metropolitan spaces all at once that offer a ton of fun things to do, Yorkshire is God's own county. Technically split across three regions of England, even its main bulk of Yorkshire and the Humber is home to seven cities including Leeds, Sheffield and York—each with their own vibrant scenes. It's a lot to take in, so we've gathered up the county's absolute best bits—cherrypicked from throughout the area, and chosen for their relative must-see qualities. So whether you want to tap into the local history, sit down for some top-notch grub or just keep the little ones entertained for a while, here's exactly where and why you should be going on your next visit. ✈️ The best weekend breaks from London Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.

Canary Wharf is getting glitzier by the day. You can head to E14 for more than just a business meeting – the steakhouses built for buttering-up clients are still there, but now there are places to have a slap-up vegan meal or sustainable feast in among all the skyscrapers. If you're in the area, or you're about to be – here are a bunch of restaurants worthy of that long lunch. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Hackney.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and finally knows Canary Wharf well enough not to get lost every time she leaves the tube station. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  

Feeling a bit worse for wear after a big night out in Dublin? Fear not. This city’s brunch scene is about as poppin’ as its nightlife, and you’re sure to find something to soothe those woes whatever your tastes.  Shakshuka with a twist? You’re covered. A classic eggs and avo? No problem. And if you want to take a hair-of-the-dog approach, you’ll find plenty of Bloody Marys and mimosas to start your day off right too. Here are the best brunch spots in Dublin.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Dublin😋 The best restaurants in Dublin🏨 The best hotels in Dublin🏡 The best Airbnbs in Dublin  At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Lulworth Cove is a sheltered, shell-shaped bay edged with bright white pebbles. Its striking views attract hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout the summer – so we’d recommend a day trip during the early evening, or when the temperature dips. While you’re there you’ll become an amateur geographer, spotting and navigating towering rock formations that were shaped 25 million years ago when continental tectonic plates collided (also forming the Alps in the process). Though the smattering of pubs, restaurants and other great attractions in these parts might not have been around quite that long, plenty are still old enough to feel like a trip back in time. Ready? Here’s our pick of the very best things to do in Lulworth Cove. RECOMMENDED: Find the best things to do in nearby Weymouth, Bournemouth and the New Forest

East end-born Stephen Perry has spent the last 45 years working in London’s high-end jewellery mecca Hatton Garden. Having started out as an apprentice, he now owns three family-run jewellery shops. Come heist or high water, he’s a passionate believer in the area’s craftsmanship and community. I started as a jeweller’s apprentice in 1976, when I was 15 years old. I did a five-year apprenticeship making fine jewellery. When you finished the apprenticeship, they would tie you to a lamppost on a chair and everyone who walked by knew you’d completed it. It was an initiation, a bit like being on a stag do. You never get used to working with things that are so valuable. I’m like a boy in a sweetshop! I was brought up in a working-class family from Whitechapel and we never had much, so I value everything. If you come in and spend £50 I’ll treat you the same as anyone spending a lot of money. The minute I lose that, it’ll be time for me to stop. The Spice Girls once turned up in their Mercedes convertibles. I’ve had people from all walks of life come in. I made an engagement ring for Barbara Windsor, some jewellery for Michael Caine and a boxing-ring pendant for Frank Bruno when he fought Mike Tyson in Vegas.  I once discoloured a £300,000 diamond. My heart sank. It had gone from this beautiful white to brown. Luckily, I took it to someone more experienced and it went back to normal. The Hatton Garden heist really lifted business because there was so much publicity. For months after,

When Ky Hoyle went to Soho in the early ’90s to explore the sex shops, she found nothing that catered for female pleasure. She decided to take things into her own hands and launched Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium, the country’s first sex shop specifically for women. Since then, she’s spent the last 28 years developing a safe space where women can explore their sexuality, learn about their own bodies and ask positive questions. I started Sh! in 1992 after a trip to Soho. As a young, liberated woman, I wanted to explore my sexuality. I was shocked at how intimidating and alienating the shop I went into was. I ended up going to so many, thinking the next one would be different, but there was nothing for women. There was so much hate around sexuality at the time. In the early ’90s, the government banned the teaching of LGBTQ+ life and the Aids epidemic was still prominent. The tabloids were saying things like: ‘Don’t sit on a public toilet seat or you’ll catch Aids’, so there was a stark difference between that and anyone who was vaguely conscious. It really felt like ‘us’ and ‘them’. There’s a huge pressure on women in terms of how they look and the kind of pleasure they should feel. It’s only recently that things are changing. We were the first ever women-focused shop in Europe. For a long time, our policy was that men were only welcome as guests of women. We were trying to level the playing field and make sure that any woman who walked into the shop felt comfortable. We stopped

