The best summer days give way to long summer nights. London looks and feels its best when the daytime sun extends into a warm evening, allowing for lounging on the roof and hanging out late into the night. Or, to put it bluntly, it’s a chance to get out.
This weekend is full of those chances. Naturally, new restaurant openings and old favorites are below, alongside a big night celebrating pirate radio and UK garage, and arguably the weirdest late-night comedy show in town. There’s also a speakeasy in Soho, a great new play in Hammersmith, and the opening of a new art exhibition (with cocktails, of course).
Summer nights are not good.
Hot table: Carmel
The original Carmel in Queen’s Park is all pink tiles, large mirrors, soft furnishings and long lunches. The new Fitzrovia outpost takes over the former La Rampa space just off Oxford Street and is a stylisher affair altogether. While the polished and polished menu is getting some lift on the second site as well, the dishes remain accessible. Most things cost between £10 and £16, and sharing a small handful should be more than enough; The large artichoke flatbread with sun-dried peppers and tomatoes and the Levantine steak and eggs sound like good places to start.
Marketplace, W1W 8AG, carmelrestaurant.co.uk
Old favorite: Pastaio
It’s always a treat to revisit an old favorite, especially when it’s a favorite that serves up rich bowls of homemade pasta that will knock you out. This is a filling, hearty meal, this; Nduja and mozzarella toasted sandwiches should kick things off before a bowl (or three) of pasta that changes regularly enough to keep everyone coming back for more. The bright room can accommodate those looking for a quick meal in 20 minutes, but is also cozy enough for those looking to linger longer. Stevie Parle knows how to make a restaurant and we can’t wait for his new venue, which is rumored to be coming to the West End this summer.
19 Ganton Street, W1F 9BN, pastaio.co.uk
Drinking place: Bar Crispin
The Ham group has a rich structure. Studio Voltaire’s Bistro Freddie and Crispin are the latest two ventures to find success in the city, but Bar Crispin (from the same team) remains a central London drinking destination. Yes, there’s food, but come for the wine list. Glass offerings are strong, but to get the best value, gather four or more friends and opt for a few bottles of low-intervention wine. Not only will this strategy provide better value per person, but you’ll also discover and drink much more.
19 Kingly Street, W1B 5PY, barcrispin.com
Concert: The History of UK Pirate Radio at the Jazz Cafe
Throughout June, Camden’s Jazz Cafe is hosting a series of club nights highlighting pirate radio and its impact on the UK’s music scene. Covering many genres on a variety of nights, from grime to dubstep and funk, this weekend’s offering is UKG (UK garage). Welcome DJs Spoony and Wookie to this nostalgic club night, celebrating both the best of garage and its contribution to the wider UK scene, and the platform pirate radio once offered to these emerging genres.
June 14 5 Parkway, NW1 7PG, thejazzcafelondon.com
Chef’s hospitality: Chap Bistro
Angus Kitchin has opened shop in Haggerston, E8’s exciting live music bar. The residence is called Chap’s Bistro, and the man in charge has some serious problems: Kitchin is perhaps best known for the time he spends heading into the kitchen at FKABAM. The menu is French but full of the best British produce. It comes with carpaccio-like bits of melon, almonds and ricotta, and the pig’s head croquette that follows is a crunchy, slippery, suckling delight. Grab a hungry friend, order everything on the menu, and thank us later.
438 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA, @chapbistro.e8
Art correction: Courtauld Lates, an art article
This weekend, the Courtauld gallery is relaunching its “latecomers” program with a first look at a spectacular new show: Roger Mayne, Youth. Also hanging is the Henry Moore exhibition and the stunning permanent collection (truly one of the best in London). Guests of the midnight show can peruse the evocative photographs of Mayne’s mid-century catalogue, beautifully crafted to tell the story of young people in the years following post-war Britain. Live music and masterpieces as well as cocktails and art talks; What more could you want?
14 June, Somerset House, WC2R 0RN, courtauld.ac.uk
Culture fix: Wedding ring
This 60s American play had a strong showing at the Lyric in Hammersmith, its first UK release on this scale. Telling the love story of a mixed-race couple in South Carolina in 1918, the film sets the backdrop for the distant conflict in Europe and the fight for rights and race at home. Described as “outstanding” by the Standard’s theater critic Nick Curtis, this must-see show is on for a limited time only.
Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL, until 29 June lyric.co.uk
Comedy fix: Frankie Thompson at Soho Theater
Frankie Thompson takes over. CAttS is the one-woman show from the musical Cats, but it’s not. The show is described as “a lip-syncing ballet through distractions and obsessions” that seems as topical as possible in today’s distracted and obsessive world. Then there’s his other new show, Frankie Thompson Collects Scary Things. This double billing is valid for June 15, but both shows can be booked separately. It all sounds weird and wonderful, which is probably why Thompson warns, “If you laugh, it’s comedy; if you don’t, it’s living art.”
14 and 15 June 21 Dean StreetW1D 3NE, sohotheatre.com
Ticket to book now (for later): One-Day Bordeaux introductory school
It’s an explosion. For anyone looking to up their wine game (and we mean it) or treat their dad to perhaps the best Father’s Day gift ever, this is for you. Berry Bros is famous for its events and tastings, and this special one-day crash course is geared towards helping everyone become a wine enthusiast. More than a dozen of Bordeaux’s finest wines will be enjoyed at a tasting masterclass and luncheon that will cover the region’s best-known vineyards and vineyards. These highly sought-after wines can cost up to £300 a bottle, so tickets aren’t cheap – but for a blast, nothing beats Bordeaux.
29 June, tickets £395, 63 Pall Mall, St. James’s, SW1Y 5HZ, bbr.com
Other tickets you can book now (for later): Bubala Pride Party
Bubula turns five this June, and to celebrate the occasion, the Middle Eastern vegetarian restaurant is welcoming a variety of chefs to its Soho facility to collaborate on special menus. The likes of Crispin’s Lewis de Haas and Mambow’s Abby Lee have already been spotted, and to round out the month, Sager & Wilde’s Diarmuid Goodwin will be hosting a charity Pride Party where all money raised will be donated to an LBGTQ+ charity. There’s a big raffle that night, with prizes ranging from full-course dinners to tampon baskets; Each meal ticket equals one raffle entry, with profits going to The Outside Project.
30 June 15 Poland Street, W1F 8QE, sevenrooms.com