10 Great Pop-Ups To Book Now
The Berkeley Beach Huts, Knightsbridge
Following last summer’s sell-out success of ‘The Garden’, this year The Berkeley hotel has transformed its outdoor space into a beach hut pop-up, inspired by British seafronts including Whitstable, Southwold and Padstow. Celebrating staycation season, five rainbow-coloured beach huts sit centre stage, while countertop and terrace dining are available for diners to enjoy seaside fare and retro classics. The menu embraces family-style dining with seafood front and centre, including crab on sourdough, baked scallops and grilled langoustine. Fish and chips are given a five-star twist, with large plates of grilled sea trout, sea bass and lobster accompanied by fries, and its ‘Seaside benedict’ combines smoked salmon and caviar flatbread.
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL; open now
Visit The-Berkeley.co.uk
Happy Burger at Allegra, Stratford
Just seven minutes from King’s Cross and with views of London’s skylines, Allegra’s 50-seat rooftop terrace is one of the capital’s hidden gems. Since being able to reopen in mid-April, the team has launched Happy Burger. The four-week pop-up offers a concise and playful menu prepared by head chef Patrick Powell. Highlights include ‘The Happy Burger’, an Oklahoma-style onion burger with American cheese; fried chicken with mustard fruit and aioli; and a rhubarb and custard doughnut. Throughout the month, Happy Burger will welcome a series of chefs from top London restaurants including Perilla, Mangal 2, Anglo Thai and the soon-to-be launched Planque in Haggerston.
20 International Way, Stratford, E20 1FD; until 16th May
Visit Allegra-Restaurant.com
The Dorchester Rooftop, Mayfair
The Dorchester Rooftop launched earlier this month, just in time to celebrate the hotel’s 90th anniversary. Making the most of the longer days and sunsets across Hyde Park, the rooftop restaurant will showcase a series of culinary pop-ups overseen by executive chef Mario Perera. First up, Tom Booton will introduce a British summertime menu showcasing locally sourced produce for his ‘land, sea and garden’ concept. Then from 26th April-9th May, multi-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse will introduce a modern, light and elegantly informal pop-up. Further residencies will be announced later in the year.
53 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1PN; open now
Visit DorchesterCollection.com
Rosewood London, Holborn
Rosewood London has relaunched its terrace for the summer, in partnership with renowned whisky brand The Macallan. The new-look space is inspired by summers in Scotland and has been transformed from a winter lodge into a luxury riverside boathouse. The terrace will be open for six months and promises to be a great spot for those looking to dine and drink away from central London crowds. Taking inspiration from the banks of the River Spey and The Macallan Estate, the terrace itself is surrounded by grass, soft wildflowers and Scottish heathers, while the entrance is flanked by willow trees, creating a natural canopy as guests arrive. Inside, fishing nets and foliage will weave throughout the space, while a rowing boat overflowing with meadow flowers, ivy and ferns is in place for those all-important Insta shots. Holborn Dining Room will be on hand to provide a menu of seasonal dishes for guests to enjoy outside. Expect to sample the likes of griddled prawns with lemon and garlic butter; lamb rump with Jersey royal potatoes and spring vegetables, and paris-brest with salted caramel and praline.
252 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7EN; open now
Visit RosewoodHotels.com
Covent Garden Food Festival, Covent Garden
As part of the recent relaxation of restrictions, Covent Garden has added 500 al fresco seats to its piazza, taking over seven streets and pedestrianising the likes of Henrietta Street and Floral Street to make way for the 25 local restaurants to relaunch outdoors. Restaurants now available to book outside include Frenchies, The Ivy Market Grill, Balthazar and Cora Pearl. As part of the area’s reopening celebrations, the team has also launched an outdoor pop-up festival, where guests can sample top dishes from the likes of Utter Waffle, Smoky Gaucho, The Barrow, Milktree Vegan Gelato, Bubble Bros, The Little Orange Van, Kuka Coffee, Beetle Juice Drinks and Hermanos Tacos House. The food festival is open from Thursdays to Sundays.
Covent Garden, WC2H 7AR; until 16th May
Visit CoventGarden.London
Kerridge’s Garden Grill, Westminster
The team behind Kerridge’s Bar & Grill has opened an outdoor pop-up restaurant – Kerridge’s Garden Grill. The 46-cover terrace is located on a mezzanine level directly above the garden, surrounding the glass dome atop the hotel’s Baccarat chandelier. Dishes include grilled whole lobster with herb butter; Cornish day boat turbot with seaweed tartare sauce; and beef burger with Ogleshield cheese and pulled pork, which will all be accompanied by Tom Kerridge’s signature triple-cooked chips, salad and béarnaise sauce. To complement the chic garden setting, guests are able to choose from Laurent-Perrier brut, rosé and grand siècle all served by the glass, alongside a lager from Marlow-based Rebellion Beer Company.