‘I never set out to be a designer – I always just loved making clothes. I never wanted to conform. Even when I was really young in Essex, I’d make outrageous outfits just to wear to the pub. When I moved to London, I never looked back. I’m a massive raver, and in the late ’80s I’d go to all the underground raves: you’d have to call from a phone box to find out where they were. Then the government introduced the Criminal Justice Act, which made it illegal to group together and move to ‘repetitive beats’. The police would come and raid all the raves, so everything moved into the clubs. I couldn’t find clothes that fitted the scene, so I started to make designs. That’s how, in 1994, I started the first Cyberdog stall. Back then, you’d have to queue up at the Stables Market in Camden at 4am to get a spot. Then I and my partner Spiros noticed that at the edge of the market, in a corner, there was this triangle where the market traders used to put junk. We managed to secure that piece of land as our permanent pitch. We cleared it out, painted the walls black and put neon graffiti all over. We’d play banging techno all day and sell my designs. At the start, people would be intrigued but walk away, but gradually they started buying things. ‘I’d always wanted a shop with the same vibe as when you walk into a club’ Camden was such an assortment of people at that time: it was like a little ‘EastEnders’. Next to us was a pine furniture shop in a tunnel, and when they left, they offe

Ticket prices. Booking fees. Uber rides. That ill-advised round of shots. All in all, going to big gigs can be a wallet-wincing pursuit. But there are places you can go to see some genuinely massive bands without it costing a massive price. Moth Club With its sparkly gold walls and ‘if you know you know’ side-street location, it’s no surprise that Hackney’s Moth Club has become the go-to spot for ridiculous secret shows. In its short lifespan, Lady Gaga and Jarvis Cocker have popped along for a sing-song, while only last month Dave Grohl and Rick Astley launched the newly returned Club NME there with a set that only cost punters £5. Keep your eyes peeled: Lord knows who might turn up next. Old Trades Hall, Valette St, E9 6NU. Hackney Central Overground. mothclub.co.uk Rough Trade EastLondon’s mecca for vinyl buffs, off-Brick Lane staple Rough Trade East isn’t just good for finding that rare Aphex Twin import that’ll make you look cool to your workmates. Every week it hosts album launch in-stores, which are free to attend if you preorder or buy the record. And we’re not just talking leftfield muso fare either: everyone from Queens Of The Stone Age to Stormzy has passed through its doors, while you can look forward to Metronomy, Thurston Moore and, er, Keane in the coming weeks. Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL. Liverpool St tube. roughtrade.com Banquet RecordsBanquet has been the king of Kingston for more than a decade now, and it continues to deliver the goods with

Marvee’s Food Shop isn’t aiming for flashy posturing. Tucked down an unassuming side street under (or, as the building it resides in calls itself, UNDR) the Westway, a lone blackboard outside what looks more like the door to a club is the restaurant’s only signage.  Dom Taylor is cooking up the sort of magic that belies the Food Shop’s humble title As it turns out, it’s actually a door to a club too. Veer right for late night revelry, but you’d be a fool not to opt for the left hand option, where head chef Dom Taylor – formerly at the helm of The Good Front Room pop-up at The Langham – is cooking up the sort of Caribbean foodie magic that belies the Food Shop’s humble title. You get the sense, however, that Marvee’s – named after Taylor’s mum Marveline – is purposefully going for something altogether more relaxed than the chef’s former outpost. Everything about the restaurant, from its playful branding (“We nuh hav dat!” is the cheeky slogan on their menus) to the retro brown and orange wallpaper and artwork by Yvadney Davis is designed to lovingly immerse you in Taylor’s heritage and culture. It’s like being in a cosy 1970s living room, but with the added bonus of a terrace overlooking the palm trees of Portobello Grove. The food in this Food Shop, meanwhile, is stonking: classic ideas given elevated twists, plated in ways that strike a clever balance of smart/casual, and served at a very reasonable price point. With five ‘main character’ dishes, plus various sides, sauces,

Looking every bit a down-and-out dive bar from the outside, you shouldn’t judge Satan’s Whiskers by its cover. Inside, there’s hip hop on the stereo, a smartly modish setting, vintage French posters on the walls and some of the best cocktails to be found in Bethnal Green. Their menu changes often, with adventurous spirit combinations always at Satan’s heart. But luckily, it’s more of a laid-back neighbourhood hangout than an out-of-place, high-end cocktail bar. Think not so much stuffy, more stuffed animals – there’s plenty of taxidermy pals lounging around, but it never borders on the tacky. Order this The devil’s work is never done and the team here have taken the idea quite literally - last year, their menu featured a carousel of more than 400 cocktails to whet your whistle. There are usually delectable house specials to be found, such as Satan’s Garibaldi (campari, orange, lime, passionfruit and orange soda) or Satan’s Manhattan (Knob Creek whiskey, vermouth and bitters). Time Out tip If you’re in the mood for both people watching and a lesson in liquor, sit at the bar: a prime position to catch the attention of friendly staff, who’ll gladly run you through their favourites on the menu. 

It may style itself as ‘The Bar With No Name’, but in reality, everyone knows this place by its address, hidden away from the Upper Street hordes on an Islington backstreet. So well-loved is 69 Colebrooke Row, in fact, that it’s not easy to get a seat without booking. Punters come for the outstanding cocktails – some of which may push the boundaries of what can be put in a glass, but they always maintain the drinkability of the classics. Their upstairs laboratory, meanwhile, produces bespoke cocktail ingredients such as Guinness reduction, paprika bitters, rhubarb cordial and pine-infused gin. There’s a subtle jazz-age vibe in the small, low-lit room and – on certain nights – a pianist belts out swinging standards. The look is chic, the space is small, and the drinks are a cut above the rest.Order this: Not drinking booze? Not a problem. Their cocktail list includes a veritable smorgasbord of zero percent options, from a Blackberry Pie Bellini to the Orris Army and Navy, made with a combination of aperitifs.Time Out tip: As well as their in-house pianist on Wednesdays and Sundays, 69 Colebrooke also has live music every Thursday to ease you into the weekend.

From the team behind Shoreditch’s Callooh Callay, Little Bat Bar is a worthy addition to Islington’s drinking scene. A cocktail bar that also flaunts a fine line in small plates, their 2025 food menu is the work of one of London’s hottest chefs, James Cochran, whose jerk fried chicken is the powerfully crispy stuff of legend. Meanwhile, on the tipple list are punchy signature drinks, a trio of ‘cold AF martinis’ (vodka, gin or vesper), plus a reasonably priced wine selection starting at £7 a glass. The front section of the venue is all high stools and low lighting, or grab a booth at the rear where the walls are festooned with eclectic art. Staff are attentive, prices are neighbourhood-friendly, and did we mention that chicken?Order this: If you’re a whisky fan then, the Devil’s Water has a lot of it - four types in fact, plus miso and ginger, all clarified with milk. If that sounds a bit much then the Little Bat team are a dab hand at seasonal specials, including zingy summer spritzes.Time Out tip: Formerly heading up the sadly now defunct 12:51, make sure to go to Little Bat Bar hungry for cookery as devised by Cochran, as well as thirsty. From scallop ceviche to hash browns with confit egg yolk, these are more than just bar snacks.

As its name suggests, the mood is set to funky at this Peckham Rye bar. That’s mostly down to a soundtrack that shows some serious flair, spinning vinyl and playing shoulder-shimmying classics from the Fatback Band to Funkadelic (they even sell records too, if you want a side of crate-digging with your cocktails). The look is bright and fun - far more in line with modern Peckham than a fur-covered shag pad, while their list of cocktails is as tight as a Chaka Khan chorus. There are intriguing spins on familiar favourites, such as their Bananaperol Spritz (made with a banana-infused version of the spirit, plus pet-nat wine) or a Frosé Paloma, where rosé is added to a traditional tequila and grapefruit combo. You can even buy some of their cocktails bottled, to take home.Order this: A homage to their home, the Rye Lane cocktail combines rye whisky, martini, fennel seeds and olive brine. They’ve also got a couple of tasty zero-percent offerings, made using Everleaf Forest non-alcoholic aperitif. Time Out tip: Funkidory’s vinyl shop isn’t just limited to funk - have a peruse for all your disco, hip hop, jazz needs and more.