Whitehall Place, Westminster, SW1A 2BD; until 16th May
Visit Corinthia.com
Limin’ Beach Club, South Bank
Bringing a taste of the Caribbean to South Bank, Limin’ Beach Club is now open for a limited time, offering diners a range of Caribbean drinks and cocktails while relaxing on an ‘outdoor beach’. Food on offer includes the likes of jerk chicken, soft-shell crab and roasted vegetable salad, barbecued sweetcorn, Trinidadian aloo pies and coconut grilled prawns, plus rum and coconut cocktails served in a coconut, frozen piña coladas, rum punch, and the team’s signature daiquiris. Diners can also choose from an extensive wine and beer list or opt for a non-alcoholic mocktail to enjoy while the sun goes down. The best part? As well as pre-booked tables, Limin’ also has space for walk-ins – ideal if you’re yet to secure a booking.
Gabriel’s Wharf, South Bank, SE1 9PP; open now
Visit Limin.co.uk
Skylight Canalside X Kerb, Wapping
Taking over the Quayside area at Tobacco Dock from 1st May, Skylight Canalside X Kerb looks set to be a great place for foodies to meet up over the summer. The event aims to capture the feel of a beer garden, with picnic tables, parasols, atmospheric lighting and bunting available, alongside traditional garden games. The line-up will see a rotating offering of street food, with two different food trucks parking up each month. Fundi Pizza and Tongue 'N Cheek (which serves Italian-inspired burgers) will take up the first residency, setting up every Saturday in May. Tables of six are available to book on Saturdays throughout the summer until 7th August. Quayside Bar will also be available for indoor bookings from 17th May. Table service is available throughout the venue for both food and drink, with guests also able to order and pay contactless from the table.
Tobacco Dock, Wapping, E1W 2SF; from 1st May
Visit SkylightLondon.com
Casa Calavera, Across London
If you’re looking to enjoy a collaboration from home, look to Casa Calavera, a virtual Mexican pop-up from the team at Hakkasan. The restaurant has teamed up with Tom Booton, head chef at The Grill at The Dorchester, to create the ‘Casa Gets Grilled’ taco, which is inspired by the Cumbrian beef tartare dish at The Dorchester for which Booton is renowned, and comprises a crispy taco filled with spicy beef tartare, egg yolk and pickled radish. The limited-edition taco is available exclusively via Deliveroo until 17th May and is an ideal delivery for those celebrating Cinco de Mayo or as a May bank holiday treat. Multi-drop orders – in which the delivery can arrive to different households at the same time – can also be easily arranged for group dining with a twist.
Visit HakkasanGroup.com
Tacos Padre, Borough
Since launching in late 2019, Tacos Padre has established itself as one of London’s most-loved destinations for Mexican food, serving an authentic line-up of tacos from its Borough Market taqueria. Now, its hugely successful evening pop-up has returned for a second summer season. The pop-up is where the restaurant really comes to life, with a full dinner menu that goes beyond tacos and is inspired by owner Nick’s time working at Pujol Mexico City. With tables and chairs set up among tropical plants outside the Borough Market stall – which is fully covered from rain – the dinner menu is available on Thursday-Saturday evenings throughout summer. Snacks and small plates available include crab tostada with guajillo and tamarind; and Baja-style fish tacos with and oak-smoked cod's roe emulsion.
Winchester Walk, Borough Market, SE1 5AG; open now
Visit TacosPadre.com
The Cheese Truck, Paddington
Mathew Carver – the man behind The Cheese Truck, The Cheese Bar and Pick & Cheese – has relaunched The Cheese Truck to celebrate the end of lockdown. Parking up in Paddington, the team is now serving its popular grilled cheese sandwiches and glasses of wine at a pop-up terrace beside the canal. Customers will be able to sample a number of signature sandwiches filled with the likes of Quickes cheddar, Montgomery’s ogleshield and onion; Cropwell Bishop stilton with Swaledale smoked bacon and spiced pear chutney; or Rosary goat’s cheese with honey, walnut and rosemary butter, alongside a selection of natural wines by the glass. Positioned just next to the towpath, the terrace will also offer guests the first glimpse of The Cheese Barge, the team’s forthcoming floating restaurant, which will open on 20th May.
Sheldon Square, Paddington, W2 6HY; open now
Visit TheCheeseBar.com
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