Opened back in 2018 by Alan Sherwood and brothers Max and Noel Venning of Three Sheets in Dalston (and now Soho) Little Mercies is a jewel in Crouch End’s crown. Their small plates are globetrotting, from croquettes and padron peppers to bao and char siu celeriac, while their signature cocktails are equally playful. A Garden Picante distils mixed greens (basil, lovage and tarragon) to give their classic spicy marg added depth; a Snickers Old Fashioned, with peanut butter, whisky and salted chocolate, sounds like the best bits of the kids’ and adults’ snack table put together. Bare brick walls and accents of midnight blue keep it chic for a neighbourhood crowd that’s bustling and busy: grab a seat at the bar and work your way through their clever and surprisingly reasonably-priced menu, with most cocktails clocking in around the £11 mark.Order this: Waiting for a late mate or simply fancy a tasty preview? Little Mercies sell mini drinks to get you in the mood, such as their £6 lychee martini.Time Out tip: Between 6pm and 7pm every day (including weekends), nab 30% off the whole menu during Happy Hour. 

Helmed by Rhythm Section boss Bradley Zero and producer Nathanael Williams, Jumbi is a hi-fi bar in Peckham where dancing is not just encouraged, but irresistible. Jumbi sees a steady stream of weekly events – from DJs at the weekends, to live music, open decks and quieter book clubs during the week, plus they’ve even turned the venue into a pop-up roller rink for certain days over the summer of 2025. Jurkish are in the kitchen, serving innovative Jamaican-Turkish fusion dishes from 12-10pm Thursdays to Saturdays, and 12-8pm on Sundays: think plantain falafel, curry goat manti dumplings, saltfish kofte and more. A one stop shop for great grub and unbeatable vibes that celebrate the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, Jumbi is a treat for all the senses - with free entry most nights (until 10pm on weekends) to boot.Order this: Jumbi’s drinks list is designed “to reflect our small island heritage with a slowly growing rum focus,” says Zero. There’s a rum punch menu, a banana mai tai, and many of the rums have been selected to spotlight Black-owned brands.Time Out tip: Though standard bar entry is normally free, check individual promoter listings before you head down.

While there are no shortage of live fire restaurants in the capital - from small plates at Dalston’s trendy Acme Fire Cult to whopping great slabs of cow at the City’s pricey Ibai - there are few who wear their smokey status so coyly as Cinder, which has the honour of a nomination for Best Local Restaurant of the Year. Where many chefs wield their Josper grills like an upmarket version of your dad at the barbecue, restaurateur Jake Finn poetically describes his wares as being ‘kissed by the flames’.  Everything has the feeling of a gentle caress rather than a whack over the head with a flamethrower The second outpost of his enterprise, following the teeny, 18 cover Belsize Park original, Cinder’s St. John’s Wood branch is even daintier; all vintage tiling, sage green hues and exposed, dusky pink plasterwork. Individual booths are curtained off like a chic French bistro, while a massive framed Lego artwork should feel out of place but somehow doesn’t. With the sun pouring in and a bustling terrace of diners out front, it underlines the idea that, despite picking a pair of ultra swanky north-west London neighbourhoods to take root in, Cinder still wants to feel relaxed: the fun mum at the barbecue who’s topping up your prosecco, to continue the analogy.  Their sharing plates menu comes good on Finn’s promise of a fiery smooch. Everything has the feeling of a gentle caress rather than a whack over the head with a flamethrower. There’s homemade hunks of bread, grilled and served

Setting up shop in the space formerly occupied by well-loved Haggerston hang-out Pamela, Ellie’s has given the Kingsland Road venue a lick of paint and some softer lighting but kept the ethos roughly the same: an easy-going neighbourhood drinking spot that’s big on vibes and low on unnecessary pretence. We went on a Wednesday evening, where groups of mates were sat under their glowing green sign, sipping on potent £8 martinis and munching on paper-wrapped takeaway from the next door chippy (there are plans, we’re told, to open a rotating kitchen residency in the near future). On a balmy summer’s night, their open front and pavement tables are a welcoming place to work your way through Ellie’s punchy cocktail list, from a pleasingly tart raspberry daiquiri to an always-welcome spicy marg. With rows of stools pulled up to the bar, an excellent playlist of alt throwbacks, and a ‘kitchen at the party’ feel to its small-but-cosy confines, you can easily imagine the weekends getting far looser.  Order this On Wednesdays, their all-day happy hour deals include a £5 Guinness and £6 spritz. Ellie’s go-to, however, is their martini: we went dirty and gin-based, and felt pretty giddy after just one. Time Out tip  Need something to soak up the cocktails? Dalston’s plethora of Turkish ocakbasi grills are just a short stumble up the road.

Though now home to a clutch of travel-worthy destination restaurants, as well as an indoor street food market and more boozing spots than you can shake an olive-adorned cocktail stick at, it’s hard not to hear Canary Wharf and immediately conjure up images of skyscrapers and fast-walking suits.  In one hand of every passing businessman, a phone barking out the latest stock exchange numbers; in the other, meat, gnawed off the bone because there is no time for cutlery when you’re busy making deals. In other words, to find a spot as genuinely, dare we say it, cosy as Marceline - a new French brasserie, with a menu overseen by Rob Aikens (brother and sometime-collaborator of twice Michelin-starred Tom) - feels thoroughly offbrand in the most pleasing of ways.  Profiteroles are elevated with slivers of banana (a game changer) With access via a designated waterside bridge, the sort of tasteful aesthetic that suggests it bought up a reasonable amount of made.com’s surplus stock, and an extensive wine list that comes recommended by their in-house sommelier, there is luxury, yes. But there’s nothing ostentatious or needlessly showy here. Looking out at the twinkling lights of a dozen enormo-banks seems kind of cute; like seeing a Christmas tree through a living room window.  Inside, the atmosphere is that of a vast room full of people exhaling contentedly after a long day. The prices here, too, are surprisingly fair. Sure, there are many opportunities to splash £100 or more on a bott

A pub, that most world-building of familiar words, can mean many things: Sunday gatherings filled with ballooning yorkshire puddings, babies and dogs; locals ensconced at the bar on stools they’ve seemingly become surgically attached to; ‘Tequila?’ Oh sod it, one won’t hurt…  Say the word ‘pub’ in certain circles of London, however, and you can throw all that regular stuff out the window. We’re not talking about bougie gastropubs, a subsection that’s now firmly part of the framework, but places like The Tamil Crown: less a Pub 2.0 than a restaurant sneakily masquerading under the guise of supposed informality.  The second Islington outpost from the team behind The Tamil Prince (helmed by head chef Prince Durairaj formerly of beloved basement eatery Roti King), The Tamil Crown has set up its stall a few postcodes up the property ladder, leaving the Caledonian Road for a quiet backstreet just behind Angel Station. The lamb chops were fantastic; blackened and crusty on the outside, and melt-in-your-mouth tender in the middle, they’re exactly what a lamb chop should be Split over two floors – a small, more traditional dining room upstairs, and an equally sardine-like downstairs carved in half, one side for tables, the other with a fireplace and casual seating – it’s the sort of place where, to get anywhere, be that toilet or table, you must become intimately acquainted with your neighbours. As we are shepherded upstairs and then down again in search of our booking, I find mysel

If the squished, sardine-like stretch between Leicester and Trafalgar Squares on a sizzling hot summer’s evening is enough to make you swear off Central London until at least October, then there’s the deepest of breaths to be found from syphoning off down Orange Street. Here you'll find the cool, calm entrance of The National Portrait Gallery’s newest edible attraction. Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan - head honcho of Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill, and thrice winner of The Great British Menu - everything about The Portrait is an oasis of unshowy opulence. From the sneak peeks of Paul McCartney’s current photo exhibition that adorn the walls before you’re ushered up into the lift, to the nonchalant way in which basically every London skyline landmark is visible at once from the bright, simple and airy restaurant space, The Portrait gives you all the good stuff without any of the pomp and bluster. The Portrait is ‘November Rain’ in a Guns N’ Roses headline set: it’s not that the elements are any less exciting, they’ve just been treated more subtly. The waiters are friendly and on the casual side of formal and the open kitchen allows you to get a glimpse of Corrigan and co’s inner workings. Within five minutes of sitting down, it’s like the bustle of the streets below are a distant mirage - aided by a deceptively smooth salt and vinegar Martini that could undoubtedly get you in as much of a pickle as the small silverskin onion at its bottom, should you consume

The British Indian Good Food Guide dropped its hot list of the UK’s finest Indian eateries for 2024 last month (just before we released our own new ranking of the Best Indian and South Asian Restaurants in London). The highest ranking London spot was taken by Westminster’s Quilon, which came second overall (Number 1 was Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar in Newcastle). Quilon has been around for 25 years, opening up in 1999 and winning a Michelin star in 2008 for its south-west coast specialities. The Guide highlighted Quilon’s “lighter sauces and more eclectic menu” as its winning characteristics, with Kerala-born chef Sriram Aylur bringing the seafood-rich cuisine of the region to the distinctly land-locked SW1. But how good is it really? We went down to eat and find out. Photo: Lisa Wright for Time Out Nestled a few doors down from the grand, looming Westminster Chapel, Quilon is understated and authentic in a way that’s satisfyingly unbothered with Instagram-friendly colour palettes. If you weren’t aware of its celebrated standing, you’d likely walk past without a second glance, while inside tasteful Indian touches (bowls of flowers; paintings in the bathrooms) break up the unfussy browns of the general decor. Photo: Lisa Wright for Time Out After an introductory glass of bubbly and a handful of banana chips, we were taken through to a surprisingly quiet dining room. Admittedly it was 8.30pm by then; maybe our late-ish reservation had missed the rush. But even without the b

Motormouth Mancunian beer-swilling gobshites or the UK’s best ever rock ’n’ roll stars? Love them or hate them, everyone has an opinion on Oasis. Since Liam ’n’ Noel swaggered into view at the top end of the ’90s, slugging it out for the Britpop crown and playing to a quarter of a million people at Knebworth at the apex of their enormous success, the battling brothers have been a firm fixture in everyone’s musical knowledge. The band are seemingly no closer to that fabled reunion, but now you can stop crying your heart out, stock up on cigarettes and alcohol and head to Camden for a night entirely dedicated to their wares. So, what’s the story? Well, as the first of a new series aimed at going in hard on one beloved artist, Back to Back Oasis will be bowling over to Camden’s Dingwalls on Friday March 13 for a night playing solely bangers, b-sides and live bops from the band. Unlike many of the increasing slew of artist-centric nights taking up residency in the city (from Cher to Robbie, all your faves have had parties of late), here you'll hear only Oasis. No ’90s also-rans, no laddy inferiors, just wall-to-wall Gallagher for four golden hours. The team behind Back to Back previously flexed their fan muscles putting on a similar Springsteen-centric night, so they should be well-versed in pleasing punters. Running from 11pm until 3am, it’s definitely (no maybes) guaranteed to be a parka-filled, sunglasses-indoors excuse to indulge your most glorious Gallagher-loving fantasies.

Bang! Crash! Kapow! Not the sound of the poor bartender who just dropped a tray full of wine glasses, but the altogether more exciting noises that’ll accompany a night spent in London’s newest theme bar. Heading to Stoke Newington for three-month pop-up Superheroes Bar, an immersive trip that’ll cast you as the hero in your own drinking adventure. Once fitted with your mask and cape (pants over trousers optional), your mission is to collect ‘stones of power’ that’ll enable you to become, if not an expert mixologist, then at least a person with three drinks in front of them. You can pick from beer stones, cocktail stones and mocktail stones, with which you create bevvies that fuse fun comic-book kitsch and genuine drinking nous. Although it might not be a mission that’ll justify its own Marvel spin-off, chances are it’ll be worth the ride: the bar is brought to you by the team behind wizardy cocktail experience The Cauldron, so this lot have form in concocting playful places to nerd out with a drink in hand. Tickets are priced from £29.99, which includes three drinks, with the games beginning on March 27. And on the day after your visit you can find out the answer to that burning question: do superheroes get hangovers? Superheroes Bar is at 5D Stoke Newington Rd. Find out more here.  Or, be a true hero and work your way around London’s other quirky bars.

It’s been 20 years since Kelis first burst on to the scene with debut album ‘Kaleidoscope’ and 16 since she permanently turned everyone’s favourite dairy-based drink from a diner favourite into a saucy euphemism. And now, like a musical Penny Crayon turning song into real life, the iconic singer will be bringing her milkshake to London’s yard IRL. On March 18, to celebrate the anniversary reissue of her debut (and because she is clearly a full-on legend who can get in on a joke), Kelis will be heading to The Iron Bloom on Shoreditch’s Great Eastern Street to host a pop-up milkshake bar called The Yard, in conjunction with Deliveroo. There’ll be five shakes on offer, all named after songs by the artist, and damn right, they’re, well, if not better than your standard fare, then at least significantly more extra. The Millionaire shake will feature edible $100 bills and real gold; Good Stuff comes with plantain, jerk seasoning and frozen banana; and Trick Me is an indulgent creamy coconut affair that’s actually vegan (geddit?). And the most important bit: Kelis will be there from 1pm on the day, getting her shake on. Having released a cookbook back in 2015, she’s no stranger to the kitchen, after all. So hotfoot it down to The Yard (or nab a shake via Deliveroo): she can teach you, but she might have to charge (probably around a fiver, we suspect). The Yard by Deliveroo and Kelis can be found at 46 Great Eastern St on Mar 18. Now you’re in the mood, why not try one of London’s be

For the past 60 years, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club has cemented itself as a Soho institution – a place where music’s great and good, from Amy Winehouse to Jimi Hendrix (who jammed with mate Eric Burdon there in 1970: his last ever show), have graced the stage and that still draws crowds of people making the pilgrimage through its doors on the daily. Now, in celebration of its big birthday, the iconic venue will be heading to north London for a one-off event, presenting Milestones Festival at the altogether-larger Alexandra Palace on July 26. Naturally, they’ve got a line-up that’ll set the hearts of contemporary jazz nerds all a-flutter, too. Critically-acclaimed Californian Kamasi Washington will be playing his only UK show of 2020, while the Mercury Prize-nominated Seed Ensemble, pianist Reuben James and Courtney Pine will also be among those present. With a full bill of supporting artists, DJs and more also lined up, the all-dayer is set to give the venue’s own milestone a suitable toast. While most 60-year-olds are collecting their free bus pass, Ronnie Scott’s is still keeping things fresh and proving there’s life in the old dog yet. Toot toot! Tickets are priced at £44.75. Purchase them, and get all the info, here. Mmmm, jazz. Get more of it at London’s best specialist bars and venues.  

Although Margarita Day might not be the kind of thing you get a bank holiday for, it certainly is a good excuse to raise a glass of the good stuff. And lucky for you, it falls on a Saturday this year. You can get it tart, salty, fruity, frozen, turned into a lollipop or infused with all the flavours under the sun, but at its core, a Margarita needs just three things: tequila, orange liqueur and lime. And on Saturday February 22, loads of places in the city will be paying tribute to this holy trinity with their own parties, offers and general Margarita mania. Want to indulge in a salty rim? Here’s how to grab yourself a free Margarita, and where to toast the classic cocktail. Jose Cuervo delivery service Want to get your Marg on, but don’t want to have to leave your house? Then praise the tequila gods, because this weekend Jose Cuervo are bringing a cocktail bar to your living room. Its Cuervo Riders will be rocking up to a handful of lucky homes (or offices), armed with all the ingredients to make classic, golden or salted grapefruit margaritas for you and your pals. All you need to do is sign up to the ticket lottery here and keep your fingers crossed. Duck & Dry beverage and blow-dry Why wait until you’ve gone out to start cocktail time when you can include it in your getting ready regime? Such is the logic at Duck & Dry, who’ll be giving away a Cointreau Margarita to anyone who pops in for a blow-dry at its King’s Road salon on Saturday. Those booked into the Oxford Circus

If you’re already rooting out your finest emerald green garb and training your stomach to handle that eighth pint of Guinness in time for St Patrick’s Day on March 17, then we have some good news for you. Much-loved Irish boozer Gibney’s in Malahide, a Dublin institution that’s been keeping the locals watered for more than 80 years, will be opening a second outpost – and you don’t have to get on a plane to go there. Taking root in a new basement bar below Old Street restaurant Daffodil Mulligan (the latest venture from decorated Irish chef Richard Corrigan), the pub will stock the Gibney family’s brew stout alongside a host of Irish spirits and specialist cocktails. In keeping with the high-end restaurant upstairs, Corrigan has designed a selection of posh bar snacks to go with your pint, including a black pudding sando and a rock and native oyster selection. Fancy. Gibney’s London launches on March 12 and will be open until 2am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with comedy nights and live music also planned. So raise a toast to the city’s newest drinking spot: let’s hope it has the luck of the Irish. Grab a Guinness at one of London’s finest Irish watering holes.  

Anyone who attended The Strokes’ massive All Points East headline show last year will have likely left Victoria Park with two main takeaways: 1) The New York indie icons are still the coolest cats in town, and 2) God damn, the sound was heartbreakingly quiet. Now, however, fans of the quintet have got a very exciting chance for an intimate, sweaty do-over, as the band are heading to London for a one-off show at Camden’s Roundhouse next Wednesday (February 19). The stop-off is to celebrate the imminent release of forthcoming album ‘The New Abnormal’ – Julian Casablancas and co’s first since 2013’s ‘Comedown Machine’, announced yesterday at a Bernie Sanders rally. But whether you’re a diehard gagging for the new material, or merely a noughties nostalgist wanting to yell ‘Last Nite’ at the top of your lungs, there’s little doubt that The Strokes will have something up their leather jacket sleeves for you at this one. Tickets go on sale at 1pm this Friday (Feb 14) here. Keep your 2020 music-filled with a visit to some of London’s other legendary gig venues.

BST Hyde Park festival has good form in not only nabbing some of the world’s biggest stars, but also booking an impressively broad cross-section of them. And this year is no exception. Having already announced top pop queen Taylor Swift, grizzled raaaawkers Pearl Jam, everyone’s favourite girl gang Little Mix and King Kendrick Lamar, now it’s added Post Malone to the roll call of 2020 bill-toppers. Fresh from co-headlining Reading and Leeds last year, the New Yorker will be trying to once again prove his ‘Rockstar’ credentials on Thursday July 2, when he’ll take to the stage with an as-yet-unannounced roster of supports. And, love or loathe the ‘Beerbongs & Bentleys’ star, you can’t argue with the numbers – 65 million album sales in the US alone and counting. Tickets go on sale on Friday (February 14) at 9am. So pop to Claire’s, grab a pack of temporary tattoos and stick ’em on your face in prep: this Postie’s getting mailed to London very soon. Tickets for Post Malone at BST are available here. Keep up to date with 2020’s festival season announcements right here. 

Beliebers, assemble! Floppy fringed Youtuber turned pop’s premier Baldwin-loving bad boy Justin Bieber is playing in London for the first time in three years, and he’s got a rather ‘Yummy’ plan up his tattooed sleeve. He’ll be heading to Greenwich next week but rather than pitching up at The O2’s main 20,000-strong arena, Biebs will be taking a left turn and heading to the altogether more intimate 2,300-capacity Indigo2 for a special acoustic gig followed by a fan Q&A session. It’s happening next Tuesday, February 11, just three days before his new album ‘Changes’ drops.  The last time JB came to the capital to play live, he headlined Hyde Park’s massive BST festival. So in comparison, this show will basically feel like having one of the most famous celebs in the world in your living room. Which is fun! Tickets for the shows go on sale at 10am this Monday (February 10) from here, so set your alarms - miss out and it will indeed be, ahem, too late to say sorry. Keep up to date with all the latest big London gig announcements via Time Out's music hub.

Calling all kids, big kids and, tbh, anyone who just needs a colourful wake-up call from their January slump. Artist Camille Walala and Lego have teamed up to create a pop-up installation in King’s Cross’s Coal Drops Yard – and it’s a dotty, delightful playground of colour. Proving that childhood dreams can come true, ‘House of Dots’ features a ball pit, a massive slide, a disco and more, all built into a shipping container ‘house’, themed around the spotty motif. When inside, you’ll be able to design dotty jewellery, dance in the dotty disco, climb around a dotty kitchen set and – obviously – take a hell of a lot of pictures. It’s all in aid of Lego’s new DOTS range: a 2D, tile-based version of the much-loved creative brick. You can spot (ahem) House of Dots from now until Sunday (February 2), entrance is free and we've got an exclusive release of tickets for Time Out readers' here (snap 'em up quick!). Not since Yayoi Kusama’s Insta-omnipotent circles has London been given such a dotty treat.     In the zone for some more serious art? Here are the best exhibitions in London right now.  

As you might have noticed, we quite like London. We like its people, we like its parks and we really like its pubs. And now, when we boast that London has the best boozers, we have some back-up. The Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Awards are voted for by food critics, chefs, pub owners and all manner of industry experts, and this year’s numero uno? None other than Fulham’s Harwood Arms. Currently the only Michelin-starred pub in London, it’s helmed by head chef Sally Abé with a focus on traditional British fare, specialising in game. Which means you can expect the likes of fallow deer with stuffed mushroom, hazelnut and purple sprouting broccoli, or roast red-legged partridge with bacon, creamed kale, pickled pear and bread sauce. Then there’s a top-drawer Sunday roast (of course), an extensive wine list and the kind of desserts (lemon curd doughnuts with earl grey cream, anyone?) that not even the staunchest healthy eater could resist. Mayfair’s The Guinea Grill also sneaks into the Top 10, while eight of the capital’s eateries grace the Top 50 in total. So make like Drake and start from the bottom (of the list) and get to here. ‘Here’ being the Harwood Arms, obviously. Keep up. Check out the full list here.  For more of London’s best gastropubs, eat and drink your way through Time Out’s list of the city’s finest.